The North Wales Times

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21ST. HOUSE OF LORDS. AT the commencement of the sitting, of the House of Commons, the Speaker read a motion to the effect that the House would to-day re- solve itself into a Committee to consider the expediency of authorising the payment of money by Parliament for grants to Voluntary Schools, and the repeal of so much of the Act of Parliament as limited the grants to Volun- tary Schools in England and Wales. The motion was agreed to. In reply to Mr. Lough, Lord George Hamil ton said there was no fund in India which ex- actly answered to the description of a Famine Relief Fund. Certain taxation was imposed for famine relief and insurance in 1877, but the scheme did not come into operation for four years, and the money received since had been spent, for it was not intended that the taxa- tion fund should be put into a separate box and allowed to accumulate. The loss caused in the present financial year by the famine would exceed three and a half crores of rupees. Mr. Chamberlain, answering Mr. Maclean, said he did not feel justified in making a further appeal to President Kruger on behalf of the two Johannesburg reformers who were still in prison at Pretoria, since they refused to make an appeal themselves. The Home Secretary, in reply to Mr. Davitt, said the authority to shoot an escaping con- vict was given under the common law. He was considering whether any alteration could be made in regard to the weapons to be used or otherwise, so as to diminish as far as possible the chance of causing death. Asked by Mr. Lambert whether, in view of the famine and plague in India, he could see his way to remitting to the Indian Government the cost of the Indian troops engaged in the Soudan expedition, Sir M. Hicks-Beach said the two subjects were quite diaiinct, and he had no rtason whatever co suppose the Indian Government would desire that they should be coupled together. The Attorney General informed Sir W. Lawson that in his opinion the sale of liquor in the Houses of Parliament was not in accord- ance with the law, but that the provisions of the Licensing Acts could not be applied. He thought a short Act should be passed exemp- ting the Houses of Parliament from the opera- tion of the Licensing and Excise Laws. Answering Mr. Mclean, Mr. Balfour said the Indian Government were in no lack of funds, aad the Government did not propose to offer a grant from the Imperial Exchequer. Asked what course the Government proposed to adopt with regard to Scotland in view of the termination to the inquiry into the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland, Mr. Balfour said that in 1894 Sir William "Harcourt stated that the then Government were of opinion that the Scotch inquiry should not commence+until the Irish inquiry had ter- minated, and in the opinion of the present Government, the Irish investigation had not yet been brought to a conclusion. The Go- vernment proposed to appoint a Commission to conclude the labours left incomplete. Mr. T. M. Healy asked why no mention of the Irish Agricultural Rating Bill was made in the Queen's Speech. Was it intended, he asked, to make Ireland a grant proportionate to what England received under the Act of last year and if not, would Ireland be treated for the purpose of this special allocation as a separate entity ? Mr. Balfour replied that the position of Ireland in reference to the money due to her iu consequence of the English Agricultural Rating Act was Indicated in the Irish Suspen- sory Bill of last season. The debate on Mr. Dillon's amendment to the Address to the effect that the condition of the agricultural population in Ireland deman- ded the immediate attention of the Govern- ment with a view to comprehensive measures of relief, was resumed by Mr. James Daly. Replying on behalf of Mr. G. Balfour, who was kept away from the House by temporary indisposition, the Attorney General for Ireland said that as to the past year the information in the possession of the Government was that, although Ireland had not escaped from the de- pression of agricultural prices, yet there had been no such great decline there as had been represented. Though in the extreme west there were, no doubt, districts where there was ex- ceptional distress, rents had seldom been better paid than during the past year, and ejectments were lower than at any other time dur ng the past five years. The Government did not recognise anything in the condition of Ireland that would induce them to depart from the conclusion already arrived at respecting either the evicted tenants or the shortening of the judicial term. After some further discussion, the amend- ment was rejected by 189 votes against 125. Mr. Engledew subsequently proposed an 11 amendment in favour of the establishment of a Catholic University in Ireland, and the debate was adjourned.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25TH. