The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

COLWYN BAY. I SUNDAY SERVICE8. Parish Church, Ltandritio.-English Services, 11.0 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Welsh Service, 9.30 a.m. Mid-day Celebration of the Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday in the month. Rev W. Venables Williams, M.A. Oxon., Vicar Surrogate. Mr. Bernard, Organist. This interesting Old Church, built in the 13th century, is li mile from Colwyn Bay, on the Llandudno Road. St. Paul's.-Sunday Services 8 a.m., Holy Com- munion, and at Mid-day Service on the 2nd Sunday in the month; 11.15 a.m., Morning Prayer and Sermon 3.30 p.m., Litany and short Address; 7 p.m., Evening Prayer and Sermon 8.30 p.m., Organ recital. Sunday School, at 230 p.m. Clergy: Revs Canon Roberts, B.A., J. G. Haworth, J. Jones, B.A., R. Theophilus Jones, B.A., J. H. Astley, M.A. St Paul's Mission Church (Coed Pella Road).— 11 a.m., Morning Prayer and Sermon 6.30 p.m., Evening Prayer and Sermon. Holy Communion at the Mid-day Service on the 1st Sunday in the month. Clergyman in charge: Rev J. G. Haworth. St. Paul's Welsh Services.-10 a.m., Morning Service and Sermon; 5.45 p.m., Evening Service and Sermon. Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday in the month at 10 a.m. Clergyman in charge Rev J. Jones, B.A. St. Paul's Welsh Mission Services at Brynymaen.— Service and Sermon on Sunday evenings, at 6 p.m. Clergyman in charge Rev R. Theophilus Jones, B.A. English Wesleyan-St. John's,l'he Avenue.-Next Sunday: morning 11.0, evening 6.30, Rev H. H. M'CulIagh, B.A. Prayer meeting, morning, 10.15. Sunday School, afternoon, 2.30. Wed- nesday evening, 7 0, Rev H. H. M'CulIagh. English Presbyterian.-Next Sunday Morning, 11.0. evening, 6.30, Rev John Edwards, Pastor. Sunday School, afternoon 2.30. Monday evening, 6.15, Band of Hope. Wednesday week-evening- service, 7.0. Thursday evening, 7.0, Young People Bible Class; 7.45, Y. P. S. Christian Endeavour. Rev John Edwards, Pastor. English Congregational.—Morning, 11.0, evening, 7.0, Sunday School, afternoon 2.30. Monday evening, 7.30, Christrian Endeavour Society. Every Tuesday, 3.15, United Meeting for the promotion of Scriptural Holiness. Wednesday evening, 7.30. Rev Thomas Lloyd, Pastor. English Baptist Church.-Next Sunday: morning, 11.0, evening, 6.30. All seats free. Sunday School, afternoon, 2.30. Wednesday evening, at 7.30, Prayer and Bible Reading; all are cordially invited, presided over by the Rev H. T. Cousins, F.R.G.S., Pastor. Society of Friendq.-Meeting for Worship, every First Day (Sunday) morning, at 11.15, at a room in Central Buildings, facing Station Road, Colwyn Bay. Open to the Public and Visitors. Congo Institute.- Divine Services at the Institute's Schoolroom, Sunday morning, 11.0; afternoon, 2.30; evening, 6 30. Tuesday evening, at 7, a Prayer Meeting. The services are always short and pleasant. Several speakers take part at each meeting, including some of the African Students, and the Director, or one of the Tutors. All are cordially invited. Visiting hours every week day, from 2.30 to 3.30 p.m., when the Director will be pleased to welcome any friends or visitors and to show them a number of interesting African Curiosities. OLD COLWYN. Parish Church, Oolwyn.- English Services (Sundays), Holy Communion: Every Sunday 8 a.m., and firs. Sunday in the month after morning service. Holy Baptism Sunday afternoon, 3.30. Service and Sermon, 11.0 a.m. and 7.0 p.m. Sunday School, 2.30 p.m., in Assembly Rooms. (Week days). Service and Sermon: Friday, 7.0 p.m. during Advent and Lent. Singing practices, Friday night. Children's Meeting: Monday night. Band of Hope Tuesday night. Welsh Services (Sundays), Holy Communion Second Sunday in the month after morning service. Service and Sermon 9.45 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Sunday School, 2.15 p.m., National Schools. Week Days, Service and Sermon, Wednesday, 7, p.m. Singing Practice, Wednesday night. Clergy Revs. J. Griffiths, M.A. Oxon., Vicar, J. Roberts, Curate. English Paptist Chapel, Old Colivyn.