Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

CI.;in the Kh ets. —^ 'I'm: Welsh Liberals are just now very busily engaged in preparing for the coming fight. Everywhere is to be heard the sounds of preparation, and the joints of the political armour are being examined and made available for the struggle, which is to see the downfall of what Tories remain in the Princi- pality. There are not many it is true, but those who remain must go the way of their predeces- sors, and leave the land freed from their presence. Mr Osborne Morgan spoke at Brymbo on Wednes- day night, and very effectively exposed the poverty of his opponent's celebrated and oft repeated speech. Mr Morgan said the Liberal party was spoiling for a fight," and on his own showing, the right lion, gentleman is spoiling for a speech to answer. Perhaps Sir Watkin will oblige. Mr Morgan's remarks were most spirited, and it is very delightful to find that he is in such excellent form for the struggle which is soon to be upon us. On Wednesday Mr Smith and Mr Herbert Lewis spoke at Caergwrle, and delivered two excellent speeches. and their return may be looked upon as assured. Mr Smith's opponent, the lion. Ormsby Gore, lias retired on the ground of weak health, but Mr Lewis has to tight, and we hope no feeling of over confidence will be allowed to prevail. The fight in the Flint boroughs must be earnestly waged, and each Liberal must work as if the issue of the day rested upon him. A correspondent in a con- temporary says—" In spite of the delaration of war which has gone forth from the Unionist head- quarters, and which was at once followed by a list of intending Unionist candidates for Welsh constituencies, the state of things appears to be very unsettled and unsatisfactory for the assailing party. At least three of the announced candid- ates have already signified their unwillingness to stand. The Hon. Ormsby Gore (as we have said) has pleaded weak health as a reason for de- clining to challenge Mr Samuel Smith in Flintshire. Ir WilJÏitl11 Jones, of Birmingham, is on matters outside of Home Rule too pronounced a Liberal for the Tories of Cardiganshire to support with equa- nimity, and so he will not be, after all, the Union ist candidate against Mr Dowen Rowlands. In the Eiviou district of Carnarvonshire Mr W. Hum- phreys. of Aberkin, is said to have withdrawn his candidature, and rumour is busy with the name of Mr Issard Davies as a likely candidate against Mr Bryn Roberts. Efforts are being made in London to get Mr Morgan Lloyd, Q.C., the quondam member for the Anglesey Boroughs, to stand against Mr Thomas Lewis in Anglesey; but it will be strange if the local Tories will be able to give an ungrudging support to their former enemy. From South Wales the last item of election intelligence is satisfactory. Sir Charles Russell, the chosen arbitrator in the dispute in the Carmarthen Boroughs, has given his decision in favour of Major Jones as against Mr Lewis Morris. Mr Lewis Morris' ill-luck in his political adventures bids fair to become proverbial. It is not probable that he will again court the favor of a Welsh constituency. Major Jones will at once proceed to make things lively for Sir John Jones •Jenkins, whom he ought to defeat by a handsome majority." The prospects of the party in Wales are therefore bright, but earnest effort will be needed nevertheless.

LOCAL NEWS. I Wy are pleased to learn that the coroner, Mr B. H. Hiehvail. is much better. A marked improvement lias also taken place in the health of Mr H. Humphreys, solicitor. IT is underfitood that the opposition to the Man- chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Extension to Loudon) Bill will be renewed in the Lords, and, the objectors hope, with a chance of getting it thrown out. As to that, of course, time alone can tell; but before that, on the re-assemblin g of the Commons Committee, a stubborn fight will be made over some of the clauses, though the chairman expressed a hope that during the recess an amicable settlement of the points in dispute would be arrived at. On the whole, the chances of the Bill getting through this session are considered very promising. The Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway is now with- in meamrable distance of being begun. We learn t!ia.? this week Messrs. Davies BroB., of Wrexham, tlie contractors, ha.ve received definite instructions to commence work as soon as possible, and arrange- ments are being made which will enable business to be taken in hand in a fortnight or so. It is intended to ask Mrs Kenyon, wife of the Hon. G. T. Kenyon, M.P.. chairman of the Company, to cut the sod, and the selection is a most happy one. Of course many ponpie would hare liked to have seen Mr Glad- stone perform this task, because he has been so closely connected with the railway scheme, of which the Wrexham and Ellesmere line is a. part, but this we fear is not possible. Mrs Kenyon will nn- doubtedly prove a most graceful substitute, and the affair, which we learn is not to be a very pretentious one. will no doubt be interesting. The railway will be commenced at the Wrexham end.

ArpciNTMEsr.—Sir Robert A. Cunliffe, steward of the Crown Manor of Bromfield and Yale, has appointed Mr Robert J. Kendrick, solicitor, -his dpnty. THE VICAP.-The Viear (the Rev. Canon Fletcher) preached at Oswestry Parish Church on Sunday evening, and preaches at Chester Cathedral next Sunday evening. He has been appointed the chaplain at Miiren, Switzerland, for July. I JioyAf. Alms Foil WJIKXHAW.—On Thursday week—being Maundy Thursday, the day on which the Itoval alms are distributed at the Chapel Hoj-al. Whitehall—we learn that Canoo Fletcher re- ceived 30M from the YUEEN, to be distributed by him to the poor of Wrexham. I hk WELSH CUP.—After the final tie for the Welsh Cup, on Monday, the cup was presented to Mr W. Owen, the captain of the Chirk team. by Mr ■■fames Davies, president of the \Ydsh Association. .StanJev Harst, of High-street and the Arcade, bat taken a capital photograph of the Chirk eleven. i'tPol:T.vr CONTRADICTION.—Some time ago a para- graph was circulated in many papers that a se-ldier Uocally connected) had, at Hong Kong, while in j*'?sI»itaJ, confessed to the murder of a man inlrelacd. !!c report, which caused some excitement in .the town, i. c axe jnfarmeù on the best authority, with- out foundation. EAt-TKn Holidays.—After a spell of splendid weather, the season changed for Eitsteraud snow fell in copious Showers. There wis a winterly aspect over all things, 'Ut the hoiijay spirit was not to be laid by a simple Those possessed by it went abroad in con- siderable numbers, aad a busy tiioe was experienced hy those who catered fox public wants in Wrexham ppde Icewbere. THE FIRE BRIGADE BALL.— We hope our readers will not forget that the annual ball of the Wrexham Fire Brigade takes place on Thursday night. Such an excellent object deserves a large amount of support, and it is not too much to suppose it will be very cheer- fully and liberally given. MR LINDSAY.—We call attention to the advertsment, announcing the subscriptions which have been already received, towards the testimonial which is being raised for Mr Lindsay, in recognition of his services to the public during his connection with the police. We hope a large sum will be raised for so popular an officer. THE CHORAL FESTIVAL.—The Choral Festival will take place on Tuesday evening, at St. Mark's Church. A meeting of the chapter of the Wrexham Deanerv Association will be held in the afternoon of the same day. The vicar (the Rev. Canon Fletcher) has invited the members of the chapter to tea. at the Vicaragc, and the members of the choirs to tea at the Maderit), Hill Schools. HIGHTOWN W KSLEYAN MISSION CHAPEL.—A tea meeting was held in the above place on Good Fridav. At five o'clock a good number sat down to a sub- stantial tea, which was supplied by Mr E. Edwards, Hightown at half-past seven a service of song, entitled "Little Jamie," was most creditably per- formed by the choir, Mr J. Davies conducting, and Mr A- E. Mudd acting as accompanist. TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION. On Tuesday an important temperance meeeting will be held in the Public Hall, when Mr James Tomkinson, J.P., of Tarporley, will take the chair at eight o'clock. Canon Barker, M.A., chaplain to the Queen, Mr D. S. Collins, of Liverpool., and others will address the meeting. Admission will be free, but a collection will be made. THE LATE MR WH. CHAFFERS.—The death is announced of Mr Win. Chaffers, F.S.A., at the age of 80. He was the author of important works upon ancient pottery and gold and silver plote. Some local interest is attached to the late Mr Chaffers by reason of his connection with the Art Treasures Exhibition, which was held in Wrexham in 1S76. Those who remember him will regret the death of a learned and kindly gentleman. Two CHRISTMAS EVES.This charming comedy drama, under the personal direction of the author, Mr A. E. Drinkwater, M.A., Oxon, will be played at St. James's Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 28th, 29th, and 30th inst. The story is pretty, the dialogue clever and natural, and the whole thing is pervaded with a bright, cheery, Christmassy spirit such as Dickens has successfully infused into his Yule-tide stories. Plan may be seen and tickets obtained at Mr Little's, The Library, Hope-street. A N i;\v FCNKKAL CLUll,-A funeral fund on a new basis has been established in connection with the colliery houses, Rhosddu. It is not a legally established society, but every head of the fifty houses, styled the Colliery Houses, can, if he likes, subscribe Is entrance fee. When anyone dies, the 60s so collected is paid over to the relatives, and a fresli fund started. This has been going on for some time, and has proved very acceptable in many case;?. Mr David Jones is the secretary and treasurer, and Mr Thomas Roberts acts as trustee. PRIMROSE DAY.