The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

TIPYN 0 BOB PETH. -V"v-r-J'cf' The puddlers at the New British Iron Works, Ruabon, have commenced working double shift. The drapers of Wrexham have unanimously decided to -close their shops on Fridays at two p.m. Step3 are being taken to erect a new church in the west end of Rhyl. Mr. Ll. N. V. Lloyd Mostyn, the heir to the Gloddaeth estates, headed the poll at the municipal election at Conway. The marriage is announced of Mrs. Bentley, widow of the Rev. P. G. Bentley, of Felton Grange, to Colonel Cockburn Hood of Stanerigg, Berwickshire. The Bishop and Dean and Chapter of Chester have re- quested the Archbishop of York to take steps to allow the Greater Chapter of Chester more scope for action. Mrs. Jane Latham, who died afewdays ago at Willaston, at the age of 93, was the mother of 13 children, and had 56 grandchildren, and 45 great grandchildren. Mr. Raikes, M.P., has contributed an article to the nineteenth Century on the Mode of conducting business in the House of Commons." The Chester Chren icle says that private information from all quarters described the farmers of the western division of Cheshire as ripe for a change in the representation. It is stated that Mr. Enoch Moss, of Broad Oak, intends to allow his farm tenants a reduction of 20 per cent. on their half year's rent. It is hoped that the Wrexham Free Library will be opened at the Town Hall on the second Wednesday in December. Mr. T. Bennion Acton, delivered a lecture on fungi at the first meeting of the Wrexham Society of Natural Science for the season last week. The memorial stones of a Calvinistic Methodist Chapel have been laid at Glanrafon, Brymbo, on a site given by Mr. Thomas Roberts of Berse.. The Committee of the Ruabon Working Men's Associa- tion have decided to throw the rooms open free of charge each Friday in November, in order to make themfarmliar to the inhabitants. While Mr. George Potts Roskell, a Flintshire magistrate, was attending service at the Roman Catholic Church at Holywell, he was taken ill. tie was removed home and died very shortly afterwards. The Hydraulic Engineering Company, of Charles-street, Chester, have adopted the electric light for a new erect- ing shop which they have recently built, lhe result is said to be very successful. On Wednesday, November 5, seven sergeants of the 23rd Brigade Depot at Wrexham, and seven sergeants of the' 1st D R V had a friendly shooting match at the Erddig range", when the volunteers won by thirty points. At the last meeting of the Wrexham School Board, Mr. James resigned the office of clerk. The resignation was received with expressions of regret and it was decided to appoint a successor at a salary of £25. The Local Board of Mold. having received a letter from the Town Clerk of Chester with respect to the pollution of the river, have resolved to erect sewage tanks either as a temporary or permanent measure. A new post-office was opened at Carnarvon on Friday, Nov. 7. The work was carried out by Mr. Owen Morris, from the designs of Mr. Richard < >wen, Liverpool. A clock, to be purchased by public subscription, is to be placed on the front. The members of Mold Local Board have been discussing the desirableness of having monthly fairs. The general feel- ing was in favour of the change which was to be discussed at the next meeting. At present there are seven or eight fairs in the year. The death is announced", in the 67th year of his age, of the Rev. John Bowyer Winter, B.D., of St. John's College, Cambridge, formerly head master of Rochdale Grammar School. Mr. Winter was admitted into holy orders by Dr. Lonsdale, Bishop of Lichfield, in 1851, and was afterwards curate of Diiddleston, near Ellesmere. Thomas Southern has been charged at Knutsford Petty Sessions with the manslaughter of an infant child named fliomis Alexander Bardslsv, for the maintenance of which his wife, who had absconded, received 4s. 6d. a week from the child's mother. At the inquest the jury attributed the child's death to the neglect of prisoner's wife. Mr. Gladstone on his return to Hawarden from the Con- tinent was received at Saltney Station by a large crowd of people, headed by the Robin Hood Band, and greeted with much enthusiasm. The right hon. gentleman seemed quite touched by the cordiality of the welcome accorded to him. William Dutton, Audlem, shoemaker, was charged at Nantwich Police Court last week with night poaching at Hankelow, and sentenced to three months' hard labour, and at the expiration of that time to find two sureties in t;5 each, and to be bound himself in B10 not to offend again for a year. The Broughton School Board have instructed the tea- chers of the school not to send children home who come to school without school fees, but to admit them and to fur- nish the attendance officer with a list of arrears every month, in order that he may take steps to recover the same in the County Court. The reports of the artisans who were commissioned to visit the Paris Exhibition of 1878, contain the following remark on the exhibits of Earl Granville in North Staffordshire and Shropshire iron: "The combined contri- butions of Tillestiall, Snedhill, and Shelton, were well worthy of attention, and it was some of the best iron in the exhibition. Indeed, I question if there could be better made." A gold medal and a diploma were awarded for these exhibits. A ceremony, said to be unprecedented in Denbigh, has been witnessed there. The Rector having lost one of his curates by removal, the Bishop consented to ordain his successor in the parish church instead of waiting for the usual ordination day at St. Asaph Cathedral. Mr. John Francis Rees of Llandilo and St. David's College, Lampeter, was ordained ou Sunday, Nov. 2, in the presence of a large congregation. At the last meeting of the Wrockwardine School Board, the question arose whether the Board could legally pur- chase Bibles for the Schools. The Clerk, who wa^ appealed to, was unable to give a positive opinion without further consideration, but quoted the case of the Womb- ridee School Board, who had provided "Hymns Ancient and Modern" out of the rates In this, however, the Chairman, (Mr. Mac Carthy) had very little doubt Wo in bridge School Board had acted illegally, but it turned out that Mr. Mac Carthy "objected strongly" t,) the hymnal in question. Eventually the question was adjourned for a decisive opinion from the Clerk. Unrequited affection almost had another victim in the streets of Wrexham the other day. On Wednesday even- ing Nov. 5, a girl named Annie Stant. who resides with her parents at the Graig, near Bangor, attempted to drink a quantity of liniment, which she had 'purchased from a chemist in the course of the day, but another girl snatched the bottle from her hand. In another moment, however, Stant had swallowed part of a packet of rat poison, and fallen down in the street. The police took her to the police station, where Mr. Edisbury attempted to administer an emetic,' but the determined girl bit the glass containing it clean through. Another emetic was successfully ad- ministered, and with -the assistance of the stomach pump, which Dr. Eyton Jones applied, the poor girl was brought round, and ultimately taken to the Infirmary. The Chester Chronicle describes the shocking state of affairs at Crpton lunatic asylum, where there has been an outbreak of typhoid fever resulting in the death of Mrs. Congreve, the chaplain's wife. The whole of the sewage from the building, ourscontemporary says, is carried to a meadow at the back of the house and there spread over the surface. It slowly runs over the soil, which is too stiff to take it, and finally iinds its way into a little brook which runs into the Deo. The effluvium is overpowering and at night when the fog settles over the low lands and [ire vents the sewage ga3es from escaping, the residents in the neigh- bourhood are compelled to close their windows in order, if possible, to exclude the miasma. There seems to be some appropriateness in the fact that Dr. Laurence, medical officer of the asylum, was one of the persons at- tacked by the fever. At Hawarden Petty Sessions, several colliers residing in or near Buckley were summoned by the Hawarden Collieries Company for breach of contract. Mr. Trevor Parkins appeared for the plaintiifs, and Mr. M. Louis for the defendants. The breach of contract consisted in leaving work without giving fourteen days' notice. In consequence of an accumulation of gas in the pits the colliers numbering 120 men, were ordered to use the Cliny Safety Lamps. They one and all refused to do so, and there and then left their employment. The defence was that the original contract was to work with naked lights, and that the introduction of safety lamps dimin- ished the earnings of the men. The Bench decided that there was no contract to work with naked lights, and ordered each of the defendants to pay Is. damages, and costs. q r1'ie w 25) says :—" The earliest grammar oitne >Velsh language, that by Griffith Roberts, is now being re-prmted at Paris for M. Gaidoz, as a supplement to the Revue Celtique. Some correspondence has recently appeared in Bge-goncs on this curious relic. Only one perfect copy is known, that in the possession of Sir Watkin W. Wyun, but there is one nearly complete in the British Museum. The place where the grammar was printed has been a matter of considerable discussion, owing to a strange theory started by the late Sir A. Pamrzi. Griffith Robots was resident at Milan, where he was the Confessor of ot. Charles Borroineo. The grammar appeared without any imprint, and merely the date '1567, Primo Marti]. There is however, the nf his contemporary, Dr. J. r> that it'was printed at the Latinised form' of the name of the city where Roberts is known to have been resident The book has, moreover, all the aspect of, Continental typography. Panim, however insisted that it had been printed in Wales at the in the Antonine Itineraries, a locality noup by modern antiquaries. The letter of Sir A. I anizzian* the Right Hon. C. W. Wynn are given in f .flones, and show the odd spectacle of an lta blbho- grapher contending that the Griffith Roberts gramm printed in Wales, against the universal opinion o -Cambro-Britons that it was the product of an lta l press. The question was, however, set at rest by tne la-e Mr. Thomas Watts, who has decisively confirmed tne be- lief that Italy give birth to the first systematic treatise oi the language of the bards andDruids." At a recent entertainment at Bwlchgwyn, the Rev. T. R. Llovd (Esfcyn) said he thought what was called the "bi-linual difficulty" in Wales Wanted re-christening. Enough of rubbish had been talked about this subject Under the old name. Perhaps if the subject was re-named the "bi-lingual benefit," or the" hi-lingual God-send," we might profit considerably by the change. Relatively speak- ing there was no bi-lingual difficulty" in Wales in the sense that there was a difficulty in most English counties- Derbyshire, Lancashire, or Yorkshire, for instance, where the educated classes spoke pure English and the un- educated masses spoke a provincial dialect or jargon of thtir own. In Wales what English was spoken by the masses was, as a rule, pure English, because it was book-English, acquired in school. Tiiat a Welsh child knew Welsh only when it began to learn English in school Was a great gain. You could begin to teach the child With a clean slate. There was nothing to rub out. But just •fancy the "bi-lingual difficulty" which must mar education in Lancashire when you had to teach English to a child who had already leaint it; in this fashion, Aw're uset aw could ha' swallutit as cowd as snow-bos." The existence of Welsh as the vernacular language among the uneducated masses in Wales, enabled us to teach Welshmen pure, classical, book-English, which could scarcely redone with the like ease in any other portion of the empire. If clergymen, ministers, and Bchooluiastcrs would only seize the opportunity afforded them they had now with all our new educational facilities an o'V^'tunity ""fart a knowlege of pure English strong Welshmen. There never was such a golden opportunity offered to.any people of acquiring a great and » lis ful lan'TU 'g<' in all its elegance and purity as was now aTorded to° Welshmen of acquiring English .under this .r.-¡'e :)£ which was termed a bi-lingual difficulty."