-Sunday Ser- vices, Morning 11.0, Evening 6.30. Sunday School. 2.30 p.m. Prayer Meeting on Wednesdays at 7.0 p.m. Pastor, Rev. J. B. Brasted. FOR GOOD AND CHEAP FLOUR go to W. Williams & Co., Station Road, Colwyn Bay. Splendid baking, 22/6 per sack (ot 280 Ibs.). Good Family Flour, 18/- per sack. adv. 366— THE celebrated Ales of Bass & Co., are now supplied in 9 gallon casks, at Brewery prices, from 9/- per Firkin. Guinness' Invalid Stout in half-pint bottles. Martell and Hennesy's three star Brandy, 5/4 per bottle. 314 varieties of all the principal Wines, Spirits, and Liqueurs. E. H. Davies, Uxbridge House. adv. 367-50 MR CHARLES FROST, J.P., CONVALESCING SATISFACTORILY.—Our readers will be pleased to learn the very gratifying inte'ligence contained in the following :—"Minydon, Colwyn, March 17/96. I beg to thank all my friends (far too numerous to reply to individually), for their very kind inquiries during my recent illness, and I am glad to say that I am now making satisfactory pro- gress, towards convalescence. Yours faithfully, Charles Frost." COLWYN BAY PETTY SESSIONS.—Headed as above, the subjoined appears in The Manchester Guardian dated March 19, 18g6 :Sir,-A para- graph in your paper to-day referring to a "scene" in the Magistrates' Court at Colwyn Bay on Saturday last calls for a little correction. Some words passed between two of the justices in their room which were unfortunately repeated in the Court, but these two justices both left the Bench at once, and the Court was not adjourned in con- sequence of the excitement. All the cases on the list were subsequently heard and decided, excep- ting only those which were closely connected with the matter in dispute.—Yours, &c., T. G. OSBORN, Rydal Mount, Colwyn Bay, 16th, March, 1896. THE ENGLISH BAPTIST CHAPEL AT COLWYN. —A public tea-meeting was held in the above- named Chapel, on Wednesday, March 4th, to inaugurate the work as a Branch Mission of the Colwyn Bay Church. There was a large number present for the tea-meeting, which commenced at 6 o'clock. Afterwards, a lecture was given by the Pastor (Rev H. T. Cousins, F.R.G.S.), assisted by Mr T. Brackstone, Secretary of the Colwyn Bay Church, on A Trip Round the World," illustrated with 50 lime-light views. The Chapel was crowded to its utmost capacity, and everyone seemed highly delighted with the entertainment. During the evening, Mesdames Cousins and Walker, and Messrs Jones, Evans, and Walker, rendered valuable musical assist- ance, and were heartily applauded. The Rev W. Gay (of Golcar,*Yorks) was the chairman, and gave a most encouraging and stimulating address. After the usual votes of thanks, a mcit enjoyable and successful evening was brought to a close. THE ENGLISH BAPTIST SPECIAL SERVICES.— On Sunday, March 8th, special services were held, in the English Baptist Church, in connexion with the anniversary of the pastor's settlement. In the morning the pastor (Rev H. T. Cousins, F.R.G.S.) preached, to a goodly congregation, on the words Go forward (Exod. xiv. 15), and in the evening the Rev G. E. Bowker discoursed on Acts ix. 6, What wilt Thou have me to do? In the afternoon, a united special children's service was held, when the teachers and scholars from the Wesleyan, Presbyterian, and Congrega- tional Sunday Schools united with the Baptist Sunday School in celebrating their anniversary. The Church was crowded by the many triends and sympathisers, who had come to listen to the niost interesting and instructive addresses, which were delivered by the Rev H. H. M'CulIagh, B.A. (Wesleyan) and the Rev John Edwards (Pres- byterian). The Pastor presided, and gave a hearty welcome to the teachers and scholars from the various Sunday Schools, and expressed the hope that this would be but the beginning of that practical co-operation which is expected to result from the Federation of the Free Churches in Colwyn Bay. Mr T. Brackstone, Superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School, also gave, in a few appropriate words, a warm and encouraging welcome to all, and assured them that the kindly good feeling would be most heartily reciprocated.