—On Tuesday, Primrose day, the Conservative Club had a primrose wreath encircling a." B." on the balcony. Some bouquets of the flower were to be seen in button holes, but not in the pro- fusion witnessed in former years. Probably the season, and may be a sudden and needed outpouring of a spirit of true regard for the beautiful flower accounts for this. In the evening the annual meet- ing of the Wrexham Habitation was held at the Club, and subseqnently there was a public meeting. Mrs Tench was elected lluling Councillor, in suc- cession to Lady Egerton, and speeches were delivered by Sir Robert Egerton, K.C.S.I., Mr T. Bennion Acton, Mr Houghton, and others. TIn; LATE MR Jonx MASON.—Wc regret to record the death of Mr John Mason, which took place on Tuesday morning at his residence, 4, Park-view, at the age of 63. Mr Mason had been for some time suffering from an affection of the kidneys, and heart disease supervening death resulted on Tuesday. During his illness, he has been attended by Dr. LI. Williams. Mr Mason was formerly in business in Wrexham, but for some years has lived a retired life. He had a number of friends, by whom his death will be regretted. He was a Liberal in politics, but took no active part in public life, although es a member of the Committee of the Reform Club he proved useful. The ll ig at the club has been at half-mast, and the fuiici-apis fixed for to-day (Saturday.) ST. Easter Sunday the ser- vices at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church were of the usually ornate character. At nine o'clock mass was said, and there was a very large number of com- municants. At 12 o'clock the Very Rev. Canon Hop- kins sang Mass in the presence oi a very large con- gregation. The music, which was very effectively rendered, was Van Bree's No. 1 Mass, with Haydn's 0 Jesu mi for the offertorium. The solos were taken by Miss Churton, Mr Fmnk Heirne, and Mr O. J. Rowlands (late of Arthur Rousby's Opera Co.) Mr Rowlands" fine baritone voice was heard to great ad- vantage in the solos, with which the Mass abounded, and in the offertorium he was very good. Suitable sermons were delivered during the day. and in the evening Canon Hopkins gave Benediction, after which Steinforth's 0 Salutaris and Van Bree's Tantum Ergo were sung. Mr Aldlielm Parfitt presided at the organ with his accustomed ability. The church was neatly decorated by the Sisters from the Convent. THE MESSIAH. "— W e again remind our readers of this concert, which will take place on Monday in the Public Hall. Miss Maggie Davies, R.C.M., who will be the soprano on this occasion, is spoken of as the success of the concert season." The number of her engagements from November 3rd to March 31st being 70, and this in only 38 towns-in many places she had been engaged several times during the last six months, and a fact which speaks volumes for her popularity is that her engagements have been so numerous that in no single instance has she appeared during the season as a member of a touring party. We do not hesitate saying, from our personal know- ledge of Miss Davies' singing, that her superior has not appeared in a complete work in this town. Mr Sims Reeves' pupil has scored another triumph this week in a performance of Haydn's Creation." Mr Veerman. who leads the orchestra, is the fortunate possessor of a genuine Strad violin, for which he has declined an offer of fSOO. This magnificent in- strument will be used on Monday. The committee are making every effort to make the first concert of the society a thorough success, and we trust that all who have the welfare of a society, which must materially influence the social and moral character of the town, will extend their patronage to this very deserving institution. EASTER SERVICES.—The Easter services at the parish church commenced at six o'clock, when there was a celebration of the Holy Communion. Celebrations were also held at seven and eight o'clock. At eleven o'clock, the service was fully choral. The prayers were read and the sermon preached by the Vicar (the Rev. Canon Fletcher), who took as his text the 6th verse of the 24t'1 chapter of St. Mark, "He is not here, but is risen." The Rev. Jenkyn Jones preaching in the evening. The decorations were carried out by Mrs Rees. Contributions of flowers and plants were sent by Lady Cunliffe, Lady Egerton, Mrs Walter Jones, and Mr Sliuter. At St. Mark's Church, there was a celebration of the Holy Com- munion at eight o'clock. At the morning service, there was a choral celebration (Garrett in D.) The Rev. Vaughan Jonespreached. A children's service was held in the afternoon, and the preacher in the evening was the Rev. C. Green, of Oswestry. The decorators were Miss Iron, the Misses Beach, and Miss H. Simon. Plants and flowers were received from Lady Palmer, Mrs Piercy, Mrs Fitch, Mrs J. Oswell Bury, Miss Stokes Roberts, Miss Jones (Chester-street), Mr T. Scott, Mr G. Cathrall, Mr Evans, and Mrs Tench. A handsome altar cloth and Bible markers have been given to the church by Mrs Richard Williams. IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.—We would remind our readers that in connection with the University College of North Wales, Bangor, Agricultural De- partment, the committee of the Science and Art bchool, Wrexham, have arranged for a series of lectures and demonstrations on Dairying." The lectures will be given in the Savings' Bank, Regent- street, Wrexham, and the inaugural address will be given by Canon Bagot on Thursday, May 5th, at 2.30 p.m. The subsequent lectures will be given by Mr Thos. Winter, M.A., F.G.S., on May 12th, 19th, and 26th, on the principles of "Dairying," each dny at 2.30 p.m. Miss Roberts, of the Flintshire and Den- bighshire Dairy School, Lleweni Hall, Denbigh, will give instruction and practical demonstrations in Dairying at Mr J. Williams' Carriage Repository, Chester-street, Wrexham, each day at 2.30 p.m. (except Thursdays, when pupils will attend the above lectures.) There will be three classes formed, one for each week, consisting of not more than ten pupils, to receive instruction at the same time, and fees pay- able by pupils are only Is per week. Admission of the public to the inaugural lecture on May 5th will be free, but to subsequent lectures and demonstrations 6d each. Pupils are admitted to all the lectures free. Intending pupils should send in their names at once, as ouly a limited number can enter, to Mr Ashton Bradley, 19, Queen-street, Wrexham, secretary. WELSH BATTIST CHAPEL, RHOSDDU.—The annual tea meeting in connection with the above place was held in the Public Hall, Wrexham, on Good Friday, when between seven and eight hundred people sat down to an excellent tea. The following ladies presided at the tables:—Mrs John Davies, Spring Road; Mrs Helen, Mrs Evan Williams, Mrs Hesketh, Mrs Robert Jones, Mrs William Williams, Mrs John Humphreys, Mrs William Davies, Queen-street; Mrs J. W. Davies, Star Shop; jMrs J. H. Davies, Hen bias- street; "Miss Dodd, Miss S. E. Dodd, Miss M. A. Robert;, Miss Winnie Jones, and Miss Jones, Rhos- nessney. In the evening at seven p.m., a grand mis- cellaneous concert was given, the chair being oc- cupied by Mr William Ellis, Park Lodge. The following programme was rendered:— Anthem ^id i Ni O Arglwydd,The Chapel Glee «.. Party gong Mona, .)1r F, Ashby Solo (harp) a "The rising of the lark," b "March of the men of Harlech," (encored) Miss Jenny Tarry, (Telynores Lleitiad) 00 b « The valley and the snow drops (encored).Miss Emily Wright Song The Pleasure boat on the Niagara," T. Williams D,jet Excelsior Messrs Ashby and Williams ¡ Song-Y Bugill! .MrGeorgc Wynn Song (vilcored). Lum Turn diddley Urn," Arthur Lea CI1j11nu.Ul B a.ddress" Part SOBC The Village Blacksmith," .The Chapel Glee l'arty Roup "The Bird;Miss Emily Wright &.10 (harp; Greek pirates Chorus March,Miss Jenny Parry (Telynores Llefiad S(ing The Nightingale," Mr F. Ashby Daelt- Where rolls theCavaliur,Messrs Hayes and Wynn c .;ong "Aiiehore(L' )Jr T. Williams Song Ciia hvddai'n Haf o Hydd," .Miss Emily Wright Solo (lijlrp) D:rfytld y Garreg Wen," .MisB Jenny Parry (Telynores Lleifiad) Song. J kjjow were to find Em," .Arthur.Lea Finale Th-t- National Anthem, Mr J. O. Jones (of the firm of Crane &- Sons), pre- sided at the piano, which was kindly lent by t hem. MLse Emily Wright, MiM Parry, and Mr Arthur Lea, each received an encore. Miss Parry's selections on the haiy showing remarkably good musical talent. A word of praise is also due to the Chester artistes, who sang with great taste. The tea and concert passed off very successfully, end a good result is expected. WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH.—We are informed that the Rev. Isaac James, of Portmadoc, has been given, and has accepted, a call to the pastorate of the Welsh Baptist Chapel, Rhosddu. The rev. gentleman, who is an excellent preacher, commences his duties on July 3rd.

