The North Wales Express

PRIVATE LEGISLATION. The legislative promises of Ministers have been already amply discussed, many of the matters on which legislation, is contemplated having been indeed for years before the public. So far as Ministerial proposals are concerned, we will merely say, in no party spirit, that it is not at all likely that they will all be carried out; for, with the addition of all the other legislative work, and discussions without work, an ordinary session would be far too short for this. But there is another branch of parlia- mentary work which does not perhaps command sufficient public attention-private bills. The amount of contemplated legislation of this character is this session positively enormous, and we believe far greater than is usually the case. It would scarcely be credited, had we not an official statement to this effect, that there are 250 private bills now before the two Houses of Parliament, besides which there were petitions for 26 other bills; but the standing orders no t having been complied with, these proposed measures have become, in parliamentary language, dead for this session. A confer- ence has been held between Lord Redesdale, chairman of committees in the House of Lords, Dr Lyon Playfair, chairman of Ways and Means, and the parliamentary agents having charge of these bills, and it has been ordered that ninety shall be first considered in the House of Lords and 160 in the House of Commons. Now, every one of these bills is of great importance in this or that district, and it is not too much to say that in the various localities they affect they are severally of greater interest than any one of the measures promised in the Royal Message. We may reasonably hope that, with the action of the two Grand Committees, much of the time of Parliament in regard to these bills will be economised; but, of course, none can become law without the sanction of both houses, and in the aggregate much of the time of the legislature will therefore be devoted to them. But, besides these private bills, there never was perhaps at the commencement of a session such an immense number of public bills introduced by private members. It was generally understood that this was not to be an Irish session; but the Irish members have done their best to undeceive us on this point. Notices have been given for the introduction of no fewer than twenty-eight bills directly affec- ting Ireland, and some of these are of a highly important character. Bills, for example, will be brought in to amend the Land Act of 1881, to create elective councils in Irish counties, to amend the parliamentary franchise with regard to the registration of voters, the municipal franchise, the condition of labourers, union rating, Irish fisheries, Irish universities, the industrial resources of Ireland, compulsory education, the abolition of the Viceroyalty, endowed schools, City of London property in Ireland, sites for churches and schools, the purchase of Irish railways, to amend the Crimes Act (and another to repeal it), and stveralbills to amend other acts. Cer- tainly, if this is not to be an Irish session.it will not be the fault of Irish members. The; e are many other important public bills by private members. There are several bills for the clos- ing of public-houses on Sunday, dealing with various counties, and not one of these bills can be carried or rejected without a great deal of discussion. Many other intended bills are of great social importance. Measures are to be introduced to establish limited partnerships, to amend the licensing laws, to abolish actions for breach of promise of marriage, to amend the Employers' Liability Act, to amend the law of partnership, the Agricultural Holdings Act, the Bankruptcy Act,the law of distress, compulsory vaccination, the laws relating to cemeteries, ex- traordinary tithes, burial fees, the income tax, tenants' compensation for improvement, the use of fire-arms, the regulation of theatres, the Public Worship Regulation Act, and encum- brances on landed property. Added to an brances on landed property. Added to an I unusually lengthy Government programme of 1 egislation, here is an enormous amount of legislative work, besides other pub- lic bills in private charge not mentioned, and purely private, local, or personal bills. What proportion of all these bills will be passed ? Perhaps not one half, or a third, or a quarter. A very large portion of the public bills in private charge will probably not get beyond the stage of first reading, and the probability is that by far the largest proportion of those the second reading of which is moved will be thrown out at that stage, and ail the time de- voted to them will have been wasted. There are many measures thus introduced that always are thrown out, and will doubtless be rejected year after year for many a year yet. The ag- gregate of public time thus wasted must be immense, and yet the promoters of these bills may maintain that it is not wasted, and that thus public opinion is brought to bear on Par- liament till at last such or such a measure is carried. It is undeniable, however, that abor- itive legislative projects—schemes that there is no hope of passing during the present gene- ration-cause an immense waste of time. But really there is no help for it. We cannot leave all legislation to the Government of the day, and the right and privileges of private members must be respected, however lamentable may be the immense number of promises at the com- mencement of a session, and the little amount of performance at the end of it.