TLYSAU, oriaduron, pibellau, teganau, mAn nwyddau, dodrefn, te, a phob peth. Goruchwyl- wyr yn eisieu. Cyfarwydd-lyfr cyfanwerthol yn rhad. Ysgrifener, HENRY MAY, (247), Birming- ham. 37 1-12

The collections throughout the day were most I encouraging, and the bonds of Christian unity have undoubtedly been strengthened.—On the following Wednesday, March nth, the annual public tea-meeting was held, after which a lecture on John Ploughman's Pictures," illustrated with 40 lime-light views, was given by the Rev H. T. Cousins (pastor). The chair was taken by the Rev Thos. Lloyd, and the proceeds were in aid of the Church Funds. WELSH WESLEYAN COMPETITIVE MEETINGS.— A musical and literary competitive meeting was held, at the Welsh Wesleyan Chapel, Colwyn, on Wednesday evening, March nth, Mr John Wil- liams (Compton House) in the chair, the Rev T. C. Roberts conducting, and Mr Josef E. Jones (Conway) being the musical adjudicator. In the first competition, a solo for juveniles (under 14 years), the first prize was awarded to Elizabeth Jane Wynne (Colwyn Bay), and the second was divided between Maria Evans (Mohrcroft) and Elizabeth A. Parry (Glan'rafon). For the direct- ing of a stranger how to go from the Wesleyan Chapel to Ffynnon Elian, the prize was secured by Mr William Jones (Hill Side). For the prize of 2s 6d, six competed in reciting The Irish Boy and the Priest," Jennie Evans, Ed. Parry, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones, obtained the prize, which was divided. For singing the congrega- tional tune "St. Helens," the first prize was awarded to John Hughes Parry (Bettws). In the quartett competition (tune "Smitlidown"), the prize (6s) was awarded to Mr W. B. Jones's Party. In translating from English to Welsh, Mr William Llewelyn Roberts (Llysfaen) was the successful competitor, and the prize for the best pencil sketch of the Welsh Wesleyan Chapel was awarded to John Evans (Mohrcroft). For reading an unpunctuated piece, the prize was divided between Llewelyn Jones (Colwyn Bay) and Edwin Davies (Colwyn). For the best speech on "Keeping the Sabbath," Ed. Davies (Llysfaen) was adjudged successful. For the best rendering of the tunes Llaniestyn and Hiraeth y Cymro," the prize ( £ 1 is) was awarded to Mr Ed. Thomas's Party.—On the motion of the Rev T. C. Roberts, seconded by the Secretary (Mr Robert Evans), a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman; also to Miss Nellie Lloyd, for accompanying the competitors. A NIGHT MARCH BY VOLUNTEERS.—At seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, March 18th, the N (Colwyn Bay) Company 2nd V.B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, after parading under the com- mand of Captain F. W. Stubbs, the other officers present being Lieutenant M. Venables-Williams and Surgeon-Captain W. D. Fraser, marched to Llandrillo, where they occupied the high ground commanding the private road from Llandudno, the military idea for the night march being the checking of the advance of the enemy (who were supposed to have landed near the Little Orme). Afterwards the vicinity of Rhos-on-Sea was occupied, to prevent a coastwise advance, and ultimately the Blue Bell was entered with a view to searching for news or deserters (none being found), and here the Volunteers were hospitably entertained. They afterwards marclied back in good order, to Colwyn Bay. THE SIXTH WINTER CONCERT.—The sixth Winter Concert was held at the Public Hall, on Tuesday evening, March 17th, when there was a fair attendance, the programme opening with a trio (for pianoforte, violin, and 'cello), Op. 66 Andante Expressive (Mendelssohn), by the Misses M'Cullagh, and, as usual, these talented ladies gave their hearers a treat. Mr J. Smith Jones (Glan Conway) gave an expressive rendering of Adams's By the Fountain," and Miss B. Batine Williams (Birkenhead), on making her debflt in The Holy City (Adams), was well received. Miss Simpson (Birkenhead), played on the violin Gounod's Meditation," and Mr Griffiths was exceedingly pleasing in his humorous songs, and especially in Johnnie," a twelve-year-old boy who was always crying. Miss Ward (Colwyn Bay) sang My Dearest Heart from Sullivan, and was warmly applauded. Mr Hopton (Chester) introduced himself as The Old Soldier and was capital throughout. The second part opened with Bishop's Pilgrim of Love," by Mr J. Smith Jones, who was in capital form. The song -• The Shepherd of the Fold (D. Anvergine Barnard), with violin obligato, was a fine render- ing by Miss Williams. Miss H. H. M'CulIagh gave a Romance" on the violin, Miss McCullagh