Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

THE MAYOR'S SUNDAY. On Sunday morning His Worship the Mayor, Mr Alderman ,1no, Jones, attended divine service at the Parish Church, when the Rev. Canon Howell, P.D., was the preacher, and an offertory was made on behalf of the funds of the Wrexham Infirmary. The procession, which left the Guildhall shortly before eleven o'clock, was formed in the following order Band of the.'ird Battalion R.W.F., under Mr Mullholland. The Denbighshire Hussars, under command of Quarter- Master J. Wiliiairs, and Tro)p-Sergeant Major-Donald. Permanent Staff of the 3rd Battalion, under Sergeant lldjor Phoenix. Members of the 1st V.B., K.W.F., A and B Companies, under command of Major Evan Morris, Lieutenants J A ton Jones, and C. Martin. Members of the Denbighshire Constabulary under In- spector Lindsay. The Prince of Wales Volunteer Fire Brigade under Capt. Evans, and Lieutenant James Pavies. The General Public including Messrs. S. Aaton, J. Edwards, Marcbwiel Hall Samuel Morris and H Laugley Jones, Lower Berse G. J. Junes, Penygelli Schools; J. Griffiths, Crescent-road W. Whittaker, Rhosddu J. Benjamin Jones, Alliance Office Joseph Bate, E. Mason, Be.'tconsfield W. Ellis, Rhosddu J. Cooper, Rhostyllen J Hellis, Charles A. Rol:erts, G. W.R. J. Thomas, C.E W. J. Sisson, W. M. Roberts, J. Rogers, Hope street F. Page, J. Pierce, Alfred Owen, Mr Owen, junr., Messrs. J. Dav.es, Hope-street Walter Price, W. Venn, J. Liversage, D. D. Pierce, J. B. Francis, W. Snape, Ashton Bradley, Hichard Phennah A. C. Baugh, J. Woolley, J. Wallis, Rd. Lewis, Hope-s reet J. A. Chadwick. J. Elias. Robert Roberts, J. Bessell, Wrexham Union Workhouse; ICnowles, King-street Geo. Bevan, C. B. Beaumont, The Caia, B raham F. E. Howe, Bershani J. Pavies, Rd Hughes, l,aiiii -pit -street J. Ball, Minora; Edwin Jones, J. Huxley, W Davies Bwlchgwvn Schools R. LI Jones, Vron Board Schools Jno. Rowlai.d, Geo. Bate, Edwin Owens. Town- bill W Wright F. McKae, W. Alexander, Jas. Phoenix, Jehu Phoenix, W. Whittingham, W. Owen, Red Lion Y- T. Fitch, J. Payne, Jno Davies, hegeut-street A. E, Mu.id.T. B Barton, W, Heyvvood, A. Potter, J. Kellitt, H J. Kendrick, S. Suthern, Benjamin Powell, Jno. Mason, K B. Astley, Broughton Ll. Hugh Jones, A. E. Lewis, CUaiie- Murless, C. (Uascod: nc. F. L. Sc )tcher, J. Evans, W. COCJkr, Howel Davies H. Saniu-1, J. Wassmann, T. Cart WI ijiht, W.M.&C.Q, Railway; Charles Hushes, Wheiitsiiedf Charles tivatis. r. B Acton, Henry Hum- phreys, T. Martin, Ishmael Evans, E. E. Humphreys, E. D. Kv (Jonier Davies, W. A. Bayley, N. R. Griffith, A Nuttal, T H Coleman, W. Evans, Arthur Acton, WelJh" J, Ford, &c" &c. J. I-or(l, &- e ct c Horuu?h O'hci.js. including Mr D. Morris, Cemeterv Sup- rinteiuient Mr Wilding, Town Crier Mr 1). Hovd Jo::es, School Board Attendance Officcr Dr. R. W. J Evans, Medical Officer of Health Mr J. K. Jones, B ir.iiiirh C.Hector; Mr T Kennedy. Veterinary lnsj.ecl.or and M:* J. M. Smith, Borough surveyor. MKMUERS 01 THe; Tùw COUNCIL. Mr David Jones, Nlr Benjamin Owen, Mr ii. W. Kvans, Mr W. Pierce, Mr J. B. Murless, Mr R. H Done, Mr S. T. Baugh. ALOKIOIEN. Mr U. E. Samuel, Mr Richird Jones. The Town Clerk (Mr Thomvj Bury), the Borough Alagistr.ite-s Clerk (Mr Allington Hughes). .%Ir Councillor John Prichard (Ex-Mayor). The Muct ijoiij4 by Mr David Higgins, Sergeant it Mace THE MAYOR. u (Alderman Jno. Jones) j.ue lion. G. i. Kenyon, M.P. The Rt. Hon G Osh'.rne Morgan, CJ.C M.P. County anil Hoioiudi Magistrates with past Mayors- Sir It. A. Cunhtfp, B:rt., Sir B t' E_-ei-tt)n, Mr Edmund S'Aetenh Q.C., Mr Owen Slaney W)Dne, Mr Ove ton, Mr J. hii Bury, Mr Archibald Peel, Mr J. Osnell Uury, Dr. K.yion-Junes, Dr. Edward Williau s, Nlr J. F. i .i>liury, .Mr W. J. Ku<SH?, Mr W. Prichard, Mr Edward Suet.. (i??ss), Mi T. C. Jones, Mr J. R Burton, Mr John L«.vis, and Li-ut. Col. Jones, V.C The n. v Cauon Howell based his sermon upon "the woman aud the alabaster box of ointment," as recorded 111 Matt, xxvi, verses G to 13. The rev. gentleman dwelt upon the advantages afforded by the Infirmary, and the necessity for its support. After the service in the church the procession was reformed and wended its way back to the Guildhall, at the door of which His Worship briefly th inked the public bodies and the military for having attended him to church. The Mayor then entered the Borough Magi- strates Court, where he was cordially received by ti:e large number of gentlemen who had filled the r.. The Mayor chid lie would first ask the Town Clerk to read some letters of apology sent by gentlemen who Wt re unable to be present. The Town Cicrk stated that a letter had been received from Sir W. Williams Wynn, who was away in London. Letters were also received from Capt. Gnlfith-lkucaweri, chairman of the Denbigh- shire Quarter Sessions, Mr Jas. Sparrow (who sent a contribution for otTertory to the Mayor), Maj r Leadbetter, chief constable, Alderman Walter Jones, Councillor J. E. Powcll (enclosing a contri- bution), Councillor W. R. Evans (enclosing a con- tribution). Dr. Ll. Williams (whose absence, he ex- plained was owing to the colliery accident at the Flrvvd Colliery), and Mr F. L Rawlins (enclosing a contribution.) The Town Clerk added that Mr Jno. James had asked him to apologise for his ab- sence from the procession, but they were glad to observe that he was present at the church. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor, who was heartily cheered, said:—I don t see the Vicar here. He undertook with his usual kindness to do duty as chaplain for your humble servant and corporation with some alacrity, and preach a sermon—the sermon we have just listened to. The vicar's sermons always make me feel uneasy—that was a compliment perhaps to the preacher, but this morning I felt that he did not place the standard too high, and did not unfold tl,, mysteries of the unconceivable world that sur- rounds us. The subject was the poor, a subject unfortunatel y that we shall have too much a\'o: us presently. I will a-k you to thank the \'ie,: I fo:- his readiness in undertaking the duty he b.3 discharged this morning. (Applause.) I will a.1 ask you, the gentlemen members of the corporation, and you, my more immediate neighbours, those sober civil-suited gentlemen who are more immedi- ately about me, to join with me in thanking the great galaxy of gentlemen of worship and honor who surround us who have come from a distance to pay their respects to the Corporation of Wrex- ham, and who must have come at some inconveni- ence this morning—(applause) —and I will take this opportunity of again thankiug those gentlemen who came clad in the jnmp and oircuinstauee of horrid war. So terrible in aspect. Pride in their port, defiance in their eye "-to thank them for the share they have taken in this day's proceed- ings, in adding to its popularity and rclnt. And I thank you with as much of a benedictory spirit as an old man may be supposed to possess—(hear, hear —and I hope that is not a little, for the kind- cess ione us in coming to bear their testimony and rtspect to what we are wont to call the good -hi t-nvu. (Applause.) I wish to thank my friend Mr John Bury for having had the church so nicely warmed for u, (Laughter, and hear, hear.) I ocrious f uvbodiugs cf the ordeal of having to sit in the chancel, so I wrote to Mr Bury, express- i ing, in the most kiudly way I could, that he would give orders for the thorough warming of the; church. He said lie would have a good supply of CO DS, and that the furnace should be going all day on Saturday, all through Saturday night, and on Sunday it should be heated seven times hotter than before. (Much laughter.) Let us be thankful that we have gone through that ordeal. (Laughter.) Well, gentlemen, in twelve months you will be asked by some future Mayor to repeat this demonstration—may you come and be as happy as] you appear to be. May no stroke of misfortune keep you away, nor any shadow of calamity. With this wish I beg to thank you, and wish you good morning. Tiie Right Hon. G. Osborne Morgan said he could not permit the opportunity to pass without thanking his old friend the Mayor for the kind way he had alluded to their presence that day. He could assure the Mayor they were glad to have safely passed through that fiery furnace to which referenc had been made. (Laughter.) He con gratulated the Mayor upon the high honour so deservedly conferred upon him by the town, and hoped that the year of otlice so auspiciously begun would end as happily, and be with honour to the Mayor and benefit to the good old town of Wrexham. (Applause.) Tne Hon. G. T. Keuyon congratulated the Mayor upon that happy and auspicious occasion. He could agree with Mr Osborne Morgan in congratu- lating the Mayor upon having succeeded to a dignity of which he was fully worthy. (Hear, hear.) It was a satisfaction to him to come on such occa- sions, and find that in the town of Wrexham there were al ways men who were fully fitted to discharge the important office the Mayor had to discharge. He thought they could not find a man more fitted to discharge its duties during the coming year when the Eisteddvod would be held in the town. (Hear, hear.) The name of Alderman J nf), Jones was well-known. (Hear, hear.) He had been identified in years past with the warring faction of the times. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) This was to be a peaceful year. (Hear, hear.) There was to be nothing of disturbance, he hoped, in the Mayor's year of office, and it would be with satis- faction they would be able to congratulate the Mayor at the close of that period upon having suc- cessfully discharged the duties of his great office. (Applause.) The Town Clerk here announced that the amount of the collection was f35 13s. (Applause.) This sum had now been increased by the addition of 1:1 from Mr E. Evans, of Bronwylfa. The Mayor said he wished to amend an omission he made when speaking outside. He had thanked the Voluuteers and Hussars, but had omitted the Militia. He now wished to thank the members of that body for attending. The proceedings then ended. It should be remarked that the procession was witnessed by a very large concourse of people, many of whom came from the outlying districts. Appended is a list of the annual collections in aid of the Infirmary, together with the names of the preachers, from 1807 up to the present year inclusive Amount of Collection. Date. Mayor. Pr.-acher. I s. d. l^bT—P. Walker Rev. W. Davies. 28 0 0 lKfW-T. Rowland Rev. Canon Cunliffe 31 0 0 Rowland .Hev. Canon Cunliffe 3-) 0 U ls70—J. Beale The Bishop (Dr J.Hughes) 33 0 0 1^71—J B. Murle-s Uev. Cauon Cunliffe 26 15 3 1^72—J. C. Owen Rev. Canon Cunliffe 26 5 6 IS73-R. Lloyd Hev. Canon Cunliffe (collections morning and evening) 30 5 1 IS74-R. Lloyd .Rev. Canon Walsham How (including collection at Zion Chapel) 37 8 10 IS75-T. Eyton-Jones .Rev. D. Howell. 56 0 6 i 1S70—J. Beirne (donation) no procession 30 0 0 1S77 -J. Owen .Rev. J. Dixon 21 2 6 IIo(,"S-I;¡ac Shone.Rev. D. H.)well. 50 2 0 lS;K mith .Rev. the Dean of Bangor 42 Ii) 1 Bradley .Rev. LI. Griffith, M. A. 51 2 1 ISil—Thos. Rowland .Rev. E. W. Edwards, vicar of Ru-ipon 29 3 U ISS2-Y. Strachan. Rev. D. llowell 40 2 0 IS 3—J. B. Murless Rev. D. Howetl. 37 U 9 ISS4 S. T. Baugh Rev. Henry Baugh 34 16 1 1555-W. E. Samuel.Rev. Canon Howell 43 12 3 1556-J. Prichard Rev. Canon HoweU. 47 5 4 bS7 -Jno. Jones .Hev. Canon Howell 36 13 U

BOROUGH MAGISTRATES' COURT. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST. Before T. C. Jones, Esq., in the chair W. Overton, Esq., and J. F. Edisbury, Esq. 1. TAKIING TIME BY THE FORELOCK. T» II air Asnton iSraclley applied tor an extension of time, until four o'clock a.m., on behalf of Mr Powis, of the Old Swan Inn, Abbot-street, upon the occasion of a ball on Boxing Night (that day five weeks). The application was granted. I ASSAULTING HIS WIFE. liidward Perry, ratcatcher, of Wrexham, was summoned by his wife, Ann Perry, for having assaulted her on the 11th, by atriki-g her on the face with some clothes which she had been mangling. She left the house for safety, and when ) she returned, found the door locked. She had since taken a house for herself and desired a separation on account of her husband's brutal con- duct. Defendant, who behaved himself in a most disgraceful manner whilst in the court, was fined 10j oJ and costs. DRUNKENNESS, I John Pritchard and Isaac Williams, colliers, ef Coedpoeth, were summoned by Sergt. Wynne for having been drunk and fighting in Abbot-street at eleven o'clock on the night of the 5th inst. They were each fined 58 and costs.—Hubert Kelly, Well-street, was in custody, being charged by P.C. Salisbury with having been drunk and disorderly on the previous day.-Fined 5s and costs.-Joseph Jones, Gresfcrd was charged by P.C. Lea with having been drunk and disorderly at the Great Western Railway Station on the previous day. He was so drunk that he was not permitted to travel.—Defendant was fined 2s (iJ and costs, and the Magistrates' Clerk, whose tenant he had been for IS years, said he would pay the fine. The an- nouncement was received with applause in Court. A DEFECTIVE TRAP-DOOR. I John Jones, of Dudlestone Heath, the owner of certain property at 1, Abbot-street, was summoned by Mr J. W. M. Smith, borough surveyor, for having a trap-door on his property in such a con- dit on as to be unsafe.—Mr Smith said he saw the trap-door on the 3rd inst., and on the following day sent defendant a notice to have it repaired after the usual time had been allowed. -Def enlaut was fined 10s Gd and costs, and the Chairman sug- gested that the Borough Surveyor should have the defective door repaired. THE ALLEGED ARSON. I THE PRISONER COMMITTED TO THE ASSIZES. I David Morris, a maltster of Mauley-road, was brought up in custody on remand, charged with setting fire to a stack of hay belonging to Mr John Beirne, of Piasderwen, on the 12th inst. Mr Ashton Bradley appeared for the prisoner. The evidence given by Mr Beirne at the last Court was read over to him. He said in addition that he met the boy, whom he saw going before him to the fire, a short distance from his trates. Cross-examined He had the a!:mn of the fire a little later than 9 30, at any rate when he got to the stack it had been on fire a few minutes. He could distingui-h that the biy referred to was re- spectably dressed in grey clothes. The prisoner had worked for him for many yeaia, and he had no fault to find with him. He knew nothing against him. Henry Grey was then called, and the evidence he gave on Monday week was read to him. It was to the effect that the prisoner was the man he met near the fire, and whom, in consequence of his sus- picions being aroused, he followed into town, where he g-ive him into custody. C ";s-exainined He was on the horse road lead'ng from Percy-road to the farm through the field when he first saw the light. He was con- siderably nearer the farm than Percy-road when he saw the light. He was about forty yards from his house. The night was dark. He did not know the prisoner previously. The prisoner stopped running before lie came to witness at the stile in the field. He could not see where he came from. Tne prisoner had on a very small hat, but it was not the one produced. The coat the prisoner wore was very like the one he had on the night of the fire. He would not swear to the clothes the pris- oner had on, but he would to the man. He was speaking to the prisoner at the stile for about two minutes. He followed the prisoner because he saspccted him of firing the stack. The prisoner had answered his questions in a hurried and con- fused manner. The prisoner went up the first steps into Temple-row, and witness went up the second set ani met prisoner. Witness followed him into the Royal Oak Inn. When he first saw the fire the flames had caught the thatch. The stack was a high one. Richard Bunn, a carter employed by Mr Win. Owens, Chester-street, said on Saturday night week he was walking along Percy-road. When he got to the end of the road he saw a light across the fields, and before he could get from the footpath on to the road he met the prisoner and asked him what the light was He replied that someone was burning thorns. He then said nothing more, and went away I quickly along Bennion's-lane in the direction of Wrexham. Witness met the last witness and his wite, and from what he told him went to Mr Beirne's house. Witness went to the house, the s::rn,nt came to the door, and he gave the alarm to Mr Beirut, who subsequently came out. Witness then ran to town and informed the Fire Brigade. Cross-examined He had known the prisoner for nine or ten years, and was walking in Percy-road as was his custom. The prisoner was about three yards from him when he saw him. and the time was between a quarter and half-past nine o'clock. He thought it was nearer half-past than a quarter past nine, and judged of the time by the time con- sumed in his walk. George Jones, ost!er, in the employ of Mr Edwin Pugh, of the Green Dragon, ?aid on Saturday night week, about a quarter to ten o'clock, he saw the prisoner walk slowly past the Inn in the direction of the town. The witness Grey was following him. He did not say anything to them. P.C. Thomas Wynne said at about ten minutes to ten o'clock on the night in question the witness Grey came to him in High-street, and said there was a stack of hay on fire at Mr Btirne's, and the man who set it on fire was in the Royal Oak. Wit- ness went into that inn, and the prisoner was drinking a pint of beer at the bar. Witness said to Grey, Do you mean this man," pointing to the prisoner. Grey replied, Yes." Witness said to the prisoner, David, come on one side, I want to speak to you." He said, What do you want I with me, Tom? Witness replied that there had been a stack of hay fired at Mr Beirne's, and that he would have to go with him to Mr Wilde or Inspector Lindsay. He said, "You might as well leave me go home to my wife and children." On going outside the prisoner was handed over to I Sergt. Wynne. Sergt. Joseph Wynne said at ten minutes to ten o'clock on the night in question he received the I prisoner, who was in drink, into custody from the last witness, and took him to the police station. He told the prisoner that he would be locked up on suspicion of having set fire t,) Mr Beirnes stack. He said, Me I have not been out of town to-night. I went straight from John illiams vaults to the Royal Oak." Prisoner was then searched, and in his right hand coat pocket the box of matches (produced) was found, and in his right hand waistcoat pocket five loose matches (produced). The hat (produced) was the hat he wore, and had a hayseed adhering to it.