Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

( E. E. PARRY, Ladies and Gentlemen's Tailor, Hatter, Hosier and Outfitter, 39, CASTLE STREET, LLANGOLLEN. t 0 A Choice Selection of Useful Articles suitable for PRESENTS. <\ Morris & Hughes' Sale. Morris & Hvghes' Sals* JJorricr & Hughes' Sale. BARGAt NS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. Morris & Hughes' Sale. Morris & Hughes' Sale. Morris & Hughes' Sale. COMMENCES SATURDAY NEXT, JAN. 6TH, 1906. Morris & Hughes' Sale. Morris & Hughes' Sale. Morris & Hughes' Sale. 13, CASTLE STREET, LLANGOLLEN, BERWYN STORES, LLANGOLLEN. GROCERY & PROVISIONS OF THE FINEST QUALITY AT LOWEST PRICES. NOTED for MILD CURED BAOON. EVANS & EDWARDS. ^ASBNTS FOR KMfTAR TEA, I HUGH JONES "Advertiser" Office, Is NOW SHOWING a Splendid Collec- tion of all kinds of GOODS SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS. Dressing Cases, Ladies' Companions, Ladies' Wrist Bags, Chatelaines, Purses, Flower Vases, Frames of the very latest" Designs, Framed Pictures, Annual Volumes, Prize Books, Common Prayers and Hymns, Bibles, Brass Goods, Inkstands, Calendars, Etui Crises, Jewel Boxes, Almanacks, Diaries, Note & Envelopes in Boxes. i". SEE WINDOWS.. INSPECTION INVITED. 'ADVERTISER'OFFICE, LLANGOLLEN. DRINK & ENJOY ELLIS I EAS. EVANS' I EAS. • China Tea, 2s. per lb, Paragon Tea, 2s, per lb. China & Ceylon Tea, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, and 2/- per lb. ELLIS EVANS, VICTORIA STORES, LLANGOLLEN. WANTED, AN AGENT TO SELL THE ADVERTISER IN TREVOR AND GARTH DISTRICri

A GLANCE BACKWARDS. DURING the year that has just ended much good and solid work has been achieved by the Llan- gollen Urban District Council; and ratepayers are entitled to look back upon the record of the past twelve months with considerable satis- faction. One of the most important works has been the completion of the installation of the electric light and the determination of the authority to adopt it as the form of illuminant to be used in future for the whole of the public lighting of the town. At a special meeting called to hear a report from Messrs. Birstall and Monkhouse, the eminent firm of electrical engineers, as to the manner in which the new company bad carried out their contract to light the compulsory area, the Council were assured that the work had been well done. At the same time they were informed that the Council, when they secured the Provisional Order which gave them the sole right to supply the new form of illuminant in the town, had made themselves responsible to maintain a continuous current; and that, in the event of the Llangollen Electric Lighting and Power Company failing, from any cause, to perform that which they had contracted to perform, the Urban Council might be called upon to carry on the work at the public ex- pense. Realising this fact members of the authority recognized the desirability of doing all in their power to keep the new Company alive and with this end in view the General Purposes Committee recommended, in September, that their contract, which was considerably lower than that of the Gas Company, be accepted for the public lighting of the whole of the town. This recommendation was not made by the Com- mittee without mature consideration nor was it adopted by the Council until it had been fully discussed in all its bearings at several meetings. A trio of delegates visited towns in Lancashire and Cheshire to obtain wrinkles" as to how matters are managed there, and ex- periments were made locally with a view to arriving at a decision as to the best form of lamp to adopt. It was considered by some members of the Council that the Company should give substantial guarantees for the due performance of the contract which, of course, necessitates the dislocation of the old order of things, and the conversion of the gas standards -in a manner to meet the altered requirements. All these diffi- culties, however, were finally overcome and at the end of November the contract between the Electric Lighting and Power Company and the Council was duly signed. The ratepayers, there- fore, now stand pledged, for a period of years, to the new order of things. Whether it will prove better and more effective than that which preceded it, time alone can prove. This, how- ever, is abundantly clear, it will be the means of effecting a considerable saving to the rate- payers the cost of public lighting, as compared with past years, being reduced by something like one-half. We think it is fair to assume that competition has been the means of bringing this about, for it is scarcely supposable. that the Lighting Company not been organized. As we "hdye