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. Curzon, replying to Sir H. Vincent, said the commercial secretary to the British Em- bassy at Paris had been for some time discharg- ing his duties there, and the commercial secre- taries to the Embassies at Berlin and Madrid were about to take up their new posts. Ar- rangements had been for some time in force both at the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade for giving publicity to any news of interests to the mercantile community. In answer to Sir John Leng, the Home Secre- tary said it was intended to require the pro- vision of shuttle guards wherever there was found to be serious danger to the workpeople that might be removed by their use. Asked by Mr. M'Kenna whether special rules had been issued lor any of the trades recently reported upon as dangerous by the Committee appointed to inquire into the conditions of certain trades, the Home Secretary said that out of seven processes named in the report of the Committee he had already seen his way to certify two as dangerous under the Act of 1891. j Special rules had been issued with regard to those two trades, and a similar course would probably be necessary with regard to the re- maining five. Questioned by Mr. Carvel Williams as to the condition of the elementary schools at Hey- wood, Sir J. Gorst said that at the request of the Town Council of that Town he had asked the Department's Inspector to prepare a report. In consequence of the closing of the Hopwood United Methodists Free Church School, some of the scholars were playing about the streets, as their parents refused to send them either to the Episcopalian or the Roman Catholic schools. The Town Council had again passed a resolution asking for a school board, but by a diminished majority, and that request was now being considered by the Committee of Council. In answer to Mr. Field, Mr. Balfour said there was no probability of the Government taking the initative in a movement for holding an international monetary conference, and it would therefore be premature to discuss the constitution of a body which had not, so far as he knew, been proposed. The debate on Sir H. H. Howorth's amend ment to the Address, expressing the opinion that the explanation given by the Government to justify the release of the dynamite prisoners was inadequate, and was calculated to encour- age a recrudescence of that form of crime, was resumed by Mr. Davitt. In the course of his speech, Mr. Davitt asked the late Home Secre- tary (Mr. Asquith) whether he was ever ap- proached by the Irish members while in office with a view to carrying out a 'deal' for the release of the dynamite prisoners. Mr. Asquith replied in the negative. Mr. Davitt added that if the Irish members never approached the Liberal Government, which they kept in power, on the matter, how much more unlikely was it that they should ap. proach a Conservative Government? Sir M. White Ridley, in replying to the speech of Sir H. Howorth, said the hon. mem ber had given him an opportunity of repeating that in ad vising the exercise of the prerogative of mercy in the case of these four men last August, he acted solely and entirely on medical grounds. He had no other thought whatever 1. in the matter, and he felt himself absolutely forced to come to the conclusion to which he then gave effect. Sir H. Howorth had quoted certain figures, from which he drew an infer- ence which was scarcely fair. The total num- ber of men released from prison on medical grounds during the last four or five years was sixteen in 1893, nine in 1894, thirteen in 1895, and thirteen in 1896, including the four men whose, case was under the consideration of the Honse. When a long sentence of penal servi- tude was passed, it was not intended to be a sentence of death or a sentence of insanity. If that proposition were accepted, then he held that the action which he took in regard to these four men was amply justified, and indeed was most urgently required by the general practice of the Home Office. Mr. Asquith, speaking of the rules which ought to govern the action of the Home Secre. tary in the dispensation of the prerogative of meucy, said that as regards these particular prisoners, there had been an absolute continuity of treatment in the Home Office from the time of their first imprisonment up to the present. After a few words from Mr. Dillon, Sir H. Howorth asked to be allowed to withdraw his amendment, but the Irish members objected. Mr. Kearly next proposed an amendment ex- pressing regret that no legislation had been mentioned on the subject of the adulteration of food products. Mr. Jeffreys seconded the amendment, which, after Mr. T. W. Russell had stated that a bill had been prepared dealing with the matter, was negatived without a division. Mr. Strachy's amendment on the subject of the simplification of the registration laws was rulled out of order, and the House then pro- ceeded to discuss an amendment by Mr. J. H. Wilson regretting that no promise was made to pass into law a bill dealing with the ques- tion of the manning of British merchant vessels. Mr. Provand seconded the motion. After a statement by Mr. Ritchie, the amendment was withdrawn, and the House ad- journed. 1