THE BARBER'S BENCH. LBy LOUIS LATHERLEY.] Omnibus notum tonsoribus.—HORACE. MR EDITOR,—Since I wrote you my last letter matters have greatly changed in the metropolis of Eaglesborjugh. Then the chief constable had the greatest anxiety; but now the important inquiry into hia case has passed away. The oc- currence did not pass by, however, without leaving behind it some very important reflections. The chief constable has, it is conjectured, got out of the brawl scot free," whilst some other members of the force have been reduced in rank. Whatever may be the result of the inquiry, one thing is certain, a considerable amount of indignation is likely to arise from it. Major Claytoa, naturally enough, has deemed it advisable to remove the deputy-chief to Portmadoc, where he will occupy the post of inspector,—Mr Davies, the officer who previously held that post, being removed to Carnarvon to occupy the rank of deputy-chief constable. This change has already caused a con. siderable amount of indignation, and it is likely to increase. People who know what is what" can. not feel otherwise than regret that the chief con- stable should deem it advisable to remove Mr Prothero to Portmadoc, and reduce his position from that of deputy-chief to that of an inspector. Certainly the chief constable can argue that Mr Prothero did waat he should not have done; bat the general public will look at the reduction as the result of Mr Prothero's straight-forwardness and stability. I cannot con- ceive myself why should Major Clayton be so hasty with his host of changes. They might be better approved of by the ratepayers in the county had he been more patient over them. Some further changes are talked of, such as the removal of P.C. Parry, the discharge of P.O. 24, &c., &c. but it can hardly be expected that the chief will be so indiecreet as to carry out all these changes. If Major Clayton hid waited a short time he would, perhaps, not have thought it expedient to do what he has done. In the removal of Deputy-Chief Constable Prothero, the town of Carnarvon has sustained a loss which is not likely to be made up. To conduct prosecutions on behalf of the police there could not be a better man than be was, and to find a worthy successor will be a very difficult task. Mr Prothero has been in the force for about a quarter of a century, and has for that long period enjoyed the greatest popularity within and outside the force. Would it be too much for the people of Carnarvon to petition the magistrates for his re-irstallation ? If a petition was signed bv the ratepayers of the town, there could be little doubt as to the result. The performance of the cantata "Gorlifiid Cantre'r Gwaelod," at the Pavilion, on the 16th proximo, is likely to turn out a success. The choir holds rehearsals every week, and has already mastered the work to a great extent. Can any one tell me why certain smithies in this town are allowed to let all sorts of rubbish remain on the road opposite their workshops. The other day a man nearly got his teeth knocked down his throat by falling across a big anchor which had been left on the road opposite one of our smithies. Had the man in question been'a town councillor, a remedy might be expected. But rich councillors could certainly better afford to pay a dentist's hill than a poor man, who, per- haps, could never expect to have the means to re- pair his injured masticatory machinery. Llanrwst,-a place which is neither in England nor in Wales, as the old saying goes-is about to teach the Principality a lesson. The new chapel erected there for the Calvinistic Methodists, at a cost of £5,000, is to be fitted up with a splendid organ. Llanrwst people are more advanced than thsy are supposed to be, and they are not credited with what is fairly due to them. Llanrwst has, by this move- ment, taught the large churches of the (lalvinistic Methodi-t body a lesson which they would do well not to overlook. What if Moriah Chapel, in this town, should follow the example of ancient- modern Llanrwst t « The proposed Junior Reform Club at Carnar- von is now in course of being established. This club will prove of great benefit to the Liberal cause, and will give the young men of the party means of enjoyment which have never before been iu th'ir reach The Conservatives have had a similar club for years and that the young Liberals should have been so long without one is a matter of regret. However, they need not be in despair much longer,-a few months more