FROM THE PAPERS. Mr. Proctor expects a fine display of shooting stars on or about November 27. The Porte is stated, by a telegram from Constantinople, to be making arrangements to place Baker Pacha in a high position in Anatolia. Her Majesty has been pleased to respite the prisoner Jonathan Geydon, who was sentenced to death for the crime known as the Chingford murdt-r. A School Board contest has been avoided at Birming- ham by means of an understanding that the Bible should be read in the Board Schools without note or comment. The Daily News understands that Lord Derby has re- quested the secretary of the Carlton Club to withdraw his name from the list of members. As the result of a compromise, the new School Board for Liverpool will consist of five Churchmen, five Roman Catholics, four Nonconformists, and one Independent." In consequence of the position of affairs in Burmah, it has been decided to strengthen the British force on the frontier by despatching there from India three batteries of the Royal Artillery. The Bishop of Manchester has appointed Nov. 13th as a Day of Humiliation aad Prayer for the removal of the national sin of intemperance, to be observed by a special service in the Cathedral church of Manchester. A daring thief has succeeded in robbing the house of Colonel Cope, the Deputy-Chief Constable for Cheshire, of a quantity of valuable jewellery. He got into the house by pretending that he had come to examine the gas pipes. The Lawson-Labouchere libel case came before Sir Robert Carden at the Guildhall, London, on Friday, Nov. 7, but was postponed for a fortnight, until after a legal question had been decided in the Queen's Bench. The Bishop of Natal in a letter dated September 20, says:—"You may take it ascertain that the Zulu war has cost not less than eight millions, instead of four and a half, as estimated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I have the best authority for what I have stated." A waterspout has caused serious damage in the province of Huelva, in Spain. Several houses have been unroofed, and some trees uprooted. In the village of Bedmar, in the province of Jaen, twenty-two houses have been de- stroyed by floods, but no loss of life is reported. The Turkish newspapers are reported to be very violent against England, and one of them goes the length of de- claring the friendship of England to be more dangerous than the enmity of Russia. The demands of the former Power, according to this organ, amount to the cession of Asia Minor. The Russian ambassador has returned to Constanti- nople from Livadia. A modification of the Ministry and the issue by the Sultan of an Imperial hatt calling upon the Porte to initiate reforms, and stating that it is his Majesty's desire that they should be put into immediate execution are expected. The Rappel, as an instance of the progress of Republican feeling in France, states that out of eighty elections for the Councils General which have taken place since the be- ginning of the year the Republican party has carried off sixty, a gain of seventeen seats. Intelligence received in New York from Kingston, Jamaica, under date the 30th Oct., announces the subsi- dence of the floods in the island. One hundred lives are stated to have been lost, mainly in the eastern districts, and considerable damage has been done to the roads and crops. The mistress of a primary school near Liege, having by direction of the bishop been refused the Catholic rites of marriage, she appealed to the Pope, who has ordered the bishop to allow the marriage. This decision is conform- able to Romish rules, which give a priest no power of re- fusing to perform the ceremony when required by the two parties. The great estate of Oels, in Silesia, which belongs to the Duke of Brunswick, is, after the death of the duke, to go to the Crown Prince of Germany and Prussia pro. tem. The Prussian Government has also decided that now, as a certain sum is paid annually out of the Guelph fund to the Queen and Princesses of Hanover, the rest is to be placed at the disposal of the German Chancellor alone, and no longer of the different Prussian Ministries. A dinner was given on Wednesday night, Nov. 5, to the Mayor of Stafford, Mr. P. Marson, at which, in conse- quence of tha birth of a daughter during his mayoralty, and in accordance with an ancient custom, he was pre- sented with a silver cradle, which, with its supports, weighed over 200 ounces, the whole standing thirty inches high. Mr. Salt, M.P. for the borough, presided. The cradle was provided by public subscription. Wednesday, Nov. 5, was a very tame Guy Fawkes' Day in London. Of the "Guys" paraded about the streets, especially in South London, there was none deserving of any notice save an enormous figure representing the ex- King of the Zulus habited in European garments, which amused many hundreds of people in the neighbourhood of Walworth. Lord Mayor Whetham maintained the peculiar reputa- tion he has gained for getting into undignified rows up to the last. He took farewell of the common council on Thursday, November 6, and in his valedictory remarks spoke disparagingly of the Court of Aldermen. This disgusted Deputy Taylor, who interrupted his lordship, and a scene of confusion followed, under cover of which the Lord Mayor retired. Mr. Spurgeon addressed his congregation for the last time on Thursday night, NNV. 6, previous to his departure for the South of France. He expressed the hope that during his absence the members would do all in their power to maintain the attendance, and that the services might not flag or be less fruitful. Brigadier-General Tytler, in his report of last year's ex- pedition to punish the Dakka Khels, and which is pub- lisliedin a recent issue of London Gazette, brings to notice his indebtedness to Mr. A. Forbes, special correspondent, who accompanied his column, and during the march of the troops through a difficult pass bandaged two wounded men and looked after them uniil the arrival of the medical officer. The election of provincial mayors throughout the country took place on Monday, Nov. 10, the list showing from a political aspect a decided gain to the Liberal party. In Liverpool, Alderman Hall was elet;ted to the office by the narrow Conservative majority of three, the Liberal candidate being Mr. J. A. Picton Mr. J. P. M'Arthur, a Nonconformist, was elected for Bootle, while Birkenhead, where the Conservatives are the dominant party, set an excellent example by the unanimous appoint- ment of Mr. Thomas Jackson, a Liberal. It is note- worthy that for the first time for more than forty years a Liberal mayor was elected for Colchester. A munificent offer has been made to the Court of Directors of the Margate Sea Bathing Infirmary (for scrofula) by Professor Erasmus Wilson, whose recent gift of the Egyptian obelisk to London is so well known to the public. Mr. Wilson announced through the Chairman, Colonel Creaton, his desire to erect at his own sole cost a new wing containing wards for nearly seventy patients, a tepid sea-water swimming bath, and a chapel containing seats for 300 people. A resolution accepting with the warmest cordiality and gratitude this large-hearted" act of benevolence, the cost of which will probably exceed £ 20,0CM, was unanimously passed by the Court. Lord Justice Bram well's recent letter on Diminished Production" has 'evoked a reply from Mr. Frederic Harrison, at the instance of the Trade Union Congress Parliamentary Committee. The conclusion arrived at by Mr. Harrison is that the argument of Mr. Macdonald, that "restriction is the result of a plethora of labour- the turning out of more material than is required," is sound, economic sense. Some, however, under the spasm of gambling and adventure that is sometimes called commercial enterprise, have started the wild sophism about unlimited competition and unlimited pro- duction being for the happiness of mankind," and this, Mr. Harrison contends, is neither sound business nor economic sense," and he believes that the wide-spread distress of our time is largely the result of this reckless folly.