—( Prisoner: I can account for that.) Ou the following morning, at seven o'clock, he went to the prisouei's cell and charged him with having maliciously set fire to Mr Beirne's stack. He replied three times, Good God, I wasn't out of town last night. I was only in John Williams', on the Town Hill, and the Royal Oak, uutil Wynne fetched me out. Cross-examined He also found 2s II p in money on the prisoner, as well -is a pipe and tobacco. It was not unusual for persons who smoked to carry matches. The tobacco was in a half-ounce paper, and some of it had been used. He did not produce the piue nor tobacco. He thought the paper of tobacco was bought on the same night. Edward Francis, a maltster in the employ of Mr Beirne, said on the Saturday in question he went to the Town Hill vaults at about ten minutes to nine o'clock, and remained there about a quarter of an hour. Hb saw the prisoner there, and left him there. Cross-examined George Lewis was with him, and they came out of the house together. Sergt. Wynne (re-called) said on Friday after- noon he went to where the stack was, and walked the distance from it to the Town Hall Vaults, and it took him twelve minutes at a steady rate. He followed the route adopted by the prisoner. This closed the case for the prosecution. George Lewis was called by Mr Bradley, and he said he was a carter employed by Mr Murless. About eight o'clock on the night in question he saw the prisoner at the Town Hall Vaults, and left him there. They both went into the Vaults together. He saw the prisoner again at the Town Hill Vaults at about ten minutes to nine. He stopped there a quarter of an hour, and left the prisoner in the vaults. He did not see the prisoner again that night. The prisoner was then formally charged, and pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. Martha Jones said she was the wife of Owen Jones, laborer, and lived at Offa-terrace. The prisoner's wife was her sister. On Saturday week she was speaking to a Mrs Pritchard in High-street when the nine o'clock bell sounded. She was talking to Mrs Pritchard about ten minutes after the bell was heard, and walked away down the Town Hill to Messrs Phillips and Co.'s shop. She met the prisoner at the corner by Mr Collen's shop, and was talking to him about ten minutes. When they parted he went up the Town Hill, and she went down to Mr Phillips' shop. By the Chairman W hen I spoke to the prisoner near Mr Collen's shop it was about a quarter-past nine o'clock. The Magistrates then retired, and on their return committed the prisoner to the assizes. Mr Bradley applied that the prisoner might be admitted to bail, pointing out that it would be most difficult if not impossible to get up the defence without him. The Chairman said the offence was too serious, and the application would not be entertained. The witnesses were then bound over to appear at the assizes, and the pub!ic business of the Court terrrinated. TcesDAY.—Before J. F. Edisbury, Esq., and W. I Prichard, Esq. AN OLD HAND. I Ann Colley, an old offender, was in custody charged by P.C. Griffiths with having been drunk and disorderly at the Feathers Hotel on the previous day. He was called upon to turn the prisoner out of the hotel, when she was found to be very drunk, and had to be locked up.—She was fined 5s and costs, or seven days in default.

♦ 1 TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE IN WREXHAM. LOCAL OPTION AND ITS OPPONENTS. I AMUSING PROCEEDINGS. I On Monday evening a meeting in favor of Local Option was held in the Public Hall, but prior to its being held, the local advocates of Temperance decided to hold a conference in the Temperance Hall, in the afternoon, to consider the position of the question in the town. w The attendance, v.,hich was small, included Mr Wm. Thomas, J.P. and Mrs Thomas, Mr and Mrs J. E. Powell and Miss Williams, Mr and Mrs Geo. Garside, the Rev. H. J. Haffer, Mr and Mrs Chas. Rocke, Mr Wm Thomas, King-street, Mr J. Stan- ford, the Rev. E. Jernian, Mr Geo. Barratt, Mr J. H. Rawlins, Mr and Mrs John Rogers, Gwersylit, Mr Jones, Gresford, Mr Gomer Davies, Mr D. Dodd, the Rev. R. Phennah, Mr R. Roberts, St. James Terrace, &c., &c. Mr Wm. Thomas, J.P., who was voted to the chair, said they were met to consider the present position of the Temperance movement in Wrexham which was a position they all deplored. They were responsible for the position into which it had got, for he feared they could not say they had been conscientiously doing their duty in the matter for some years. TheoIdrTemperance Leagui wenttosleep soon after the introduction of Good Templary into the town. Some who were connected with the League thought that body was doing the work better than they could, and so determined upon that course. After some vears Good Templary became a very weak thing, aud there was now one lodge in existence, and that was weak. The Noncon- formists of the town had done nothing, whilst the Church of England had been working for a long time. The Nonconformists had not been working except in connection with the Bands of Hope, which were held in association with the various chapels of the town. He trusted something would be done in the conference to re-establish the old League, or to take such steps as would enable them to work earnestly in the good work. He thought a very important thing was to have a Good Tem- perance Choir. Such was the case at Swansea, excellent work was done. Mr Powell moved that a temperance league should be formed in the town, leaving, for the pre- sent, the outlying districts out of the question. (Hear, hear.) They should try and do the work which lay at their own door. There was a move- ment amongst the Welsh Nonconformists of the town in favour of having Welsh temperance meet- ings monthly. If the Eugli?'i denominations wou.d only join in the movement, he thought it coula be so arranged as to have a temperance meeting about every fortnight, and occasionally a combined meeting in which both could join. The pledges taken at such meetings could be handed to tue British Women's Temperance Association, which would form an organisation suitable to take charge of such a duty. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. H Rawlins seconded the resolution, and pointed out that if the people of Wrexham would only consider how much it cost them, as rate- payers, to prosecute persons rendered criminals hy drinK, it would prove a serious fact to them. He thought much good would be accomplished if the question could be put down in the form of £ s. d. (Hear, hear.) He then alluded to the decision of the Town Council to shut off the supply of water from the fountains during the winter months, a decision which he regretted. Mr Stanford euggested that the word League should not be used He preferred the name Association," but that of course was a matter of detail which could be settled bv a committee. They wanted an efficient organisation to prepare tor missions and more especially to wcrk after the missions. Mr Robert Cluff, who had held one in the town, said that sometimes missions did more harm than good. He hoped there would be a representative committee, and that the new move- ment would not be confined to Nonconformists. (Hear, hear.) He had assisted the Church of England Society on several occasions, and was wiLing to work with them at any time. They should try and promote a union amongst the I temperance Society. He was in favour of appoint- ing a paid agent. Such a course was most suc- cessful in Chester, where there was now a very strong temperance organisation. The Rev. E. Jerman said at one time the temper- ance work in Wrexham was very good, but it failed because some of the men at the head wert- iuelined to draw the string too tight. Ho was 1111" IIf the strictest teetotalers, for he believed that temper- ance next to religion, was one of the bent tliitiLt-9, but he did not think they HIKIUM d<> ai.ythin;/ tlwit would drive any away who did not s-c eye t.. eye with themselves. Un!ess th-v got this cordial feeling among them, they would never succeed. He favored the idea of a paid agent, but at fir.