accompanying on the pianoforte. Mr Hopton sang The Bandolero (Leslie Storant), Miss Ward following with Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes (from Sullivan's Gondoliers). Miss Simpson played, as a violin solo, Ne M' Oubliez Pas," a romance by J. B. Poznanski, and was warmly applauded. Mr Griffiths sang another humorous song, for which he was again encored, and re-appeared. Mr Hopton gave a capital rendering of "Off to the Rio Grande," and was well received, Miss Jukes (the accompanist) wind- ing up the Sixth Winter Concert with God save the Queen." TRINITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—At the annual local examination held in Rhyl, on March nth, the following satisfied the examiner, Dr Gordon Saunders:—Senior piano, Mary Clare(MrVinning); senior violin, Helena G. Bullen (Mr Haselden); junior singing, Ethel M. Kirk (Mr Vinning); junior piano, Sarah E. Edwards (Miss S. M. Jones, Conway); Dorothy Potts (Miss Nixon, Llandudno); Matilda J. Greenham (Mrs Parsons, Holyhead); primary, Winifred N. Jones, Ruth O. Hartley (Mrs Swan, Upper Bangor); Mary E. Jones (Miss Owen, Menai Bridge). LLANDRILLO AND EIRIAS U.D. SCHOOL BOARD. At the Llandrillo and Eirias United District School Board's meeting on Friday evening, March 13th, the Rev. John Edwards was voted to the chair, and there were also present the Vicar of Colwyn (Rev. John Griffiths), Mr Evan Owen, and the Vice-chairman (Mr Robert Evans), and the Clerk (Mr Thomas Jones), and the Attendance Officer (Mr Thomas Matthews). From the minntes and discussion thereon, it appeared that the new Colwyn Bay Infant School was full already, over eighty new pupils (in addition to those transferred from the old school) having been admitted in one week. The following are the statistics for the past month, relating to the various schools Colwyn Bay Board School Number on books, 291 average attendance, 246 percentage, 84. Colwyn Bay Infant School Number on books, 176 (of whom 90 are new-comers) average attendance, 135 percentage, 74. Colwyn Bay Higher Grade School Number on books, 102 average attendance, 95 percent- age, 93. Colwyn Board School Number on books, 199 average attendance, 165 percentage, 88. Colwyn National School Number on books, 150 average attendance, 109; percentage, 72. Llwydcoed Board School Number on books, 54; average attendance, 40 > percentage, 82. The Board proceeded to consider the report of the Rev. Thomas Lloyd, upon the Scriptural examination he had conducted at the Board's request, in the schools. From this report the acting-Chairman read the following extracts "Colwyn Bay School The infants have com- mitted to memory 25 verses, the Lord's Prayer, and Fifth Commandment,—these they are able to repeat with great ease and accuracy. Group i have been instructed, according to the plan, in the history of Creation, Fall, Deluge, Birth of Christ, Visit of Shepherds and Wise Men, and Christ's Death Group 2, in addition to the above, in the history of Cain and Abel, Abraham offering up Isaac, and Christ's Resurrection. Their know- ledge of these subjects is surprising, and reflects the highest credit on their teachers. Standards I and 2 have committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and forty verses from the passages of Scripture specified. Most of the children are able to repeat the above with accuracy. They have been instructed in the life of Abraham and Joseph, and, out of 30 questions, about 23 received correct answers, or about 76 per cent. They have been instructed in the history of the Birth, Death, and Resurrection pf Christ, of which they have a fair knowledge, also in four Miracles and four Parables, which they have very thoroughly prepared. Standards 3 and 4 have committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and Psalms 19, 25, 32, and 34,—with very few exceptions the children in these Standards are very well up in the above Scriptures. They have been instructed in the Book of Exodus (Chapters I to 24), and have a fair knowledge of the leading incidents in the I history out of 40 questions, about 28 received correct answers, or 78 per cent. They have also been instructed in the Gospel of Mark, and have a good knowledge of the chief features, and especially of the Miracles and Parables. Stan- dards 5, 6, and 7 have committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and six Psalms (viz., the 19th, 23rd, 25th, 32nd, 34th, and 51st),—■ninety per cent. of the children in these Standards have learnt the above passages of Scripture very thoroughly. The memory work in this school is excellent