The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

On Wednesday the resignation of Marshal MacMahon was considered in Paris to be a moral certainty in conse- quence of "he refusal of the President to sign the decrees respecting changes in the high military commands. It is said that a Congress of both Chambers will be summoned to meet in a day or two for the election of a new Presi- dent, and that during the interval the executive power will be exercised by the Cabinet. There is little doubt that M. Grevy will be the Marshal's successor. Professor Thorold Rogers has been selected by the Southwark "Liberal Two Hundred" as the second Liberal candidate for that Borough. The Conservative candidate for the representation of Cambridgeshire, Mr. Edward Hicks, of Wilbraham Temple, wag returned unopposed on Wednesday. The French Government has been memorialized by the French Chamber of Commerce in favour of the renewal of commercial treaties.

LOCAL AND DISTRICT. LOCAL COMMISSION.—MILITIA INFANTRY, ivoyal Car- narvon James Douglas M'Garel;Hogg, gent., to be second lieutenant. Royal Denbigh and Merioneth = Aymer Powlett Lane, gent., to be second lieutenant. THE REV. CANON WALSHAM How.-Canon Walsham How has declined to allow himself to be nominated for the bishopric of Kingston, Jamaica.. Captain Alfred Egerton, equerry to his royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, returned on Monday morning Jan. 27, from the Hague, after attending the funeral of Prince Henry of the Netherlands. "CHARLES OF BALA."—An English Life and Letters" of the Reverend Thomas Charles of Bala, is now in course of preparation for the Press, under the editorship of the Rev. William Hughes, Chester. DIOCESE OF ST. ASAPH.—The Bishop of St. Asaph will hold a general ordination on Sunday, the 9th day of Inarch next. WELSH AncH-EOLOGY.—The forthcoming number of the journal of the British Archaeological Association will con- tain, among other papers of interest, "Notes on Welsh Archaeology," by Professor J. Rhys, of Oxford; "The Roman Station at Caergwrle," by Mr. W. T. Watki,, and the "Ancient Laws of Wales," by Mr. C. H. Orompton. THE VOLUNTEERS (from the London Gazette).-lEt :Shropshire: Mr. John Chaigneau Colvill to be captain. 1st Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers Captain Simon Yorke resigns his commission, also is permitted to retain his rank, and to continue to wear the uniform of the Corps on his retirement. 3rd Denbighshire Rifle olunteers Lieut. John P. Jones resigns his commission. PETITIONS FOR LIQUIDATION.—George W. Green, Dud- ley, grocer John Rogers, Woodseaves, Drayton-in-Hale, Salop, pig dealer Henry Dale, Alsager, Chester, inn- keeper and farmer William Aspinall, Bebington, Ches- ter, builder, joiner, and wheelwright; Hugh Davies, Templebar, near Pumpsaint, Conwil Cayo, Carmarthen, draper, grocer, and ironmonger; James Davies, Nantylles, Cardigan, farmer* ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.—At a meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 21st January, the following gentlemen were amongst those who passed the final examination, and were admitted members of the College Messrs. Evan Alban, L.S.A., Aberaeron, South Wales L. Frederick Cox, Barngor, North Wales C. H. Gwynn, M.B., Edin., Whitchurch, Salop Henry P. Jones, Rlios, near Wrexham Theodore Martin, Evesham. DEATH OF A DENBIGHSHIRE MAGISTRATE.—The death is announced of Mr. Gabriel Roberts, of Pvecord-street, Ruthiu, at the advanced age of 94 years. Deceased wa a magistrate of Denbighshire, having qualified so far back as January, 1848, there being only eleven others now living that qualiried before him. For many years he took an active part in public aff tirs. BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY (61 miles open).- Traffic Statement for the week ending January 26, 1879. Passengers, parcels, &c., i:200 6s. Id. goods and live stock, B867 10s. 9d.; total, tl,,067 16s. 10d. £ 17 10s. 2d. per mile per week. Corresponding week last year-(61 miles open): Passengers, parcels, &c., 2207 7s. lOd.; goods and live stock, B837 8s. lid.; total, £1,044 16s. 9d. 917 2s. 7d. per mile per week.—Increase for this week, .£23 Os. Id. Aggregate for 4 weeks, 1879 24,329 lp. id.; Aggregate foi 4 weeks, 1878, £4,336 19s. 3d. De. crease for 4 weeks, £ 7 18s. 2d. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RHYL CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL.-The annual meeting in connection with this hospital was held in the Town Hall on Thursday, January 16, under the presidency of the Duke of West- minster. Amongst those present were the Rev. Dr. Butterton, Ithe Very Rev. the Dean of St. Asaph and Mrs. Bonner, the Venerable Archdeacon Ffoulkes and Mrs. Ffoulkes, Rev. W. -LI. Nicholas, Rev. J. Thomas, Rev. W. H. Williams, Mr. P. H. Chambres, 8rc, The report for 1878 presented by, the Com- mittee was a most favourable one.. The number of Patients who had been received within the last twelve months was 328, whilst nearly all of those who had left might have been pronounced cured or greatly benefitted by their stay at the hospital. The subscriptions received amounted to S570 16s. 6d., the donations being £131 10s. The patients' and ladies' payments amounted to k921 16s. 8d. All the new buildings have been completed, and a balcony has been added to the new ward lately erected. A piece of land opposite the south front of the hospital has been purchased, thus securing a communica- tion, if at any time required, with the Women s Home. There is a balance of £ 16 Is. available for any further outlay required on that ground. The Rev. E. ludor Owen, M.A., was appointed chaplain in the place of the late Archdeacon Morgan, whose services were cordially recognized. THE TRAINING SHIP CLIO.-The annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the training ship Clio was held at the Chester Town Hall, on Saturday, January 25. The Duke of Westminster presided, and there were pre- sent Earl Grosvenor, Capt. Verney, R.N., Captain Moger, captain superintendent, Mr. F. Lipsham, secretary, &c. The report of the committee was read, showing that m August last the full complement of 200 compulsory boys had been reached, and the committee had now obtained the Home Secretary's authority to receive 50 more; and therewete on board 213 on the 31st December. There exPended on the ship up to the 31st September f/'1^ ios. 3d., the whole of which was met by the dona- tions and subscriptions received up to that date, but an expenditure of £ 1,000 was still required; and in order to defray the expenses of keeping the establishment at 250, subscriptions to the amount of £ 500 per annum were needed. Ihe health of the boys had been excellent, there being no illness except, in the case of three London boys, who have since been discharged and the only casualty was the death of James Hannett, a Manchester boy, by an accidental fall. Ihe chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that it was the first they had had since the ship had its full complement of boys. The report was so satisfactory that it furnished a strong reason for appealing, as he hoi>ed with success, for annual subscrip- tions to the amount of toOu.— Mr. B. Johnson seconded the motion, which was carried.—.1 he executive committee having been re-appointed, Captain Verney moved a vote of thanks to the noble chairman, and took the opportunity of paying a very high compliment to Captain Boger and his officers for the conspicuously creditable condition of the ship in point of efficiency and cleanliness.—The motion was carried, and his Grace acknowledged the complement in a brief speech.

DENBIGHSHIRE ASSIZES. Mr. Justice Manisty opened the commission at Ruthin, on Monday afternoon. THE GRAND JURY. Sir Robert Cunliffe, Bart., was foreman of the Grand Jury. The JUDGE, in his charge, referred to the new experiment of four assizes in the year, and, considering the small amount of work he had had at Welshpool, Dolgelley, and Beaumaris, he thought that two regular assizes were sufficient in the year for North Wales, with one composite assize, at convenient towns, between the year to be divided into three equal parts. The Grand Jury made a presentment, agreeing with his Lord- ship's charge, but, considering that the composite assize should be moveable, so as to equalize the burden of expense. There were only two prisoners for trial. THEFTS AT LLANGOLLEN AND WREXFIAM. Samuel Stevens, 2G, hawker, pleaded guilty to stealing twenty- four sheep at Llangollen, aud a quantity of crockery at Wrex- ham, as well as to other previous convictions. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, and twelve months' police supervision. CHARGE OF STEALING A POST OFFICE ORDER AT DENBIGH. A boy named Edward Jones was charged with stealing a post office order for 22s. from the Post Office, Denbigh, in which he was then employed. Mr. Trevor Roper and Mr. Ignatius Williams were for the prosecution, and Mr. C. Higgins for the defence. There were a number of witnesses. The trial lasted about four hours, and resulted in an acquittal.