-it they must seek an energetic honorary secretary. Mr Rocke was in favor of the name of the asso- ciation being The Wrexham Nonconformist Tem- perance League." He thought it would be better to distinguish it thus, because it would lead to a healthy rivalry between the bodies, and out of evil would come good. Mr J. E. Powell opposed Mr Roeke's suggestion, because it would deprive them of the services of many men, like Mr Gomer Davies for instance, who was instrumental in getting up that day's meeting. He suggested that a small committee should be formed to arrange the details. The Welsh churches were moving in the matter, and he hoped the En°g- lish bodies would join in the movement. The Rev. E. Jerman supported Mr Powell's view of Mr Rocke's suggestion. The Rev. H. J. Haffer approved of the proposal to form a Temperance Association for the town. The name was a matter to be settled, and he I doubted the wisdom of Mr Rocke's suggestion, The resolution was then put acd carried. After further discussion the following committee I was appointed :—Mr William Thomas, J.P., Mr J. 1 E. Powell, Mr William Thomas, King-street, Mr J. Stanford, the Rev. Robert Phennah, Mr C. Rocke, with Mr Gomer Davies, treasurer, and the Rev. H. J. Haffer as secretary, pro. tern. After a few remarks of a congratulatory character by Mr John Rogers, Mr White, of Manchester, addressed the Con- ference. He said he had come in the place of Mr J. H. Raper. and regretted, and they would also, the absence of that gentleman. (Hear, hear.) He was glad they had not embarked upon a large scheme. The faith in paper schemes had often times led to error, but they were evidently on their guard against that. He hoped the young men and young women would be enlisted in the cause, and trusted they would by no means over- look the great power ladies exercised in such move- ments. Mr White concluded bis remark, whici were necessarily brief, by referring to the question of LojuI Option, and the wonderful growth of pUÙlC: opinion in its favour. Th-: business of the Conference then closed. THE PUBLIC MEETING. I At aov.n o clock a public meeting, to advocate the claims of Loca! Option, was held in the Public Hall, under the presidency of the Right Hou. G. Osborne Morgan, Q C.. M.P. The hall was about half tÜ:ed at the hour fixed for the commencement of the meeting, but shortly afterwards every avail- able seat, and even the standing room, was occu- pied. The audience was not by any means of one mind on the subject, for the most peacefully-dis- posed persons were annoyed by the actions of a large number of persons who had come (not quite sober) to interrupt the proceedings. It was known that there was to be opposition, and prior to the meeting a handbill, containing the following words, was distributed in the town Public Hall Local Option meeting to-night Working-men of Wrexham, come in your hundreds and vote in favor of real temperance against local tyranny, commonly known as Local Option. The meeting will be addressed by Mr Geo. Hicks, of London, in favor of the liberties of the working classes. Britons never shall be slaves God save the Queen. The call was well responded to, and the proceedings assumed a lively character, not often experienced in our sober town. Amongst the ladies and gentlemen on the plat- form were Mrs Osborne Morgan, Mr White (of Manchester), Rev. Barrow Williams, Mr and Mrs William Thomas, Miss Ida Thomas, Mr C. M. Holland, Mr C. W. Thomas, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Ellis (Rhosddu), Mr and Mrs Garside, Rev. Griffith Owen, Rev. H. J. Haffer, Rey. N. Watts, Mr J. Hopley Pierce, Rev. J. W. Eacott, Dr. J. H. Williams, Rev. David Roberts, &c &c. Before the Chairman delivered his opening speech, Mr William Thomas asked that Mr Soames and his friends would take their seats on the plat- form. (Cheers.) There were six chairs at that gentleman's disposal, and he asked that Mr Soames would occupy them. (Hear, hear.) The invitation was not immediately accepted, but whilst Mr Morgan was speaking Mr F. W. Soames, Mr Edward Smith, Esless, and Mr George Hicks, of London, took their places on the plat- form at the right of the Chairman, amid loud cheers from their supporters. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, was greeted with cheers and a few groans. He said although that was the first time he had stood upon a Local Option platform in Wrexham, it was by no means the first occasion on which he had advocated the principles which they were met to promote. (Cheers.) Nearly nineteen years ago, upon one of the first occasions when he lifted up his voice in Parliament as their representative—(cheers)—it was to second Sir Wilfrid Lawson when he intro- duced his Permissive Bill. (Cheers.) He thought whatever charge they might lay against him, they could not accuse him of inconsistency. He said to himself then, as he said to them now, were the laws which governed the drink traffic in that country such as ought to prevail in a Christian and highly civilised community? (Cries of "No. ") Now, he had travelled in almost every country in Europe, and during the whole of his travels he had not met with as many drunken men and women as he had seen in a single day in London. His honor- able friend Mr Samuel Smith-who he wished were present that evening—on his return from the Continent, the other day, said almost exactly the same thing. Look where they would—ask any judge, any police magistrate—and they would tell them that drunkenness was the cause of nine- tenths—if not ninety-nine-I undredths-of the crime of the country. (Hear, hear.) During the time he had the honor of being charged with the administration of military law-for some five years nothing struck him more painfully than the numerous cases in which young men, with good prospects before them, had had those prospects blighted and blasted because they could not resist the temptation to enter a gin palace. (Hear, hear.) In this connection he would tell them a little anecdote, which had the advantage—which all anec lotes had not—of being true. Now they knew by name the Bishop of Newcastle, Bishop Wilberforce, a name well-known in the temperance cause. The Bishop was upon one occasion taking a walk, when he fell in with a collier, who said to ?valk, May be you're a parson ? Well," re- plied the Bishop, "I am." May be you're a curate ? No," said the Bishop, I was once, and I only wish I was again." The collier looked at him and said, Ah, it's the same with all of us. It's the drink that has done it." (Laughter.) The collier could not understand that a man should come down in the world except by reason of the drink (Applause.) He had been speaking on the subject to Sir Geo. Trevelyan who was stopping with him the other day. On his estate in Northumberland there was no crime nor pauperism, but there were no public houses (Hear, hear ) He maintained that the present system, judged by results, was weighed in the balance and found wanting (Hear, hear.) They had not to deal with the case of a supply meeting a legitimate demand, but of an excessive supply artificially stimulatirg an unnatural demand. (Hear, hear.) If any one doubted that, let him walk through the streets of any large town at ni-lht. (Hear, hear.) They would there see a ghastly group of ill-clothed, ill-fed men and women, hover- ing round the doors of a public house, like moths round a candle, until one by one they were drawn in and destr Jyed. (Hear, hear.) Then, if the present system was bad, where was the remedy t ) be found ? If drunkenness, if pauperism, if crime prevailed in a locality, who were the persons who suffered most ? Why, the localities themsel ves. They suffered in pocket they suffered still more from the moral contamination which a low tone of public morality always brought with it. (Hear, hear.) It was only right and just, then, to give the remedy to those who suffered from the poison. (Hear, hear.) The question was growing apace, (Cheers.) Everywhere there was an increasing dis- position to give a free hand to local bodies, and this question of Local Option was only a part- though a most important part-of a still larger question. (Hear, hear.) He made no apology for thus addressing a non-political meeting, for it was all open secret that the present Govern- ment had put in the front of their pro- gramme a Local Government Bill, which must dea more or lesseffectively with the drink question, and within the last few weeks the cause which they were advocating had found a distinguished recruit in no less a person than L'ml R. Churchill. (Cheers) — [At this point Mr Soames, Mr Hicks, and Mr Smith took their seats on the platform amid cheers. Hearty cheers were also given for Mr Soames and John Barleycorn. "] -Tne right lion gentleman, continuing, said the time was soon coming when the prophesy of Sir Wilfrid Lawson would come true, that the drink question would be the stick with which one political party would beat the other. (Laughter and cheers.) This was true in that locality, for only a few weeks ago :t Church of England Tenipermee meeting was held over which his late opponent, Sir Watkin -(ai)pltuic)- presided. [A Voice lie won't support local option. (Cheers)) lie did not say local option, he said that Sir Watkin premded over a temperance meeting. He made a speech with which he was quite prepared to agree except in 011" thing, if litt mi.r!,t venture to criticisi-, and that was whero fit, advised his audience to drink only at meals (Laughter.) He was of opinion that if that a lviee waH followed they would find that it would be iieeesiary to take a top dreBer" of whisky after supper (Laughter.) He said if they wanted to stop drink- ing they must cease drinking at meals and between them. (Cheers and groans, which continued for some time.) When silence had been restored, the Chairman said a reiolution in favor of local option would he proposed and seconded, and he believed an amendment, wouht no proposed. He asked that all H i4 U i keep th.ir tcmp'rs and discuss the matter fairly. Ho trusted the meeting would act hoI>. rly 111 every sense of the word. (Applause.) Mi While, of Manchester, was called up-rn to pro- pone tho limt rosolution. He said he very greatly reU.| li.