I GRESFORD CHORAL SOCIETY. On Tuesday evening the newly-formed Gresford Choral Society gave its first concert in the Bovs" School, Gresford. There was a large audience. The soloists were Miss Drury, soprano; Miss Kate Meredith, contralto; Mr F. Harris, tenor; Mr T. Reginald James, baritone; Rev. R. Spurrell, bass; Mr C. W. Thomas, organ and Mr Walter Williams, piano. Mr C. Morton Bailey, F.C.O., conducted. The first part was A. R. Gaul's sacred cantata, The Holy City." Taken all together it was very well rendered. The choir was well-balanced, and the basses and contraltos were especially fine. The following are the numbers of the cantata:— Introduction (iiistrunielitp-1) Chorus j" 8h d Y d Quartctt ù !l 0"9 on er, I Chorus J Air (Tenorj My Soul is athirst." Trio "At eventide it shall be light." Chorus They that sow in tears." Air (Contralto) Eye hath not seen." Chorus Fur thee, 0 dear, dear, country." Chortis Thine is the Kingdom." Intermezzo (instrumental) J Air (Bass) A New Heaven." l I Choral Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy." t t ft. Chorus "Let the Heavens ltejoice." ( h. Air (Te-ior) To the Lord our God." f (l, Air (Coiitrzilto) Come ye blessed." i b. Quartett The fining pot is for silver." Air (Sopr-,tuo) These are they." Duet (Soprano and Coiitralto) I- They shall hunger no more. Qu,Lrtett and cht)rus ',List! the cherubic host." ) Solo (Uass) "I heard the voice of harpers." J Chorus i Great au<l nmrvellous are Thy works I ( Quartett i Lord God." i "No shadows yonder was very well sung, but the air which followed was badly given by Mr Harris, who was suffering from a cold. The trio was well sun g by Miss Drury, Miss Meredith, and Master Scotclier. In the chorus "They that sow in tears," the choir did not keep time. Miss Meredith's fine voice was heard to advantage in the air" Eye hath not seen." The chorus "Thine is the kingdom," was the best piece of work done by the choir during the evening. It opens with a fugue, which was well sung by the basses and contraltos, and was remarkable for the firmness and briskness of attack. Mr James gave the air "A new healven," and Miss Meredith sitng '• Come ye blessed in a charming manner. She was encored, and repeated a portion of the air. Miss Drury sang "These are they very nicely, and the duct which followed was much appreciated. The quartett in the next num ber was given by Miss Drury, Miss Meredith, Miss James, and Master Scotcher. Mr Spurrell was in very good voice, and did his share of the work in an artistic manner. The second part of the programme was as follows:- Song (encored) hOld Meredith Song „ Oh oh, hear tlie \iiiu winds blow, Rev. E. Spurrell Pianoforte duet "Earyauthe," .Messrs. C. M. Bailey and Walter Williams Song Sorrowing," Miss Jjrury The concert concluded with the singing of the I National Anthem, The piano and organ were kindly lent by Messrs. Crane and Son. On Wednesday afternoon a second concert was given, which was also well attended. The first part of the programme was The Holy City," and the second part was miscellaneous.

THE WREXHAM BOROUGH SURVEYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT. I The following is the annual report which the Borough Surveyor to the Wrexham Corporation (Mr J. W. M. Smith) read at the meeting of the General Purposes Committee on April 13th :— GENTLEMEN,—In presenting my report for the past year, I cannot do better than follow the plan pre- viously adopted in dealing with the several matters in the surveyor's department in their usual order. HIGHWAYS.—During the past twelve months, the long continuance of inclement weather has been very trying to macadamised roads and as regards many Wrexhamstreets with heavy traffic cleaning is rendered a. difficult matter owing to the risk of damaging rotten macadam by oversv.eeping. During this period 1,524 tons of metal have been used on the streets and roads within the borough, which has been rolled in only where absolutely necessary, as better results are believed to be obtained in streets having heavy traffic without rolling. A length of about 73 chains has been added to the streets, making the total length of roadway within the borough 15 miles 4 chains. While on this question, I trust that the committee having charge of the extra maining of certain streets may shortly be in a position to report a satisfactory result of their labors. POOTPATHS.—The amount of footpath work done during the year has been but small, a length of 200 yards representing the quantity of pavement done, as there is much of this wanted in the borough. I sincerely trust the Urban Sanitary Authority will be in a position to have more carried out in the future per year than formerly. SEWEKS.—The sewers have been attended to and flushed as required, and I am pleased to be able to state they are in good working order and this applies to the wliole length of thirteen miles, including the outfall extension. RAINFALL.—During the past year a fall of 52'76 inches of rain has been registered in Wrexham, an amount much in excess of any previous fall registered since your Board adopted means of rain measure- ment. Out of the whole year, on only 136 days no rain fell. The greatest daily fall occurred on June 24th, when 1"57 inches were registered. BUILDINGS.—The past year shows a considerable increase in building operations, particularly in small houses. Twenty-two plans of 98 houses have been passed, and five plans relating to other buildings, including alterations to existing buildings in the borough. Fifty-two notices of street openings have been received, and seventeen junctions have been made to the main sewers within the borough during the year. I may, perhaps, add that although these additional buildings meet the wants of many, there are more small sized dwellings required, the present demand for this class of house being great, and should the removal of the houses, as foreshadowed by the promoters of the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway, take place, the house accommodation in Wrexham will for a time be deficient and the conditions as regards risk of overcrowding serious, inasmuch as not only will the evicted have to be provided for, but the increasing influx of others into the town will con- siderably add to the demand for small rented dwellings. THE VOLUNTEER Fun; BIIIC.ADI-Tlie Brigade has, I am pleased to report, maintained its well known reputation for efficiency, and its complement is at the present moment fully up to the mark. Seventeen alarms of fire have been received and attended to, some of them of a serious nature and requiring both skill and judgment to overcome, on the part of those in charge. The total expenses amount to X99 16s 4d; receipts to date, iEB6 9s lOd; outstanding, iEl3 6s 6d, mostly recoverable. In order to increase the efficiency of the appliances, there are several matters requiring early consideration by your Committee. These will no doubt be brought before you in due form and by the proper officials who are prepared to carry out the new regulations lately laid down. CEMETEIty,-It will not be a matter of surprise to your Committee to find that the work connected with this part of theCorporate estate is annually increasing, and a retrospect of the past winter will in no way diminish any such feeling. Two hundred and ninety- three interments have taken place as against 254 the year before. The cost of work, f!.[! wages and material amounts to iC117, while the receipts are EI86, showing a net sum of JE69 to the good in connection with this particular department. The improvement carried out in connection with the additions to the superintendent's house and the warming of the chapels, have so far proved satisfactory, and when the necessary painting is completed the structures may be considered to be in excellent order. This last matter will be brought before the next meeting on the 19th. STREET CLEANSING AND WATERING.—Having of late given special consideration to the watering and cleansing of the streets, &c., in the Borough, I am of opinion that the time has arrived when this matter should have special attention at the hands of a com- mittee called for the purpose, the object being to ascertain definitely whether the most advantageous means are adopted to carry out this work efficiently. As will be seen, extra team work is being used in sewer flushing, street watering, and street and road cleansing, ana as certain advantages are obtained by being able to carry out a portion of this work outside the regular working hours, the committee would have to consider, 1st—If there would be a gain in owning some horses themselves; 2nd—If there are sufficient appliances, and if not, what additions should be made, and 3rd—If an alteration of the present system and hours of work would result beneficially. REMOVAL OF REFUSE.—As this question is at the present moment engaging the attention of various Local Authorities, it may not be considered out of place to submit a few particulars as regards its work in Wrexham as at present carried out. For several years the Urban Authority has undertaken the removal of night soil, ashes from dust-bins, and such other domestic refuse as would, if left to accumulate, become a nuisance (this does not include farmyard manure, which is, of course, dealt with by the owners), and these matters are disposed of in the best known way under the circumstances consistent with safety and economy. The night soil and such ashes as are mixed with anything having a manurial value are taken to Holt-street Depot, and there stacked and periodically sold to farmers and others in lots, realizing about 2s per two-horse cart load. As regards dry ashes and rubbish which has no manurial value, and for which of course there is no sale, this, as you are aware, is deposited in tips in various parts of the town, and it is this material which has for some time back been the cause of trouble in connection with its disposal, and has given rise to complaints from owners and occupiers of property, as well as being considered unsightly. There is also the questionable proceeding in a sanitary sense of depositing large collections of ashes, mixed in many cases with animal and vegetable garbage, which, although in small proportion to the ashes when seen on the surface, is often the cause of remark and complaint, there is also the accumulation of tins, broken pots, and glass, together with innumerable odds and ends, which all add to the unpleasant appear- ance of a town tip. The various points where it has been and is now the custom to tip ashes, refuse, and street slurry are as follows:-(ainbriin Ironworks, owners Messrs Powell Brothers and Whitaker; Gravel Hole—Corporation; Farndon-8trut- AId, Samuel; Hightown-road—Executors of the late Mr Piercy; Hightown South—Messrs Davies Brothers; Ruabon- rcad Brickworks—Mr Collins; and Chester-road field —Mrs Owens. Two of the above being closed, and a further prospect of others being so. it appears to me that inasmuch as no others are being provided, your authority are justified in considering what means should be adopted in future to dispose of the town refuse [at reasonable rates. As regards the aniottcta of material to be dealt with, I have obtained such information as will afford an approximate estimate of this quantity in 1891. ASIIPITF.-There were during the year 533 carts at 7s each employed, averaging 2bcwt. per load, and so removing 2,840 tons, to which there were added 378 loads of nightsoil and rubbish, say 570 tons, and if the amount of street sweeping including slurry be taken at 3,500 tons (a modest calculation), it will be found that upwards of 6,500 tons of waste material had to be then disposed of by your authority. Accord- ing to the last published accounts, the cost incurred in connection with this work is as follows:— Ashpit Expenditure. -C s. d. s. d. Team work 194 6 3 Wages 234 7 1 Repairs, tools, and sundries 12 6 10 441 0 2 Street Cleansing, Removal of Slurry, and Sweeping. Team work 120 6 3 Wages 232 12 5 Tools, &c., 7 5 7 -360 4 3 Total 801 4 5 Taking the above as representing the cost connected with the removal of 6,500 tons, it will show that without allowing for receipts it costs about 3s 6d to remove each loaci of rubbish and manure to the before named tips, &c. Although this may not be considered very excessive as at present dealt with, yet it must be apparent that if the tips are closed, and the distance of cartage in- creased, as also the quantity of material to be dealt with, a considerable increase will take place in the cost of scavenging. I would therefore suggest that your committee consider 1.—Whether the mode of the disposal of this waste material would be improved by adopting a system of cremation by means of a destructor. 2.—Whether an improvement could be made in its conveyance by substituting larger carts than those now in use, and obtaining a corresponding reduction in cost. 3.—If so. whether it would not add to the efficiency of the work if a certain number of proper ash carts were provided, together with the necessary horse power, etc. The above are what occur to me as being the prin- cipal points connected with this matter, and in sat)- mitting this report I trust that I may have included all that your committee require in connection with any preliminary inquiries respecting these importasit subjects.—I am, Ac., J. W. M. SMITII, I April 13tli, 1892. Borough Surveyor.