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. GOSCHEN, in answer to Mr. T. G' Bowles, said the Admiralty had not received any reports of the narrow escapes of warships from being rammed by other warships in con- sequence of slight accidents to machinery dur- ing naval manoeuvres in close order, nor had they any reason to believe that such narrow escapes had taken place. In reply to another question by the same member, Mr. GOSCHEN said he proposed to appoint a small committee of officers to consider the general question of the instruction and education of young naval officers after they left the Britannia. Answering a question put by Sir H. Vincent, Mr. RITCHIE said that, having regard to the amount of business to which the Government were already committed, he could hold out no hope of a bill on the subject of alien immigra- tion being introduced during this session. Asked whether, in order to pnable managers of elementary schools to dispense with the ne- cessity of obtaining advances in consequence of the late period at which the Parliamentary grant was distributed, he would make arrange- ments for half yearly or quarterly payments of the grants, Sir J Gorst said the Committee of Council would have no objection to the course proposed, but he understood that the financial arrangements which it would involve were at present insuperable. Answering Mr. Field, the HOME SECRE- TARY said the health, mental and bodily, of the convicts Featherstone and Flanagan, who were still in Portland, was good, and was not likely to be injured by continued imprison- ment. In reply to Sir W. Foster, Mr. CHAMBER LAIN said the governor of Malta had issued a total prohibition on all vessels arriving frem India. His predecessors and himself had strongly urged the Governor of Malta to adopt a more scientific and convenient method of preventing the introduction and spread of for- eign diseases, but without avail. Sir W. DUNN, on behalf of Sir R Reid, asked whether the new Commission would be appointed on nnancial relations of other parts of the United Kingdom. Mr. BALFOUR repeated his reply to a simi lar question put last week, to the effect that he could not give any information until he was in a position to state the terms of reference. Mr. MACLEAN asked when the motion for the reappointment of the South Affrica Com- mittee was to be taken. Mr. BALFOUR said he could not say defi- nitely, but hoped to be able to make a statement as to the order of Government business before the House rose. The debate on the address was resumed by Sir WILLIAM WEDDERBURN, who moved an amendment in favour of a full and indepen- dent inquiry into the condition of the masses of the Indian people, with a view to ascertain- ing the causes by reason of which they were helpless to resist even the first attacks of fa- mine and pestilence. After a debate in which Lord G. Hamilton and Sir H. H. Fowler took part, the amend- ment was rejected by 217 votes against 90. The SPEAKER called upon Mr. T. M. Healy to move an amendment standing in his name, calling for an inquiry into the administration of that portion of the Secret Service Fund which was spent by the Home Office. Mr. HEALY replied that after consulting with Mr. Davitt he had come to the conclusion that they would have a better and wider scope for the discussion on the Home Office vote, so he did not propose to proceed with his amend- ment. Mr. DISRAELI was then called upon to move an amendment representing it as urgently de- sirable that a special envoy should be sent to Constantinople 'in order to guard not only British Imperial interests, but to promote the carrying through of appropriate reforms, for I all the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Disraeli was not in his place, and the amendment was consequently passed over. Mr. STRACHEY proposed an amendment expressing regret that no measure had been announced for the simplification of the regis- tration laws for Parliamentary and local go- vernment elections. This was defeated by 141 votes to 59. Mr. MURNAGHAN moved an amendment expressing regret at the absence of any promise of a bill to discontinue the deportation of pau- pers from England and Scotland to Ireland, but after a statement by Mr. G. Balfour of the efforts he had made to bring about a change, the amendment was withdrawn. Mr. DISRAELI then moved his amendment, and it was seconded by Mr. Banbury. Mr. CURZON and Sir W..HARCOURT took part in the debate which followed. Eventually the amendment was withdrawn, and the address was then agreed to without a division.