„| to bit obliged to appear on that platform it, the plane of his friend Mr Raper of London wliii 11ud not been ab!e to come there that night. Many of thoKc who knew him would regret his al.M. ne as sincerely as he did. He was glad to see from the character of the meeting they were going to publicly discuss a public question. (Applause ) He had the "trngcst faith in the good sense of the English people when questions were fully, fairly and frequently put before them. It was not suffi- cient that one side of the question should be iterated in the public ear—(applause)—and the audience would be asked that night to pronounce in favor of real temperance—(applause)—not temperance that lets its adherents get drunk occasionally, but temperance that would keep them always sober. (Applause.) The speaker reading from the hand- bill forking men of Wrexham come in your hundreds, and vote in favor of real temperance against local tyranny." (Laughter and cheers.) lie agreed with that. (Cheers.) Commonly called L,.)cal Option." The bill went on to say that Mr George Hicks would address the meeting in favor of the liberties of the working classes. (Cheora.) Mr Hicks and himself were at that meeting on the same job. (Renewed cheers.) He and Mr Hicks were objecting to local tyranny, and they were there in favor of the working classes having the fullerat and perfect exercise of their rights in re lation to that matter. (Cheers) They wanted! the matter so arranged that the working classes could express their views upon it according to law from time to time, and that they called Local | Option. (Cheers.) He was going to move the following resolution "That this meeting, gratefully recognising the great advances made in every department of the Temperance Reformation during the pa3t fifty years, especially during the latter portion of that period, hereby expresses its full assurance of the ultimate accomplishment of the beneficient aims of the movement, under the blessing of Almighty God upon the persistent efforts of its earnest friends and supporters, and rejoices in the recent manifestations of public opinion against the legalised liquor traffic, as seen in the resuit of numerous test ballots, and trusts that the Direct Popular Veto, by which all localities throughout the United Kingdom, will be enabled to prevent drink shops being forced upon them, may speedily become the law of the land." (Cheers.) That was the resolution they had to discuss, and no doubt they would hear a great deal that night about personal liberty. He hoped they would hear a great deal about personal liberty. (Cheers.) It was not a matter to be lightly trifled with. (Applause.) What they wanted was to I have the power by law to control the drink traffic. The chairman had drawn attention to his experience of the drink amongst the soldiers. It was the same with them as with others-keep away the drink from them, and crime disappeared. At every assize the judges declared that if it were not for the drink they would have nothing to do. ('•Question.") It was the question, and he was telling them what the judges said. (Applause.) They believed that drink was the great cause of crime, and they said remove the drinking shops, and you will remove a great cause of criminality. (Cheers.) Drink caused the neglect of home duties, the neglect of children. and created an enormous amount of misery, and they wanted it removed. (Cheers.) They were going to alter the state of things, but it would be submitted to the people. There would be nothing done without the consent of the people. (Cheers.) At this point Mr Thomas E. Ellis, M. P. for Merionethshire, entered, and was received most enthusiastically. Mr White continuing, said he saw that Mr Ellis was a friend of the family. (Laughter). They knew the pod sort when they came. (Laughter and cheers.) Those who opposed Local Option said they did so in the interest of the working claises. Did they believe it ? (No ) Diti they know anybody who believed it ? (Cries of No and a voice "I do.") He would take that person's word for it, and say that if it was a question for the working-classes, they desired to put it into the hands of the working-classes to be decided. (Cheers ) Were not their own interests safe in their own hands or in the hands of the magistrates? (" Their own" and cheers). The working classes were going to be asked to save themselves from their own power. Did they think they could manage it ? (Laughter.) The working classes who had now the vote were largely in the majority. (Applause.) The wealthy classes who lived in large houses were in a small minority, for seven out of every eight houses in the kingdom were under f20 yearly rental, and they did not find many of the aristoc- racy in houses under that. (Laughter.) Seven- eights of the people to be protected by one-eighth. That was not in the interest of the working classes, and it wanted a good deal of argument to show that such a state of things was to their advantage. (Applause.) It was said that the adoption of Local Option would lead to an increase of intemperance. (Laughter.) In Canada that was not so. (A Voice "That is not Wrexham," and cheers.) Well, whatever miseries they suffered in Wrexham did not arise from Local Option. (Cheers.) He was a stranger to Wrexham, ibut he had heard that they suffered a good deal from Wrexham be-r (Laughter and uproar.) He said that they could not get a meeting of sober men where perfect or,1er could not be obtained. (Cheers ) Each person who held a license was in reality one who was appointed by Government ts see that the people kept sober, and any one who neglected that tluty, violated the conditions of his license. (Applause.) He to!d them that, as a means of keeping the people sober, the present licensing system was a failure. (Uproar, which became so serious that the chairman had to appeal to the audience to listen in quietness, as those who opposed Local Option would also be heard.) Mr White (continuing) alluded to the Prohibition Law of the State of Maine, where after an experience of 33 years, it had been put in the Constitution of the State by a majority of three to one. (Cheers.) The speaker concluded his speech amid frequent inter- ruptions and calls of" time," by saying that the Local Optionists asked that the settlement cf the matter should be placed in the hands of the people. (Cheers) Mr T. E. Ellis, M P., on rising to second the resolution, was received with great cheering. He oaid he took it that the kindness of their recepMon was owing chiefly to the fact that for some time he had taken an interest and some share in Welsh life, especially Welsh political life. (Cheers.) If politics were a mere party game, if they consisted of battles between two or three parties or sections. if they consisted of enthusiastic public meetings, of receptions, or of groanings, of election contests, and of all night sittings in the House of Commons of one party going into office, and another going out-if politics consisted of such things only he should take no interest in them. But he belie zed that politics formed a great pursuit for human happiness he believed there were social and economic forces behind politics which tended to make legislation good or bad, and to make the ad- minist.ra.f.ion nt Umo fni. r i /» 'n' 'TH' ur unfaIr, oenencial or in. jurious to the common weal. (Hear, hear.) They might agree with him or disagree with him, but he believed the great question of temperance formed not mearly a promit,ent, but an indispensable part of politics and of great political movements and that in it they might see at work great f,)rees which made or unmade individuals or nations. (Hear, hear.) One of the truest statements in Holy Writ was that which said. "To him that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not shall be taken even that he hath." Everyone must have observed the working of that rule, how every gam which one man made in the battle of lif t, especially at the expanse of another, furnished him with new power, new sinews of war, for further work and further aggression, and that law was as true as the other, according to which every false step a man took tended to pull him down in the oattie ana tne strife of life. (Cheers.) Had tney not noticed how in the case of some success- ful man of business, or some great landlord, at a certain point their accumulations became mechanical automatic, self-acting, they be- came rich and powerful almost without knowing it and it was equally true that once a man began the downward course it was most difficult to regain his portion. How many a promising man, by taking one wrong step in that matter of drinking, had placed himself on the downward plams, but once the step was taken how gradual but how certain was the decline and fall. Personally, he was an abstainer altogether (cheera)-and he be.ieved the only way by which one who had succumbed to some great temptation could recover himself was to cut himself adrift. once and for ever from the strong and evil in- fluence which had been the means of pulling him down. (Cheers.) This principle, he believed, was as true of the community as it was of the in dividual In every town in England and Wales they found three or four quarters. In one district the rich and the well-favoured lived in their pleasant homes. In that quarter they found those who either by their own strength or thrift, or by their good fortune in life, had obtained maiterv over circurnitaiiees, who had made their mark in business, who had prosperous families and led a comparatively contented life. In another quarter they would find dark and dingy rows of houses, u here th, poor curied on that desperate strug de of which the poor only knew its force and its gnm- I.ess—(ehcer,) -living not merely without attrac- tion and j,'Y, but living in a terrible stru ',de a,y.xiiiit %vtlit, temptation, and wronp. What was it that maoo those great difference between th., districts of their town-, ? The first cause no doubt was character. Some had stronger character than others, and were bound to come to the surface i,. commerce and in power, political or social The next cause was good or bad laws, and he belied that bad laws had much to do with makin- the terrible chasm between the rich and the poor ini tins c mntry. (Cheers.) The third cause and It was as strong as either of the others, was the pre sence or the absence of the power of drink ( Cheers.) In the rich and comfortable t l' 1,¡ \1. tneir towns did they find these grog gliops ? 