? LIBERAL MEETING AT CAERGWRLE. SPEECHES BY MR HERBERT LEWIS AND ME S. SMITH, M.P. On Tuesday evening a crowded meeting of electors was held in the Public Ilall, Caergwrle, for the pur- pose of hearing addresses by Mr Samuel Smith, M.P., Mr J. Herbert Lewis, tl-,o cz- iididLLte for the boroughs, and others. The chair was occupied by Mr H. H. Hughes, Ty Cerrig, and there were pre- sent Mr S. Smith, M.P., Mr J. Herbert Lewis, Mr Hughes (builder), Mr Bellis, C.C., Rev. J. Smallwood, C.C., Hev. Jonathan Evans, Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Mr E. \V. Smallwood, Cymmau Alderman Davies, Celyn Mr Ellis Jones, Cyiiiiiiziu Mr H. Piercy, &c. The CHAIRMAN, in briefly opening the meeting, said Mr Smith came before them as their tried servant, and although he was not a. Welshman he was thoroughly m sympathy with national politics and aspirations. (AI)piause.) They knew all about Mr Lewis—(hear, hear)—and he was present to speak for himself. lie would not detain the meeting longer, but at once call upon the first speaker. (Cheers.) Mr IIERI'.R.KT LEWIS, who was received with much cheering, said he wished to be allowed in the first place to thank very heartily those electors of Caergwrle, who that afternoon had given him such a kindly, cordial, and warm-hearted reception. The remark he had often had occasion to make during his canvass was that whatever other virtues the people of Caergwrle possessed, they were certainly amongst the most warm-hearted people he had come across. (Hear, hear.) He wished also to express his great satisfaction at finding, as the Liberal candidate for the Flint Boroughs, that Caergwrle was so strongly Liberal. (Cheers.) He felt perfectly certain, after what he had seen and heard that afternoon, that in Caergwrle the Liberal party would find solid and substantial support, which would be bound to tell in the coming election. (Hear, hear.) There was one thing he heard a great deal about in Caergwrle, and that was a certain famous black cow. (Laughter.) He did not know what had become of the cow, but he believed the events connected with it wcfuld lead a great many at the general election to support the cause of religious equality. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Lewis said You heard some time ago of the resignation of your late member, Mr John Roberts, who so faithfully represented this constituency for the past fourteen years. (Hear, hear.) His resigna- tion was received with the greatest regret. We felt little doubt of bsing able to return him at the next general election, but the state of his health made it impossible for him to give to his duties as a member of Parliament that attention which he thought they required. I am sure that all the parties in the con- stituency, not only the party which promoted his return, but the one who opposed him, unite cordially in expressions of unfeigned regret that the connection which has subsisted so long between him and this constituency is about to be severed. Mr Roberts will take with him into his retirement from Parlia- mentary life the good wishes of his constituents, whom he has served so well. (Cheers.) This is the first occasion on which I have had the honor to appear before the people of Caergwrlo as a candidate for the representation of the Flint Boroughs in Parliament in succession to Mr Roberts, and I have to express my healtiest thanks to those Liberals of Caergwrle, many of whom did not even know my face, but who were good enough to unanimously adopt me as their candi- date. Such confidence, given without a dissentient voice, has imposed a great obligation upon me. (Cheers.) That responsibility I intend to discharge to the utmost of my power and ability. Talent is not nearly so necessary as conscientious devotion to duty, and that is all I have to offer. We are now in a critical period in the history of our country. (Hear, hear.) We expect very shortly the dissolution of Parliament. No one can predict the precise time of its arrival. Ministers naturally wish to put it off as long as possible. You never heard of a man con- demned to die who was in a hurry to have the sen- tence executed, and ministers are in no particular hurry to read their own burial service, or to put an end to their existence as salaried officers of the State —(laughter)—but the time of dissolution will not make very much difference to us. If it comes soon, it means Mr Gladstone's early return to power. (Cheers.) If it conies late, our majority in the next Parliament will be all the greater. (Applause.) The country is becoming more and more impatient of the delay, more and more intolerant of the ministers who have clung to office during the past six years not- withstanding the rijosi emphatic denunciations of their policy by constituencies in which bye-elections have taken place. But the longer they postpone their appeal to the country, the more decided will their condemnation be. They have only remained in office in consequence of the persistent support of the persons called dissentient ?ie?re"lials, and the main reason for that support has been the certainty taat the dissolution would sweep the dissentients out of existence. (Hear, hear.) They call themselves Liberal Unionists. A far better name for the great majority of them would be Tory Disunionists, for they have supported the Tory party in all its arbitrary and unconstitutional action in regard to Ireland, and have taken a course the only natural result of which, carried out in its entirety and supported by the people of England, would be to perpetuate the hatred born of centuries of misgovernment, and bred on the coercive legislation of the present ministry, which has embittered the relations between two countries naturally allied to each other. (Applause.) Another reason for deferring the appeal to the country as long as possible, has been the hope avowedly expressed by- Unionists that Mr Gladstone would not outlive the existence of the present Government. It is cheering to the heart of every Liberal to think that our great leader is, in body and intellect, fully com- petent to undertake the great task, the accomplish- ment of which will be the crown of his grand career. (Loud cheers.) The Tories and their allies have been running the life of this present Parliament against that of an old man. ("Shame.") The life of Parlia- ment is about to expire. The old man is hale and hearty, and the nation means that he shall have an opportunity of redressing the balance of wrong and injustice under which Ireland has suffered for genera- tions. (Cheers.) That will be the first work of the next Parliament, but I trust that closely allied to this work—following immediately after it, if not running concurrently with it, will be the settlement of that great question in which our own country is so pro- loundly interested-I mean the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales. (Applause.) This question has been thoroughly discussed and thrashed out. We have made up our minds upon it long ago. Wales has pronounced upon it so often and so decisively that it is difficult to find anything new to say upon it, although we constantly have new illustrations of the unsatisfactory condition of the existing position of things. (Hear, hear.) We advocate this change in the interest of the Church, of Nonconformists, and of the nation. We protest against the existence of an Establishment which poisons our social life, which gives one denomination undue preference above other sects, and which prevents co-operation between re- ligious bodies that ought to work together for the common welfare and the spiritual good of the nation. (Applause.) In WaJes, the preponderance of Non- conformity is so overwhelming the existence of the Establishment is so much opposed to the wishes of the great majority of the people that the connection between Church and State ought to be severed with- out delay. In a free country, a State institution which does not possess the confidence of the people must go. Wales is not Poland. If we were Poles, our wishes would be of no account, but we are British citizens, we have votes, and if, by our votes, we indicate our desires clearly and unmistakably, the translation of our wishes into law is only a matter of time. But that time must be short. Wales has so repeatedly and by such overwhelming majorities declared herself upon this question that no future Government will be able to keep Disestablishment in the background for any length of time. (Applause.) I said that the con- tinuation of the Establishment was unjust to the Church, by which, of course, is meant the spiritual portion of the Church. (Hear, hear.) The theory which upholds Establishment is that the connection of the Church with the State enables the Church to permeate the State with religious ideas. Unfor- tunately for this theory, the facts show that the ten- dency is for the State to secularise the Church, and if the Church has recently awakened from the lethargy and torpor into which its comfortable connection plunged it, it is not to the State that the Church owes gratitude—it is, in a large measure, to the pros- pect of Disestablishment that the Church has to be thankful for its renewed activity. (Hear, hear.) And when the prospect is converted into reality the church will receive a farther stimulus to good work. That has been the case in the Colonies, and there is no reason why the same good result should not follow here. (Hear, hear.) What is the use of prolonging this struggle I hear, on all hands, that a great number of former defenders of the State Church are making up their minds to accept the inevitable, and to make the best of it. The great impending change, which many of them regard as a disaster, will in reality be a bless- ing to the church and to the country. The sooner it is accepted, the better will it be for both. I must now pass to other subjects of interest to the country. There is only time to glance at some of the most important. The maxim which shoHld govern every LiE?1i in dealing with every measure is the greatest good for the greatest number." (Cheers.) Mr Lewis said there were a large number of import- ant measures which would engage the attention of the Liberal Government. One of the great political phenomena had been the growth of 'the power of the I working classes. That had been the result of the last measure of enfranchisement which was carried by Mr Gladstone in 1885. (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced at the I growth of power the working classes had, but they would require reforms other than those connected with Ireland and the Welsh Church. He had been struck while in the boroagh that afternoon to find what a number of people there were who had no