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The second reading of a bill to amend the Merchandise Marks Act was moved by Sir H. Vincent. The object of the measure, he said, was to amend that section of the act of 1887 which provided that all imported goods should, where possible, be accompanied by a definite indication of the country in which such goods were made or produced, by substituting the words foreign made,' those words to be con- spicuously and indelibly stamped ton each ar- ticle. Mr. GODSON seconded the motion. Mr. RITCHIE said the bill appeared to have been thrown together' in a way which made it impossible for anyone to understand what was meant. He himself had for a long time been of opinion that the marking of goods with a definite country of origin had been a mest excellent advertisement to our foreign competitors. He suggested that the bill should be withdrawn, on the understanding that a Select Committee would be appointed to in- quire into the working of the act. Sir H. VINCENT refused at first to withdraw the bill, which was condemned by Mr. Bryce, Sir W. Harcourt, Mr. Mundella, and other members. A request which was then made by the mover of the bill to be allowed to withdraw it was not granted, and on a division being taken the motion for the second reading was rejected fay 153 votes to 97. SUNDAY CLOSING IN IVALES. On the order for the second reading of the Sunday Closing (Wales) Act, 1881, Amendment Bill. Mr. GALLOWAY asked the Speaker whether it would not be against a precedent laid down by Speaker Peel that this bill, which had only just been printed, should be considered. The SPEAKER having pointed out that the ruling of Speaker Peel was against the hon. member's own contention, called Mr. Herbert Roberts to move the second reading. Mr. ROBERTS, in doing so, said the bill re- ferred to a question of the very greatest inter- ) terest to Wales, and had been before the House for six successive sessiens. The House would remember that in 1881 the Welsh Sunday Clos- ing Bill was passed, and became law the next year. At the instigation of a certain party, and for reasons which he would not enter into, an agitation was then got up, and as a conse- quence a, commission was appointed in 1889 by the Conservative Ministry of the day to inquire into its operation. The bill he now moved was virtually the recommendations of that com- mission, and he should like it to be clearly understood that it was not appointed by the temperance party, or at its instigation. That Commission held eighteen sittings, and took evidence from 400 witnesses. He did not think the Government could take a very hostile atti- tude to the bill. If it were said that a Commis- sion was sitting to inquire into the general licensing law, it could very well be replied that the report of a general commission ought I not to override the report of a special Commig. sion sent down to Wales to inquire into a point. This bill did not contain any new legislation whatever, but was founded upon the recom- mendations of that Commission. The Commis- sion began by pointing out that the result of the inquiry had been to leave no doubt that in Wales as a whole, feeling was largely in favour of the act. Evidence was given in the report io show that in the first place there had been an increased improvement in the streets on Sunday; secondly, that since the passing of the act there had been an increased regularity at work during the early days of the week and, thirdly, that it had done something to con- duce to greater comfort and an improved con- dition of the people generally. It might be said that in certain districts the operation of the Act had been followed by an increase in Sunday convictions, but the commission re- marked that they could not regard the statis- tics as conclusive one way or the other, and that an increase in Sunday drinking arose from some particular state of things prevailing at the time. The first and foremost of the diffi- culties which had rendered it necessary for them to incorporate these recommendations in the bill, was the one relating to the bona-fide traveller. The Commission said it was the case, under the existing state of the law, in- terpretedlas the bona fide traveller clause usually was, that nothing like a general prohibition of the wile of intoxicating liquors had as yet been enforced. In other words, that the present state of the law made made it impossible for any Sunday Closing Act to be effective. That difficulty had been got over in Scotland by a system of Sunday licenses, which the Commis- sion suggested should be carried out in Wales, and that suggestion was embodied in this bill. The Act had been evaded upon four main points -firsb, the operation of the bona fide traveller clause; secondly, in the use of clubs not gen- uinely clubs thirdly, shebeens; and. fourthly, the wholesale beer trade. With reference to the bona fide traveller clause, the bill proposed that no occupier of licensed premises should sell liquor to travellers without a Sunday license; that the premises so licensed must be above the original value of X25 and that the holder should keep a book to enter the name of the traveller. As to illegal clubs, the bill proposed that any association of ten or,more parties ex- isting only for the purpose of supplying intoxi- cating liquor should be liable to a certain fine, and that shebeens should be subject to a higher scale of fines for a breach of law. The whole- sale beer trade had caused considerable diffi- culty in Cardiff and elsewhere, and the bill pro- posed first of all registration by the county council, and a minimum of f,15 rateable value. The last provision was that no intoxicating liquor should in future be sold in Wales in the refreshment rooms at the railway stations. The border difficulty had been a grave obstacle