AN INTERESTING WELSH LAW SUIT. The case of "Phillips v. Phillips," came incidentally before the Queen's Bench Division on Friday, November 7, and it is likely to be one of more than ordinary interest. In the first place the claim is for estates valued at about twenty thousand a year. In the second place, it is a family quarrel. In the third place, it promises to present the mildly-romantic features of a lost deed and an un- acknowledged daughter. The matters in dispute include certain limitations made by the owner of the property so far back as the year 1764 and the defendant, who is, of course, in possession, rests his title, so far as he may be said to have disclosed it, under certain other limitations made in the year 1823. Two of the principal facts alleged in the statement of claim are that the first Lord Milford, by deed executed after this will, devised his estates ulti- mately to the heirs of General Phillips, whom the plaintiff represents, which deed cannot be found, and that a certain Bulkeley Phillips, who had a life interest in the property, died without male issue, though it is not said that he had no daughter. One of che facts admitted on both sides is that the second Lord Milford acquired a title by remain- ing for twenty years in wrongful possession, and the gen- ealogical intricacy of the case is complicated by the natural refusal of the people in possession to say what their title is. It is sufficiently evident, however, that a good deal must turn upon the deed which the second Lord Milford is said to have executed, and something will probably depend upon the question whether Bulkeley Phillips really died without lawful issue. The matter came before Mr. Justice Field and Mr. Justice Manisty on Friday, on demurrer to the statement of claim, it being contended that the deed, as described by the plaintiff, contained a provision which was in law impossible. Leave, however, was given to amend this as an error, and the demurrer was accordingly withdrawn.

At the thirty-third anniversary of the VVehdi Indepen- dent Chapel, Hackney Road, London, held on Monday, Nov. 3, in the Albion Hall, London Wall, under the presidency of Mr. B: T. Williams, Q.C., M.P., a resolu- tion upon the subject of a new chapel site was moved, in which the meeting respectfully urged upon the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, who is the owner of the only site at present eligible for such purpose, their claims upon her ladyship's benevolent consideration, and desired the Chair- man to represent their case to hsr ladyship. v SJarnarvon, on Monday, November 10, Griffith • 1 jlf ,la5arPe.nter)Wascommitted by the Borough Bench 111 awt,M Payi.Dg a fine of 2s. 6d. and oosts for drunkei- 1 st going to the gaol, escorted by a couple of polio he broke away, and jumped into the Menai htraits, swimming some thirty yards to a sandbank. Here he commenced stripping in view Gf a swim to the Angle- sey side, when he was observed by some men on the Princess of Wales steamer, who lowered a boat and took him on board. Three Policemen in another boat got along- side after twenty minutes delay, and Edwards then took to the iigguig- A followed, and Edwards even- tually descended. lhe polvce were unable to over- power him, and another boat in which was his father, coming alongside, he was allowed to go away a free man, his father paying the amount of the costs and fine. The affair created great excitement, and the quay and walls were crowded with spectators. ROSBACH WATER—Best Table Water known. In regard to organic ourity and wholesome properties, Rosbach is PAR SUPERIOR to any other mineral water I have examined (Professor Wanklyn's Report). Cheaper than artificial waters. In tie-down cases, Retail 5s. per dozen small 6s. 6d. pBr dozen large bottles. In tie-down cases, 60 large, Cel. 100 sinal! bottles, 34s.-The Rosbach Company, Limited 35. Finsbury- circus, I.ONDON, E.C FOR THE PRESENT SEASON. ROYAL DEVONSHIRE SERGE.—Is the best, the cheapest, the most fashionable, and the most durable of any article woven, The Queen says it has no rival either in appearance or utility, It is made of selectod and elastic staph wools; produced in the latest fashionable colours and mixtures. Prices fn, ladies' wear, Is. 6Jd., is. lijd,, 2s. 3d., and 2s. 9d. per yard. Extra milieu anil strengthened for gentlemen's suits and boys' hard wear (new patterns) from 2s. lul. per yard 54 inches in width. The Factors cut any length, and p'ij carria "e on all parcels into London, Dublin, Belfast) Cork,P or Gwfw In writing for patterns, which are sent post free, state whether for ladies' or gentlemen s wear. Address, Spearman and Spearman, Royal Devonshire Serge Factors, Plymouth. Special attention is called to the fact that tnis firm is devoted exclusively to the production of pure wool materials for ladies' and gentlemen's war. Serges«old as used by Her Majesty's Government.

FACTS AND FANCIES. -V' Sors Tennysonia at the Refreshment-room, York. (For the Southward-bound by "Flying Scotchman.") "0 Swallow, Swallow quickly, flying South !Punch. A Fort Madison man went home the other evening and found his house locked up. Getting in with considerable difficulty at the window, he found on the table this note from his wife—"I have gone out; you will find th<» door- key on one side of the door-step." John B. Gough is 62 years old, has travelled 420,000 miles, delivered 8,000 lectures, and has not spent a day in bed from illness in 33 years all the result, presumably, of cold water. But there's many a fat old whale that can bang him. We have seen one that was at least 80 years old, and must have travelled 42,000,000 miles, and spouted not less than 10.000,000 times, and we don't believe the old buffer ever spent half a da/y in bed. A SENSATION SCENE.—-Cook: "If you please, mum, which Ann an' me 'av' ad' a haccident and broke two tea cups."—Rising China Maniac (only just beginning to get up a collection): "Two-teacups! What teacups ?"—Cook Oiy, not them as master gave ten shillings a set for. Only them two cracked ones as was on the parlour mantel- piece. "-Jud.?j. THE QUESTION FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. (Alter et Idem.) Do you believe in Beaconsfield ? Do you believe in Bogey ? —Punch. RELIGION AND PATRIOTISM.—Mark Twain contributes twenty-five dollars towards defraying the expenses of the battle-flag celebration at Hartford, b.ut takes it out of the money he intended to spend for a pew in a church. The following is his defence of that course:—" There is nothing nobler than for religion to support patriotism, and nothing wiser than for both to uphold and encourage domestic economy, therefore, I subtract this sum from the pew rental." The Court Jou?-nal says: A landed proprietor, akind and sympathizing person, but at the same time curiously absent-minded, called on a tenant to tell him that he for- gave him 992 per cent. of his rent, or something of the sort, and was then asked to condole on the death of a valuable cow-a very valuable cow. The cause of the misfortune had been enveloped in mystery. The farmer began a long-winded history of the untoward event, his landlord soon going off into the clouds. The last words of the narrative were,—' And, can you believe it my lord ?. when we opened her, we found she had been choked by a large turnip that was sticking in her gullet.' At that point the sympathetic but absent-minded landlord woke up, and said, in rather a congratulatory tone of voice too, At), yes, and so you got your turnip. THE HISTORY OF CHURCH PEWS.—In the early days of Anglo-Saxon and some of the Norman churches, a stone' bench running rouud the interior of the church, except the east side, was the only sitting accommodation of the visitors. In 1319 the people are represented as sitting on the ground or standing. A little later the people intro- duced low, three-legged stools promiscuously over the church. Soon after the Norman conquest wooden seats were introduced. In 1387 a decroa was issued in regard to the wrangling for seats, so common that none should call any seat in church his own except noblemen or patrons, each entering holding the one he first found. From 1530 to 1540 seats were more appropriated; a cross- bar guarded the entrance, bearing the initial letters of the owner. In a will dated 1453 a "seat called a pew" is mentioned. In 1603 galleries were introduced. As early as 1G14 pews were arranged to afford comfort by being baized or cushioned, while the sides around were so high as to hide the occupants.