votes, because they had not resided for the necessary qualifying period in the place in which they lived. He thought the qualifying period ought to be reduced. (Hear, hear.) As it was, a, workiugman was nearly two years without his vote. He thought it ought to be reduced to something like three months. (Ap- plause.) Another question of much importance was the principle of one man one vote. (Hear, hear.) At present the power of the workingman's vote was swamped, to a large extent, by the number of owners of property who had votes in several counties perhaps. He was opposed to a plurality of votes. Another question with regard to electoral reform which was of importance was the repeal of the Septennial Act. (Hear, hear.) Seven years was too long for any Parliament to exist, and he thought if the period were redszeed to five years, it would be better for Parliament and for the country. (Hear, hear.) Speaking upon the temperance question, Mr Lewis said the inhabitants ought to have this matter in their ha.nds, and he should support Mr John Roberts' Bill to amend the Welsh Sunday Closing Act. He was strongly opposed to the liquor traffic with native races, and with regard to the drink traffic in India, he thought if the people of that country had a larger voice in their own government they would soon settle the question. There was the important subject of land reLorm which required attention, and Mr Lewis s:tid the object of this would be to increase the number of small holdings. He spoke very favorably of Mr T. E. Ellis' efforts, and said lie was of opinion there should he taxation of ground rents and royalties,, and compulsory registration of title. Iu his canvass of the boroughs he had iound that there was much interest taken in the Eight Hours Question. (Cheers.) He had seen a large number of colliers, and had been very glild to meet them. (Hear, hear.) He had been brought up amongst colliers, and was boriitii(I had lived for uome time within 200 yards of the mouth of a coal pit. His first Sunday School teacher was a collier, who was one of the best )i;ci- l he had ever known, and he natural] v took a deep interest in the welfare of the colliers. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the Eight Hours Question, Mr Lewis said he would say there what he had said in otier places, and that was—he was prepared to vote for tne principle of the Bill. (ADplztuse.) Alluding to the finances of the country, Mr Lewis said the expenditure was ninety-six and n. half millions. There was a vast sum spent on the forces, and the report of the Lord Wantage's committee showed that there was very great room for I economv. As far as he was able, he should give his I I vote in favour of economy. (Hear. hear.) Mr Goschen had recently introduced his Budget, and had shown a nice little surplus. They knew there was a dissolution at hand, and that there were more ways than one of adding up figures. (Laughter.) He was looking forward with great interest to the remarks Mr Gladstone would have to make upon Mr Gosclien's littic sum in addition, but he hoped it was right. (Laughter and applause.) He objected on con- stitutional grounds to the Government taking the House of Lords into partnership upon financial matters, oil the ground that it was wrong, and it might become necessary to consider and deal in a drastic way with the Upper House. (Applause.) Closing Mr Lewis said:—The next general election will be one of the most interesting and important that has ever taken place—possibly more fraught with real tangible benefits to the great mass of the population than any election which has preceded it. The amount of good the present Government have done has been exactly proportioned to the extent to which they have accepted Liberal policy. (Hear, hear.) What do they offer us? Practically nothing but resistance— resistance to Land Reform, to Temperance Reform, to Equality of voting, to Disestablishment, to the Ex- tension of Local Government in this country. (Hear, hear.) What, on the other hand, does the Liberal Party say ? It says we will make an earnest, a patrio- tic, and we hope a successful endeavour to heal the breachwhicli alien and coercive legislation has made between the people of Ireland and the people of Great Britain. We will abolish the unjust and odious religious inequality which for many years have made the Principality the scene of a bitter feud between religious bodies, between men who ought to be working in harmony for the spiritual welfare of their fellow creatures. We will replace land laws, which make the soil of this country the heritage of the few, with juster and wiser laws, which will bring the people into closer connection with the land upon which they live. We will advocate and pass measures tending to the well being of the working classes—the bone and sinew of our country. (Applause.) These are some of the objects of the Liberal party, and I trust they will receive the support, as they merit the confidence of the electors of Caergwrle, and I venture to hope that that trust and confidence will also be extended to your humble servant who seeks to represent you in Parliament. (Loud cheers.) Mr Lewis then moved a resolution of confidence in the Liberal party. Mr SAMUEL SMITH, M.P., who was loudly cheered, rose to second the resolution. He said he had listened with much pleasure to the clear exposition of the Liberal policy which the candidate for the Flint Boroughs had just placed before them. Unless he mistook the views of the Boroughs, that exposition would, at the general election, receive a hearty sup- port by the return of Mr Herbert Lewis. (Applause.) It was left for him to give, not so much a forecast of what was to be done, as to give an account of what was being done in the House of Commons. It gave him great pleasure to meet his constituents, and tell them that the Welsh party had been able to take a very prominent part in the work of Parliament. (Hear, hear.) He was not aware that in any previous session had the affairs of Wales received so large or so close an attention as they had that session. They had had several sittings of the House devoted to Welsh affairs. He had the good fortune in the ballot at the beginning of the session, to draw a day for the discussion of the Welsh Disestablishment question—(hear, liettr)-aiid though owing to that common coniplaint-iilfluenzi-be was not in good condition to discharge his task, and though he was not able to speak with the fulness he should have liked, he was able to inaugurate a discussion which lie hoped would be of some value to their cause. (Hear, hear.) They succeeded in getting one of the few complete days which private members had at their disposal. There were not many such days, be- cause owing to the pressure of public business, the Government had appropriated the private members' days. However, there was a debate which lasted over eight hours, and upon the whole it was a very satis- factory discussion. Some of their Tory friends seemed to think that the discussion was in their favor, because they had printed a verbatim report, which they had widely circulated. He did not object to them having that opinion—(laughter)—and he was pleased they had circulated the report, because the more the ficts were circulated the better it would be for their cause. (Hear, hear.) The Church question had been discussed so fully, that there was hardly anything more to be said about it. The question in Wales was nettled, as far as discussion could settle it, and as far as the voice of the people could decide it. it had been judged and decided, and there was no possible chance of that judgment being reversed. (Hear, hear.) Their church friends kept clinging to the idea that if they had time, the church would grow so strong as to remove all cause of questioning. They were welcome to the opinion, and he thought they might expect that day to be somewhere in the Greek Kalends. (Laughter.) In discussing the question, they were 80mewhat limited in the scope of the argu- ments, for although the principle was universal, and they were confined to treat the question as it referred to Wales, and they advocated it because they believed disestablishment would be to the interest of wholesome doctrine everywhere. They believed they were advocating thereby the cause of Christianity, which was always in a more healthy condition when it was free from State control. (Applause.) The case of Wales-now that the church in Ireland had been disestablished-was the strongest in those islands, and in advocating it, they believed they were following the experience of Christianity of the last 1800 years. They would find that in the past, the more religion was under the control of the State the less active it was in its work of regenerating the world. He had been a student of church history all his life, for it was a subject in which he took great interest, and he found that its testimony was perfectly unanswerable in the direction of their argument. In the middle ages, the State churches became tyrannical. After the Reformation, things were better, but even then they became corrupted and slackened in their zeal I and in their work. After such examples, they advocated the disestablishment of the Church of England, not because they hated ber-(he-.tr, helLrj- but because they believed it would be to her great advantage to be freed from the fetters of the State. (Applause.) The Church of England at present was a purely Erastian Church. It was bound by law, «r<f] without the consent of Parliament could not alter _a_- T. its formularies, even if it came to be held that they were wrong. It could not enforce discipline, and was in the hands of the secular bodies of the country. It was helpless, and to free it and give the laity its proper place-becluse at present it was a sacerdotal body, and that was always extremely unwholesome for churches—this was the work they had in hand, and it would be found hereafter that they had proved its true friends and not its enemies. (Applause.) The Welsh members had been active in promoting two important Bills. The first was the enfranchisement of places of worship, the object of which was, Mr Smith explained, to give security of the tenure of their places of worship. In many cases the buildings were erected upon ground which was leased, and the object of the Bill wa.s to enable the freehold to be bought. The need for such a measure, Mr Smith showed, by quoting from a, recent case at Llanbrynmair, where the owners of the chapel had had notice to quit. The second reading of the Bill was carried by a. majority of two to one, and he believed it would be carried into law this session. (Applause.) The second Welsh measure was the Land Bill, which was introduced