011 the contrary, they were placed in that dark aneI aX Ser where the poor ?rug,!?w? t? difficulties. It was a strange P??" of law and cc?uat?om m that the poor should he auh jected to greater temptations than 'he ri(?h in thi3 matter Md yet it was with th? who I Uv.din the richer qLrter. that the p?er ? h.b.t.ng the liquor traffic practic?hr lay. ?t ses?on he Wa^ on a committee on the ?"? Me? i a* hiH and amnngHt the witnesses wJs Mr Boodle, tth he agent of the Duke of Weatmin-tnr an 1 he said it was the policy of the estate to clear off the public houses and the grll shops upon the L')n- do'aSSte."Kf)" T&lS "8h°PS T"1 the power which the law gave thV rich oT re'  ?"' "?"?.' ?? rs don but if that power wa4 given to the duke why should it not he given L7h„Te^V' (Chl e^ In these days we boasted of our uality he^t f. vlt law, but it was a mere nominal e^ualiWL so long as the duke possessed that power and the workingman was dr)verl of the pow £ r of ™S?• w ^k,- n £ °man dragged him lower and lower into "hil* poverty. (Cheers It waa V uesrat«atioa and fK»k but mJ adTe t ^1"°* °Dly trUe th*fc temperance h.ad it was true that every advance fifty years, last tmnpcrance. (Chrers.) Wherever the democracy had widened the bounds of freedom they had also obtained the I)ower of grappling with this traffic. At this time ut day no one would disagree with It Stx-vt- CI e ?"• but why shfuld Tot the 5?any Public houses they wnuld have, or whether they would have DY at M ? (Cheers.) He was curioti? to hear what would be said about personal liberty by the opponents of Locil Option, for it seemed to him futile to say they were infringing personal liberty by placing the licensing question in the hands of the democracy. Returning to the argument that total abstinence would be demoralizing, and that men would not be able to work as well, he mentioned the Attorney-General and Mr Timotliy Harrington -(ch-er-i and h.),ting) -two of the most hatd- worked oiembdrs of Parliament, both of whom were abstainers. Whether a Local Option B 11 came from the Liberals or the Conservatives, it was bound to come. (Cheers.) It would come probably next Se-isi )ii-(cheers and never ")-from the Conservative party—(hear, hear, and laughter) aud when it did come every attempt under it to prohibit indiscriminate licensing would be an attempt to purify the life of the people-(hear, hear) —to increase their self-respect, to increase their power of self-control and self-conquest. Every public-house closed would be a coutnbution to thrift, to the resources for education, and for social refdrm -(" what about the revenue? ) — every increase of thrift and industry would swell the revenue, about which their friends seemed so anxious-(Ioud cheers)-for it was not to the honor or the beuerft of a people that the revenue should b", increased by the degradation and death of A hundred thousand men and women every year. (Cheers.) Let them in Wales, at any rate, wash their hands of such a means of increasing the revenue—( cheer) —and let them with no uncertain voice say that th ir influ mce as a people should be given in favor of such a control of the liquor traffic as to make it more and more possible for the poor to live more easily and more comfortably (cheers) —to give to the poor and the working classes the power which the rich and the well-favored now had, of sweeping from their midst temptations and institutions which dragged them to the earth- (cheers) —anil so controlling the liquor tranr. as to increase in Wales all those virtues of self-respect self-reliance, and self-government, which were the making of every people. (Loud cheers and groans.) Mr William Thomas, J. P., here announced that in order to meet the expenses incurred by the pro- motion of the meeting, a collection would be made. The announcement was received with considerable amusement on the part of a portion of the audience, who indulged in cheering and the exchange of lively badinage. The collection having been made, the Chairman requested that the amendment to the resolution should be moved. Mr Edward Smith, Esless, who was received with cheers and groaus, read the following -esolu- tion While we agree with any just measure that would promote temperauce, this meeting is of opinion that any measure of Local Option would promote intemperance, and as formulated would be impracticable." He had no d'lubt as to the result that would be arrived at. His presence on that platform showed that he was opposed to Local Option, but he was, as they knew, in favor of tem- perance. (Hear, hear, and a voice Since when?") He would not go into the question of Local Option, but simply propose the resolution. (Cheers and groans ) A gentleman rose in the body of the hall, and said he, with pleasure, sec IDled the resolution. Here the speaker was met with loud cries of platform." which he responded to. On the plat- form he was met with cries of Name," which he gave as Mr Lee, of London. He begged to second the amendment for several reasous. He maintained that it would interfere with the rights of temperate and honet citizeiis-(Ianghter and cheers)—it would lead to the increase of clubs, and it was well-known that they found the most intemperance in the workingmen's eltib. (Cheers.) [Rev. Barrow Williams In the gentlemen's clui)s- cheers ] He concluded by pointing out that each ratepayer had a right to oppose the issue of licenses at the General Licensing Sessioas. It would be hard to close public-houies because some men couH not pass them without getting tight. (Laugh- ter and cheers.) Mr George Hicks of London, in supporting the amendmeut, said his task was rendered difficult j because Local Option had not been defined. Option meant choice—either to increase or decrease. He would ask Mr White if he adopted the Local Option advocated by Sir W. Laws m. [Mr White as- sented.] Then the Local Option of Sir W. Lawson was not to increase but only to decrease the licences. Had the advocates of Local Option the elo(lup.llc' of a Demosthenes or the style of a Cicero, they could not command the people to paaa a one-sile 1 law which he had rightly described as local tyranny. Were the majority in a town or village to dictate what a man should drink As well say what he should eat, what time to go to bed and get up. (Cheers ) He was not going to I run down the teetotaller but his teetotallism must be voluntary, and he had no right to ask the people of this country to pass an Act of Parliament to force people to be teetotallers. (Cheers. ) It; i was true it was the duty of Government to protect life and property. But that was in the ordinary way, and we have not yet become so degenerate as to want a policeman to walk by our sides. He would not insult his countrymen by comparing I them to a etiild with a farthing in its pocket, unable to pass a S lVeatmeat shop without spending it. They were told that grog shops were n.? planted among the rich. What man would plant a shop in a fietil where he knew there were no pur- chasers? Mr Eliis had attributed the existence of dingy housr.s to drink—(Mr Ellis: Not altogether) —and he had referred to Sir R. Webster as a total abstainer. But Sir R. Webster would not go for Local Option or Sunday Closing. (Cheers ) Local Option would not decrease drinking, just as since the Sunday Closing Act passed Sunday drinking had increased in the large Welsh towns.—[Rev. Barrow Williams: It has decreased, and counter cries.]