in some districts against the satisfactory work- ing of the Act, because the border between England and Wales passed through the popu- lous mining district of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. That fact had been the cause of a large proportion of the offences, and a consequent agitation against the Act in those districts. It was proposed that Monmouthshire should, for the purpose of this Act, form part of Wales. The bill was in no way political. It really represented the unanimous opinion of the Royal Commission founded upon Welsh feeling. If there were in England the same body of public opinion in favour of this bill as there was in Wales, it would very soon pass into law, and therefore he appealed to the Go- nerjment, hoping they would see the justice of not refusing to support what had been the re- commandation of a Commission appointed by their own party (cheers). Sir W. HARCOURT said this bill was foun- ded, he believed, almost literally on the report of the Royal Commission of 1889. The Com. mission was appointed by a Conservative Go- vernment, and it was one of the greatest pos- sible weight Lord Balfour of Burleigh was chairman, and it was impossible to mention a list of names more entitled to respect than the names of the members of that Commission. There was careful examination of the evidence taken upon the spot, and this bill was practi- cally a transcript of the recommendations of that Commission. He thought that was sum- cient to recommend the bill to the House, and he would press on the House to give the bill a second reading, reserving any criticisms on the particular clauses to the Committee stage. Mr. J. M. MACLEAN said he could not ac- cede to the proposal of the right hon. gentleman that the bill should be read a second time. The bill was as strong a bill as he had ever read for the manufacture of new crimes and criminals. The prevailing opinion in Cardiff was against the Sunday Closing Act as it now stood, and that opinion would be stronger against the present bill It was proposed to treat a town like Cardiff in a way that nobody would treat London or any other big city. He had never heard of such monstrous proposals as were brought forward in this bill. For example, it was proposed to inflict a penalty of hard labour on any man who drank an illicit glass of beer. He condemned the clause proposing to close railway station refreshment-rooms as a ha. rd. ship on travellers. He would resoIuteJý oppose the application of a bill of this kind to the whole of Wales. Mr. HOWELL protested that the House, not expecting the bill would come on, had no ade- quate opportunity of studying its provisions, or of taking the advice of those whom they trusted in these matters. Moreover, he remin- ded the House that a Royal Commission was at present inquiring into the whole subject. He admitted that Sunday closing had done g.ood in certain districts, but in other districts harm had been done, and this ought to make them the more careful how they proceeded. Just upon half-past live o'clock Mr. Vy. John- son moved the closure. The Speaker declined to accept the motion in the case of a bill which had only come down from the printers since the House met, and had been under discussion for a very short time. The debate was adjourned until February 9th.

_+- LIVERPOOL. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) LIVERPOOL, Thursday. Dr. Berry, of Wolverhampton.—The friends and admirers of this well-known preacher will be pleased to learn that he is announced to preach, both morning and evening, at Great George Street Congregational chapel to-morrow (Sunday). Mr. TV. H. Lewis.—This young gentleman is a member of the C.M. church in David Street, whose minister is the Rev. William Jones. Last September, he went to the Preparatory School, at Bala, and got on so admirably well at recent examinations of the school that he will be ad. mitted a student of the Bala Theological College this coming session. All hail to this promising young member of David Street chapel! The Carboniferous Limestone of the Vale of Clwyd.-At the third meeting of the present session of the Liverpool Geological Society— held at the Royal Institution, Colquitt Street, on Tuesday evening—Mr. G.H. Morton, F.G.S., read one of a series of papers on the carboni- ferous limestone of the Vale of Clwyd, given to the society at intervals during the past 25 years! This paper of Mr. Morton showed the same accurate and careful observation, and re- liable record of facts, that have been the dis- tinguishing features of all his geological work. The late Madame Edith Wynne. The once famous oratorio singer—Madame Edith Wynne —has a brother at Birkenhead, whose name is Mr. Llew Wynne, of 43, The Woodlands. He is well-known among the Welsh of Liverpool as a Good Templar, elocutionist, and an excellent organiser of local concerts and eisteddvodau. Madame Wynne received part of her early training as a vocalist in Liverpool, under the care of the late Miss Whitenall, who subse. quently became Mrs. Scarisbriek, and who, with Mr. Scarisbriek, was long identified with the choir of St. Peter's Church, Seel Street, at which she sang in her youthful days. Madame Edith Wynne leaves one daughter, who is 15 years of age, and is, I am assured, an accom- plished young artiste, haying a great future be fore her. During her long professional career, the late Madame Edith Wynne was a great favourite among concert-goers in this city, and was for years a special vocal pet of the Welsh people of Liverpool. New Pastor-Elect of the Tabernacle.