SALMON POACHING IN WALES. The salmon-poachers on the Wye are still triumphant. They fish the river successfully, aud carry off their salmon, while the force of water-bailiffs and police are "on the look-out," but fail to make any arrests. A few days ago, a fish weighing 33 lbs. was offered for sale at Rhayader, at 6d. a lb. So says one account, but a writer in the Times declares that the police have cowed the poachers. Mr. A. C. Humphreys Owen, of Glansevern, writes to the Daily News to state briefly the nature of a grievance which has largely contributed to these disorderly and unfortunate breaches" of the law. The salmon, as is well known, are bred in the shallows at the heads of the rivers, whence they run down to the sea., and during the summer and autumn make their way up again to the spawning beds. At the time of spawning, which is in winter, the fish, lying exposed in the shallowest waters, are easily caught, and are not absolutely unfit for food. The slaughter of d breeding salmon may mean the destruction of a thousana and it is right that the fish should be carefully protected at such a time but unfortunately the owners and occu- piers of the breeding grounds, who are their natural and only possible protectors, are not encouraged by the law. The Acts and by-laws are so framed that the owners of fisheries in the tidal and middle waters retain a practical monopoly, so that, however much care may be taken in preserving the spawning beds, the benefit is exclusively reaped by owners who live lower down. Mr. Humphreys Owen gives facts which show that he is net over-stating his case— The Severn Board of Conservators have for some years given an approximate statement of the number of salmon caught in every season in the waters under their control. Their return for 1878 (which was an average year) gives a total number of 12,500 fish taken. Of these only 450 were caught above Stourport, on the borders of Salop and Worcester and of them again only about forty or fifty were taken with the rod and line. In other words, the two counties of Salop and Montgomery, in or on the borders of which almost every Severn salmon is bred, and chrough which the Severn runs for at least three-fifths of its course, secured little more than one-thirtieth of the whole take of salmon. Nor does the injustice end here; for less than half of this already insignificant share fpll to the lot of Mont- gomery, in which county most of the best breeding-grounds lie. The Wye Board does not publish similar figures, but there is every reason to believe the results on that river are the same. The natural consequence, says Mr. Humphreys Owen, is, that owners and occupiers on the upper waters have no motive whatever for preserving the salmon or for supporting the Boards of Conservators. The Home Secretary, in a recently published letter to the Duke of Beaufort, has expressed his regret at this. His regret is entirely 'shared by those interested in the upper waters. Neither the blame, however, nor the remedy lies with them. It would not be difficult by judicious extensions of close times to give them a fair share of fish before the spawning begins, and thus give them an interest in preserving. Mr. Humphreys Owen then meets the objection that an extension of close time would lessen the total quantity of salmon caught, and says the objection is groundless. Mr. Walpole, one of the Inspectors of Fisheries, says, speak- ing of the Tees, at p. 55 of his report for 1877, Up to 1862, the fishing season extended to the middle of September. By the Act of 1861 it was closed on the 31st of August. The most pro- ductive fortnight of the year was taken away from the fishermen. Yet it was proved to me in 1874, by a fisherman on the Tees, that while his average take in the longer netting season before 1861 had amounted to 520 fish, his average take in the shorter netting seasons since 1861 amounted to 801 fish. The consequence of similar restrictions on the River Usk was, as appears in full ( detail in the same report, so largely to increase the yield that fisheries which only produced £1:W rent 10 1856 were paying in 1S77 £640 per annum rent and licence duty. In fact, to use Mr. Walpole's words, "It may seem paradoxical to assert that the best way of promoting the capture of any animal is to limit the machinery for its capture; but the statement, though paradox- ical, is nevertheless true."