ADMINISTRATIVE FINANCING. Mr. S. D. Waddy, M.P., Q.C., has written a pamphlet on Liberal and Conservative Finance, fired by such rightful wrath against the financial misdeeds of the present Government, that we wonder not to see his name printed on the titl-pa^e either L. S. D. (instead of simple^ S. D.), or Ira Wadd3r. Perhaps he leaves out the L," on the financial principle so cruelly violated by our present Ministers, "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves." Here are some of Mr. Waddy's only too plain figures From 1861 to 1806 the Liberals reduced the funded debt by £ 8,040,600; from 1867 to 1869 the Tories added to it £ 708,400. From 1870 to 1874 the Liberals again steadily reduced it by £ 4,416,500; and the present Government has, with equ:ll steadiness, bat with frightful rapidity, added to it 421,690,500 in the tive years, or £!,827,100 per annum. This is only a s >ecimen-note, out of too many to the same tune. jiDi-tunately, for the extravagances of the Administratis. it is emphatically not a case of A great rediur: «n on taking a quantity. "-Punch.

VISITATION QUESTIONS. (For Archdeacons and others.) 1. Are you pulling down your church, or are you build- ing it up ? 2. Arc your Services monotonous or musical ? 3. Do you turn your back upon your congregation, or doei your congregation turn its back upon you ? 4. Have you altered your tables, or do you stih keep the Commandments ? 5. Do you make use in your Services of all your senses, especially common sense? 6. To what Price do you go for your candles—if any 7. How many heads have you in your sermons, and with what do you cap them ? S. Do you raise your alms in your Offertories ? 9. What average of threepenny pieces do you have 10. How many people pass the plate without giving any- thÜig ? 11. Where do your people go on special collection days ? 12. Are your Hymns Ancient or Modern ? 13. Do your rule you petticoats, or do they rule you? 14. Do you teach your Curate, or vice versa? 15. Do the pretty girls go to him, or to you, for religious teaching ? 16. How often do the plain girls require instruction ? 17. Are all allowed to stare fair lor the Curate? 18. On what principle do you regulate your matrimonial handicaps ?—Punch.

THE LAND OF NOD. Last night I went to the land of Nod What do you think I saw there? Why, all the babies in all the world, Yellow-haired, dark-haired, frowsy, and curled; Some black, some tawny, some fair. What is the way there ?" On and on Over the velvety sod First you go up and then you go down And then you come into Shut-eye town. Away in the Land of Nod. The houses are made of jujube paste, And the doors of plum-cake sliced And if you are hungry by day or night, You may go to the d,oor and nibble a bite, All plummy and iced and spiced. The fountains, you know, run lemonade, And their playing, it never stops; And whenever it rains in that fortunate town, Torrents of honey and cream come down, And lemon and chocolate drops. Oh, it snows white sugar and pink ice-cream, And it freezes lemon ice Tall sugar loaf-hills all around you see And cookies and tarts grow on every tree, And they taste remarkably nice. Tell you some more?" Oh, I haven't the time; B'lt maxbe, if each little elf Will run and climb into mamma's lap, And cuddle right down for a forty winks nap, lie may see the land himself. —The Nursery. ♦

FROM LONDON LETTERS. Mr. Bright s roble words upon the necessity of teaching children gentleness and kindness to animals were read with perhaps as wide a. sympathy as anything he has ever uttered. But there are ettier people who need a lesson of gentleness besides the little people who go to Board schools. Side by side with the report of Mr. Bright s speech, oddly enough there was an account of a battue in Windsor Park in honour of certain high and mighty per. sons who assisted thereat. The slaughter was enormous, and those who like to do it can fancy for themselves the scores of wretched pheasants which were not killed out- right, but left to trail their b,oken limbs about the tern. So long as the aristocracy are barbarous enough to delight in battues and pigeon shooting, so long \vill the de- mocracy be brutal in their imitation of their betters. Birmingham Post, The Liberal candidate for Portsmouth is to be Captain Verney, a name which reminds one that a new generation is silently taking possession of the House. Captain Ver- ney's father I remember as member for Buckingham, and earlier still as member for Bedford-some thirty years ago, in fact. The Liberal leaders at Portsmouth have shown considerable astuteness in selecting a captain in me n«\ J, as there are a large number of naval people in the borough who would vote for anybody in the navy, no matter what his opinions on politics might be. Birmingham Post.. The London School Board election promises to be a much tamer affair than it was three years ago. Then the Denominationalists raised the cry that the School Board was carrying out not only an expensive, but also a god- less policy, and that the Board Schools were ruining all voluntary establishments. Notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts on the part of the clergy, the Ulldeno- -duationalists won a great viotory all along, the line, the completeness of which fairly startled even the leaders of the School Board party, and as it seems now, utterly crushed the clerical opposition. Even those who were three years ago returned (among the minority) to oppose the principles which their predecessors laid down, are now extolling what they then condemned. I believe there is scarcely a doubt of the triumph in store for the School Board" as against the "voluntary" candidates, and further that the number of lady members will be increased. Miss Octavia Hill, daughter of Sir Rowland Hill, is a candidate for the City, and Miss Muller stands a good chance in Lambeth. Sir Charles Reed will, it is anti- cipated, be re-elected chairman, owing to his popularity among both sections sitting at the Board. The City will lose a good member in Mr. Alderman Cotton, who, al- though a Churchman, did not hesitate to declare against the Denominationalist party in 1876, the re ult be!nt? that whilst the City of London was represented in PariiameuD by three Conservatives and one Liberal, it was one of the most liberal of all the metropolitan constituencies at the School Board, returning only one Denominationalist to three -LTndenominationalist B.-Bii-)iti?tgha)n Post. A new Colenso controversy has arisen. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Exeter, and the Bishop of Worcester have bid God speed to the Bishop of Natal's new dean, and ignored the exclusive pretentions of the sfchismatic Bishop of Pietermaritzburg. Such couduct ■>rioves Dr. Colenso's old enemies to the quick. Though he has shown himself a true missionary, and risked all for conscience sake—though there are few clergy in the Church at home who do not now express very much modified views on the subject of the Pentateuch—though in every sect, within and without the Church, Dr. Colenso's views are tolerated and held fit subjects for discussion-yet the originator of the new departure in Biblical criticism is viewed with a hate as implacable as ever. The Guardian raises the hue und cry, and is quite melancholy over the episcopal defections at home. Explanations are to be :¡,ked of the primate. Another unseemly fuss is ahead ;,t us. But what has the other bishop of South Africa done while Bishop Colenso has been pleading the cause of his native friends? He has been as silent as the grave. Is this the time, then, to bound on the one Christian minister in our colony who has done his duty ?—Liverpool Mcrcury.

Information was received at Carnarvon on Monday, November 10, that John Jones, the master of the schoonei Mary Roberts, of Nevin, jumped overboard on Sunday, when the vessel was off Bardsey Island, and was drowned. The vessel put into Portdiulleyn.

r BYE-GONES. v 'jTES, QUERIED, and tituPLIES, on subjects interesting to Wo t, and the Borders, must be addressed to" ASKEW ROBERTS, Croeswylan, Oswestry." Real names and addfosses must be given, in confidence, and MSS. fAwtbewritten legibly, on one aide of the paper only.

BORDER COVNffRS WORTHIES.—In order to afford more space for these, so as to complete the second series this year, we intend to shorten our weekly instalment of Bye-Gones up to Christmas. With the new year we hope to fill the column again. Meanwhile we trust our correspondents will not slacken their attentions. BYE-GONES, ISSO.-With the new year we hope to commence another new series. So far each volume of the Reprint of Byc-Gones has comprised two years' issue; and each volume lias been, as far as possible, a distinct series. The first series, 1872-3, and the second, 1874-5, are out of print but a few copies remain of the series 1876-7. Early application is neces- sary to secure copies. The series 1878-9 will be ready in January.