and the long- talked of Junior Reform Club will be a reality. Mr Irving Bishop should certainly pay Carnar- von a visit. A number ot ghosts have been cieating some disturbances in the neichbourhood of Pool-hill and Pool-side. If TVtr B^hop came down here perhaps he could expla;n this ghost mystery, and suggest a remedy. But, after all, the imaginary ghost may be nothing m!)re or less than a few mice or rats, or even something more trifling than that. The thought of these imagin- j ary beings brings to my recollection the story of an eminent Carnarvon character and the hotel servant. One day the hearse of the hotel had been engaged for a funeral. The driver m bringing that carriage back met an inebriated friend on the road side. The friend asked if the driver would give him "a lift" down to the town. "Yea, if you will go inside the hearse." said the iriver. This the inebric ted man immediately consented to, and in with him,- the driver closing the door after him. Naturally enough the inside passenger, being somewhat tipsy, fell asleep However, the driver after arriving at the hotel, forgot all about the occupant of the carriage, and backed the hearse to the coach-house. The following morning the servant at the hotel went into the coach-houss õ!Ja.\oar.: and hear i g some noise inside the hear.e. she i bought there was a ghr ct, and in her fright she fainte < away. The inebtiVted fel'ow, however, having Iúa'Jè his way out cleared away, thanking I the dtiver., l-r the comfortable conveyance which had been given him

I 0BSEKY •]]{!;•• s OF A JtiAMBLER- [BY JACK HAVKEB. ] All the talk now is respecting the inquiry which took place last wef k; but as the committee have not made their report, it would be improper to make any remarks upon it at the present time. There is a talk of results which the ratepayers of Carnarvonshire will, I dare say, take a good note of. There s ems to be some desire for the Eistedd- fod for 18N4 in several places. I see that Liver- pool thiuks of it, so does Ruthin, and there may be "ther places expeciiug it. I have not heard that Carnarvou has thought of it at all, but there is one reason why it t-hould, and I have not seen anybody as yet mentioning the matter. The year 1884 will be the SIXTH CENTENARY of the birth of the first Priuct of Wales at Carnarvon Castle. If I remember rightly, the date of his birth was the 25th ot April, 12-34, so that on .d pril 25tl', 1884 it will be six hundred years since lie was born. Now as this ceutenary does not come often—only once in one hundred years-and thut this one will be the only one the present genera- tion will see, and that we can scarcely expect that any one now living will see another, would it not oe very proper to get up something in com- memoratiou of the event? And one thing that would be worth while to get would be an Eistedd- fod on a gra:,d scale, and if possible get the Prince ot Wttles down into it. His mother, when Princess Victoria, was in the Eisteddfod on one or two occasions, and there are more reasons why the Prince of Wiles should be connected with toe Eisteddfod than f rjmany things, and if this be properly managed, I have no doubt it would be quite possible. The proceeds of such an Eistedd- tod should go towards the funds of the North Wales College, wherever situated, and i am sure this would enlist the sympathies of everybody. Carnarvon has shown that it can manage an Eisteddfod on more than one occasion they make it a public matter, and elect the committee by a public meeting. Besides, you have the Pavilion ready with too little work to do, and an Eistedd- vod once in tour years would not be too much, and especially as the occasion in 1884 will be an unusual one. It weie well to get it that year even if no other one should be had for twenty years. I have not had this idea from anybody, Mr Editor, but it has originated in my own mind; but I think it is worth consideration. One of the boasts of Carnarvon is its castle, and probably the most notable event connected with the castle was the birth of the first prince, and I do not see any- thing that would celebrate that event more suitably in every respect than a good Eisteddtod. It is a national institution, and not political or denominational, and the Prince is a descendant of our Welsh princes, who used to patronize and preside at the Eisteddfod in ancient times. If this be thought worth while, let the people of Carnarvon take up the matter in earnest, and they will carry it through.