stated before, there is abundance of room for the two Companies to operate in and whilst the output of gas may be curtailed in one direction, there are plenty of indications that new spheres for its practical utilisation are being discovered in others. Another matter upon which ratepayers are to be congratulated is the completion of the alterations and improvements to the Assembly Kooim; a work that was under- taken after much heated controversy and op- position, and completed in August last, when the renovated structure was formally opened. There can be no two opinions as to the splendid addition which the Town IT-all-as it has now been officially christened—supplies to the public resources of the town, and all are agreed, even those who, on economic grounds, were opposed to a project involving a "considerable expenditure of public money being carried forward at a time when the rates of the town are abnormally high, that the result obtained amply justifies the ex- penditure necessitated. Llangollen is now in possession of public buildings which, internally at anyrate, are well fitted to meet all require- ments and although tht! Urban Fathers have not yet entered into possession, and still con- tinue to hold their meetings at the Clerk's Offices, the New Year will not be far advanced before they are fully installed. A question that arises out of the completion of the Town Hall Buildings, which has enabled the Public Library to be housed in far more commodious and suit- able premises than hitherto, is the agitation that took place during the past year with the object of bringing pressure to bear upon the Urban Council to adopt the Free Libraries' Act. The authorities responsible for the control of the existing Public Library intimated their pre- paredness to hand over the collection of books, etc., in their possession, to form the nucleus of a Free Library provided the Urban Council took the necessary steps preliminary to its formation and Mr. Carnegie, the Am^fican millionaire, who has done so much to aid similar institutions in other places, was approached and gave a quasi promise that he would come forward with assist- ance, but intimating that the adoption of the Free Libraries Act must be preliminary to any action on his part. The Urban Council dis- cussed the matter at several meetings, and received an influential deputation of ratepayers who pressed them to take action in the matter. It was ultimately decided, however, that in view of the heavy burden which the rates now impose upon the inhabitants, to postpone taking im- mediate action, whilst promising that, early in the present year, the matter should receive favourable consideration. The continued high figure of the rates has been a grave cause of anxiety to the authorities; and the com- pletion of the re-assessment of the Union, which has considerably increased the basis upon which the rates are made, was expected to afford sub- stantial relief to those upon whom the iacidence of local taxation has hitherto pressed most heavily. However, this relief has not been felt yet and some time must necessarily elapse before the new machinery gets effectively to work. The Assessment Committee at Corwen have had much hard work to do in order to screw up the loose bolts, and to do a good deal that necessarily remains to be completed after a large re-adj us fc- ment of this kind has been undertaken. Now that this is all but finished ratepayers may look forward hopefully to experiencing relief in the near future, and to reaping the fruits of the con- siderable expenditure necessary in order to secure the re-assessment of the Union. During the past year death has been busy in our midst -many well-known figures no longer move in the local pathways they were accustomed to tread-but they have passed on to us many records of duty well and faithfully performed for the public weal, and memories that should prove inspiratious to their successors. Tragedy and comedy have occupied the urban stage at times—the puppets have danced, the big guns have boomed, "the superior person" has revelled in his superiority, and the brotherhood of self- forgetting men, toiling quietly and unostenta- tiously for the good of their fellows, letting not their right hand know what their left hand doeth, have effected untold good for the spiritual, the moral and the social betterment of their kind. If there are dark places in the retrospect, there are bright places also and it is good to find in days when the voice of the local croaker is loud in the land, so many sources from which it is perfectly fair to draw bright aad inspiring reflections as to the future prosperity of Llan- gollen.