by the able and popular Welsh member Mr T. E. Ellis. (Cheers.) His speech on that occasion was, in the general opinion of the House, one of the best he had ever made, and no one who listened to him did so with more attention than Mr Gladstone. (Applause.) Mr Ellis made out a very strong case for inquiry in the land question in Wales, but the Government, through Mr Chaplin, declined to grant. It was, therefore, left to the ncxt Liberal Government to appoint a commission to make a searching inquiry with a view to future legislation. (Hear, hear.) Mr Gladstone spoke on the Bill, and although he was unable to vote for it, his speech would be a landmark in the history of the land question in Wales. (Applause.) In connection with this subject, Mr Smith said he wished to say a word or two about Mr Chaplin's Small Allotments Bill, which was now in the Committee stage. The general opinion of the House was favorable to the Bill. It marked a great advance upon previous legislation from the Tory side of the House, and the Liberals, while trying to improve it, wou!d give it a cordial reception, :md promote its passage into law. It was a Bill out of which many important matters might ensue. In England, more than in Wale- the I people had been divorced from the soil. In Wales happily there were a number of small holders of land, but in England this was not the case, and he thought it was most important that the number should be multiplied. (Hear, hear.) In France, Germany, and Switzerland the small holders were the backbone of the country, and he thought the benefits of the system should be extended to this country. (Applause.) Mr Smith then explained the principles of the Hill, but regretted the absence of the compulsorv power. That small ownership was pro- fitable in this country lie was conifdent, because we had the climate suited to market gardening. L\- .Car Whitchurch he had seen some small holdings, con- taining from two to five acres, which had proved so profitaole as market gardens that he was told that as ¡ much as X50, and in one case iClOO, per acre had been received. (Applause.) He saw no reason why a system which had proved so successful on the borders of Wales should not be generally adopted. If this were done it would lie to the advantage of the people and the country. (Applause.) Referring to the work yet to be done by the Welsh members, be pointed out that discussions were to be raised upon the union of Welsh Comity Councils and upon the Welsh fisheries. After briefly alluding to matters of Imperial politics which would engage the attention of the next Govern- ment, Mr Smith said it was generally expected tlizlt the dissolution of Parliament would take place about July, but it might come sooner. He did not think it would be much later, but whenever it came he believed Plintshire and Flint lioroughs would, by large majorities, declare in favor of the Liberal policy. (Cheers.) The Hov, JOHN SMALLWOOD, C.C., proposed a reso- lution expressing the thanks of the electors to Mr John Roberts, ttie retiring member for the Flint boroughs, and confidence in Mr J. Herbert Lewis and Mr S. Smith, both of whom the meeting pledged itself to return. The rev. gentleman said last election Mr Smith was returned by a majority of 1.500, when they were up to their knees in snow. He believed that they would :-end him to Parliament again, and that in the boroughs Mr Herbert Lewis would be triumphantly returned. (Applause.) Aid. VAYlES very cordially seconded the resolution. He had seen a great deal of Mr Lewis during the last three years, and the more he saw of him the better he liked him. He believed that the electors of the boroughs would be of the same opinion. (Applause.) The Hey. JONATHAN EVANS, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Smith pond Mr Lewis, alluded to the Registration Laws and said, although he had been a -Lltliou?,ii i c liz,. d becii a householder for 3j years, he bad never had a vote. (Hear, hear.) Mr JOSKPH GiiirFiTiis seconded the resolution, and said both gentlemen were men of high character,and those were the kind they sought to have in Parlia- ment. (Hear, hear.) Mr Jiiiix MOKGAN (Mold) in supporting the resolu- tion, spoke of the anomalous condition of the Registra- tion Laws of which he had fifteen years experience. The resolution was then carried. Mr S. SMITH briefly responded, and proposed n, vote of thanks to the Chairman. Mr LEWIS seconded, and expressed his gratitude to the Chairman for the assistance he had been to him during the day's canvass. Mr Lewis said that dis- trict had an attraction to him because his paternal grandfather came from Hope. Mr Smith had spoken on the allotment question, and perhaps it would be of interest to say, that under the Act of 1887 a local authority had spent £ 1,500 in trying to secure land. The question of the union of Welsh County Councils was one in which he was deeply interested, and was of great importance, as was also the Welsh Fisheries. lIe hoped beneficial results would result from the de- bates. The resolution, was then carried, and the CIIAII!>;AN having replied, the successful meeting terminated. Mr Samuel Smith, M.P., addressed a meeting of his constituents at Connah's Quay on Wednesday night, and met with an enthusiastic reception. The chair was occupied by Mr Henry Huilbutt, J.P., who was supported on the platform by Mr Herbert Lewis, and there was a large attendance.

MR. OSBORNE MORGAN AT BRYMBO. A SLASHING SPEECH. I I On Wednesday night, the Hjglt Hon. G. Osborne  Morgan, Q.C., M.P., addressed ? very large and enthusiastic meeting of his nppC'trf! in Kugedi Chnppt, Brymbo. Mr Edward Roberta, CC, pn¡decl, and tlz(,reI were present:—Mr and Mrs Osborne Morgan, ?!rs Edward Roberts, Mr Peter V. iiliams ltev. A. J. l'arry, Cefn Mavir; Kev. T. K. Jones, <ke. After Mr E. W. Parry had very effectively i;iiiig Hell I 'Vlaa fy Nhaùau," the CHAIRMAN said it was an honor and pleasure to take the chair at that meeting. They had assembled to welcome once more in Hrymbo their respected member. (Applause.) They were proud of him, and one duty they had to discharge that evening was to thank him for his long and valuable services to them ai.d to the cause of NY ales and Welsh nationalism. (Hear, hear.) Mr Morgan would address them upon some of the chief political questions of the day, and would no doubt deal with that which was the most absorbing one of all, and that was the dissolution. (Cheers.) There were many questions affecting Wales before Parliament, but for the present the most important of all was the question of the dissolution. He was afraid that enquiries as to the date when it would take place would have to be referred to Lord Salisbury, for it depended upon him when he would advise Her Majesty to dissolve Parliament. However, it could not be left over very much longer, for even the Tory party were tired of running the life of Parliament against the life of their great lea(ler--(clicers)-for whilst Parlia- ment was getting older, Mr Gladstone appeared to be getting younger. (Renewed cheers.) He was quite prepared in vigor and strength to take up the reins of power. and to consuniate his life by a great act of justice. He believed that when the time came Brymbo would do its share in supporting him and his cause. Recent events in the parish, notably the School Hoard and County Council electionR, showed that the voters in that locality were prepared to do their duty. He believed that what was true ot Brymbo was also true of the whole of East Denbigh- shire. He was glatl to learn from the the Kev. A. J. Parry that in Cefn, they were quite prepared for the general election, and the sooner that came the better. (Cheers.) Their opponents had recently held a meeting at Yrun Schools—(laughter)—which was addressed by a trio of titled people-Sir Watkin, Sir Robert Cuiiliffe, and Sir Robert Egerton. From Sir Watkin, the candidate, they got the speech which they had read, he could hardly say how many times. (Laughter.) Sir Watkin seemed to him to be very like a barrel organ which had been set to three tunes. (Much laughter.) When they turned the handle they were sure to get the same tunes, and they had to serve their purpose in every district, for wherever Sir Watkin went the electors got a repetition of the Fame speech. (Laughter and applause.) What had Sir Watkin to say upon the burning questions of the day The burning question for Wales was the disestablishment of the Church, but Sir Watkin ignored it. When asked by an elector, he retorted, "How much better will you be for disestahlishment r (Laughter.) That was every word that was devoted to the subject, and yet Sir Watkin came before the electors and asked for their support, while he ignored the question which burned ill every parish in Wales. (Applause.) Sir Robert Cunliffe, who also spoke at the meeting, had nothing whatever to say upon Welsh questions and confined himself entirely to Ireland. He had heard Sir Robert Cunliffe speal. on many occasions on Welsh questions and he had heard him speak out strongly in favor of disestablishment and disemlowment of the church in Wales, but now he had not a word to say. He had gone to his own place—(much laughter),—he had gone among his own friends, for it was evident that Sir Robert Cunliffe had never been a real Radical nor Liberal. (Applause.) The most astounding statement made at the meeting was uttered by Sir Robert Egerton who said that looking through the whole of East Denbighshire, he could not find one gentleman so well fitted and qualified to represent it in Parliament as Sir Watkin. (Laughter.) Those present denied that and said the one gentleman who was fitted to represent them was the one who sat near him and who had had twenty-four years' experience. (Cheers.) Mr Morgan had studied their wants and voted for their rights, and in the future as in the past he would always be found fighting for Wales and Welsh Nationalism. (Cheers.) He hoped when the election came, all would do their duty, for they would have to tight against princi- palities and the powers of darkness. If they did so, he had no doubt but that Mr Morgau would be returned as their member by a very large majority. (Loud cheers.) Mr OfiBORNr. MORGAN, who was received with much cheering, then addressed the meeting. He Raid it was alwa.ys pleasant, particularly after such a very kind and flattering address had been given as that uttered by the chairman-far too flattering he thought—(" no, no ")—to indulge in the language of congratulation. He thought he might congratulate them upon the events which had taken place in Brymbo in the past two or three m. nths. (Applause.) They had returned a School Hoard which was in every way worthy of them, but they had done more than that, for