y. THE NORTH AND SOUTH WALES BANK. ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. The yearly general meeting of the shareholders of the North and South Wales Bank was held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Law Association-rooms, Cook-street, Liverpool. Mr. George Rae, the chairman of directors, presided, and there was a numerous attendance. The notice calling the meeting and the minutes of the previous anual meeting having been read, Mr. R. Meredith Jones, the Liverpool manager of the bank, read the following report of the directors The value of money during last year, but especi- ally during the latter half of it, has ruled considerably above the average of recent years, and has favourably influenced the profits of the bank, as will be seen by the accompanying state- ment of profit and loss account. As heretofore, every branch of the bank has been visited in the course of the year by deputa- tions of directors, accompanied by the country manager, and the accounts, bills, cash, aml securities examined on the spot, and in each case with satisfactory results. Recent bank failures, especially that of the City of Glasgow Bank, have naturally created a feeling of uneasiness in the minds of many share- holders in joint-stock banks. Although the feeling lias but slightly manifested itself amongst the shareholders of this bank, the total number of whom has in fact increased during the last three months, it nevertheless appeared to the directors ex- pedient, under the exceptional circumstances of the time, that pedient, under the exceptional circumstances of the time, that the presnt balnnce-shuet of the bank should be audited, and this has been done accordingly by public accountants of well- known stnudillg. It will be for the shareholders to determine whether they desire that the next balance-sheet shall likewise be audited, and, if so, it is desirable that they shall appoint the auditors for that purpose at the present meeting." [Then followedjthe statement of profit and loss for the year ended 31st of December, 1878, signed by Harmood Banner and Son, Public Accountants.] "The question of limiting the liability of shareholders in banks has engaged the attention of the Board, and. snould it move- ment in tliat direction be decided upon by unliriiited banks generally, the Directors will be prepared to submit for the ap- proval of the shareholders any well-considered measure of the kind which, whilst giving a difinite limit to the liability of the shareholders, shallltt the same time provide an ample margin of security to depositors. "tThe Directors who go out by rotation are Mr. Adam Eyton and Mr. William Nicol, both of whom are eligible for rv election, and offer themselves accordingly. GEORGE RAE, Chairman. The CHAIRMAN, who was received with lou applause, said- Gentlemen, 11"1se to move that the report which has just been read be adopted, (printed, and circulated amongst tne share- holders as usual.. i think if we consider the very difficult times which the banking system of this country has had to pass through, especially during the last few months, we have very good reason to be satisfied with the operations of the bank for the last twelve months. (Applause.) We have entirely escaped loss by the City of Glasgow Bank, or by any other of the bank failures, or by any of the firms (which shave failed connected with those banks. (Hear, hear, andapplause.) I do not know that we are entitled to any particular credit for this, because I believe that very few of the country banks of England have been at all affected by those failures. (Hear, hear.) At the same time the fact remains that we have escaped, and that we have nothing to write off out of our protits on this nead. (Applause.) After making ample provision for every bad and douotful debt in the os-I might with truth, I think, say more than ample provision—writing off £5 000 from our building account, paying our usual dividend and bonus of 17t per cent.—-(hear, hear)—we still have a net surplus out of the year's profits of £4,000 to carry over to next account, so that our profit and loss account this year opens with a balance in its favour of £17,400. (Applause.) I think, therefore, if we con- sider for a moment what a calamitous year it has been to tens of thousands of people, we have very great reason to be thank- ful for the good fortune which we have enjoyed. (Loud applause). It is true that our shares have gone down very much in the market price (a Voice, "No, no"). Mr. Roberts says No." Well, I am very glad he does not think so— (laughter)—but so have the shares of every other joint stock bank, and many of them to a much greater extent than ours. (Hear, hear.) Xlie failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, and the awful revelations as to its management, have been found the 801e cause of this f.ile¡;¡reciation, and, as far as we are concerned, there has been no ather reason whatever for it. (Hear, hear.) Your property in this bank is as sound to-day asjwhen we met you in this building twelve months ago. Your capital and reserve fund were intact then; they are mtact now—(hear and applause)—and so long as that is the case—so long, as your assets are sufficient not only to pay all your depositors in full, but to return you yonr capital and reserve, then, I say, that unlimited liability has no terrors for the shareholders of this bank, nor for the shareholders of any other honestly and prudently-managed bank. (Applause.) Our deposits, in com- mon with the deposits of other large deposit banking companies in England, show a considerable falling off in the twelvemonths. Some have been withdrawn from necessity. The country is much poorer than it was, and many people, unhappily, are obliged to live on their deposits who formerly lived on the interest of them. Other withdrawals have arisen, and by far the larger proportion, for investment, induced by the comparatively low price of railway and other shares during tne latter portion of the year. Other withdiawals, and at one time to a con- siderable extent, no doubt arose from alarm — alarms excited by the numerous bank and other failures, but especially by the failure of the West of England and South Wales Bank, which many people erroneously for a few days identified with ours. But the money so with- drawn has been coming back to us ever since, and I dare say all the depositors will come back in time. If they don't I am not at all certain whether we are not just as well without those fair weather customers, who always come for their deposits just at the time when they might be of some service to us. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the West of England Bank I have only to say—because it is wonderful what misapprehension exists on that score—that our nearest branch is fifty miles from it, and that we have no connection with that concern whatever, and never had. (Hear, and applause.) The reduction in our deposits has been met, as you will see, by an equivalent reduction in our advances, money at call, and other items—so that our financial position lS, practically, as nearly as possible what it was twelve months ago. That is to say, against four millions of deposits we nave in cash or its equivalents £ 1,600,000 in hand, or 40 per u!' hear.) In addition to that, we have every bill in a nnaitil!. feT^ear'hear)—and I venture to s.iy that that strengtn which will enable you to place your England IHalongside that oi the strongest country banks in failure of t hi 1 neetl not tell you that ever since the have been "f Glasgow Bank all manner of rumours of those ruimm^CUKltlon.as to the position of other banks. Most them ^ave bepn Te h0en absolutely groundless, aud all of Ss and hr ithe stro,,gest pan hardlv r,y^L- l 1)6011 assailed, I suppose we amnnzst other thinU Ti,„+ tlon- lfc has been put about, t„rnprs yyeii J*nHom we are under a huge advance on steamers, well, gentlemen, some ten vpar« .iSo vou all Vnt from th it&Tthis^ tr° £ ble ab«ut acou&Ttelmers ^fl miit^ and never loo^<1 s^mer taC6 (UUglllfcr), Alld at this hour tharo ic nnt 'I nannv of this bank's money advanced on steamers. (iLur ) bo nmch, then, for fabrication number one. Tnen, it has be,>n said we are under heavy advances to ironworks and collieries in' the Principality. We can only account for this fabrication number two by supposing that its authors have confounded us with the Wert of. England Bank, which has failed, and is ruTnously^ hi volved 10 avances of this description. However so far as we are concerned, the rumour is absolutely untrue. We have not an account of a single ironworks in the bank not one. We have the accounts of seventeen collieries. I find but they are all wages accounts, sometimes creditor and some- times debtor it may be, to a thousand or two, but as soon. they get overdrawn we have good security—personal security We never make any advances to collieries or any other concerns which we think ought to be provided out of their own capitals (Hear, hear.) We say that is the business of their own share- holders, not ours; and the result is this—that at the present mo nenfl there is not a single mine lease of any kind amongst the securities of this bank. (Loud cheers.) Whilst on this point 1 beg respectfully to suggest that if ever any remarks like these to the prejudice of the bank, should cometw the ears of any share- holder—whether by anonymous circular or otherwise—that it is a duty he owes to himself and to us immediately to communi- cate with the head office or the nearest branch; because, although they can never do us any material harm, the sooner those lies are grappled with and suppressed the better. (Hear, hear.) 1 think, gentlemen, I have nothing further to add. but I should just wish to repeat whht I have said before, that in my own judgment—and no one has better means of judging than 1 of the fact—in my judgment, and in the judgment of the entire Board, the property tlf thiswsounder position than (Loud applause.) We have no huge accounts hanging over our heads, covered by bad or no security at all, as the banks that have failed have had. We have no "iock-up3"—we have|no sore places. There is not an account on the books of this bank that gives the Board a moment's anxiety. (Hear, hear.) We have a large and lucra- tive business. It is widely spread, and therefore, being widely spread, it is so much the safer, and I think I may say, so long as the management of affairs is entrusted to the present Board it will be their endeavour in the future, as it has always been in the past—and I think I may say with tolerable success (hear, hear)—to maintain the bank in its present position of sound- ness, prosperity, and strength. (Applause.) Mr. DAVID DAVIES, M.P.—I have great pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report, and I think that we can well con- gratulate ourselves upon the success of the working of the bank during the year which has just closed. We know that the pros- perity of a bank depends upon two things-first of all the bank must be well placed, and next to that it must be well managed to be successful. I think that in the North and South Wales Bank we have a bank that is placed as well as a bank can be, and we have also very good management. (Hear, hear.) I will call your attention to the last of these two points—the management. I think we are all satisfied that the directors have managed this bank exceedingly well; but I would more (particularly draw attention to the chairman. (Applause.) We all know him very well, and we know that he has grown up with the bank. He and the bank have grown up together very much like t,vins; they cannot be separated; and if he was to be taken away from us it would be a great misfortune to the bank. I say that with all respect to the other members of the Board. Mr. Rae is the right man in the right place." (Applause.) I do not think that there are twelve men in England who can compete with him as a banker, and that is saying a great deal. There are men who can talk better than he can, but I do not think there are twelve men who can think better, and can better solve great questions. You have been told that the bank has been making advances, lead- in you to suppose that the hank has been oing in the direction where other banks have been wrecked, and have been told that the Ocean Colliery Cempany has hadj large advances from the bank. Well, I tell you—and you need not take my word for it, because your auditors will tell you the same -that the Ocean Colliery Company has net had sixpence from the North and South Wales Bank. Neither have they had it from any other bank or anyone else, and I mention this not on behalf of the Ocean Colliery Company. That Company stands as well as the Bank of England,and does not owe one shilling to anybody. I do not want to boast that the Ocean Colliery Company is a very good customer to the bank, because I do not think it is, and I will tell you why. We have got an iron safe, and we put the bills in that and leave them there until they, mature, and then send them to the North and South Wales for collection, and the bank gets the usual commission. So much for that wicked de- vice. Well, then, I may say something for myself. People may think very likely that I have got a large overdraft at the bank. I do not owe the bank one shilling. It IS the other way. I could get £20,009 from the bank, but I do not want it. A great deal has been said about our being unlimited. Of course, this Glasgow Bank has frightened everybody, but I was never frightened about it. I knew that the North and South Wales Bank was sound, and that there was not the least danger. I have no doubt that all unlimited banks will eventually be made limited, and that will take away any little fear there may be. When people get into a panic they are afraid of everything. I second the adoption of the report, Mr. RICHARD NICHOLSON, of Southport, supported the resolu- tion, which was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. SAMUEL HOLLAND, M.P.—I think from the report you have heard real1 anà. adopted, and also from the remarks of the Chairman, you must all feel very well satisfied that the bank has been conducted in the most prudent and economical manner, and that the result of the year's working has been very satis- factory indeed. I only wish to say that, from what I know of Wales and the system of banking there, the Principality has unbounded confidence in the North and South Wales Bank and this report will add to that confidence and tend to an increase of business being done. From the way in which the bank has been concocted during the past year by the Directors and the Chairman, you will all agree with me that they are fully de- serving of the £3,500 which I am about to move should be placed at their disposal, as a remuneration for their services during the year. The way in which they have carried on the business of the bank in these critical times, and brought it to the satis- factory condition in which you find it to-day will, I have no doubt, meet with your cordial approval, and I have therefore much pleasure in moving That the sum of £3,500 be placed at the disposal of the Directors, as remuneration for their services during the year." Mr. ROBERT ROBERTS seconded the resolution, which was also carried unanimously. Mr. EDWARD BREESE—I have great pleasure in proposing that Mr. Adam Eyton and Mr. William Nicol be re-elected directors of the bank. I feel I have had the honour of being entrusted with this resolution owing to my personal knowledge of and acquaintance with the two gentlemen whom I have to propose for re-election. Mr. Adam Eyton I have known from beyhood. He, as a country gentleman and shrewd man of business, is well known to us all in Wales. Mr. William Nicol I have also known for some time, but it would be superfluous for me to say anything of him to an assemblage of Liverpool gentlemen, knowing the high character he bears in this busy town of yours. I entirely echo what has been said of the necessity of having institutions such as ours managed by and directed by men who, in their own lives and business, stand so high that they are beyond reproach. It is also necessary that they should have a knowledge of the special business with which they are entrusted. I have the pleasure of knowing all the members of the Board, and I think it would be very hard for you to pick out a Board so weil constituted for carrying out the interests with which you have entrusted them. (Hear, hear.) It has been said we have not sufficient representatives of Wales on the Board but we must remember it is a long way from Wales to Liverpool, and it would be impossible for you to get gentlemen such as you require on the Board to come from such a distant part of the Principality as I come from to attend the Board meetings, unless it were that you were con- tent with having only an ornamental director, who to my mind is one of the most objectionable personages in the world. (Hear, hear.) It is said that confidence is a plant of slow growth. It is no less true that in banking it is a plant liable to be withered and destroyed by the first breath of suspicion, unless the institution itself is solsound, and its managers so far removed from suspicion themselves that they can defy it. I believe that is entirely the case with this bank. (Hear, hear.) It is true that in every large com- munity you have one or two evil-minded people who traffic upon the fears of honest but timerous shareholders. As to those shareholders, I am led to say, with Cassio, Oh, that men shouldput an enemy into their months to steal away their brains." (Laughter.) Fortunately it is difficult to steal away our shareholders.brains, because they have a substantial In per centage in their pockets and as long as we have that with a balance sheet certified by a firm of auditors who siand at the head of their profession in Liverpool, we may be all very well satisfied. (Applause.) With regard to the future of this bank, I have no doubt of it, and as to business generally, I hope that ere long we may begin to discern the edge of the silver lining behind the black cloud which our prophetic Prime Minister said he saw two months ago. It is because those whom I may claim to be some extent representatives of—the distant Welsh shareholders—it is because we have all confidence in them, and believe in the ability and integrity of the men who direct the bank and wish to retain the confidence of the country in it by retaining the services of the men who have created it, that I now ask you to re-elect the two gentlemen I have named. (Applause., Mr. RICHARD BRYANS seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and Mr. ADAM EYTON and Mr. WILLIAM NICOL returned thanks.. M Mr. RICHARD NICHOLSON proposed that Messrs. Harmood Banner and Son be the auditors for the next year. Dr. J. CRAFT ROBERTS seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Captain THOS. WILLIAMS-Mr. Chairman and gentlemen—I am very glad that the resolution which has been put into my hands is not a vote of censure, but a vote of thanks. (Hear hear.) If it had been a vote of censure I should have been obliged to have handed it over to someone else. (Applause). Well, I am not going to flatter our worthy chairman and his colleagues, but I am going to pat them a little bit, because I think they deserve it. (Applause). Our Queen, when anyone serves the country well, confers the honour of knighthood, or a garter, or something else. We cannot do that here, but we can show our appreciation of your conduct during the past year. In the first place, I beg to thank you Mr. Chair- man, and your Co-Directors for the precaution, the watchful- ness, and the attention that you have paid to our interests in the management of this bank, as shown by the result. In the second place, I beg to thank you -and I am thanking you on behalf of all the shareholders here if they approve of what I say and if they do not approve of it I wish them to show it in some way and I am prepared to meet it—I beg to thank you for making so few bad debts. Considering the state of affairs in the country during the past few months, I think we have gone on wonder- fully well. I think that I might say that it is no disgrace to us in Wales to call this the National Bank of Wales. (Applause ) In the next place I beg to thank you for not advancing to specu- lators of the Smith and Nicol Fleming class. (Hear, hear ) Finally, I have to thank you that you have not led us to ruin like the City of Glasgow Bank Directors. (Applause.) I move that the thanks of the shareholders be presented to the Chan-man and Directors of the Bank for their valuable services. Mr. ALDERMAN WEIGHTMAN seconded the motion which was carried with applause. The ChAiRMAN returned thanks and then said :—I have now a pleasing duty to perform, and that is to propose that the meeting should give its thanks to the officers of the bank. I have always had the greatest pleasure in proposing this motion. I have especial pleasure in proposing it on the present occasion because during the past year—and you know what a trying year it has been to all banking institutions — our officers t> have displayed ability and untiring zeal beyond all praise. I would especially thank our worthy chief managers, Mr. Jones and Mr. Rees, and the managers of the branches for the prudence and judgment which they have displayed throughout, and to which we are mainly indebted for our comparative exemption from losses as heretofore. (Applause.) I beg to move that the thanks of the shareholders be given to the managers and other officers of the bank. Mr. H. GREENWOOD seconded the motion, which was carried unanimonsly. Mr. R. MEREDITH JONES returned thanks. On the motion of Mr. J. BEAUSIRE, seconded by Mr. J. C. DOBELL, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for pre- siding, and the CHAIRMAN having briefly acknowledged it the meeting terminated.