—The Rev. O. L. Roberts, of Penlan, Pwllheli, who will begin his ministry at the Tabernacle on the first Sunday in March, is invited to undertake the editorship of the Dysgedydd, in succession to his father-in-law, the late Rev. Herber Evans, D.D. Everton Liberal Associcttion.-Under the aus- pieces of this association, Mr. James Venmore, of Parkside, Anfield Road (brother to Mr. William Venmore, chairman ot the Liverpool Monthly Meeting for 1896), delivered an excel- lent lecture on The Payment of Members,' at the Everton Liberal Club, on Wednesday even- ing, before an appreciative audience. Welsh Congregational Church, Prescot.-This church, consisting chiefly of the families of Welsh colliers from the outlying districts of Flintshire, &c., have invited Mr. Morgan Daniel, B.D., formerly of Bala-Bangor and Yale (America) Colleges, to become their pas- tor. Mr. Daniel, I am pleased to note, has ac- cepted the invitation, and will shortly com- mence his ministry there. The C.M. Chapel of Fitzclarence Street.—In connection with the Sunday School of this place of worship, the annual tea-party and literary meeting was held on Tuesday, the 28th instant. To my great surprise, there were over a hun- dred competitors who competed for the various prizes. Mr. Edward Lloyd, J.P., of 31, Fa'.kner Square (the leading deacon of the Welsh Con- gregational church, Grove Street), presided over a large and enthusiastic attendance. The Po' t preacher 1 Dyfed' in Liverpool.—The well-known preacher, poet, and lecturer, Rev. Evan liees (D!Ifed), delivered his popular lecture on 'The Pyramids of Egypt,' on Wednesday evening, the 27th instant, at the C.M. chapel, Webster Road. The lecture was highly interes- ting, edifying, and instructive: and was listened to throughout by an appreciative audience. The proceeds of the lecture were devoted to the Library Fund in connection with this church, whose minister is the Rev. William Owen. A Young Girl Novelist.—Hark ye readers of the North Wales Times! In the Children's Column of the Clarion of 'Nunguam,' I have read a most interesting storyette, written by 'Gladys Wynne!' It may be asked, Who, then, is Gladys Wynne? She is a young girl of ten years of age, a niece, I believe, of the celebrated soprano artist, the late Madame Edith Wynne, late of Holywell; and also a niece of the well-known drawing-room enter- tainer, Mr. L'ew Wynne, 43, The Woodlands, Birkenhead. The title of the story is 'The White Lion.' The Rev. 11. Deiniol Joiies.-Thi-, reverend gentleman is the minister of the Welsh Con- gregational church, Trinity Road, Bootle; but I am now assured that Mr. Deiniol Jones has accepted the invitation of the Congregational church at Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant to become their pastor, and will commence his ministry there on the first Sunday in April. In the Rev. Deiniol Jones, the Welsh Congregationalists of Bootle will lose a sweet preacher, and a gentle- man of sterling qualities. Alas! Bootle will lose much by his departure, but Llanrhaiadr will gain thereby. Visit of the llev. George Lamb, of America, to Li,verpool.-The Rev. George Lamb, of Ramsen, America, has a sister living the other side of the Mersey, her name and address being Mrs. Ellis, 8, Rice Hey Road, Egremont; and this lady in- forms me that Mr. Lamb and his family intend to pay a visit to Liverpool and North Wales during the coming summer. C.M., and other churches, may address their correspondence, concerning Mr. Lamb, &c., to the care of his sister, at the above address. Mr. Lamb and his family are expected to arrive in the Mersey in April, about Easter-time. 'Plenydd' at Birkenhead.—During the present week, this popular lecturer has been conducting nightly (excepting Tuesday) a temperance cam- paign at Parkfield chapel. He addressed all the meetings in his own inimitable style, and was assisted by the local ministers of the town, and others, namely, Rev. Joseph Davies (B.), Rev. Thomas Gray, Rev. H. Parry Thomas (C.), Dr. R. O. Morris, Rev. Hugh Jones (Ilarddfryn), Rev. W. Morgan Williams (English Presby- terian), and Mr. Thomas Williams, Vittoria The following gentlemen presided at the meet- ings:—Monday, Mr. S. P. Chambers (Sea- combe); Wednesday, Dr. James Edwards (An- tieid); Thursday, Mr. William Jones, clothier and draper, Price Street (Birkenhead); Friday Mr. D. E. Williams (The Woodlands); this evening (Saturday), Mr. John Williams (Claughton Road). The meetings throughout, I am pleased to note, were well attended by appreciative audiences, who listened attentive- ly to the stirring addresses of Plenydd,' and others. Induction Service at Crosshall Street Chapel.