THE CHARGES AGAINST THE CAR- NARVONSHIRE CHIEF CONSTABLE. On Thursday the Police Committee of Carnar- vonshire met at the County Hall, Carnarvon, to investigate certainjcharges made by a Temperance Committee of ratepayers against the chief cons- table (Major (Jlayton).^|Oolonel Williams pre- sided. For the Temperance Committee Mr Adams (tiuthin) appeared, the chief constable being re- presented by Mr Louis and Mr Charles A. Jones. Colonel Cobbe, C.B., the Government Inspector of Police, watched the inquiry on behalf of the Home Secretary. The proceedings, which were of a private nature-the members of the Temperance Committee only being allowed admission—lasted for nearly six hours. Complaints in connection with the travelling expenses of the chief constable were dealt with, it being alleged that he had charged upon the county certain items for railway fares and car-hire for which he was personally responsible. The first witness examined was In- spector Roberts, of Pwllheli, who deposed to having engaged cars and driven the chief constable to Nevin in connection with the wreck of the Cyprian steamship, and to Llithfaen to inspect premises for which application for a spirit license was to be made. Oolonel Cobbe pointed out that there was nothing unusual in a chief constable accompanying an inspector when on special duty. On one occasion it was shown that on a Saturday night, when the chief constable was at Pwllheli on duty connected with the wreck of the Cyprian, Inspector Roberts engaged a car and drove him to Carnarvon, the expense of the car being charged to the county. Major Clayton admitted that the county had been improperly charged, and ex- plained that it was by mere inadvertence and in the hurr to pass an exceptionally large number of bilk that he had not discovered that the account was improperly charged. Deputy Chief Constable Prothero was also examined,questions being put to him as to the purchase of railway tickets when ac- companying the chief constable to Conway and Penmaenmawr in connection with the Pen'rallt Inco mystery. Mr Prothero said he procured the tickets at the request of the chief constable, but did not get the money from the latter. Major Clayton, however, flatly denied this statement. Mr Prothero was further examined as to a com- munication he had addressed to the chairman of quarter sessions, in respect to the present inquiry, as to information he had furnished the ratepayers, and to discrepancies in his vouchers of fees re- ceived for stamping weights and measures. He was unaware that there was any dereliction of duty in communicating with the chairman of quarter sessions, and admitted that, following the example of the chief constable, he had given in- formation when asked for by respectable and re- sponsible persons, especially when it was merely a recapitulation of facts which had transpired in open court. With respect to the discrepancy in the fees for stamping weights and measures- between the amount actually received and that which was paid over to the county treasurer-he explained that it was a well-known rule, and in. variably acted upon, that the inspector was en- titled to the fee for adjustment. The investigation was adjourned. FRIDAY. The investigation wa3 resumed to-day by the Police Committee of the county, at the Shire Hall Carnarvon. At the out&et Mr Adam said he wished to withdraw the third charge, which alleged that the chief constable had been in the gaol endeavouring to get prisoners to confess, and that to go against them at their trial. The first charge was then gone into. In this charge it was alleged that many cases had been reported to the chief constable of flagraut breaches of the licensing laws by publicans in the county, upon which no proceedings had been taken, and it wris asked whether any cases had occurred in which the chief^csnstable had pre- vented tht-officers under him from doing their duty with respect to public-houses. Police Constable John Jones (24), stationed at Cwm-y glo, f-t-tedthaton the 8th of May 1882, he made a verbal repnrt to the chief constable as to findipg on the previous Sunday three men drinkiner in the Rhyddallt Inn, belonging to Mr Harry Harwood, Carnarvon. The chief constable then told him not to take any proceedings :igai..st Mr Harwood's house, and the order was entered by witness in h's journal. This entry was made in red ink on he margin of