—The tect dial- lers were so embittered against the Chief Constable of Cardiff. for giving the statistics of the increase that they called a meet- iug to demand a decrease of his salary. There were amongst their teetotal friends, he was sorry to say, men equally as drunken as those who lay in the gutter-(cheers )-meii who were drunk in bigotry and deaf to the truth. If such a great advance as they claimed was made in tetnperatic why did they want an Act ot Parliament to help them ? He denounced as strongly aa anyone would the habitual drunkard—he was a disgrace to his country-but he had not lost his own self-respect, I and why should he suffer for that man ? Let every- r L 1 1 one, II tney cnose, 13ccoine teetotallers, but let there be no force, no coercion. (Cheers ) la 1736 an Act was passed providing that every retailer of s-pirits should pay a licensed charge of £50, and a further tax of a pound on a gallon on all spirits sold by retail. Heavy fines and whipping "until the body becomes bloody were imposed for illicit trading so it was evident that the trade was to be prohibited' Did they wish that state of things again ? (" No," That's not Local Option," laughter, and cheers.") An allusion had been made to Canada. He was not in the habit of manufacturing history, and with reference to that he would quote a statement made with regard to that country by Mr Glad- stone. (Three cheers wt-re called for and very heartily given.) The words of Mr Gladstone were tn the elf c that Canada had no control over Ih? n^.5 lantll an i f that thi? country WAS not pnvp-rn?ll by what was done there. (Laughter and cheers.) some time ago a conference between the brewers -tnft the teetotallers was held in London, when Mr Mott, of Birinitigliain, iai(i some figurei before the conference with regard to the Maine Law. Mr ?per was present at the en?f.rence, and no one was able to deny those ti.ur? (Hear, hea?.) W..t right t. dctruy ..y particular trade with- out compensation. (Lau-liter and cheers.) If they had to give compensation it must come out of the rates, and he believed they were already too heavy and it it had to be paid out of those rates, the B itish workman would never stand it. (Laughter an l applause.) If the question was left to the ?!u.?ry opinions of the people it would be ?..?t?f?tory. Why should not the publicans! he .allowed to carry on their business, (Shame It wa" shame that the 1) ?ple who"t up that meeting were coffee shop peoole. (Laughter and own,.) Why ,h .uI(l llot t|,e pIlbli^U3 to cairy «m tlu 'r IniHiness as the coffee shop people (lifi. If a m;m took a shop and worked up a connection, if that business was taken from h in he wa. entitled to compensation. fApplause ) 1 he machinery of the Act would prjve ? h? s ?ne, and would fail f. give HbertJ ? t? f' of t,„t country. They we? fr?  Sn was ng.it, but not that which was wron2" _Vheer3 and counter cheers) -n 1 if those who were nnf! ^uT"TS .d,d wrong. the? be punished ? ?? In" 1; way not by force (Laughter) f Jt them maintain the liberties wh? t? h ei^joyed, and which their fathers had nr» K- and nobly won. (Laughter and cheers ) Mr Hicks c)nluded vr earinS he the audielace for his recep- tion and the hearing he had obtained. S'Mr m&- ^i1 lfh« told the audience that Mr Hicks and himself were on the same platform. He had a 1^1 been convinced, aid was in favor r Optwo. (Cheers.) uT "nu^ Zlh corrected ? speaker by .? that he was not. \lr White said he untood such to b"??M"? case fS W, arguments. The crux of matter 0??30 ?from htq ?argufne?nta ?The ?c??f?u?x ????? .neon,„ith their Re? ferring t.} Sunthy Closiog. he said it had nLjf^l for a generation in Scotland, and when, after ii wa3 passed, they found that secret drirlv* practised in many places they f mn 1 j Waa -.h.n?g the P.'?..T.'J?Lnr They "? uo slur upon the Wd,h uotice fnr th were cli?,yer enough to look .f?tS.h?ee  taken in saying Mr Mott's stlt" t- 43 mi3* were never replied to-[Mr Hicks- ^ever answered] —but they had been aa3we^d an* replied to in de- tail. (Cheers.) "'L > xae amendment and then the i W9 put U Wa3 put to the me&hing, when the re3 solu*ttil°oa n Wa3 carri^ hY an overwhelming majority a vote of thanks to  lutktoi asking him to forward copies of the preVtous ro?%r)lution to the Prime N.liuistarI ?" First Lord )f I the Treasury, the Bomp <a„ • ^'le First Lord of I dent of the LOGal Govern™ Mr J. E' p?u aecouded 'Ue %ad said he was gla4 th*" Mr ha,l C'mj to \V I b meeting. What was w?n?.i H cr? b !e them '? was to get a few more Mr Hiokses to (HHe to \?? ham. (Much cheering.) Attmi?n had bee:t „) ? to the Welsh m?giatr?cy. In the c'mttty th?v h ?'< 120 magistrates, and on what ?idc of the Home ,lid they sit, and the same preponderance of political party was to be observed elsewlu In Wales. (Cheera.) Mr Hickil supported the vote of thanks to the chairman, who, he said, had acted in a most net- partial manner. (Applause.) The resolution having been carried, Mr M.,r acknowledged it, and congratulated the tiie, on the good tempered way they had brou-dit h a. close, wlizit at one time promised to be a rathe"r stormy one. (Cheers.) The meeting then brke tip. LOCAL OPTION MKETLVG. To the Editor of the Wr.xkaui StR.—The ra;on of my presence on the platform Q the Local Option meeting of last week htVin?hHn tn repreiented in some 'purters, I ask you to pui.ii,  following f?ct?:—t wa made aware a day or tWq '¡UIt the meeting th?t?confdt-r.tbte oppo<iti n W,'S .:eTtLiIlO he present, and m the intormts of orderly public I therefore wrote to the promoters to t?kif they W 10:1') allow an amendment to be moved, and they v y courteously staged that they would, hue for "eC-L;On of th own they stipu ate I that I personally should be "n ltl platform. e As I mi^ht ;■« considered ,.n interested partj, it IVLi not my intention to take any actiee part in the meeti :.t, :10.1 I t,),,k n.) active part. Had 1 kn -wn that the doors w„U[,i not have been open to the II gelleral" puhlic until } L minutes before the chair was taken, anil had I kaow;, that the meeting would be chi?Sy mere temperance ae,voc i.-» and coiwderably pOhtlC:d, I certainly <h..utd f?t. I"" I f ¥e nmnded. I am Istlllct y in favour 'H t'npHrn?a and 1 wish to lUerfre with n? per-to;)? polir the me"tin w?s advertised m ? Local Option rn, ?les .mdittat' hd extrem 1 measure 1)? i.ocal Option ij?t ?!)neohj ct. I consider it to he iutpr.tcti'-t?? ?,.( i further c insider thai if carried "at :f desired h<? promoters to the point of totd prohibition, it w.mi.f ietl. to far worse abuses than any which now exist. 1 aware that on this point I aiu iu accord with a coinij,.r. able portion of the temperance party, I grtatly r-jjm ¡.ht politics were mixed up with all extieoie propyl, n I t a moderate programme with which I agree was accepted, whereby all present would have pledged 1I1<1:¡¡. selves in favor of a just measure that would IJr"!I¡, t,.mperancti.-I aui, sir, your obedient servant, FUKOEIUC W. JiOiMRS The Brewery, Wrexham Nov. 21th, ISS7

-+-. -=: lR. JOHN BlUGHT ON Tar; LAXI) QUESTION. The following letter has been recei ved from Mr John Bright by Mr H A Jones, of f'lar, in Liverpool, author of "The La id Question aad I Land Bill, with special reference to Wales pub ishod by the North Wa.le Liberal Federation: DEAR SIR,-1 thank you fur sending me ymr essay Oil the Welsh land question I have read it throu^ -h carefully. I will not attempt a criticism of it, ain burdened with letters by a lmost every post. I may say, however, that I can give no sun;, .rt to your views. If competition is to be got rid of in respj tof property in land, why not as regards other kind of property ? Is not a farm :r as competent t') ^nard his own interests as a millowner or other tra iesuun ? [ would have freedom in land as in other property ",et rid of primogeniture, entail, and settlements, or the last greatly liipited make transfer easy and cheap encourage by these reforms the grea er diffusion of the soil ainons the population an 1 then the rest to the intelligence and seif-ititerd,t of those who sell or buy, or who let or take land. This p! i:, would he simple and self-acting. It requires n,, ,e "i the alinning amplication of your scheme, which, to my mind, would render it almost a curse to iarmr JoIIJ landlord alike, and wou'd, in my opinion, break it down. You m ntion toe aisa^Wan'age of ditfretice of language that must be disaopeai ing. A" .11,1\11 your children are, or now ought to be. LeatuiniSr Bullish You would treat your farming population M children; I would treat them as 01 MI, and ind ic > them to act as men. They buy and sell everything .vithout the help of commissioners, an I I would trust joem to take or give up farms. They can ju Ijje of trie ju;Iity of and they know what is their cauitai, what are the chances of their success, and I vvioil, I leave their present and future in their (lan.Is, and to be determined by their intelligence and tiieir in iustry. As to Ireland, I am not sure too III tiii has II" it h-eii done I am not in favour of doing more. The Irish were strong for free sale, which you :ondemn with arguments of much force. I ain disiio-.edu stand by old and well-recognised priu iples 1.010\9& may ensure justice, but there have been, an 1 th-jra are yet, and there may he new laws, which tend to enfeeble, and even to destroy. Forgive this reply to your letter, and this c i-nmer.t on your land reform -icheine. Yours veiy resoec fully, JOHN BUM nr. R A. Jones, Esq., 4, Harrington-street, Liv-rpool. The London correspondent of the says :—Mr Bright'* letter 011 the Welsh land m" otion separates him finally frLru the new Radical party. He falls back upon the old doctrines ot the Manchester school, and is evidently half inclined to be sorry that in regard to Ireland he did so much to induce the Government to which he belonged, and the House )f Commons of which he was a IIK m! -r, to depart from them in 1885. The whole drift of Radical feeling, however, is in the direction f greater State control over landlord". and of protecting tenants against unjust rents. The principle ii actiully being introduced into Great Britain for the sake if the Highland crofters, and its application is likelv t,) extend wtiotitsver tiie riiii-, party the ascendancy. What is perhap-, however, of rtiore immediate importance is the fact that by this letter Mr Bright stands aside from the new party and ranks no longer as an authority amongst tho", who are following its instigations. Mi- Bright is regarded by those who once called him their leader as a politician of the past.