NOTES. OSWESTRY CORPORATION RECORDS. (Oct. 29, 1879.) This week we give the first acknowledgment recorded of the possession of the Charter of James I. ED. Decimo quarto die Octobris Anno D'ni 1620 M'd. that we Thomas Staney and Thomas Iveson Esquires have the daye & yeare above written Received hy the hands of Richard Jones and Hugh Muckleston gent. late Bayliffs the Charters books & other minimyts followinge. (viz) A Ch're graunted by king Richard the Second, and other ffyve ch'res w'the Charter gwtta The book of Constitution It. one Charter of Thomas Earle of Arundel and Surrey. The hall elne and yard & the towne Seale The Burgess booke A confession of our liberties in queene Elizabeths time xlij'o 9 Leases of the scoole lands for xxtie yeares in a blacke boxe The bookes of pleading about the quo warranto And a Charter now graunted by his m'iestie Two old auncient leases Articles made between Richard Drihurst & Ric. Lloyd, and John Kyffin upon his admittance Schoolmaster Breefes of agreem'ts touchinge the pr'curinge of the newe charter Copie of a feofment of a mill in measburie One Silver Cup beinge the gift of Hugh midelton Esquire one paire of Shackells Two paire of Bolts one great chaine xxx'o die octobris 1620. Md. That William Cowp'r and Hughe Cadwalader esquires have receaved the daye and yeere aforesayd by the hands of Thomas Staney and Thomas Iveson gen't late Bailiffs the Charters books and other mynim'ts following viz Imprimis one Ch're graunted by our gracious kinge James, &c. It. one Ch're graunted by king Richard the Second. It. other ffvve ch'res w'th the litle Ch're graunted by Gruffith Penvras. It. the confession of the liberties It. the book of constitucion It. the lease of towne graunted by my L of Suffolke It. the boxe wherein are contayned the school leases It. the Burgesse great Book It. the towne Seale It. one half elle of Iron It. one Standard or Iron yard It. one marking Iron called the comon seale for measures It. one Bowlt of Iron w'th one halberd Decimo die December 1624. Memorandum that wee Thomas Iveson and Richard Cowper esquires Bayliffes of the Towne of Oswestry have upon the day and yere aforesaid Received by the handsof Roger williamea and William Thomas esquires late Baylives th'on The Ch'res books and mynyme'ts above mencioned except ij'o leases made between Richard Drihurst and John Kyffin. vicessimo primo die Octobris 1625/ Memorandum that wee John Blo-1 well & Richard wicherley bayliffes of the towne of Oswestrie the daye and yere aforesaid received of Thomas Iveson and Richard Cowp'r late bayliffes of the said towne,—the Ch'res bookes and mynym'ts lastlie mene'ved to be deliv'red unto them This "Charter Gwtta" (of which the text was given Jan. 1,1879) is, in all the other lists we have given, stated to have been granted by William Fitzalan. Who was the fat-headed Ciruffith ? QUERIES. GREGYNOG.—The seat of Lord Sudeley stands at the foot of a hill called Gregynog, and that hill at one time abounded with grltg or heath. Can that be the mean- ing of Gregynog, as Clynnog (Celynog) is derived from celynor holly ? JESSIE. REPLIES. MATTERLESS (Oct. 1. 1879).—I have no means of knowing in what part of Shropshire this word is used, but the word "Difatter," which is literally the same, is commonly used in Wales, and would, for instance, fittingly describe the character of Hamlet, who to all intents and purposes was difatter = matterless, after the revelation made to him by his father's ghost. BOXWM. NAME OF AUTHOR WANTED. (Sept. 17, Oct. 22, 1S79).— IDNERTH assumes (but why?) that the couplet in question is a complete sentence on the con- trary, I assumed that it was only a fragment of an Englyn on a Cywydd. In the former case, it is, of course, un- giammatical, but surely there is no occasion to assume that the poet committed a breach of any rule of grammar .'sinless it can be shewn that any other explanation is im- possible. Assuming as I do that the sentence is incom- plete, suppose for the present we complete it thus: [Ceir clywed] Aflonydd dwrf olwynion A drystiant yn mhalmant Mon. (The restless noise of wheels that clatter on Mona's pavement shall be heard.) In such a sentence the word "olwynion" (wheels), not twrf" (noise), would b, evidently, the nominative to the verb "trystiant" (clatter). R. W. The couplet in question is to be found in an odG by the late Rev. E. Evans (" Ieuan Glan Geirionydd ) on the visitation of Geo. IV. to the Isle of Anglesey. The following is the stanza of which the lines form part Cerbydau gorau pob -wron,-rhuant Megis rheieidr mawrion, Aflonydd dwrf olwynion A drystiant y' mhalmant M6n. (See Geirionydd' p. 85.) I am inclined to think the word twrf,' although pro- perly speaking a substantive, is here used adjectively; nouns are sometimes used as adjectives in Welsh taran dwrf, a loud noise; awyr fynydd, a high mountain aud many other instances may be given. M.O.

OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE WREXHAM CENTRE. On Friday, November 7, the medals, prizes, and certifi- cates gained by the condidates examined in the Oxford Local Examination at the Wrexham Centre, were distributed in the Public Hall by the Hon. G. T. Kenyon. The following is a list of the successful candidates I -Medals.—-Duncan CummingFraser, Grove Park School- Second Division, Mayor's gold medal, off ±red to the first senior at the centre. Thomas Darlington, Whitchurch Grammar School, first division, Ex-Mayor's silver medal, offered to the first iunior at the centre. II Committee's Prizes.—D. C. Fraser, Grove Park bchool, second senior division, Ganot's Natural Philosophy. T. T. Groom Grove Park School, second senior division, Scott's Life of X ipoleon. J. B. Lancelot, Grove Park School, second senior division Coniugton's Virgil, G. Whitehead, Old Vicarage School second senior division, Scott's -Life of Napoleon. W. Eaxterbv St. Asaph Grammar School, second senior division, Challis's Notes on the Principles of Calculation. T. Darlington, Whitchurch Grammar School, first junior division, Smith's Dictionary of Antiquities. A. E. Jones, Ruabon Grammar School second junior division, Macaulay's Essays. P. Groom, Grove 'Park School, second junior division, Creasy's Decisive -Seniors, with the title of Associate in Arts —W. Easterby, St. Asaph Grammar School. D. C. Fraser, Grove Park School. T. T Groom, Grove Park School. J. B. Lancelot. Grove Park School. G. Whitehead, Old Vicarage School, Wrexham. Juniors.—For first and second divisions see prize use aDove.— T. Darlington, Whitchurch Grammar School. W. L. E. Eames, Oswestrv Grammar School. P. Groom, Grove Park School. E. Ince Old Vicarage School, Wrexham. W. JVI. Johnson, •Ruabon Grammar School. A. E. Jones, Ruabon Grammar School W i-eight-on, St. Asaph Grammar School. A. Roberts, St. Asaph (harnmar School. Ll. Roberts, St. Asaph Grammar School. R. Sisson, Grove Park School. A. Walker, Grove Park School. H. J Williams, Whitchurch Grammar School. The Mayor (Mr. Isaac Shone) presided, and there were also on the platform the Hon. G. T. Kenyon, the Rev. G. H. M'Gill Rev. R. E. Jones, Messrs. J. C. Owen, W. Overton, Thos. Bury, Charles Hughes, W. Sherratt, Dr. Ey ton-Jones, Trevor Parkins, W. J. Russell, Grove Park, W. J. Sisson, &e. The MAYOR, in briefly opening the proceedings, said that he was glad to find that the young gentleman who had obtained the principal certificate belonged to Wrex- ham. (Hear, hear.) He had had very little experience of the work connected with the examinations, but from what he had once seen of the candidates at work in the Savings' Bank, he was sure they deserved all the honours 'II they received. -He believed the Wrexham centre was established during the mayoralty of Mr. Alderman Owen, who had given a medal to the best boy, and he (the Mayor) had great pleasure in giving a similar medal him- self. (Applause.) Mr. J. ARLINGTON HUGHES then read the Secretary s report as follows:- The number of candidates at this centre this year was 21, 5 of them being seniors and 15 juniors. Of these 17 (5 seniors and 12 juniors) succeeded in obtaining The^five' seniors obtained places in the Second Honour One junior obtained a place in the First Honour Division and two in the Second Honour Division. The number of seniors for the whole of the country is 773, namely, 411 boys and 355 girls (of these seven offered themselves for examination as Studiosi Musicte), of whom 54) passed. The number of juniors for the whole of the country is M3&>. namely, 1002 boys and 374 girls, of whom 859 passed. It is not necessary to read out the names of the successful candidates, as they will be found upon the lists which have been distributed about the hall. The average percentage of passes amongst the seniors tor ine whole kingdom is 6y'85, and the percentage for the Wrexham Centre is 100, so that this centre is 3015 above the average of seniors. • » j.v. The average percentage of passes amongst the juniors^ for the whole kingdom is 6!)"dl, and the percentage for the Wrexham Centre is 80, so that this centre is 20'19 above the average of JUThef'ees paid by the candidates this year were insufficient to cover the expenses of the examination. In conclusion, therefore, the Committee respectfully ask for subscriptions towards the prizes, the cost of the public distribu- tion, and the examination expenses. The Rev. K. E. Jones, superintending examiuer, said his duties during the examination had been rendered light and agreeable through the good conduct of the boys themselves, the arrangements of the Local Committee, and the advice and counsel of Mr. Trevor Parkins. (Hear, hear.) It was rather the effort to win than the victory itself which was the real value of these competitive examinations, which had been inforce for the last twenty-two years and had filled up the void existing between the system of Primary Education provided by the State, and the system of higher education which it was the function of the Universities to supply, The wisdom of the Universities in establishing these examin- ations, wa* conclusively proved by the increasing numbers who offered themselves year by year as candidates, theie having been a marked increase amongst the senior canoi- dates during the past year. (Applause.) Mr. TREVOR PARKINS next offered a few remarks con- gratulatory to the !><>ys of the Wtexlnwii centre iu having done so well, observing that it was a j'reat satisfaction to have an object in which they could all jo n irrespective of party or creed. (Hear, hear.) Iteferriug to Dr. Harper's scheme, which was taken so much interest in by the Dean of Bangor, he thought he had only to state that it was a proposal to alienate a very large number of the scholarships in Jesus College which wre at present con- fined to the natives of Wales, and to throw them open to the natives of England, to say something to induce that meeting to withhold their approval of the scheme. (Applause.) The Rev. G. H. MCGILL then delivered an excellent address. The Hon. G. T. K EX YON was called upon by the MAYOR to distribute the prizes. Before doing so, however, he delivered a brief address. He referred to the great difference in the character of the examinations now re- quired to be passed and those required by our forefathers observing that it was a great thing for the cause of educa- tion that the certificate or degree obtained as the result of these examinations was now really worth having—that it was a bona fide distinction of which they might be j ustly proud. (Hear, hear.) At the beginniiJg of the present week he was reading a speech on education by Mr. Bright, whom everybody must admire, whatever his political opinions might be. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Bright) threw great doubt upon the value of Greek and Latin, which, he said, they must consider as a luxury rather than as a necessity. Mr. Bright was of opinion that a man became just as great and good and wise a man with- out these classical studies as it he were thoroughly ac- quainted with all the Greek and Latin books in the world. Of course, there were many modes of etfecting education, but Mr. Bright went further, and said that instead of teaching Greek and Latin, if they were to teach moral virtues, they would impart a far better and more practical education. He thought, however, that there was just the point where Mr. Bright's argument broke down. it had always been considered, and he thought justly, so, that the peculiar advantage of teaching these dead languages was not so much what they t tught in them- selves as the effect they had in producing exactly those qualities which Mr. Bright desired to infuse. (Applause.) There was, of course, 'his danger about the mere teaching of Greek and Latin, that they gave an education which was more culture than real education. They wanted, in these practical, hard-headed days in England, a solid edu- cation, which would not only enable them to shine, but to battle successfully in the career of life through which they all had to go. (Hear, hear.) He wished to point out to the boys present that there was no greater mistake than that of thinking that their education was finished when they had passed their last examination, for then it was that their real education commenced. (Hear, hear.) He thought they must all agree with the great Premier ef this country when he said that "to be conscious of our ignorance is the great step to knowledge." (Hear, hear.) The mind should be always receptive, There should be no such thing as a stereotyped mind, which was another name for bigotry and intolerance, Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell, That mind and soul, according well, May make one music as before, But vaster! —(Applause.) The distribution then took place, the Mayor's gold medal being handed to the recipient by Mrs. Kenyon, Mrs. Peter Walker presenting the ex-Mayer's medal. At the close of the distribution, The MAYOR proposed, and Alderman OWEN (ex-Mayor) seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to the Hon. G. T. Kenyon and Mrs. Kenyon, which was carried with accla- mation. Mr. KENYON, in responding, said he had received a note from Sir Robert Cunliffe stating that owing to the death of a relative he was unable to be present at the distribution. Other votes of thanks followed.

THE GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION AT PENTRE BROUGHTON. An adjourned inquiry into the deaths of John Kelly, aged 20, and Margaret Catherine Parry, aged 16, who were killed by an explosion of gunpowder at Pentre, was held at the Cross Foxes on Tuesday, Nov. 11, before B. H; Thelwall, Esq., coroner. There were also present- Major Ford, Government Inspector of Explosives, Deputy Chief Constable Wilde, aud Mr. Aston, who ap- peared for Mrs. Howard. John Kelly, father of deceased, said he used to buy powder of Mrs. Howard, but he always got it from the store room by the Moss Works never from the dwelling house. Julia Annie Pierce, schoolmistress, a lodger at Mrs. Howard's, gave further evidence. W. G. Barker, a boy of thirteen, said he bought two pounds of powder for his father at Mrs. Ho vard's. She fetched it from a little building attached to the house. It was in a brown paper parcel. Edward Ellis said he did not want to say anything against Mrs. Howard, and was told he must answer questions, said he was the owner of the house. On the day of the explosion he saw Kelly carry- ing a wooden box towards the house. Did not know what was in the box. In reply to Mr. Wilde, witness said he called at Mr. Wilde's office, but he for-ot what he went there for. The house was not insured. [Mr. Wilde_ stated that witness told him Mrs. Howard had promised to make good the house, and therefore he did not wish to give evidence.] Mr. Wilde then gave evidence as Inspector under the Explosives Act, and said Mrs. Howard had a store licence which allowed her to keep 1,000 lbs. of powder, and she was also registered for the sale, for which she could keep 50 lbs., but the dwelling-house was not regis- tered, and she had no right to take an ounce of powder there. Mrs. Howard said—I was in the kitchen at the time of the explosion. Both the deceased were in the parlour. I had been out spending the evening. Came in and took' off my things. In about ten minutes the explosion took place. Was sitting near the fire, and in a few minutes I saw a light in the parlour, and the explosion took place. Kelly was my storekeeper. He was twenty years of age, and was a steady, upright man. Never saw him bring any powder into the house, only outside when he was waiting for somebody. Never kept powder in the house. Remember the boy Barker comin up for powder. Gave him soma powder from the coal place. It had been brought up by Kelly from the stores. My house was not regis- tered for the sale of powder.* Don't know whether the house was insured. Have not had any conversation with Ellis about settling- the case. Major Arthur Ford said—Twenty-five pounds of powder might have caused the explosion, but I am not able to fix the amount. Possibly it was more than twenty- five pounds. It would be difficult for powder to ignite in a closed box, so I think there must have been loose powder about. I express no opinion as to the cause of the explosion, but there appeared to have been a tire in the room. If Mrs Howard had registered her house according to the Act, she could have carried on the sale of gunpowder just as she did at her store. She could have demanded, by sending to the clerk of the magistrates, the proper notice, with a fee of Is., the right to keep for sale in her house 50 pounds of gunpowder, but she would, not have been allowed to break bulk exceeding one pound. Neither licence nor registration would permit the manu- facture of powder or making ammunition of any kind. The Coroner then briefly placed the case before the jury; who after a short consultation returned the follow- ing verdict:—" That John Kelly and Margaret Catherine Parry were killed by an explosion of gunpowder on Oct. 30, 1S79, on unlicenced premises, but how or by whom the explosives were brought on the premises there was no evidence to show, nor how the explosive was ignited. They also said that the manner in which some of the witnesses had given their evidence was most unsatis- factory." Mr. James, foreman of the jury, also begged to record the satisfaction given by Major Ford in his conduct of the enquiry. The Coroner fully endorsed all that the jury had said of Major Ford's general courtesy. The enquiry then came to an end.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS. T7nr flip W..L- f>ndins» November 2nd. 1879. Y"- -0 n 1879. Great Western "j £ 130,800 West Midland > 1878. South Wales j £ 127,192 South Wales P,127,192 1879. London and North Western "J £ 185,786 Shrewsbury and Hereford > 1878. Shropshire Union J £ 178,669 Shropshire Union J 2178,669 CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending November 9th, 1879. Miles open 178^. Passengers, parcels, &c., £ 1,435; merchan- dise, minerals, and live stock, £ 2,072; total for the week, £ 3,507. Actual traffic receipts for the corresponding week last year. Miles open, 178i. Passengers, parcels, &c., tl,397 merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £ 1,942 total for the week, £ 3,339. Aggregate from commence- ment of half-year to this date, £ 78,677; last year, £ 83,842. BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY (61 miles open).— Traffic Statement for the week ending November 9, 1879. Passengers, parcels, &c., t308 4s. lid. goods and live stock, k768 4s. 8d.; total, i;1076 9s. 7d. £17 12s. lid. per mile per week. Corresponding week last year-(61 miles open): Passengers, parcels, &c., R327 14s. 9d.; goods and live stock, .U14 Is. 9d.; total, £ 1,24116-. 61.; £ 20 7s. 2d. per mile per week.—Decrease for this week, S165 6s. lid. Aggregate for 19 weeks, 1879, 919,365 17s lld., Aggregate for 19 weeks, 1878, C22,160 13s. 4d., Decrease for 19 weeks. £2794 1!) !).