throughout. Colwyn Board School The infants have com- mitted to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Fifth Commandment, and 25 verses. They have been instructed as one group in the history of Creation, Fall, Deluge, Birth of Christ, Visit of Shepherds, and Wise Men, and Christ's Resurrection, the teaching has been very thorough, and the child- ren are well able to answer any simple question on the leading facts in the narratives. Standards I and 2 have committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and some of other specified portions of Scripture,—the Prayer and Commandments are well learnt. They have been instructed in the life of Abraham and Joseph, and their general knowledge of the lead- ing incidents in the history is fair out of 30 questions, 18 received correct answers, or 60 per cent. They have also been instructed in the history of the Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, and in four Miracles and four Parables, of which they have on the whole a fair knowledge. Standard 3 has committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the first four Psalms the Prayer and Commandments are well learnt, but the Psalms indifferently by the majority of the children. They have been instructed in the Book of Exodus (Chapters 1 to 24), and possess a fair knowledge of the chief events. An outline of Luke's Gospel has been prepared very thoroughly by some of the children but indifferently by the majority. Standards 4, 5, 6, and 7 have committed to memory the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and six Psalms the Prayer and the Commandments are well learnt, but the Psalms indifferently by the majority. Standards 4 and 5 have been instructed in the Book of Judges and Acts (Chapters I to 12) they Were examined orally, and on the whole gave very fair answers. They have been taught to understand what they have read." It also appeared from the report as to the Scriptural examination at Llwydcoed, that that school had only done fairly, and, after discussion, in which this state of affairs was attributed to shorthandness in the teaching staff combined with the multiplicity of Scriptural subjects to be taught, the Board decided to send a deputation to confer with the Llwydcoed Master, at the school, con- cerning the amount and method of Scriptural instruction. The Board passed a very hearty vote of thanks to the Rev. Thomas Lloyd, for the great trouble he had taken in examining the schools, on the motion of the Vicar of Colwyn, seconded by the Vice-chairman. The Acting-Chairman gave notice of motion that courses of religious instruction should be provided for the teachers. THE COLWYN BAY GAS WORKS. PROPOSED PURCHASE. At a special meeting of the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn District Council, on Tuesday, March 17th, the Rev Thomas Parry (Chairman) presided, and there were also present the Revs W. Venables-Williams and J. G. Howarth, and Messrs John Porter, George Bevan, John Bind, William Davies, Owen Williams, Robert Evans, Hugh Davies, and Hugh Hughes. Mr Amphlett was present as Clerk. THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL. The Rev W. Venables-Williams said that he had written to the Charity Commissioners with respect to the sale of Ty'nterfyn Farm, and had received a letter giving the necessary particulars as to how the sale should be carried out. He had also seen Mr J. M. Porter as to the surveying of the land (as required by the Charity Com- missioners), and Mr Porter had expressed himself ready to do the necessary work for a fee of five guineas. He (Mr Williams) thought that the Council ought to give an indemnification for that sum, as the Trustees could not, out of the rent of the farm, pay for the survey. On the motion of Mr William Davies, it was decided that the Council should pay the surveyor's fee of five guineas. THE GAS-WORKS. The Council had before them the following re- port, by Mr Hepworth, upon the Gas-works :— To the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn Urban District Council, Colwyn Bay.—Gentlemen, COLWYN BAY GAS-WORKS.