JOTTINGS FROM LIVERPOOL. (Ait Hour !o.th the Sunday Soc-icty, The life-enrichment of art, science, and lit Mature is a real fact to many of nq; to many, on the other hand, it is not even a myth, for it has never entered into thetr cninprehenaion or experience. In Liverpool, however, last year, this itafe of things appealed to some good and earnest-minded men, and the result was the formation of the Sunday Society. This Society make it its obj. ct to obtain the opening of museums, libraries, and art galleries ,,n Sunday, and the repulsion whicti this at fit--it iiiiii,l-o of civilised, comfortable Christi >ns. invariably gives way after a little free and honest discussion of motives and means. The other Sunday we had the pleasure of being present at a lecture on the Piano. And Piimoforta Playing," given by Mr J. N. Petrie, with copious ii lustrations by Mr A. K Baltie, cf tii, Kx.iioitioii Band, The large hall was packed to sutfoc.ttion, and one had the satisfacti 111 of feeling that of Mie great mass present all were going to recei ve an artistic treat of the highest order, and few would part with cash in pursuit of it. Amidst the hirn of talki, g and the noise of people entering rose tll" sound of ini.ht and pleasant music, played by two ladies, and up and down the vast hall walked men and boys, like the vergers in an ordinary church, bearing their li id.'e (an inch or two of white tape printed with the words Sunday Society "), and giving programmes, ushering people to their place*, and with a few minutes' chat here, and a kind word there, inducing a good deal of home feeling even in that immense gathering. You know," said a voice suddenly "II the plat- form, ind the tremendous gathering was still and hushed immediatelv, "you know we printed a pro- gramme last bunday, and we charged a p. nuv for it, bat the money we took from the prograuim-'s only  ? ?' an the coUectiona ?)tily t,) lis. t ht? is serious I sn.??ted that you should .t <eep the penny off the plate that you gave to the pro- grammes. Now, you know this is the ti-t word w"ve ever had to say iu the Sunday Society about money, and I hope it will I'a the iast, hut we must make up our expenses so if Mr Petrie viil j i t let me know in the middle If his lecture, W"Ii send the plates round and take in the collection, atill d.-il't be scared at the shri,t of them." Many a laugh had been «iven, many a near had been heard, during this short sp-ch. and when the plates came round there was not a little fun over the offerings that were laid thereon. F r our own part, we had had our programme given to us nut what could we do but lay our extra pennv on ? That little bit cut home But the collection was not un. lsturoeil the speaker had been fitting in th" fmiit seats hefore the platform. All at once he start-d up II L here s a gentleman here who says he ohi—ts M the c-illection. So do 1. (Great laughter.) But he -;Y, h'1l ive us a P'?"? ?y Sur.d?that we ?"t h!]i \r if I c:m jnst g-t the nam? ..f h?tf ?' rl"'m m.nl'e ?"?men.vho will <:nthesa.n'?c? a *i lolish th? e?Hect.on for ?y?r." Let ? hope tt.? '? hint wa* not completely lost. Illustrations from Bach, Beethoven, Weber, <"n -pirn lMVTen.delsokhn »RubLinstein. Sir Ge.,rge McFVren \h:i gave the first Sunday Society lecture last year, .111 who.ie ret-ent death wm m,)re tiian once referred tc- with ravereit regret), an I ofchnr noirmosern. were   :VeT1.. Wttn expbnatlons which :ncreMe ) t? ?h' ??? -J 7e"of ?"?'"<? ? ?r.t,? ?! th. ?ir. l morpTl^ C??P'n ?nd R?hin.?, hv m?inj ?" f V0 "?"??' ear, heHc???p? hap" jor  nr8t Vll,J by ^ic ?ell ? tho great ?? '-h6-?.rH will ever be c?t?- t" Kit, till the Ken)u?w?{?,,ed music of -.tnn.{- -h.? ba "'?? L ? ^V(>1Co th? reverber? t?.??. th? harmony of soherea. el< n0teS "onndett. ?nd the .{r? ?'.ien? brokenn^ Lfi ?""??' but we hope ?-.tit'?? .h???hh ?f c')ntident'8 ?" ? that one  che men *j stood ..hat; ujj|8 tnanv as th? n?!.? Icheerilv mJu* lni{ wti\. many thI', P;;¡i"' t.» cheerily ml\km all fsøl' 1Jbat the oftene'J bney CI\ Ï'><i1 th* -f„Il i ay Society tile- .n?re welcome they w.?.. ?. th?. ? ???M MtM?tf hurrying to?end h?, ?n? m.m?t the n?e?bte h?t..f wrstcrwd- lC ihe ??t City, that, h?vin? ? ''? th?wm!nlo rai^^fc be the "?M. scope kv Mi*' hep,rted ?n'- tanOhr?py to work. ;> Th" P^rawmos were ?o<?.i? sh?-. M? ? <.h? ? ? "\? "?'? a foot note diweting ?"/ lKr contrtbati?ns to !t to ? ,"t(I1 ?' ?- Snlfn* ^ri" S?!Bhurv-<?..S?i.- th?? '??°'?"' ? of thi* we f?.nd that, he?. the lIst ft ??t'-ation?. it eont??i a nu.nh.f" ^f ?MnLac? dot? and short stories, raaking an intt-t?t'? dlftTl0,0!9?1 ?ernoon'. happiness that w.?d I" duty 6he wh?t. week through in many a ?or home-

nT'l"1 H^NI!??rWhen y.u ^k fj RH?TT? MH7  .ee th?t J.°11 get it. The m?nuf?tu- ?? ? to caution the pubho ?S?'nat !m;t?:on s?n?? t??'- very infertw-qn?.ty. The Paris Blue in  Rlfi, rir,ptph^ ?"°? their name Md T? ? Kefuae all othme. "LACTI. the Pa.tent S?bstitu.? for  ?.n":? no boiling, and will rear C??es ??:' | iSS?* ndat "°? half the -?u?l cost ?"y l L?.tim Co., a?on: n? o ?? ?t?,t. E.C ?