♦ LOCAL AND DISTRICT. Primroses were seen in blossom in a meadow at Melyniog Fawr, Llansantffraid, on Thursday. We are asked to state that the first prize for translations at the Eisteddfod held at Zion Church, Cefn Mawr, on Christmas Day, was won by Mr. J. Valentine Morris, Baptist College, Cardiff, and not by Mr. J. Valentine as printed. An interesting little ceremony was witnessed at Bryn Seion Calvinistic Methodist Church, Pont- cysylltau, on New Year's Day. At the close of the prayer meeting Mrs. Parry, of Rhosycoed, had the pleasure of burning notes of hand for £ 650 which had been paid off the debt on the church. i We are pleased to hear that Miss Vera Jones daughter of Mr. Alfred Jones, Newbridge, took the first prize for the pianoforte solo for those under fourtesia at the Rhos Eisteddfod on Christmas Day Miss Jones is a pupil of Mr. Caradog Roberts, F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M. The adjudicator was Mr. Wilfrid Jones, R.A.M., Wrexham. An inquest was held at Cefn Mawr, on Monday, before Mr. Coroner Wyan Evans on the body of John James Mellin (20), a farm labourer, who died at the residence of his aunt, 7, Crane- street, Cefn, on Friday from paralysis and exhaustion following upon a fall from a loaded cart at Stoak Grange, Cheshire, on Sept. 30th. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned, and the jury expressed the opinion that the load of hedge brushings from which Mellin fell should have been roped. The rents of the Plas Berwyn Estate of Major Tottenham were received by the agent, Mr. R. S. Riehards, of Llangollen, at the Berwyn Arms on Monday. After business, the tenants were enter- tained to dinner, Mr. R. S. Richards presiding. Mr. and Mrs. Owen Roberts provided a splendid repast, more than maintaining the >fb reputation of the Berwyn Arms;" and had dann to the capital spread, a number of toasts were honoured, including the health of the landlord and Mrs. Tottenham, whose name was received with loud applause by tb tenants with I whom she is widely popular. While Mr. Tom Jones, of the Trevor Mills, Trevor, near Ruabon, was in charge of a horse and cart, loaded with sacks of flour, at Acrefair, on Monday afternoon, the animal became startled, and suddenly jerking the conveyance Mr. Jones was thrown under the wheels, one of which passed over his shoulder and side of the body. With remark- able energy, Mr. Jones astonished witnesses by regaining,his feet and walking away, but quickly collapsed. He was removed to the home of a relative at Acrefair. Curiously enough not a bone was broken. A party of engineering draughtsmen engaged at Messrs. Hughes and Lancaster's Engineering Works, at Acrefair, near Ruabon, have just undergone a curious experience while inspecting the Wynnstay Collieries, Ruabon, During their underground wanderings the party became slightly separated. Mr. Leonard Aves and his companion, Mr. Norman Jones, were startled to hear loud crashings of the roof which suddenly gave way, and almost covered Mr. J. Haswell, who hails from Chester. Mr. Haswell was quickly rescued, but he had sustained serious injuries to his leg and one of his hands, with which he endeavoured to lessen the blow from the falling coal which struck his head. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Owens, of Penybryn, Acrefair, celebrated their golden wedding on New Year's Day, and at a social gathering held in the English Wesleyan Church Schoolroom they were presented with a handsome tea service by the church members and otners. Mr. Ralph Darling- ton, F.R.G.S., who presided, made the presentation, and remarked that Mr. and Mrs. Owens had been members of the church since its formation in 1867. Mrs. Owens received the gift, and expressed regret that her husband was unable to leave the house. During the evening songs, etc., were given bv the Misses E. Harvey, Kate Ellis, and Gertie Green, Messrs. A. Roberts, Fred Edwards, J. Hughes, Fred Harvey, and J. E. Watkin and party. Refresh- ments were handed round by members of the church. After a long absence the "Fays" presented their unique entertainment at the Pavilion, and those who did not witness the performances missed a treat. Professor Fay is a host in himsel and from sbart to finish his feats of legerdemain and ventriloquist held his audience in wonder and amazement. Miss Fays' box and cabinet seance is performed with an ease and mystery, equalling anything similar since the days of the famous Davenport Bros. Mr. McComerick is an able comedian, and his songs were loudly. applauded.