his journal on that day, the chief ton«tnble having issued an order that all entries should be made in red ink. On a tUhsequent Sunday, November 12th, witness found fmr persons drunk and fifteen drinking in the Rhyddallt Inn, and he reported that. aud another case against the Blue Bell Inn, Cwm-y- glo, to the chief constable and Deputy Ctief Constable Frother: on the following day. He heard I nothing more of the case until the 3rd of January lapt, when, in obeyance to instructions, he came th- 3-ici accompanied j vm by the gamekeepers. When that ;"8'3 reported, J the chief console said, • It is a pit» Ji> t ,k3 out a summons aguinst Mr H*-wood's house, adding 1 that i;: a conviction were obtained Mr Harwood, j who coutecnplatf l seiliug1the house, would lose half > its value. Tte w.t.jess was subjected to a long and cross-ex^micfc-.tioii respecting the entr;en in hia se- its value. Tte w.t.eas was subjected to a long and < cross-ex^micfc-.tioii respecting the entr;en in his se- vere journal,iu ^Lich it was t tated that ue had been I &ci £ 6<. by the chief cjnatable not t:) take any pro- i ceedings against Mr Haiwoed's house, and that hs (Jiae chief constaoie) had settled the CHse with Mr Harwood. I he witness denied tfcat the entries I wf-e of recent date. They we:e inserted in his j < .rnal at the t'me. ¡ Police Constable W'^iatu Parry (42' stated that 'I on the 10th March the chief constat told him ft ::t th<\ previa us Witness bad ieported Mr Har- wood's house at, Poutrhyddaiit, aud that the chief constable was abo- t to explain to Mr Harwood the law regarding bonG jide travellers. Txie chief I constabi went to the E-,gles- hotel, which belongs to Mr Harwood, and remained there for about a quarter of an hour.—Cross-ex-.mitiea He had an interview with the Rev J. Eiddon Jones, but he could not SHY that the gentleman came to "flsh" him ou:>. He had been told that Mr Jones had been "busting" for information to the police officers. Witness belonged to the Calvinistic Methodic bouy, and was a total aosteiner from his birth. The chief constable stated that on the 10th of March there was no case pending against the Rhyddallt Inn. A report hau reached h?m that certain persons preteaaing to be travellers had been suppked at the Rhyddallt Inii, aud- he in. calling on Mr Harwood, owner of fce house, thought it was only fair to point cut to him th& section under which he ccaldprosecute the persons who had deceived him. Consistent with duty h& thought he had a right to call upon Mr Harwood and show him that the men in question had in- fringed the law. He had never told the officer that he had settled the case, and the constable's statement to that effect must be a wicked inven- tion. There was no reason v, hy he should show partiality to Mr Harwooa more than any other man. The officer had t .ade so many various and-, coloured accounts that he (witness) thought there- were no grounds for a case against the landlord of the Rhyddallt Inn. Mr Adams remarked that if the entries in the officer's journal were of recent dat*, then the" officer was guilty of a most wicked ati i diabolical act. Mr John Gregson, commercial traveller, St. David s-road, Carnarvon, remembered travelling in the same carriage as Mr Eiddou Joies to Pont=- rug. Police Constable Jones was on the platform Mr Jones asked him, "How are things going on at Llanrug; can you make a case out of it?" The officer decisively answered, "No, we cannot." The Rev J. Eiddon Jones. C-dvinistio Methodist minister, Llanrug, admitted that he had corres- ponaed with Deputy Chief Constable Prothero, and received a reply marked private He had used the contents of the letter in connection with the present proceedings. The inquiry was adjourned until; the following morning. SATURDAY". The inquiry was resumed and concluded by the County Police Committee to-day, Colonel Vincent Williamn presided. The case touching the Queen's Hotel, Carnarvon was resumed. Mr William Hamer, the landlord, stated that the man Stevens was perfectly sober on the night complained of. lie was ia the h,u3e in his capacity as musician to entertain friends of the manager (witness's brother) Mr Thomas Elhs Buckingham, medical student, said he had been living &t the hotel for the last three years. On the eight of the 27th Sept. there were about a dozen commercial travellers Stevens often played and sang there at parties. 