FORDEN. BOARD OF GUARDIANS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22.— Present: Mr. R. J. Harrison (chairman), Mr. T. Williams (vice-chairman), Messrs. J. Humphreys, Berriew, W. Rogers, Pool Middle, G. Evans, Middletown, Richard Wilkes, Forden, and John Edwards, Uppington, Mr. W. Wilding, clerk. Statistical. -The following were the amounts expended in out-relief during the fortnight :-Welshpool, by Mr. R. Jones, P,15 6s. 6d. to 120 paupers; Montgomery, by Mr. R. Tomley, J616 15s. 6d. to 91 paupers; Worthen, by Mr. J. Oliver, Z13 13s. 8d. to 88 paupers. Death of a Relieving Officer.-Since the last meeting of the Board the death of Mr. R. Jones, the relieving officer for the Welshpool district, had occurred, and Mr. Thomas Jones, his son, now attended.—The Chairman, addressing Mr. Jones, said he had been asked to express the regret the Guardians felt at the death of his father. They felt that in him they had lost a very efficient, valuable and zealous oiffcer.-It was resolved that advertisements should be inserted in the usual papers for a suc- cessor to be appointed at the next meeting. The Office of Treas-urcr.-The Clerk saia that by a recent ar- rangement with the Treasurer (Mr. P. A. Beck) they would hereafter receive interest upon their balance when it exceeded Z500, and their Treasurer would also hold the money raised in connection with the School Attendance Committee. It had oc- curred to him that under these circumstances it would be de- sirable to have a fresh bond, and he had written to the Local Government Board, from whom he had received the following reply' "28 Dec., 1878. Sir,—I am directed by the Local Government Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th ult., with reference to the bond of the Treasurer of the Guardians of the Forden Union. "The Board direct me to state that the question which you have submitted, is one with respect to which the Guardians should be guided by the advice of their legal advisers. The Board may at the same time state that in their opinion a new bond should be obtained under the circumstances mentioned. The bond is herewith returned.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, HUGH OWEN, Junr., Assistant Secretary. To W. Wilding, Esq., Clerk to the Guardians of the Forden Unien, Montgomery." -He had forwarded this letter to Mr. Beck, who had communi- cated with his sureties, and they were willing to enter into a fresh bond, which had been prepared. The Appointment of the Worthen Medical Offleer.-The Clerk read the following cerrespondence:- "14th Jan., 1879. "Sir,—The Local Government Board have had under their consideration the statement enclosed in your letter of the 29th Nov. last with reference to the objections raised by certain members of the Board of Guardians of the Forden Union, to the proceedings of the Guardians in connection with the appoint- ment, at a reduced salary, of Mr. J. T. Jones as medical officer for the Worthen district. The Board direct me to transmit, for the information of the Guardians, the accompanying copy of a letter which they have this day addressed to the Rev. L. J. Lee on the subject. "In accordance with the views expressed in that letter, the .Board now direct me to state that they see no objection to the appointment of Mr. James T. Jones as medical officer for the Worthen district, and to his being paid a salary of 4raO per annum for his services. In pursuance of the provisions con- tained in Article 172 of the General Consolidated Order, the Board direct that the said annual salary of £ 60 shall be paid to Mr. J. T. Jones, according to the terms of the orders applicable to the Ipavment of salaries in force in the union.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. F. ROTTON, Assistant Secretary. To W. Wilding, Esq., Clerk to the Guardians of the Forden Union, Montgomery." "14th Jan., 1879. "Rev. Sir,—I am directed by the Local Government Board to transmit for the information of yourself and the other members of the Board Of Guardians of the Forden Union who signed the communication to the Board dated the 9th of Oct. last, the accompanying copy of a letter which the Board have received from the Guardians respecting their proceedings with regard to the appointment of Mr. James T. Jones, as medical officer for the Worthen District. "Upon a careful consideration of the circumstances attending the election of Mr. Jones to the above mentioned office,Jthe Board cannot say that the proceedings of the Guardians are open to legal objection or that the election has failed upon the grounds stated. It appears to the Board that the resolution passed by the Guardians on the 11th of May, 1870, must be re- garded as applying only to the appointment of medical officers, which were then about to be made, and not as controlling future appointments. Moreover, it must be considered that the Guar- dians had full notice of the proposal to appoint the successor to Mr. Joseph Hickman at the salary of £60, instead of Zso per annum, inasmuch as at a meeting of the Guardians on the 7th August last a resolution was passed directing the clerk to ad- vertise for candidates at the former salary, the appointment to take place on the 4th Sept., and the advertisement was accord- ingly issued. "As regards the reduction in the salary, the Board learn from the Guardians that the ground on which the lower salary is now proposed for the Worthen District is that since the appoint- ment of Mr. Hickman the duties of the office are considerably less than they were by reason of the decrease in the number of out-door poor in the district. Then it appears that Mr. James Thoresby Jones, who has been elected to succeed Mr. Hickman, is prepared to accept office on the terms named in the ad vertise- ment. Under these circumstances the Board do not see suffi- cient grounds for withholding their assent to the appointment, and they have accordingly this day addressed a letter to the Guardians sanctioning it.-I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient ser- vant, J. F. ROTTON, Assistant Secretary. To the Rev. L. J. Lee, J.P., Worthen, Salop." now proposed for the Worthen District is that since the appoint- ment of Mr. Hickman the duties of the office are considerably less than they were by reason of the decrease in the number of out-door poor in the district. Then it appears that Mr. James Thoresby Jones, who has been elected to succeed Mr. Hickman, is prepared to accept office on the terms named in the advertise- ment. Under these circumstances the Board do not see suffi- cient grounds for withholding their assent to the appointment, and they have accordingly this day addressed a letter to the Guardians sanctioning it.—I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient ser- vant, J. F.- ROTTON, Assistant Secretary. To the Rev. L. J. Lee, J.P., Worthen, Salop." The Water Supply of the House.—It was reported that Mr. Smith, the engineering inspector of the Local Government Board, had attended at the House in accordance with the letter received from the Board above at the last meeting.—The Chair- man said the Inspector had appeared to think that they could obtain water enough by sinking a well or reservoir.—Mr. T. Williams thought that unless they could insure a continuous stream into the well, they would run short in dry weather. If they were going to construct a reservoir they would incur great ex: pense as it would be necessary to go below the level of the stream.—The Chairman said the Inspector had seemed to be rather against their renewing the lease of the Gaer mill, but if they gave it up, the question of dilapidations would have to be considered. It was a matter which would have to be carefully considered, and he suggested the appointment of a committee to go into it. —Mr. Williams said it would be most important that they should obtain the permission of Lord Powis to use the water of the mill stream. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. W. Rogers agreed that it would be well to appoint a committee.-The Clerk observed that the Inspector had seen the brook when it was full, and that might lead him to an erroneous conclusion with reference to its capacity in dry weather. He also added that the water affected the pipes most injuriously, almost clos- ing them by corrosion.—It was resolved, that a committee be appointed to consider the whole question, consisting of the Chairman, Vice-chairmen, and Messrs. Humphreys-Owen, R. E. Jones, John Humphreys, and George Evans.