When Colonel Tomline was memoer for Shrewsbury, he scarcely acquired the reputation of an epigrammatic, speaker. Experience seems to have put an edge on his oratory, for, speaking at Harwich, where he is the Liberal candidate, the gallant Colonel said-" As a tax- gatherer, Sir Stafford needs no help as a financier, he mi"ht profit by advice from Cairo and Constantinople, and Northcote Pasha will meet with sympathy and admiration from his brother Pashas. Jjiey take all the money they can get—so does he. Tn«y increase their debt—=80 does he. They have their accounts in almost in- extricable confusion—so has he. And I think he may count with confidence on the sympathy and admiration' of Oriental brothers." That is rather too bad.. Sir Stafford Northcote is not a brilliant Chancellor, and it is only too true that we are getting deeper and deeper in the mire, but he is a map of the highest respectability, and much too honest to excite anything but the contempt of the Pashas. RETURN OF MR LOVETT FROM SOUTH AFRICA.—On Thursday night, November 6, Mr. H. W. G. Lovett,' son of Colonel Lovett of Belmont, who has been in the Zulu war with the 13th Light Infantry, returned to Gobowen by the 3 15 train from Padding- ton. As the train approached the platform about thirty fog signals went off, and immediately after hearty cheers were given by several hundreds of people who had as- sembled to witness the arrival. The horses were taken out of the carriage and scores of willing hands took their place and drew Mr. Lovett to Belmont. Colonel Lovett's neighbours will cordially rejoice with him on the return of his son. Ei't-s's COCOA.—GRATEFUL A.\D COMFORTING.—"By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the tine properties of well-selected cocoa, Mr Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately-flavoured beverage which may save us many hep-y doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hun- dreds of sr'jtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fat,¡tJ shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame.rlvil Service Gazette.-Sold only in Packets labelled, "JAMES EPPS & Co., HomoeopatbiriCbemists, 1' FOOD ADULTERATION.—Dr. Tripe, public analyst of the Hackney district, reports, "that all the samples of cocoa he examined, except one, were sold as mixtures of oocqa, arrowroot, and sugar, the exception heins C^llrary s Cocoa Essence, which was genuine. The quantity ot starch in the other samples varied between 67 and 80 ir ceX so that, allowing for sugar, there was not ,n Sooe of them more than 10 per centof cocoa.^ An article like this was comparatively valueless rs tooa.

-=. FOOTBALL. --J DUDLESTON RED :STARS Y. KLLESMGRE TEMPERANCE WHITE. STAllS, Played in the Castle Hill Field, on Saturday, Nov. 8. The result was one goal each. The game was a very friendly one, and both sides played excellently. After the match they went to the Temperance Room, and were provided with buns and coffee. WELSHPOOL WANDERERS V. OSWESTRY 2ND ELEVEN.—This match was played at Welshpool on Saturday, Nov. 8, and re- sulted in a victory, after a hard light, for the Wanderers by one goal (kicked by R. Morris) to nil. Wanderers: Goal, H. A. Harper; back, H. D. Barrett; half-backs, T. Jones, R. Sergeant; right wing-, E. M. B. Jones (ctpttin), E. Lewis; left wing, H. Jones, R. Morris centres, A.W.Williams, A H. Jones, H. Morris. Oswestry Goal, J. Griffiths; backs, B. Walker, J. Roberts; half- backs, J. S. Cheeseman (captain), R. Jones, G. Bromlev; right wing, D. Williams, W. E. D:tvies left wing, A. Jenks, J. Mere- dith centre, H. Morgan. Umpires, J. E. Davies and ü. Astley. Referee, J. Strode. ELLESMERE y, WEM.—Played on Friday, November 7, on the ground of the former, and after a well contested game resulted in favour of Ellesmere by six goals to none. The Ellesmere team showed splendid form, and did a fair amount of passing, which is the chief point in playing football. They must be congratulated on achieving such a victory over their opponents, as they are only a young club. With a little more drill they would make a capital-teaui. The sides w, re :Ellesmere: Goal, B. Lindop backs, G. W. Allinson (captain) and T. Jones; half-backs, F. Davies and H. Davies; centres, Hodnet and Wilson right wing, R. Jones_ and C. Sparrow; left wing, H. Hughes and J. Williams. Wem Goal, S. Butters backs, W. Bentley (captain) and J. Watkins; half-backs, J. G. Franklin and H. Wilson; centres, H. Lee and J. Weaver; right wing, J. Wvcherley and J. Walton left wing, R. Rogers and J. Grindle. CORWEN V. BALA.—Return match played at Corwen, on Thursday, Nov. 6, and resulted in a very easy victory for the home team by seven goals to none. During the first half time the play was even, the home team having the wind against them, and they consequently played a defensive ganie. In the second half time the home team played a very fast game, and in ten minutes three goals were obtained by them, and before the call of time they scored four more goals. The visitors in the first half time all played well, R. Thomas, Hughes, and J. Roberts distinguishing themselves. For the home team M. Morris played well as back, and W. Roberts'and W. J. Evans as half- backs. The forwards played very fast on the whole, but they were rather careless in their shots, and many more goals would have boen secured if they had not played so wild." GUILSFIELD.—A football club has been formed here by Mr. A. C. Perkins, a gentleman who has for some months been re- siding here, and his efforts have been attended by a fair amount of success. The donors and subscribers are numerous, and the cash received amounts to a good sum, which has been expended by him in purchasing costumes, footballs, goal posts, &e. The members have played two matches of importance, one against Newtown White Star, and one versus Scarlet Run- ners, Shrewsbury. They were beaten by the Stars the other match was not played out, owing to an accident. They are en- gaged to play matches with Wrexham Civil Service, Oswestry, Welshpool, and other Clubs. Mr. Perkins will be glad to ar- range matches with clubs that have still some open dates. OSWESTRY GRAMMAR SCHOOL Y. ELLESMERE.—Played at Ellesmere on Saturday, Nov, 8. The Ellesmere eleven were much heavier that the School, and sought by tiiese means to win the match. But their play did not come up to the accounts of it, and the School was not" walkeri over," as was expected, for the visitors gained three goals to two, and a further goal was disputed on the gmund of offside. For the RchLol H. CutMieit made some splendid runs. Oswestry School: Forwards, Eames (captain), Mocatta, Asterley, WarLi, Lewis, and H. Cuthbert; half-backs, Whitfield and Mr. Dobbs; backs, F. Owen and R. .Tones goal, F. Evans. Ellesmere Forwards, Chidlow, Bellis, Lloyd, Sparrow, Baker, and Williams half-backs, F. Davies and W. Davies backs, Allison (captain) and H. Davies; goal, Lin- dop. Umpires, Stevens and C. Pugh.