they had returned his friend, Mr Edward Roberts, at the head of the poll at the County Council election by a. great majority, and had wen a splendid victory. (Cheers.) He congratulated them, but he also thought he could congratulate the district, and he thought he could do the same to himself, for he must say the Liberal party in East Denbighshire was never in better spirits nor were ever better organised, in fact, like the Irishman in the story, they were "spoiling for a tight." (Laughter.) The chairman had asked him a question and he only wished he could give the answer. It was the burning question—When was the fight to take place ? To his mind, the present Government were like the occupants of a trap which was being run away with at full speed down College-hill. (Laughter.) They could not make up their minds whether they should jump out or wait till they were dashed to pieces at the bottom. (Reuewed laughter.) There was the old quotation :— He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, That dares not put it to the touch To gain or lose it all." That was the condition of the present Government. (Hear, hear.) He remembered reading that when in days gone by many men and women, and even children, were hung at Tyburn, they were allowed to chose the Psalm which was to be said before they were turned off." They always chose the 119th, because it was the longest- daughter)—and he thought the Government wished to have that Psalm said before they went to the country, (Laughter.) Well, they had heard of the meeting which had taken place at Vron, at whieh there were, as the Chairman had said, three titled gentlemen. He had only one fault to find, and it was that his opponent. Sir Watkin, gave him so very little t(i SLV. (Laughter.) He wished he would say something he couHnnswer. (LanghteM,) The Chairman had likened him to a barrel organ, and he had been thinking that he was very like a musical box. which was presented to him when he was a little boy. It could only play three tunes, and when he tried to in.tte ii play a fourth tune, it squeaked. (Laughter.) The first tlll:e was,, You ought to Vote for this Government because Lord Salisbury has brought us noace and prosncritv. a:.il has increased our wages by something like 30 or 40 per cent." It was easy enough for a minister to maintain peace when nobody wanted to break it; but as to pr: s- perity," let them read Mr Goschea's budget speech, which told a very different tale. (Hear, hear.) Sir Watkin seemed to think that Mr Goschen must be a great Chan- cellor of the Exchequer because he had got hold of a surplus, but he forgot to add that Mr GOSChCll mHlllleaIly the whole of it to a cause for which even Sir Watkin would hardly wish to give the Government credit—the influenza and the death duties. As to the increase in their wages- even if it were true-every child in that building knew that Lord Salisbury had no more to do with it than the man in the moon. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was an insult to their intelligence for a man to stand before them and utter such things, and he would not insult them by referring any further to Sir Wutkin's first tune. (Applause.) The second tune was that Mr Balfour had made Ireland the happiest and the most contented spot in the world. If lie had done so, it was by keeping on foot an army of 42,000 men, which was a larger force than the Duke of Wellington ever com- manded in his life; by consigning more than a fourth of the representatives of the Iri h p.'ople to a felon's ceU. and by establishing a system of espionage- for there was fortunately no Eugli.di nor Wc'i-h name fcr iL-unknown out of Russia. Did the Local Government for Ireland Bill took like a measure for the government of a happy and contented country? (Hear, hear.) Why, il cor.taine<» a clause which enabled the Lord-Lieutenant, if it c;>uld be ii to the satisfaction of two judges of the Iiigh Courtf thai, a Comity Council had been guilty of oppression or peisi'itently illegal conduct," to dissolve it straight off, P lid "Ll)p,)ilit t council of his own creatim in its place. ("Shame.") Surely such an insult was never otTered to a nation before. Let them bring it home to themselves. What would be said there if Colonel West were empowered, if it could bo shown that the majority of the Denbighshire County Council had actett oppressively to the ;-iil(irity, to send tiie whole council about their bnsine.- .an i. ■ appoint 48 Liberal Unionists, if- which h" a little do c.t—tha.t number could be found in the county, in ti" or V'b"e' (Laughter, and Hear, hear. The third 7r Watkin played was to the effect that Ili,c was deserving of support beeausc it had passed •&»> Bills, but it Ihosc ZOO Bills had been bad onca, then tin■} iori-icO 300 reason. why the Government shou!d not be supported. lie did not say they were all bad Bills, but v il;L:- he did say v, as that the bii Bills were their own, and the good Bills they had stolen from the Liberals. (Laughter and applause.) It was the old story—" They had caught tho Whigs bathing and run away with their clothes." And, as sometimes happened when people put on c-, thes which did not belong to them, they spoiled the articti. in trying to make it fit, and by their conduct had disgusted many of their own s ide. (Hear, hear.) Take the Small Hold- ings Bill, which Mr Chaplin announced they wi re giving the country. It lacked two essentials—first, the proper machinery to put it in motion and secondly, the element of compulsion. As the Bill now stood, the ( were that the land which would ccme ulnar its pro- visions would be exactly the land which the great ownerfl did not care to keep, and the small owners did not care to buy. (Hear, hear.) The. accumulation of land in the hands or a lew people was tne crying evil or the day. (Hear, hear.) A former colleague of his (Mr Shaw-Lc'fevre) had ascertained that the members of the present Govern* ment and their immediate relatives held between theirt 1,778,000 acres of land, a territory nearly equal to the I whole of North Wales. One of the speakers at the late Conservative meeting had declared that a landlord had as much right to his rents and his royalties as they had to their watelies and their coats. But there was all the difference in the world between the two case. (Hear, hear.) Watches and coats might be multiplied. Bat oi land—especially of good land-there was only a very limited supply. If a man choose to break his watch er to tear his coat, lie injured nobody but himself. IUH if a great landowner, who possessed a valuable seam of coal under his land, were to refuse to allow a pit to be opened, or a railway to be made on his estate, he might and would be depriving thousands of poor men of the means of earning an honest livelihood. (Applause.) And if ho were to do so, or if-what cainc to the same thing-1,n were to refuse to allow his mines to be worked except at a. royalty which made it impossible for them to be worked profitably, would any one say that the State had no right to interfere V (Applause.) If so, what war-; the meaning oi the Royal Commission on Mining Royalties— appointed, be it observed, by a Conservative Government—and all the evidence which it had taken ? (Hear, hear.) The men who put forward these doctrines, aud not of whom Sir Watkin was so much afrttid, in these days constituted the real danger to property. (Hear, hcn.r.) He now turned to the more healthy fare of the Newcanlc programme. (Cheers.) He was pleased that the burning question of the Disestablish ment and Discndowiuent of the Welsh Church had taken a prominent- place. lie e-juld assure then] after having spoke;! at >;i;n>y meetiin all parts of England, there was no subject which met viih greater cordiality than Welsh Disesta Mi.shmcnt. (Ap- plause.) Mr Schnadhorst-aiicl lie omdit to k.aov, had told him that there was no question upon which he v. ,v!tl be so ready to go to the country as en C1.-11 Dises- tablishment. Sir Watkin had asked what good v.oultl Disc stablishment do, and in what way \lIel it reduce the rates of the workingman ?" His answer was that if a measure was just and right, that was ti.JUcieat justilica- tion for passing it and for him to support i iiiu ii tlioy took the lower ground, and looked at it J'r- ■ i £ s d p jiht o* view, he was by no means sure that i:i»j»Iif Gf a quarter of a million sterling, which no.v went to fiiain- taill an ahelI church, to some national purpose like that of education, would be a matter of in,ii:lev:nce to Welsh ratepayers. (Applause.) So much for the ratepayerfe4 side of the question. For his own part, however, he preferred to rest the question ot Disestablish- ment on higher and broader grounds. (Appiause.) There were other questions involved in the Newe:ist]e programme, which Mr Morgan pointed out were of great importance to workingmen. In closing, he expressed his entire confidence in the triumph of Liberal principles at the next election. It was e:-sy to laugh at "p-.iii.ical arithmetic"; but if a party in the course of six yearn could only win one scat, while they lost twenty-' i:e, the chances were that they would be beaten ail along the line. (Applause.) In Wales they had, for the first time, got together a small but devoted national party, and he would not think so ill of his countrymen as to believe that they would reject such men ItH Thomlts Ellis, Samuel Ktaus. and Lloyd George to make room for a motley crew of fossil Tories and renegade Radicals. (Loud nrmlause.) Sir I'JITEIT WILLIAMS, in an excellent Welsh speech, proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Osborne Morgan. This was seconded in a humorous speech by Mr RoBKllT THOMAS, Lodge, and carried unanimously. The RKV. A. J. PAIUIY, of Cefn Mawr, proposed a reso- lution in favor of the Disestablishment and Discndovj- menfc of the Church in Wales, the exiitt i-,cc- of which was an anomaly and injustice to the people. He congratulated Tdr Morgan upon his twenty-four years' service, and said they ought not only to thitnii Iiiii-), but Mrs Morgan also, who had been so faithful to his potit!c..a.;ul v.lio had taken such care of her husband. (Cheers Hcferring to the resolution, Mr Parry said it was intended to carrv on a very energetic campaign, and he wished it to he under- stood that diseiltlowniciit was meant as well as disestab- lishment, for he could not conceive of the one without the other. He pointed out that there was no hostility to the Church as a spiritual body, but as an establishment. He wished to draw this distinction very clearly, because they could not afford to lose a single spiritual "force in Wales. (Cheers.) The T. K. JONES seconded the resolution, which was carried. The usual compliment to the Chairman closed the meeting.