J OVERTON UNITED MBTHODIST FREE CHURCFI.-A new American organ having been placed in this church, the opening took place on Sunday, Jan. 19, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. J. S. Mitchell, Circuit Minister. Collections were made at the close of each service in aid of the organ fund. Also, on Monday, a social tea meet- ing was held, to which about fifty of the friends and well- wishers of the choir sat down. In the evening an enter" tainment was given by the choir in aid of the fund. The chapel was crowded. The Rev. J. S. Mitchell, presided. The following programme, which was highly appreciated by the audience, was creditably gone through :-Chorus, "Jerusalem," Choir Chairman's address song, "Givtt my love to all at home," Mr. Collin Cross; quartette, Far away," Mr. J. Evans, Mr. C. Cross, Miss P. Jones, and Miss M. Jones; duet, "Yield not to temptation," Masters W. and A. Wiliiams; recitation, Miss Carrie Price;.duet, "Waiting and watching," Miss- Bradshaw and Miss P. Jones glee, "The ash grove," Choir; song, Carrie Lee," Miss M. Jones; recitation, Miss Annie. Price; song, "The bells of Aberdovey," Miss P. Jones; quartet, "Love at home," Mr. C. Cross, Mr. G-. Roberts, Miss P. Jones, and Miss Bradshaw; song, "TheBritish Lion," Mr. Eli Williams; dialogue, Mr. Eli Williams and Party; solo and chorus, "Come where my love lies dreaming," Miss P. Jones and Choir; duet, "Hold the fort," Masters W. and A. Williams recitation, Miss Carrie Price; song, "What is home without a mother,* Mr. J. Evans glee, Hail, smiling morn," Choir;- song, "Take this letter to my mother," Mr. Eli Williams; song, "Home, sweet home," Miss P. Jones; chores,, Thine, 0 Lord," Choir; finale, God save the Queen." Miss P. Jones, the organist, played with her accustomed skill.

BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. & DEATHS. -J"'V"r,V'V'r. No announcements of marriages are inserted without sufficient- attthentication,for want of which, announcements sent to us are sometimes omitted. A charge of Is. in made for the words "No Cards." &c., in marriages, and any addition to the simple record of deaths. v BIRTHS. GRIFFITHS—Jan. 22nd, the wife of Mr. W. Griffiths, school- master, Fair View, Criccieth, of a daughter. OWEN—Jan. 23rd, the wife of G. H. Owen, Esq., J.P., Ymwlch, near Criccieth, of a son. ROWLANDS—Jan. 23rd, the wife of Mr. This Rowlands, grocer, &c., Criccieth, of a son WILLIAMS—Jan. 24th, the wife of Mr. W. Williams, solicitor, Aberystwyth, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. DAVIES-JONES Jan. 25th, at Llanfihangel-Ystrad Parish Church, by the Rev. E. Morgan, vicar, Mr. S. Davies, saddler, Ystrad, to Miss M. Jones, the Vale of Avron, Ystrad. JONES—JONES—Jan. 29th, at the Tabernacle, Aberaeron, in the presence of Mr. W. Griffiths, Registrar, Mr. John Jones, in the employ of Mr. Roberts, Lion Hotel, Aberystwyth, to Miss Letitia Jones, head waitress at the Feathers Hotel, Aber- aeron. JONES—ROBINSON—Jan. 22nd, at Bethel Baptist Chapel, Aber- ystwyth, by the Rev. J. A. Morris, David Jones, jeweller, Little Darkgate-street, Aberystwyth, to Elizabeth Robinson. Custom House-street. MOItRis-DAVIES-Jan. 21st, at the Register Office, Aberyst- wyth, in the presence of Mr. D. H. Evans, Registrar, William Morris, mariner, Berth, to Ellen Davies, of the same place. ROBERTS—WILLIAMS—Jan. 29th, at the Congregational Chapel, Bala, by the Rev. R. Thomas (Ap Fychan), Mr. John Roberts, gamekeeper, Mynach Cottage, Glanrafon, to Miss Mary Wil- liams, Mount-street, Bala. WILLIAMS-MORGANS-Jan. 22nd, at the Tabernacle Chapel, Aberystwyth, by the Rev. T. Levi, John Williams, sawyer, Taliesin, to Anne Morgans, Pontllolwyn. DEATHS. BAvIES-Jan. 18, aged 72, Mary, widow of Evan Davies, farmer, Gwarllyn, Llanbadarn-trefeglwys. DAVIES-Jan. 19th, Agnes Undecima Davies, daughter of J. M. Davies, Esq., J.P., barrister-at-law, Antaron. ELLIS-J an. 9th, aged 59, at Tynylfordd, Bodedern, Jane, daugh- ter of John Hughes Ellis, late of Taicroesion, Anglesey. EVANs-Jan 16th, aged 3 days, Timothy Evans, son of John Evans, Llyn-owen, Llanbadarn-trefeglwys. EVANs-Jan. 17th, aged 47, at the residence of his father, Mr. Richd. Evans, Pwl1, John Evans, late of the Bricklayers' Arms Inn, Montgomery. EVANs-Jan. 20th, aged 70, Edwd. Evans, of the Albion Inn, Inn, Newtown. Ev ANs-Jan. 26th, Catherine, widow of Robt. Evans, Glantanat- isa, Llanrhaiadr. FRANcIs-Jan. 20th, aged 23, Jane, wife of Mr. Richd. Francis, jun., Milford, Newtown. FRANCIS—Jan. 21st, at Gorphwysfa, Newtown, Montgomery- shire, Maurice Stanley, youngest son of Allen Emerson Francis. FRANcES-Jan. 26th, Ann Frances, dressmaker, Pencapel, Llan- erfyL JONES—Jan. 25th, aged 81, Mrs. Jane Jones, Rhiwlas-terraee, Llanfyllin. JONES—Jan. 22nd, aged 48, at Mill Bank, Llanrhaiadr, John Jones, late of Ty-glas, Glanhafon. JONES—Jan. 22rd, aged 20, James Saunders Jones, only son of James Hughes Jones, Stamp-office, Llanrwst. JONES—Jan. 18th, at Vron, Llanrwst, Mary Grace, youngest daughter of the late Rev. Hugh Wynne Jones, of Treiorwerth, Anglesey. LEWTON—Jan. ]9tb, aged.48, at 22, Melbourne-street, Brough- ton, Manchester, Mary, widow of Mr. E. Lewton, Pier-street, Aberystwyth. RICHARDS—Jan. 14th, aged 23, at the residence of his grand- father, Richard Richards, Brixbarrow, Laugharne, Carmar- thenshire, John Berry, eldest sou of John Richards. ROBERTS—Jan. 19th, aged 60, Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, widow of Mr. David Roberts, Coed Ial, Glyndyfrdwy. SWAIN—Jan. 14th, aged 74, Mary, relict of Edwd. Swain, Bryn- street, Llanllwchaiarn. THOMAS-Jah. 18th, aged 76, Elizabeth, wife of Robert Thomas, Harlech. VAUGHAN-Jan. 22nd, aged 2 days, atTrederwenHall, Llandrinio, Francis Reginald Vaughan. WILLIAMS—Jan. 23rd, aged 72, at Tynytwll, near Wrexham, Mr. Henry Williams, farmer., WILLIAMS—Jan. 23rd, aged 3 weeks, the infant child of Mr. John Williams, Blaendyfel, Llanfihangel-Ystrad.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. By Press Association Telegram. After a long discussion, the bank rate has been reduced to 3 per cent. An adjourned meeting of the Railway Agents, Carriers, and Contractors' Protection Association was held in London on Thursday, Mr. H. H. Farington in the chair, for the purpose of agreeing upon concerted action among carmen, carriers, ana contractors in opposing Bills applied for by the North Western and Midland Companies to en- able them to acquire additional power for collection and delivery of goods. It was unanimously resolved to take immediate steps to oppose the Railway Companies' Bills.

BIRMINGHAM CORN MARKET, THURSDAY. There was a fair supply of English wheat at this day's market. No alternation in the value of good samples. Foreign wheat the turn in favour of the buyer. No alter- ation in Indian corn or peas.

BRISTOL CORN MARKET, THURSDAY. English andforeign wheat a slow trade, and fully one shilling cheaper.. Both barley and maize in good demand, at last week's prices. Oats scarce, and prices firm.—The weather frosty.

THE BANNER CROSS MURDER. On Thursday afternoon, at Leeds Assizes, the Grand Jury returned a true bill against Charles Peace, charged with the wilful murder of Mr. Arthur Dyson, at Banner Cross, on November 29, 1876. The trial will not take before next Thursday, when the prisoner will be defended by Mr. Leckwood and Mr. Stuart Wortley.

THE SERAPIS. The troopship Serapis left Portsmouth on Thursday with reinforcements for Afghanistan.