—In accordance with your in- structions to report generally upon the advisability of purchasing the Works of the Colwyn Bay and District Gas and Lighting Company, Limited, which instructions were conveyed to me by the Clerk to your Board on the 30th ult., I have now to state that I visited Colwyn Bay on the 7th inst., for the purpose of inspecting the Works with a view to this Report. Before proceeding to inspect the Works, I had the pleasure of meeting several members of your Council, to- gether with the principal Officials at the Council Office, when I was made generally acquainted with the proceedings of the Council subsequent to the notice of the Company's intention to apply in the present Session of Parliament for a Bill incorporating and conferring powers on theColwyn Bay and District Gas Company,' and, since then, your Clerk has forwarded to me copies of the Council's Bill, and of the observations thereon, together with the replies thereto, and also the following resolution passed at a special meeting of the Council held on the 21st of January, 1896, viz.:—' That the Gas Company's Bill be allowed to pass unopposed, provided the suggestions re- solved upon by the Council be incorporated in the Bill.' On this I shall have some observations to submit later on. The Secretary of the Company was good enough to meet me at the Council office and not only afforded every facility for ex- amination of the Works, but had arranged for Mr Newbigging, one of the Company's Engineers, to be present at the Works during my inspection. For the purposes of this Report I have been furnished with copies of the Gas Company's Provisional Order, 1884, of the Company's Bill now in Parliament, and of the Company's printed accounts, from 1890 to 1895 inclusive, also with such other information as appeared to me necessary. The Colwyn Bay Gas-works, as you are aware, were established under a Pro- visfonal Order in 1884, and have been extended and enlarged from time to time since then, and one of the objects of the Company's Bill is to secure powers to make further extensions and to raise the necessary capital. In view of the question of purchasing the undertaking, it is important to keep in mind the nature and extent of the powers already possessed by the Company, as also of these sought to be obtained in the Company's Bill, and I therefore call your atten- tion to these.—PROVISIONAL ORDER, 1884: By the Provisional Order, 1884, the Company is empowered to erect Works and manufacture Gas, and for this purpose to create a total Share Capital of £ 8000, and a total Loan Capital of £ 2000. The whole of this Capital has been created and expended. The dividend payable on the Share Capital is limited to ten per cent. so long asthepriceof Gas remains at 6s per 1000 cubic feet, but when the Company teduces the price be- low 6s, a further dividend of one quarter per cent. may be paid for every penny less than 6s at which Gas is sold. The present price of Gas I understand is 4s 6d per 1000 cubic feet, the Company, therefore, could legally have declared a dividend of 14i per cent., provided the profits admitted of this dividend. As a matter of fact the dividend recommended by the Directors of the Company, for the past year is at the rate of 10 per cent., and this dividend apparently does not quite absorb the profits made in the year. The illuminating power of the Gas named in the Provisional Order is 14 sperm candles. The re- maining Clauses of the Order are of the usual character.—COMPANY'S BILL, 1896: In this Bill which contams the usual Clauses inserted in all Gas Bills it is proposed to repeal the Order of 1884, and the following are the Clauses which most affect your Council and the consumers of Gas. Clause 20 seeks power to create in addition to the existing Capital of the Company an ad- ditional Capital of £ 20,000. Clause 37 seeks power to borrow in addition to the present borrowed capital a further sum of -t-5000. The future Capital of the Company, therefore, may be as follows.-STATEMENT OF CAPITAL Original Capital Share, £ 8000 Loan, -_C2000. Additional Capital Share, £ 20,000 Loan, £ ^5000. Total Capital £ 35,000. Clauses 34 and 36 seek power to provide Insurance and Reserve Funds. By Clause 27 the profits of the Company are to be limited to 10 per cent. on the original, and to 7 per cent. on the additional Capital, but with the provision in Clause 68 of a standard price of 5s per 1000 cubic feet and the usual sliding scale permitting an increase of one quarter per cent. dividend for every penny in the reduction of the price below 5s, and a similar decrease for every penny in the increase in the price of Gas above that price. By Clause 29 the new Shares of the Company are to be offered for sale bv Auction or Tender, and by Clause 70 the Gas supplied is to be equal to 15 sperm candles tested in the usual manner. If the Council had not already resolved to allow the Bill to pass unop- posed, I should have suggested some modification in the powers sought, viz. :-(I) A reduction in the amount of Capital, and (2) A