—• Preceding the induction, tea for the ministers, deacons, and friends, had been provided by Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts, St. Paul Square; and a hearty vote of thanks to the host and hostess were proposed and seconded by the Rev. E. J. Evans, Walton, and Mr. William Venmore, which was carried with acclamation. After- wards, they adjourned to the chapel, where the Rev. W. Morris-Jones, late of Dyserth, was duly installed to the pastorate of the above church, Mr. William Jones, of Earle Street (one of the deacons of the church), presiding over a good attendance. The predecessor of the new minister was the Rev. David Williams, of Pen- morva, who held the pastorate for 18 years; but in 1893, he resigned, when the church be- came vacant. And last year, it invited, the Rev. W. M. Jones to become the successor of their late minister. Mr. Jones is a native of Carnarvon, his father (Mr. Jeremiah. Jones) having died when he was only five years of age. He has a brother in the C.M. ministry, whose name is the Rev. T. M. Jones, of Penmaclmo (late of Bagillt), author of Llenyddiaeth Iff Ngwlad. When he finished his course at Baia, the church at Dyserth invited him to their pas- torate, which he accepted. Of its size, the lat- ter is one of the leading churches in the Vale of Clwyd. Here he was ordained, and subsequent- ly married Miss M. Louisa Jones, one of the daughters of the late deacon of the C.M. church at Rhuddlan, namely, Mr. Samuel Jones, grocer, Castle Street (of lihat aneient town). Mr. David Thomas, one of the deacons from Dyserth, gave an excellent address. He compared the Calvi- nistic Methodists of Crosshall Street church to one of the kings of Israel, who, though in pos- session of great riches, deprived a poor man of his lamb I Mr. Jones, he was pleased to note, had stood his ground well at Dyserth. There he was ordained, and was also married there. Hence he was a complete man on leaving Dy- serth for Liverpool. The Monthly Meeting of the Vale of Clwyd, of which Mr. Jones was a member, was the best in the whole country, and the C.M. church at Dyserth was one of its best churches. The union of Mr. Jones with them was an exceedingly happy one. They sympa- thised and co-operated with him in his work; and he hoped Mr. Jones would be sustained equally as heartily at Crosshall Street church, Liverpool. Mr. Hugh Edwards, of Netherfield Road, Everton, on behalf of the Monthly Meeting of Liverpool, welcomed the new minister to the city and to their Monthly Meeting. The Rev. Evan Jones', of Denbigh (a repre- sentative of the Monthly Meeting of the Vale of Clwyd), said it was unnecessary for him to praise Mr. Jones as that meeting, because he had already commended himself to the churches generally by his work. He was not only a goed preacher, but was also a young minister who bore an excelled character both as man, stu- dent, and friend. The more he was known, the better he was appreciated and esteemed as a character. His removal was1# great loss to the Vale of Clwvd, but a gain to fhe Welsh church at Crosshall Street, Liverpool. The meeting was also addressed by the follow- ing locit i-iiiiiiisters: --Itevs. E. J. Evans (Wal- on), W. Morris Jones (the newly-inducted pas- tor), Griffith Ellis 'Bootle), D. M. Jenkins (C-), Owen Owens (Ann > William O. Jones, B.A. (Chatham Street: i s Gray (Birkenhead), and the Rev. Jol "1. ,M.A. (Fitzularenep Street). This excellent„ >; was br iprj:. a close with prayer by the Wiliia A-1^0 Webster Road. Owen,

E II Y L. PETTY SESSIONS Tuesday, before Messrs William Wynne, William Williams, W. J. P. Storey and Cap- tain Keatinge. FROM GIGGLES TO BLOWS. A CHARGE OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY. Joseph Pickering, Vale Road, was charged by James William Thomas, High Street, Rhyl, with assaulting and beating him, on the 16th inst. Mr. F. J. Gamlin appeared for the complain- ant and Mr. Jones Rudland defended. From the statement of Mr. Gamlin support ted by the complainant and P. S. McWalters,. it would appear that Thomas was walking with some young ladies up High Street, on the night in question when they were met by defen- dant and his wife. The girls were laughing at something, and upon that Mrs Pickering went up to Thomas and asked him what the girls were laughing at her. He replied that he knew nothing about them, and told her to ask them. Upon that Pickering said that would not do for him, and struck the complainant on the chest and on the cheek, and afterwards, in the presence of the police sergeant, took hold of him by the throat and tried to strike him. For the defence, the assault was denied in toto, and Mr. Jones Rudland stated the defen- dant and his wife were constantly annoyed by complainant, who taunted them wherever he met them. On the occasion in question he was remonstrated with, and became so excited as to proceed to take off his coat to fight, but defendant (who had his arm in a sling at the time) was induced to go away by a witness named Evan Roberts. No blo ws were struck at all. 4 Evan Roberts, said he saw complainant with his coat half off, but he did not see any blows struck. He induced defendant to go home. He did not see complainant and defendant talking to P. S. McWalter. The Bench considered the case proved, and inflicted a fine of 7s. 6d. with 19s. 6d. costs. a