TIDE TABLE FOR ABERYSTWYTH, ABERDOVEY, AND BARMOUTH. Jan. & Aberystwyth. Aberdovey. Barmouth. Feb. Feb. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.. a.m. p.m. Fri.31 0 33 0 56 1 2 1 25 0 42 1 5- Sat. 1 1 24 1 56 1 53 2 25 1 33 2 5 Sun. 2 2 34 3 23 3 3 3 52 2 43 3 32 Mon. 3 4 7 4 47 4 36 5 16 4 16 456 Tues. 4 5 5 5 26 5 34 5 55 5 14 5 35 Wed.5 5 58 6 27 6 27 6 56 6 7 6 36 Thur. 6 6 50 J 7 12 7 19 I 7 41 6.59 7 21

ABKRYSTWVTH MARKET.—Wheat sold at 6s. to ff". ^,? ■ vw iMT-iev 3s 9d. to 4s. 6d.: oats, 2s. 6d. to 3s. Sa-, 14 /j? a shillfni- salt butter, 10i<i to ll^d. %» od to is 3Mb.; fowls, 3s. 6d. to 4«. 0d. » couple dmto £ Od. to ok Od.; geese, Ss Od. to 6s. Od. ;tuxW> Os. Od. each; potatoes, 6s. 0d. to 6s. Oa. cwt. j J:

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. I WEATHER PERMITTING.] „ The TAX AT SIDE HARRIERS will meet on Friday, February 7 Llanymynech „ At 11. "E MA-RQUESS OP LONDONDERRY'S HARRIERS will Friday, January 31 f° Croeslyn Monday, February h Aberffrydlan At 10. The NORTFi'-NIONTGONIERY HARRIE&S will meet on Saturday, February i Trefnanney The SEVERN VALLEY HARRIERS will meet on Saturday, February i Pool Quay U L ^r- VAUGHAX PRYSE'S HARRIERS will meet on Saturday, ebruary 1 Cefn Penferyn At 10-30. The FLINTSHIRE H \RRIERS will meet on Friday, January 31 The Kennels At 11 At 11 SIR W. W. WYNN'S HOUNDS will meet on Saturday, February 1 Iscoyd Mend ay, February 3 Halston Wednesday, February 5 Worthenbury Uiursday, February 6 Overton Bridge Saturday, Februarys Hinton At 10-CO. „ T The UNITED PACK will meet on J'ridjty, January 31 Abermule JJlonday, February 3 Whitcott nday, February 7 Powis Castle Park At 10-30. At 10-30. The FLINT AND DENBIGH HOUNDS will meet on »atu«lay, February 1 Coed Cool) At 10.30 The SHREWSBURY HOUNDS will meet on Friday, January 31 Bayston Hill At 11. The NORTH SIIROPSHIRE5HOUNDS will meet on Monday, February 3 Ormond Park UhurstUy, February 6 Hawkstone At 10-45. The ALBRIGHTON HOUNDS will meet on Saturday, February 1 Burnel Green At 10-45. 1 The LUDLOW HOUNDS will meet on Saturday, February 1 BuckneIl At 10-30.

BRITHDIR, LLANFYLLIN. SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest was held at Garth Iaa on Monday, Jan. 20, before W. A. Pughe, Esq., and a jury, of whom Mr. John Edwards was foreman, on the body of Mary Jones, aged 67, who was found dead in bed on the morning of the 17th Jan.—Mary Haynes deposed I am housekeeper. at Garth Isa, and have been in the habit of sleeping with deceased. On the night of the 17th January we went to bed at the same time. She had a cold. I got up at a quarter to seven o'clock. She was then coughing. About half-past nine o'clock I returned to the bedroom, and observed that she did not look as usual. I put my hand to her face and felt it cold. I then knew she was dead. I went for Mary Roberts, who came in less than half an hour.—Mary Roberts said I laid the body out. I noticed one side beginning to go black. There was a mark under the left ear. It was not like a bruise—only discoloured.—John David Williams said I am a surgeon, practising at Llanrhaiadr. I examined the deceased. I am of opinion that she died of disease of the heart. She suffered from varicose veins.—The Jury re- turned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from Disease of the heart."

LLANFYLLIN. MEDICAL.—Mr. Frederick Felix Jones, son of Dr. Jones, Llanfyllin, has successfully passed his final ex- amination at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, on Monday, Jan. 20. He will now have his diploma, having passed as M.R.C.S., London, and L.S.A., London. SCHOOL EXAMINATION.—The following is the report received from Government after the recent examination by the Rev. R. Temple, inspector of schools, of the school of Mr. J. Pentyrch Williams, British School:— In all essential points this school is as good as usual, and if the intelligence of the elder scholars has a little fallen off I believe the want of a good staff of teachers during the past year is the sole cause of the defect. The reading, music from notes, and the instruction of the infants are very good." Two scholars claim honour certificates, Margaret Lloyd and Jane Williams. John Foulkes is now qualified under Article 79. Grant earned JB110 4s. 7d. Great credit is due to Mr. J. P. Williams for the success- ful manner in which he conducts this school.

TREVOR. KINDNESS TO THE POOR.—A correspondent writes:— It is gratifying to observe, during this season of deep and wide-spread distress, how the generosity of some of our wealthier neighbours is called actively forth. Several gentlemen in this district have distributed coals, bread, and other necessaries among the suffering poef. Our neighbour, Mr. George Edwards, of Trevor House, instead of celebrating the anniversary of his birthday, as usual, by inviting a few friends to partake of his hospi- tality, resolved that he would this year turn his attention to the poor. On Sunday, Jan. 19, he visited the different places of worship at Acrefair, Cefn Mawr, Rhosymedre, Cefn Bychan, Bont, Fron, and Garth, and requested the pastors, or, in their absence, other representatives, to look out for the most necessitous cases in their respective con- gregations, to the number of from ten to twenty persons, and accompany them to Trevor House on Monday after- noon, where each poor persoB would be supplied with a loaf of bread weighing four pounds, and two pounds of bacon. This was done, and 250 persons returned home grateful for Mr. Edwards's seasonable generosity. The recipients were connected with about twenty churches and chapels, representing seven different denominations of Christians. After the distribution of these gifts, Mr. Edwards kindly invited the pastors and other gentlemen to a substantial dinner, at the close of which short ad- dresses were delivered by Dr. Gray, the Revs. Trevor Owen, J. Peak, J. H. Hughes, G. R. Janes, W. Griffiths, W. Williams, and Messrs Joshua Roberts, J. Williams, Acre House, J. Hughes, The Crane, C. Davies, The Bont, and J. Pugh, Cefn. Some very touching instanct>-8 were mentioned of the distress and want prevalent in the district, and all the speakers warmly thanked Mr. Ed- wards and his excellent wife for their great and disin- terested kindness.

CORWEN. THE CLOSING OF PUBLIC HOUSES ON SUNDATS.—The canvass of the district of Edeyrnion which was decided upon in order to ascertain the feeling of the public re- specting the Sunday closing of public houses has been nearly completed. The result is a very nearly unanimous vote in favour of Sunday closing. At Llandrillo, out of 160 householders canvassed, 157 voted in favour of it, two were neutral and one against any alteration. At Cynwyd, out of 165 canvassed, 161 voted for, 4 neutral. At Glanrafon, 79 householders were canvassed, out of which one recorded himself neutral-the others declaring for. The canvassing of Corwen was not finished, but out of some 150 canvassed only 2 voted against, 2 neutral, and the others in favour with one exception-a gentleman who has written that he is in favour of opening the houses for out-door sale one hour at noon.