18teJenJ3> Piano-forte tuner, said he went to the hotel about eight o'clock, and left at about one o clock the following mornin During that time he only had three £ four ghS*.See?. had stayed m the hotel many.a night to play the piano and sing. F Major Clayton said that he examined the evi- dence for and against; he decided that there was no case at .>L. The officer who gave the informa- tion was a young and inexperien ed one. The case of the Royal Sportsman Hotel, Car- nar.T?U' was_niexC heard.—Poucc^ergeant Hughes said he went to the Sportsman Hotel on the 14th June, 1881, a little after twelve o'clock audnieht He saw through a window three gentlemen playl ing cards for money in the commercial-room He and a constable watched them for an hour. Money passed between them. lie reported the case m the usual way. He was Caliol to the office the next day. The Chief Constable went went into the case very minutely, and poiated out. some weak points in it. Witness charged the men- with gambling, and they begged him uot to take proceedings, and when in the passage ringing for Mr Pugh they asked him if £ 20 would satisfy him. He replied that no money would satisfy him. They were '^awiully fnguten.i. No ,teps were taken.— By Mr Louis: ihe landlord was not in. the room. Trie pile" of money on the table was 3s 8d in ali. Mr Prothero told witness he con* sidered the case a very strong oae.-By Colonel Cobbe He handed the money over to the deputy chief constable. v Mr John PUcih, proprietor cf tha Sportsman. Hotel, was next called. Here the chairman asked what charge was brought against the chief constable. Mr Adams s lid the accusation was one of allow- ing gambling on licensed premises. The Cleik ot the Peace: No offence can be proved unless it was shown that the landlord rvw- mitted gambling. F Mr Pugn stated that he was not in the habit of going into the commercial-room. He wa8 called out of bed on the night in question. The room was exclusively a commercial one. He had Jn no gambling going ^n. ST £ ee <Sr- November, 1882, by°T woman EUei Williams, a servant at the housp t„ t ^uen of what she told him he watched th^ following day Sunday. ^it half ^7 night he saw Ellen Williams come^ut of the pocket thPPeh b!f' and felfc a bottle in her pocket. She then handed him the bottle which contained whiskey. ae then charged Joha J^n^f w}tix nquors ia violation ^f the Welsh Sunday Closing Act. The landlord de- nied the charge. He reported the case to Mr Prothero, ana a summons was issued. The case was adjourned, and finally withdrawn, the chiS constable having had a consultation with the solicitor for the defence. By Mr Louis. —The chief constable went to Mr Hughes (the solicitor mentioned), who came to the court, and said tne case was withdrawn.-Mr Louis: How can you say that the chief constable consulted with Mr Hughes ? Witness: I don't. ^uOW'T ^!0U18 Tiieo y°u have c°ld a lie !— Ihe witness then read an entry from his journaL which stated that the consultation was held The Chairman What right had you to put in your journal a thing which you did not know of ? It.was a very improper thing to do. In cross-txamma ion, the witness said Sergeant Jones gave the woman 6a for the bottle. He had not sent her to the house, or instigated her to do so. She told him she was going into the house.- Mr Louis: And you allowed her to go. Re-examined.—The girl returned to the house the same night; but when the case was with- drawn she was uiictiarged. Police Scr^eaut Samuel Jones s,id that the six- pence was given the gul wi hout the knowledge of his superiors, tie iuf imed tie chief constable of the nature of the evide, ce the glrl wus prepared to give. The chief constable, when iuformed of the plan by which the house was to be caught, re- minded him of what had been said by the Recorder ot Liverpool w ith refereuce to policemen bribing persons 111 order to eutrap them. At the same time, ho did not express disapproval of the scheme, but he understood hi:!J. to convey the opinion that it was rather a "ticklish game for the police to do Ihe witness gave the bottle to the girl on a Sunday, ba she was not seen by the police to enter the Bulketey Arms Deputy v hiet Constable frothero, called by Mr Adams, said that he signed the iuformation for the issue ol the Mimmons. In cons, q sence of the remarks of the ltec.rder ol Liverpool, aud what ita* bucu ScUU 14 t cLi-4. UvlMtttOle to th4