+ VOLUNTEER NEWS ORDERS FOR H. COMPANY, Recruiting for the above Company is now being carried on. Any young men wishing to join or re- join will please communicate with me, or the Sergt.- Instruotor, as early as possible. There will be Morris' Tube practice in the Armoury at 7 30 p.m. next Monday evening. T. NANSON, Lieutenant, Cvnamaadirg K. Company, lit T.B.R.W.F. t

MR. EVAN ROBERTS'S MISSION. POSTPONED DURING THE ELECTION. On two occasions Carnarvonshire Liberals, at Mr. Lloyd-George's personal request, have counter- manded arrangements previously made for great political gatherings—one at Pwllheli, the second time at Carnarvon-to make way for Mr. Evan Roberts's mission services. The revivalist now returns the compliment by suspending the mission during the election campaign. On Saturday, at his request, a consultation was held between the revivalist and the officials of the Central Mission Committee, at which Mr. Evan Roberts placed hilt views before them, the result being that a circular letter, of which the following is a translation, was sent on Sunday to Nonconformist churches through- out Carnarvonshire Dear Brethren,—As the result of consultatiom with Mr. Evan Roberts to-day, in accordance with his personal desire, respecting his mission in the county, it has been determined for the appended reasons to postpone Mr. Roberts's visit to all places contained on the rota from the 8th to the 18tb inclusive until further arrangements can be made —(1) Because of the excitement necessarily ac- companying the general election, which causes public thought and attention to be completely Occupied with politics, thus rendering impossible that leisure and quietness essential for spiritual work; (2) because the tour is so prolonged and so many places yet remain to be visited that Mr. Roberts feels the strain too great for his physical endurance unless greater interva.ls of rest can is afforded than were originally arrangad for (3) Mr. Eoberts earnestly desires to make long stays at centres visited, and trusts this may be considered • whan arrangements are made for resufniag. the mission tour. (Signed) D. STANLEY JONKK, President. W. G. EVANS, Secretary, — No .meeting?" will t,herefore. be Lski until • the polling, which i% now fixed in the boroughs for Wednesday, January 17th, is over.

♦ ————; WREXHAM JUSTICES'; CLERK, APPOINTMENT OF A SUoCIL. The Wrexham Borough justices met on Friday to appoint a justices' clerk to succeed Mr. J. Allington: Hughes, who, as we announced last week, resigned after a long and succesful career. The Mayor (Councillor E. Birkett Evans) presided, and there were present Messrs. John Bury, J. Oswell Bury, E. Meredith-Jones, W. E. Samuel, Alfred Owen, J. Eo Powell, Simon Jones, Charles Murless, H. Venables Palin, J. Whittingham, George Bevan, Howel Davies, Thomas Jone", A. Ll. Hughes, T. B. Taylor, and Charles Davies. It was decided to appoint Mr. J. H. Bate, of the firm of Allington Hughes and Bate, at a salary of £ 230 per annum. The other applicants were Messrs. W. Wynn Evans and J, Hopley Pierce. It was decided to sent a letter to Mr. Allington Hughes, sympathising with him in his illness, and expressing a hope that he might soon recover to enjoy many years' rest in his well-merited retire- ment. Interesting speeches upon the retirement of Mr, Allington Hughes and the appointment of Mr. Bate, were made at the Borough Petty Sessions on Mon- day, when Bate officiated for the first time as Clerk of the Court. The Mayor wished all the compliments of the season, and, referring to the resignation of Mr., Allington Hughes, said they would have another opportunity of enumerating the services that Mr. Hughes had rendered to the town in the capacity of justices clerk—a post which he held for the long period of forty-three yearp. He believed he was correct in saying that had it not been for illness, Mr. Hughes would have been with them that morning to give them some of the incidents that had occurred during his long career. Whilst they were all sorry to lose the services of Mr. Allington Hughes, he was very pleased to think that he would be followed in that office by one with whom all of them had constantly been in contact-he referred to Mr. J. H. Bate. He hoped that his life would be spared, and that he would have health and strength to serve them as long and as faithfully as his predecessor had done. Mr. J. E. Powell said Mr. Allington Hughes had fulfilled the duties of the office faithfully and weUF and clear proof of that was found in the very few instances in which questions bad been raised as to the decisions arrived at by that Court. Mr. Wynn Evans, on behalf of the solicitors prac- tising at the Court, and as the senior solicitor present, desired to join with the Bench in the axpression of the regret they all felt in losing the familiar face of Mr. Allington Hughes as their slerk. He was always kind and courteous to the,, solicitors practising at that Court. He also desired to join in congratulating the newly-appointed, Jlerk, Mr. J. H. Bate, and he hoped he would have long life and health to carry on the business of the Dourt in the way in which it had hitherto been ione. Mr. Stanley Edisbury spoke in similar terms. Mr. Bate, in reply, thanked all for their kind jxpressions, and the justices for the honour they [lad done him in electing him as their clerk. He wished to associate himself with their remarks con- lermng Mr. Allington Hughes, who had at all jimes been most kind to him. BORWICK'S M POWDER