WREXHAM. WALTER CARADOC LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS.—The Welsh Lodge of Good Templars having moved from the Temperance Hall into a more convenient place above Mr. Dodd's Cocoa Rooms, in High-street, a social tea party and an entertainment were given on Wednesday evening, Jan. 22, in honour of the occasion. THE DISTRESS.—The Wrexham Relief Committee are in need of funds to relieve the wants of the distressed. In consequence of the decrease of the funds at their com- mand, the Committee have very materially modified the original arrangements for distributing the relief, and it is calculated that unless additional subscriptions are received the present arrangement of relief distribution can only be continued for another fortnight. Sir R. A. Cunliffe last week supplemented his former contributions by a dona- tion of 210, part proceeds of the sale of tickets for skating on Acton fishpond. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SAVINGS BANK.—On Wed- nesday, Jan. 22, the annual meeting of the trustees and managers of the Savings Bank was held, the Rev. D. Howell, vicar, in the chair.. The accounts, as certified by the auditors, were read by Mr.jBury, from which it ap- peared that the receipts during the year from depositors have slightly exceeded £ 14,000, which interest increases bv about £ 2,400. On the other hand, repayments exceed receipts by over 24,000. This unusual result only proves the keenness of the local distress, consequent upon the de- pression of trade, as it has evidently pressed severely upon the most provident of the working classes. The Rev. J. Dobell, of Gwersyllt, was elected manager, in succession to the Rev. E. B. Smith, and Mr. Goodier, of Cobden Mill, was also elected to fill a vacancy for the town. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting took place on Thursday, Jan. 23, under the presidency of the Chairman, Captain Griffith-Boscawen. The Clerk stated that proceedings would be taken against the Wrexham overseers before the borough justices for the recovery of their arrears of call.—The Chaplain reported that he had catechised and examined the schools, and that the reading of the children was satisfactory, writing clean and im- proved, and about three-fourths passed in the respective standards of arithmetic.—The Master's books showed the numbers in the house to 299, against 287 in the corres- ponding period last year; vagrants relieved, 55; imbe- ciles, 34; in schools-boys 25, girls 26 receiving indus- trial training-boys 8, girls 13. The Master stated that there were 22 more men in the house at the present time than in the corresponding period of last year. PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO CAPT. YORKE. On Friday afternoon, January 24, an address was pre- sented at Erddig to Captain Yorke, by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the 1st D.R.V. Corps, as an expression of the respect in which he is held by the corps with which he has been connected for the past seventeen years, and the command of which be has announced his intention of resigning. The address, which was presented by Lieutenant J. Devereux Pugh, was enclosed in a neat plain gilt frame, and was as follows To Captain Yorke, No. 1 Company, Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers. We, the officers and non-commissioned officers of the No. 1 Company, Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers having heard with ex- treme regret that you contemplate resigning your commission as Captain of the above corps, embrace the earliest opportunity of expressing our earnest desire that you may be pleased to con- tinue to hold the chief command of the company which you have so honourably and with such advantage to the corps held for a period of 17 years. We thank you for your untiring exertions and earnest efforts at all times on behalf of the corps, p:trticularly for vour kind- ness in providing the admirable shooting range at Erddig, which has contributed so much to the maintenace of the numerical strength and efficiency of the corps. We also gladly avail ourselves of this medium of conveying our best thanks to Mrs. Yorke for the lively interest she has always taken in the Corps, and we request you to be good enough to make known to her our grateful acknowledgments. We hope you will abandon any intentions you may have hitherto formed of resigning your command, and that you may long continue to hold your commission, and that the company may ever maintain the proud position which it has attained under your experienced guidance. [Here follow the signatures.] Captain YORKE, in acknowledging the presentation, said that no words of his could express the gratification he felt in receiving that most kind and flattering address. They expressed the wish that he would not leave them by re- signing the command of the corps, but as he had already tendered his resignation he would construe it to mean that they would retain him as an honorary member. As year after year slipped away he might be found unable to do his duty, and he also considered that he stood in the way of his brother officers who were justly entitled to promo- tion. Although he had no more the honour of command- ing that fine body, of whom he was justly proud, he could still b« of use to them in furnishing a shooting range— (cheers)—and it would still be his pleasure, as well as pride, to be present on the field in the old uniform from time to time. (Cheers). He should continue to take as much interest in the prosperity of his former brother officers and comrades in the field, consisting of the non- commissioned officers and rank and file of the old company. (Applause). He had always felt that any success of his was due to the kind feeling which had existed between him and his brother officers, and he earnestly trusted that the same courtesy would exist between every member of the No. 1 Company. (Applause). He thanked them most sincerely on behalf of Mrs. Yorke, who took a great interest in the success of the company, and to whom it had always been an honour and a pleasure to distribute the prizes. (Loud cheers). BOROUGH MAGISTRATES' COURT, MONDAY, JANUARY 27. —Before Charles Hughes, Esq., T. C. Jones, Esq., and W. Overton, Esq. Stealing Water. -Elizabeth Taylor, a girl in the service of Mr. E. Williams, builder, 9, Egerton-street, was summoned by Wm. Harford, inspector of the Wrexham Water Works, for this effence.-Mr. Lewis, solicitor to the Company, appeared in sup- port of the information, and, in opening, said he did not wish to press the case, but after the numerous notices posted about the town, and after the defendant having been warned several times about the same offence, they had no alternative but to prosecute. He then called William Harford, who proved that the water had been cut off -from No. 9, Egerton-street, after which defendant had been in the habit of going to a pipe which supplies water to other houses in the same street. He had twice before reprimanded the defendant for a similar offence. In reply, defendant said that she did not know she was doing wrong.—The Bench fined her 2s. 63., and 10s. 6d. costs.—(Mr. Overton, being a director of the Company, retired from the bench during the hearing of this case). Assault.-Gordon Ross Christian was summoned by Bridget Brannan, Market-street, for an assault.-Prosecutrix said that Christian came to her house on Thursday, January 16, for the rent for Mrs. Birch. She said that she could not pay it, because her husband was not working. Christian replied that if she did not she would be turned out that night. He came about twelve o'clock, and took her pawn tickets, and turned her into the street. -Margaret Murray corroborated this evidence. -Christian was fined 5s., and costs, or seven days in default.—Defendant on hearing this became violent, and said that having tried Ruthin and Mold, he would take a turn at Chester Castle. Defaulting Overseers.—Mr.. J. Oswell Bury, clerk to the Board of Guardians, applied for summonses against Mr. Frederick Fraser and Mr. C. K. Benson, High-street, overseers, for the non-payment of collected rates amounting to £ 960 and £ 547.— The application was granted. MONTHLY MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, TUES- DAY, JAN. 28.—Present: Aldermen Lloyd (in the chair), Smith, and J. C. Owen, Councillors Bradley, S. T. Baugh, J. Oswell Bury, Samuels, J. Williams, Sheratt, Roberts, and R. Jones. THE GENERAL DISTRICT RATE. Ihe JLOWN CLERK strongly urged the Council to make a rate of Is. 6d. in the pound instead of Is. 4d., as recommended by the Finance Committee. He adduced several reasons for doing the Finance Committee. He adduced several reasons for doing so, the principal of which were that at present there was great difficulty in collecting the rates, and owing to the number of 1 uninhabited houses there would have to be a great many ex- cusals. One reason urged in favour of a reduced rate of Is. 4d. in the pound was that the assessment of the borough had been raised from ZU,000 to £ 40,000. In reply to that he would. state that he had been informed by the collector that the last nilmed amount had been considerably reduced by appeals, and there were a number of appeals still to be heard, which would pro- bably reduce it further. Taking all those things into account, he might say that if they adopted a Is. 46. rate it would vir- tually amount only to a shilling rate. Another reason he would urge in favour of his recommendation was that they had had for a long time a balance against them at their bankers, for which they were paying interest. Mr. Alderman LLOYD then proposed that the rate be Is. 6d. in the pound, which was seconded by Mr. BURY, who stated that the assessment stood at present at £ 37,000. Mr. SHERRATT proposed that the rate be Is. 4d. in the pound. Mr. R. JONES seconded the amendment. Four voted for the amendment, and seven for the original motion, which was declared to be carried. WILLIAMS'S WEIGHING MACHINE. Mr. Alderman LLOYD drew attention to the narrow and dangerous foot-path they had in Hope-street, near Parsonage's Vaults, caused chiefly by the existence of a public weighing ma- chine there. He believed the present was a good opportunity for buying that machine, and he proposed that the owner be written to, asking what the machine could be bought for, with a view of improving the footpath. Mr. J. WILLIAMS seconded the motion. Mr. R. JONES opposed the motion, on the ground that the Corporation at present were too poor to buy it. The motion was carried. MONEY OWING TO THE CORPORATION. The TOWN CLERK made a statement, showing that there was about R,1,000 owing to the Corporation by different persons for carrying out works of private drainage, &e.. It was agreed to refer the matter to a special meeting of the Finance Committee to decide what steps should be taken for the recovery of such moneys. BRYNYCABBANNAU-LANE A motion was carried directing that the above-named road should be levelled and metalled by the Corporation, and the ex- pense charged to the owners of property abutting thereupon. A MORTUARY. Mr. Alderman LLOYD proposed that steps should be taken to provide a mortuary for the borough, basing his arguments in favour of the motion upon the difficulties the police had in finding a place to deposit the body of a woman who recently fell down oead in Queen-street. He said there was a mortuary at the Infirmary, which probably they might have the use of by paying something for it. He, therefore, recommended that the Infirmary auth .rities be written to enquiring on what terms the town could have the use of the mortuary. Mr. BAUGH seconded she motion, which was carried unani- mously.