WELSH ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP. FIRST TIES. EXCELSIOR (NEWTOWN) v. ALL SAINTS (SHREWSBURY). This tie was decided on the ground of the latter on Saturday, November 8th, in favour of the former by six goals to nil. Two other goals were kicked for the Excelsiors, but the players were ruled off-side. The first- goal was scored by Morgan in less than five minutes from the start. Three corner kicks were then ob- tained, but it was not until twenty-eight minutes from the commencement that D. Williams secured the second goal. In five minutes more Morgan got the third goal, and before half- time D. Williams placed a fourth to the credit of his side. On changing ends two more goals were obtained in less than twenty minutes, byD. Williams and Gittins respectively, but doringthe remainder of the game the play was somewhat more even, the home team playing with more spirit; and although they suc- cessfully defended their own goal, they did not seriously menace that of' their opponents. The teams were composed as fol- lows EXCELSIOR. Goal, H. Hibbott; [backs, W. W. Woosnam and D. Owen; half-backs, M. Masters and E. Morgan right side, E. Morgan (captain), and D. Williams left side, E. Gittins and E. Oliver; centre, George Woosnam and H. Buckley. ALL SAI.NTS. Goal, A. Williams back, H. C,le; three-quarter back, W. A. Smith half-backs, T. Jones and A. Nightingale (captain), right side, T. Townsend and E. Powell; left side, E. H. Jones and W. Snook centre, C. Kerry andW. W. Hughes. OSWESTRY v. ABERYSTWYTH. This tie was played off on Saturday, Nov. 8, on the ground of the last named Club, and resulted in a victory lor the home team by one goal to nil. Play commenced at nine minutes past three o'clock, when the Aberystwyth captain having won the toss set his adversaries to kick down hill. The visitors immediately got the ball in front of the Aberystwyth goal, and the gordkeeper had twice to use his hands, and after it had been several times in danger the ball was worked into the Oswestry quarters where the home men got a free kick. Green, however, sent the ball harmlessly behind the lines. The attack was renewed on the home team's position, and the ball sent several times behind the lines, and then Peake made a quick run up the right side, and obtained a free kick for hands" close to the Oswestry troal. Groves got the ball away from the goal, and it was taken down to the Aberystwyth goal, at which several unsuccessful shots were made. Peake again took the ball out of a scrimmage up into the Oswestry quarters; he failed, however, to get near the goal, and the attack was resumed on the Aberystwyth goal. A sharp run by the Aberystwyth forwards took the hall right up to the visitors' goal where a free kick was given them, and the ball kicked over the goal bar. Peake and K..Jones successively frustrated attacks on their goal, and Williams returned the ball from the Oswestry end, but it was taken up again, kicked behind the line. A series of attacks on the home team's goal then ensued. J. Davies sent the ball in front, and Shone got an easy shot, but lie lifted the ball just over the bar, and after the goalkeeper had thrown the ball out from another shot, Wynn just grazed the outside of the hr and sent the ball behind.Hands" relieved another attack, but the ball was returned and kicked once over the bar and twice behind the line. Shone again lifted the ball over the bar, a free kick and » two throws in got the lull into the Oswestry quarters and J. Hamer sent it behind the lines. The Oswestry forwards fol- lowed up the kick out, and the ball was close to the home goal when hands was called, but at almost the same moment (about' 3 40) John Williams sent it through the posts, but the goal was not allowed, as the ball was ruled out of play. The remaining quarter of an hour to half time was occupied chiefly in attacking the Aberystwyth goal, but owing principally to the goalkeeper no goal was obtained. Directly after changing end.} the Aberystwyth left wings took the ball down. Groves made a dash to get it away but missed his kick and' F. Hamer put it through and secured a goal. The Visitors lost no time in set- ting to work to wipe off the' score and got the ball in front of goal. W. H. Davies headed into the mouth of it, but the goal keeper hit it away, and gave a corner kick; nothing re- suited, the ball being got away and taken down the ground. F. Hamer getting a shot at the visitors' goal, but Conde was on the alert, and stopped it. Attacks on the respective goals were re- pelled by Groves and Jones and Rees, but the play was most at the Aberystwyth end, where Roberts cleverly stopped a shot, and Dyke, at the second attempt, put the ball over the bar. W. H. Davies put the ball in front, and the downfall of the goal seemed certain, but Dyke missed the kick. Roberts then stopped another shot, and a long one by the Oswestry Captain missed its mark. Several runs were made to the Oswestry goal, but Williams and Groves returned the ball each time, Shone bring- ing it once along the side, and passed to Dyke, but the latter was unsuccessful with the shot. Again the visitors' goal was in danger, but Conde rushed out and kicked the ball awav. A free kick to the visitors again put the ball in front of the Aberystwyth goal, and "Wynn headed it over the bar. Conde shortly afterwards had to defend his goal, and John put the ball behind the goal. The visitors again tried to score, and had the ball in a scrimmage within a yard of goal, when Roberts picked it up and threw it out; Dyke then sent the ball over the bar, and Roberts had got the ball again from his goal, when time was called, and the tie decided iu favour of the Aberystwyth by one goal to niL Some surprise was expressed by the visitors at the ground chosen for the match, it being most uneven, and only just large enough to comply with the rules of the Association. This is a matter the Committee would do well to look to before the second ties, as they will probably find an ordinary ground as little suited to their style of play as this was to the Oswes- trians, whose wing players had no scope for their play, and the uncertain bound of the ball seemed to puzzle the whole of them. The ground may serve very well for ordinary matches, but for the settlement of a cup tie a better field might have been procured. Although both sides showed eousideiable energy, there was a noticeable absence of skill, particularly in the shots at goal, as only one of the many which the visitors got went through, and that was disallowed because the Aber- ystwyth umpire blew his whistle and claimed hands ? second before, but neither the referee nor the visitors' umpire, who were a great deal nearer the play, could see any infringement of the rules. The ball, however, was ruled to be out of play when the whistle sounded. The visitors had a very weak team, only two of those who figured in their cup ties and principal matches last year (viz., Davies and Shone) taking part in the mlteli, whilst the home team had to forego the services of their captain, who was un- avoidably absent. Owing to the counter attraction of donkey racing in a neigh- bouring tield, the attendance was rather small, and the gate" consequently not a very productive one. The home team are to be congratulated on their success, as they certainly had the worst of the play, for they seldom had the ball near their opponents' goal; while on the other hand, and more particularly during the first half time and the last ten minutes, the ball was constantly being kicked at or behind theirs. Roberts, however, defended it ii first rate style, stopping both long and short shots and by picking up the bail out of a scrimmage—a plucky thing to do—averted what seemed to be an inevitable disaster. The following are the names and positions of the players:- AIIERYSTWYTH. Goal: R. Mills Roberts. Backs: R. Jones and R. W. Rees. Half-backs: W. Green and J. L. Thorn is. Right wing R. Peake and J. Hamer (captain). Left wing: T. John and W. Jones. Centre: F. Hamer and J. Rowland. Umpire: Jas. Jones. OSWESTRY. Goal: C. Conde. Backs: J., Williams and J. Groves. Half- backs J. Davies, F. H. Marshall, and T. Gough. Right wing: W. W. Shone and C. Byke. Left wing J. Wynn and Jno. Williams. Centre W. H. Davies (captain). Umpire J. B. Roberts. Referee W. H. Gough.

THE SALOP I.;FIRIIARY.-Tiie anniversary was cele- brated on Thursday, November 6, when the treasurer, Mr. J. J. Bibby, withjthg Corporation, and a large number of supporters of the Charity, walked to St. Chad's Church. The Rev. Canon Egerton ot Middle preached to a crowded congregation, and the collection amounted to £ 265 4s. STAFFORDSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE IVINTER ASSIZES.— These Assizes were held at Stafford last week before Mr. Baron Pollock. A case of alleged embezzlement at Bridg- north was remitted for trial at the Bridgnorth Quarter Sessions, as the prisoner had been admitted to bail. His Lordship said it should be thoroughly understood that the Assizes were for a special purpose, and not for the trial of persons out on bail. In the three other Shropshire cases the grand jury ignored the bills. Oue of these was a charge against John Edward Bromley, 52, butcher, of committing a rape upon his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Bromley, a girl of the age of sixteen, between the 31st of December, lvS78, and the 81st of -ianuary, 1879, at Shrews- bury. HOLLOWAY' OINTMENT AND PILLS*.—Diseases and dasu- alties incidental to youth may be safely treated by the use of these excellent Medicaments according to the printed directions folded round each pot and box. Nor is this Ointment alone applicable to external ailments; conjointly with the Pills it exercises the most salutary influence in checking inflammations jdtuafced in the interior of the body; when rubbed upon the back and chest it gives the most sensible relief in asthma, bronchitis, pleurisy, and threatening consumption. Hollow* v s remedies are especially serviceable in liver and stomach complaInts.. For the cure of bad legs, all sorts of wounds, snreil, and likewise scrofula and scorbutic aff< ctio.,s, this Ointment produces a cooling and soothing feelivg most acceptable to the sufferer.