WREXHAM BOARD OF GUARDIANS. TiiuiisDAr, Armi. 21ST. I The first meeting of the new Board was held on Thursday, when there were present :-Cpt. Griffith- Boscawen, Mr S. T. Baugh. Mr John Rogers, Sir Robert Egertcn. Mr Edward Evans, Mr J. R. Burton, Mr F. Fox, Mr H. J. Royds, Mr John Bithell, Mr E. Woolrich, Mr J. Ellis, Mr R. Hughes, Mr J. Breieten, Mr Edwin Edwards, Mr J. Tudor Rogers, Mr J. Daniel, Mr E. Lloyd. Mr G. Clarke, Mr R. Randies, Mr S. Micheli. Mr W. J. Mackenzie, Mr B. Davies, Mr Edward Tunnah, Mr B. Williams, Mr W. Roberts, Mr J. 1,1. Thomas, Mr G. Heyward, Mr Thomas Nickson, Mr W. Burrows, Mr C. \V. Parsonage, Mr Richard Maddocks, Mr W. E. Samuel. Mr Simon Jones, Mr Edmund Mason, Mr Gomer Davies, and Mr J. Oswell Bury, clerk. The first business was to elect a chairman, and Mr BKNJAMIN DAVIKS said lie had very great pleasure in rising to propose that Captain Griiiith-Boscawen be re-appointed chairman for the ensuing vear. (Ap- plause.) Whatever people in other places might think of Capt. Griffith-Boscawen, he thought he could safely say that they as a Board were not tired of him, and after having had the pleasure of being under hia guidance fcr over twenty vears. he (Mr Davies)- appreciated him, and thought more highly of him than he had ever done. (Hear, hear.) At their meetings he had always behaved most gentlemanly he was strictly impartial, very able, and had an extensive knowledge of parochial afftirs and ho thought if they lost such a man that it would be a, deplorable loss indeed. (Hear, hear.) lIe really must say that to a certain extent he attributed the very high position which the Wrexham Union enjoyed at present to the ability and tact of their chairman. (Hear, hear.) Mr BAUGII seconded. Mr F. Fox said that where lie lived they had had a most uncalled for election thrust upon them in con- nection with Capt. Griffith-Boscawen, and the opinion of all classes was distinctly in favor of Capt. Griirth- Boscawen, and he was sure that they could not do better than to repeat what they had done for so many years, re-elect Gapt. Griffith-Boscawen chairman. Tne resolution was carried unanimously. Capt. GRIIRITH-Bo.;cAWJ:thanked the Board for electing him chairman, for. he thought, the twenty- first time. He alluded to the fact that in Biestcu and Gourton there had been no election for two years, and therefore there was now no representative for those townships on the Board. In Esclusham Above and Marcliwiel there liad also been a failure to nom- inate this year. This signified a certain amount of apathy. There was a slight increase in the amount of out-door relief. The number of out-door paupers relieved was 2,757 as compa.red with 2.774 in toe previous year, and the amount paid in out-door relief was Y,4,809, as compared with 14,714. The n.mount of out-door relief in 1883 was as much rs £ 6,730. The number relieved in the house was 7t-6, as compared with 692 in 1891. In 1882. he might mention that the number relieved was 1.165. The rateable value of the Union was £7,000 more than it was in 1891. There was one point the clerk was very anxious that he should mention. and he quite agreed with him. It was as to the question of assistant overseers. Some years ago he advocated the appoint- ment of Union collectors, directly responsible to the Board. He thought the recent instance ought to bring to their minds the advisability of adopting such a system. The statistics of Mr Murray Browne, who, he was sorry to say, was leaving the district, had been, he thought, before the Board. It showed that, as regarded their administration of relief and the ratio of paupers, the Wrexham Union stood first. Referring to old age pensions, Capt. Griffith-Boscawen said he thought it was a matter which should be handled with great care. Any system which would, tend in any way to discourage the thrift which existed amongst the working men of the country should be approached with great caution. He was far from saying some system might not be devised by which deserving persons, who arrived at a. certain age might have a proper income. The work- ing of the Poor Laws had not been & very great bene- fit he was afraid. He hoped their legislators would bear this strongly in view. He thanked them again for re-electing him. Mr Baugh and Mr John Rogers were appointed vice-chairmen. The calls, amounting to E4,484, as compared with S,5,452 in the previous year, were adopted. Mr B. DAYlES referred to the statement made by Mr Fox, and strongly deprecated the introduction of politics. The CLERK read a letter from the Local Govern- ment Board, announcing that Mr Beecham Clepp- ston would act as Inspector for the whole of Wales and Monmouthshire. The CLERK read a letter from Mr Murray Browne, thanking the Guardians and the officers of the union for the courtesy and kindness which he had always received at their hands. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr BAUGH, the following resolution was passed :—" That the Clerk be instructed to inform Mr Murray Browne that the Guardians greatly regret the severance of his official connection with the North Wales Union, and desire to record their hearty appreciation of his services and the courtesy he had, on all occasions, shown towards the members of this Board."

POOLMOUTH. UNITED MKIHODIST FREE CIU'ECH. On Good Friday the annual public tea meeting was held, when a large numher Bat down to an excellent tea. T! following liidics presided at the tables :—Mrs Smit- Mrs J. Hall, Mrs Thomas Hughes, Mrs Wynn, M Siinftn; bread and butter cutters Mrs Dodd, Mr-; Rowland, Mrs Davies. Messrs Smith, Joliii Ila". Pearce, S. Holmes, Thomas Hughes. Rowland, ar j Guye, made themselves useful, and tendered assh ance to the ladies. In the evening an entertainuien- presided over by Mr John Hall, was held in tl- chapel, which was packed. An interesting pvogrtimih.; was provided. The anniversary services were he.'• on Sunday, when sermons were preached morniri' and evening by Mr Charles Anderson, and iu afternoon by Mr Edward Salisbury, Poolmouti Collections were made in aid of the chapel funds.

WE publish to-day, reports of a large number of Vestry meetings, at which the harmony of past years has been maintained. The only approach to discord was at Hope, and this is due to a dis- passion of music. THE North Wales Miners' Federation has de- tided that the colliers should work five days per week. The Federation has suspended Bettisfield and Point of Ayr Colliers for three months, as they worked during the stop week. A tithe distraining party visited a farm near Denbigh on Wednesday afternoon, in the occupa- tion of Aid. Gee, who had refused for several years to pay the tithes claimed by the rector of the parish. The distrainer's approach being observed, the doors of the outbuildings were locked, and the errand proved a fruitless one. THE football season is practically at an end. The final tie in the Welsh Challenge Cup series was decided on Wrexham Racecourse, on Mon- day afternoon, before some 4,000 spectators. The clubs engaged were Chirk and Westminster Rwers, the former winning by two goals to one. The representatives of Chirk have won the hand- some trophy four times. TUE extraordinary treatment accorded a small- pox patient, by the Infirmary authorities, was warmly criticised at Denbigh Town Council on Tuesday. A communication from the Rector that the fees for the Lenten lectures were five years in arrear, was ordered to lie on the table, it being said that the Councillors had not received the lectures, and further, that they did not need them. ———.—