DOLGELLEY. PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28.-Before John Vaughan, Charles Edward Munro Edwards, and Edward Jones, Esqrs. Charge of Felony. -Regina v. Hugh Williams.—Alleged theft of a shovel at Brithdir.—Mr. W. R. Davies ap- peared for defendant.—The charge was withdrawn. Serious Charge of Assau It. -Breaking a Man's Leg.- Evan Williams, Prince of Wales Inn, Dolgelley v. Joseph Mee, Dolgelley.—Mr. W. R. Davies appeared for com- plainant, and Mr. J. C. Hughes for the defendant.—Evan Williams examined I live at Dolgelley. On the 17th August I went for a walk on the road near the National Schools; it was a little before ten p.m. I saw the de- fendant on the road there I passed him. He came up to me and asked me where I was going to. I said nthingto him. I went ofi, and he came to me and said, Won't you tell me where you are going to, you old devil ?" I turned to him and said, What is the matter,, my boy." He then struck me under the eye. I tried to catch hold of him, but he ran away. He then threw stones after me, and struck me on the leg with a. stone and broke it. Dr. John E. Jones set my leg. I was confined to my house for five months and two weeks. I saw no one but Joseph Mee about at the time. John Jones, Penarlag, came to see me. Defendant ran away when John Jones came to me. He afterwards returned, and I said leave me alone; you have broken my leg." He had then a stone in each hand.—Cross-examined by Mr. Hughes: There was no one close to when the defendant struck me. He was about five yards in front of the other boys who came up. I tried to get hold of him, but he ran away. I was struck by a stone and my leg was broken. I do not know who threw the stone. It was not very dark.— Moses Push, Dolgelley, stated—I was with Joseph Mee on the 17tli August, when complainant's leg was broken. I saw the complainant and defendant struggling. Com- plainant was on the ground and he said Mee had broken his 1) fendant then asked him where the were, if, he had broken his leg.- John Edward Jones, surgeon, Dolgelley, said—I attended the complainant. His leg was fraetured a little below the knee. It was caused by a direct blow, a stone would have done it. For the defence, John Jones, Dolgelley, said I remember the 17th August last, a little after ten p.m. I remember Evan Williams breaking his leg. I heard stones striking the wall of the School House; more stones than one could have been thrown. I heard Evan Williams saying his leg was broken. I called out, Do not throw stones." I lifted complainant from the ground. Defendant came up after the others had appeared. Evan Williams said this is the man," pointing to Mee. Mee had no stones in his hands then. Mee asked complainant What is the matter with you "? Complainant said, You have broken my leg you wicked rascal." Mee got across and tried to strike the com- plainant when he was on the ground, but I prevented him.—Cross-examined by Mr. Davies The defendant came from the same direction as the stone throwing. Fined £ 3 and costs, or in deiaulttwo months hard labour. The money was paid. jRefusing to Maintain a Cltild.-The Guardians of the Dolgelley Union v. Hugh Davies.—Mr. W. R. Davies. Clerk to the Guardians prosecuted. Defendant did not appear. Ordered to be committed for one calendar month with hard labour, as an idle and disorderly person. Snowballing the Police.-Twelve summonses were taken out for snowballing the police on Christmas Day.—Mr. T. H. Clough, Corwen, appeared for the police, and Mr. W. R. Davies appeared for some of the defendants.— Three summonses were dismissed, and one defendant was fined 2s. 6d., and costs. The other summonses were withdrawn.—The magistrates sat from eleven a.m. until nearly four p.m.

NANTL'E. FATAL ICE ACCIDENT,—On Monday last. Jan. 27, an in- quest was held at Penyrorsedd Terrace, Nantlle, Carnar- vonshire, before Dr. Hunter Hughes, Coroner for South Carnarvonshire, and a jury upon the body of Wm. Jones. The deceased had owing to the slackness of work at the quarries attended the Nantlle Board School for the last three weeks, and on Friday, Jan. 24, he, in com- pany with two other pupils went sliding on the lake; he ventured too far, the ice broke, he fell in and was drowned. A great effort was made by Mr. W. A. Darbishire to restore life, but all his endeavours were fruitless. A ver- dict of Accidenral Death was returned.

MACHYNLLETH. WATER SUPPLY.—We understand that owing to opposition raised by Mr. Henry Wiggin, Garthgwynion, and others, to the proposed scheme to obtain water for this town from Cefncoch, it was decided at a Parochial Committee held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, that no further proceedings be taken with a view to obtain the Provisional Order during the present year. LITERARY SOCIETY.—About two months ago a Literary and Debating Society was started in this town. The meetings are held weekly at the Maengwyn Grammar School. We, however, understand that an application has been made to the Town Hall Company to rent a room for that purpose. There are at present nearly twenty members. Among the subjects that have been under discussion are-Free Trade, Capital Punishment, and the Machynlleth Markets. Steps are being taken to form a library in connection with the Society, and the members are at present canvassing the town for books and sub- scriptions. The president for the present month is Mr. John Rowlands, solicitor. SPECIAL PElTY SESSIONS, JAN., 2STH.—Before Richard Jones, Esq., at the Justices' Clerk's Office. Drunkenness.—John Whitney, a tramp, was brought up in custody by P.C. Henry Roberts, charged with beihg drunk in Penrallt-street on the 27th January.—Fined 12s., including costs; in default, 14 days' with hard labour.

PORTMADOC CONCERT.—A concert was held on Tuesday evening, Jan. 28, in the Town Hall, Portmadoc, the proceeds of which were for the benefit of the town band. A special feature in the programme was the entire absence of lady singers. Notwithstanding this apparent drawback a number of glees and part songs were rendered by members of Portmadoc and Penmorfa choirs in excellent style. Judging by the number of encores demanded and given, the audience were delighted both with the selection and the execution. Mr. Bennett Williams, accompanied by Mr. J. Roberts, the pianist, gave two admirable perform- ances on the violin, tne second of which, The Caliph of Bagdad," showed to advantage the mastery he has attained over his instrument. The town band gave several pieces, and showed by their precision, as well in time as in the music, that they were learning well under their leader, Mr. -Evan Williams. Dr. Jones Morris occupied the chair, in the absence of Captain Young, who was an- nounced to preside. SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM.—Early on Tuesday morning, Jan. 28, a haystack belonging to Mr. Richard Williams, of The Factory, Tremadoc. weaver, was discovered to be on fire. The fire had evidently been burning for some time, as the stack when found was almost reduced to ashes. The stack was enclosed in a shed, and so com- pletely filled the shed that no one could have found sleep- ing room in it; hence it is not probable that any stranger had been there and accidentally fired the stack in light- ing his pipe or otherwise. It was, moreover, situate out of sight of the high road, and the only plausible conjec- ture is that some evil-disposed person wilfully set the stack on fire. The flames were seen between half-past twelve and one o'clock on the morning of the 28th, but were mistaken for burning gorse. There had not, how- ever, been any gorse burned nearer than half a mile of the stack. The loss is estimated at about £ 20. The property was not insured. THE PORTMADOC HISTRIONIC CLUB;—Mr. Superintend- ent Davies writes to us :-The members of the Portmadoc Histrionic Club have handed over the sum of 915 (includ- ing a special donation of £ 2) for distribution among the poor of this place. The money is equally divided between five of the ministers of various denominations and myself; it is to be distributed by us among those deserving assist- ance in these hard times. You will greatly oblige me by inserting this in your next issue. Those who so liberally supported the entertainments will no doubt be glad to learn that their presence at the Town Hall on the even- ings of January 15 and 16, was not in vain, and that. there is a substantial balance left for the poor, after the pay- ment of expenses, which were very heavy. One of the ministers has refused to receive his share of the money voted for the poor, and it has therefore been divided among the others.

BRISTOL CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY. There was a moderate supply of beef, and a selling trade, at 72s. per cwt. for best descriptions, and 65s. to 68s. for middling. A good supply of sheep, and a steady sale at 8M. to 9d. per lb. There was a slow sale for store cattle. About 700 pigs, and all sold at 9s. to 9s. 6d. per score.

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. The Duke of Connaught left Osborne for London on. Thursday.

EXTENSIVE FAILURE. The failure was announced in the London Bankruptcy Court on Thursday, of Thomas McComas, commission and general merchant of London and Melbourne. Liabi- lities stated at 2135,000*

A VESSEL ASHORE. A large American vessel is ashore on Gunfleet Sands. A tug has left Harwick to render assistance.

WEATHER FORECAST. A message from the New York Herald announces pro- bable arrival, between first and third, of depression, at- tended by snow, rain, and gales.

TRIAL OF GLASGOW BANK DIRECTORS. Edinburgh. The trial was resumed on Thursday. The Dean ot Faculty addressed the jury on behalf of Stronach..

in fact, and was originated by some disappointed candi- date for the office. Happily for Boards of Guardians, and more happily still for ratepayers, it is proposed in two Unions in this district-Aberystwyth and Tre- garon-to abolish assistant overseers and appoint regular collectors, at a direct saving of from £100 to £250 in each union, to say nothing of the indirect saving and the increase of efficiency. St. Asaph Union we believe, appointed two paid collectors, one at a salary of 2120 and the other at B110 per annum. These do the work of sixteen assistant overseers, and save the union about £ 400 per annum. There is little fear, we think, that the vestries, if they have the power, will resist the proposed change. The assistant overseer during his long existence has not provided a single argument in support of his continuance, and he will be abolished without re- gret, unmourned by all who have had the misfortune to know him. His books ought, as a rule, to be preserved, to show future generations of ratepayers what their ancestors always tolerated, and seme times admired. The great joke at Aberystwyth during the past week or nine days has been the way DOWNIES bequest has been distributed. A number of cases in which money has been given to well-to-do people, some of whom own freehold property, are spoken of. The lady visitors will, of course, report to the Visiting Committee, and a full explanation of the way the money has been disposed o wi e or coming. This paragraph is published in order that the Committee may know that explanations are needed. The cocoa room movement appears to be making con- siderable progress in Wales. In another column it will be seen that it is proposed to form a company at Bala to pro- cocoa rooms for the town. We give in another column a report of the annual meeting, held at Liverpool, of the shareholders of the North and South Wales Bank.