RHYL AND HOLYWELL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. The first meeting for the New Year in connection with the Rhyl and Holywell Teachers' Association was held at Rhyl on Saturday. Mr. Jones (Llanddulas) presided over the prelimina.ry proceedings, and on his vaca- ting the chair, it was taken by the newll elected president (Mr. H. A. Tilby, Rhyl). He proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring president and secretary, observing that both Mr. Jones, of Llanddulas, and Mr. Jones, of Ffynnongroew, had suffered for the Associ- ation during the recent struggle which the teachers had successfully passed through. It had been a bitter struggle, as it meant the clashing of interests which should have been united in the cause of education. The outcome cf the struggle had been the obtain- ing of a full measure from those who had the bestowal of it, and a victory in favour of greater freedom and elasticity on behalf of the teachers of North Wales (applause). He believed that there had dawned for all of them a brighter and better condition of affairs (applause). The vote having been carried, the ex- president said he had suffered to no small extent by the position he bad held in the Association, but the matter was stiil in the hands of the Education Department, and he hoped that by the next meeting they would have good news (applause). It was decided to present the ex-secretary (Mr. J. Jones, Ffynnongroew), with an illu- minated address, he having heJdoffice under the National Union of Teachers for about seven years. A discussion arose as to the proposal of the executive of the National Union of Teachers to hold quarterly examinations of pupil teachers at local centres, and Mr. H. Bedford (Abergele), explained that the examinations were intended to take the place of the quarterly examinations which head masters were required to hold under the Code, and the results and papers of which had to be laid before the school mana- gers. An application had been made to make Abergele a local centre. It was decided to send a circular to all managers of schools in the district who have pupil teachers, asking them to defray the cost of the examination. The statement of accounts for the chari- ties of the National Union of Teachers was presented by Miss Gittens (Abergele), who made a very strong appeal to teachers in North Wales to make a special effort to send up a goodly sum, as during the past twelve months the Society had taken into their home itwo children from this district, and also assisted a third one (applause). The President, in his iaddress to the teachers, referred to various educational questions. He said he trusted that the day was not far distant when the system of in- termittent inspection partially put in operation at present, and received with over- flowing enthusiasm by the vast majority of teachers, and favoured by the reports of an almost unanimous inspectorate—would be made universal (applause). With regard to intermediate education, he was bound to say that in some instances there had been a tendency to obtain a numerical rather than an educational success, and the disposal of bursaries and scholarships had not always been carried out in such a manner as would meet the spirit intended by the framers of the various schemes. The result of such errors had been a lack of co-operation be- tween the elementary and intermediate systems of education. He appealed to the teachers to take up an attitude of toleration towards those things, as the difficulties which presented themselves could not be overcome in a day. He urged very strongly the necessity for a more perfect system of education for the children in rural schools, as they required more educational blessings showered upon them than any other class if they were to hold their own in the battle of life (applause).

NOHTH WALES ENGLISH BAPTIST UNION. THE PENRHYN QUARRY STRIKE. THE half yearly meeting of the North Wales English Baptist Union was held on Thurs- day afternoon in the Baptist Church, Rhyl, under the presidency of the Rev. H. Rees, Llangollen. The Treasurer (Mr. R. Beck, Bangor), pro- duced his statement of accounts, which showed a balance in hand of £ 12 16s., avail- able for the grants. Mr. Beck 'announced that he had been in communication with the Baptist Missionary Society, and had ar- ranged that the Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, an In- dian missionary, should visit the following centres as a deputation.:—February 3 Ban- gor February, 4, Holyhead February 5, Colwyn Bay February 7, Llandudno; Feb- ruary 8, Rhyl; February-9, Llangollen. A discussion on the Penrhyn Quarry strike was opened Professor Morris (Bangor), Who'said he at first doubted the desirability of their passing a resolution on the subiect at a meeting of that descrip £ n/fctte he .,) n, Lt thought it alway-v^yje"to interfere upd'n 'Pl!.g of trade disputes, inasmuch as ;hey had no technical knowledge to help hem; but in this case there was involved h& broad principle of justice and impartial