reduction in the standard price of Gas. On this point, however, I understand that one of the conditions of the Bill being unopposed is that the standard price is to be reduced to 4s 6d in the Bill. The amount of Capital is probably sufficient to serve the Company for 20 or 25 years, and that is a longer period than is usually sanctioned by Parliament. The price of Gas-either 5s or 4s 6d—is too high for a standard price at Colwyn Bay. I have analysed the Company's accounts for the past five years, and find that in 1894 and 1895 the net price realised for Gas was about 4s 3d per 1000 cubic feet. If 4s 6d is fixed as the standard price, a dividend of iol and 7i- per cent. on the original and additional Capital respectively could at once be declared, assuming always that the profits of the Company permitted of this. These Clauses are most important in a view of a transfer of the undertaking and bearing in mind that the amount of Capital asked for in the Bill might be sufficient to serve the Company for a period of 20 or 25 years, it is highly important that a Clause should be inserted in the Bill giving the Council power to acquire the undertaking within, say, three years. Failing this, probably no other opportu- nity will arise during the next 20 years for acquiring the Works, and it is not improbable that, in that event, the Company would avail themselves of the higher dividends possible under the Bill. With this reference to the Company as it exists under the existing Provisional Order, and as it will exist under the proposed Bill should it be passed, and also to your position in relation thereto, I now proceed to refer to my inspection of the Gas-works.—THE GAS-WORKS: Having visited the Gas-works twice previously, I was familiar with their general aspect. I made a close exam- ination, however, and took such notes as were necessary for this report, but will not trouble you with details. The Works were constructed in 1884; and having been extended in 1891 and again in 1895, they are in excellent working condition throughout, and comprise the usual buildings and apparatus including Manager's dwelling-house. The quantity of Gas made and sold in recent years was as follow,-Gas made 1890, 6,319,000 Gas sold, 5,724,000 Gas made 1891, 7,177,000 Gas sold, 6,446,700; Gas made 1892, 8,533,000 Gas sold, 7,589,300 Gas made 1893, 9,438,000; Gas sold, 8,178,500; Gas made: 1894, 10,445,000; Gas sold, 9,040,200; Gas made 1895, 12,589,000 Gas sold, 10,713,300. The increase in Gas made from 1890 to 1895 is equal to 16*53 per cent. per annum, and in the Gas sold to 14^55 per cent. per annum. This is an unusual rate of increase, and the Company having in view the requirements of next winter, and acting under the advice of their Engineer, have already let the several contracts for a new Retort House and Retort Bench for telescoping their large Gas-holder, and for about I miles of 12 inch Gas Mains, all of which will be completed this year at an estimated cost of about £5°0. The expenditure of the Company by the end of this year cannot, therefore, be less than 415,0o0, and will probably be £ 16,000. The Capital now employed in the Works is larger than in many Works having a similar consump- tion of Gas, but this may be attributed to the scattered character of the District-a long length of main being required for a comparatively small supply. The dividends, notwithstanding this, during the last six years have been as follows,— DIVIDEND: 1890, 5 per cent.; 1891, 7 per cent. 1892, 7 per cent.; 1893, 6 per cent.; 1894, 9 per cent. 1895, 10 per cent. How far the expendi- ture now in progress may interfere with future dividends is of course as yet unknown. My opinion, however, is that the increasing demand for Gas will suffice to sustain the present dividend, and that the Works will be increasingly pro- sperous, provided that the Works are well managed. Assuming that a satisfactory Clause is inserted in the Bill enabling the Council to purchase the Company's undertaking within a given perioJ, say, three years, as previously suggested, the question on which I understand you now wish an opinion is, Is it desirable to purchase the Gas Company's undertaking, and if so, when would it be most desirable to do so? In my opinion it would be to the advantage of the Council, the Gas Consumers, and the Ratepayers generally if the Gas-works were the property of the Council, and if the Works are ever to be acquired, the sooner they are acquired the better it will be in the interest of the Council—on two grounds-first, that the Council will the sooner begin to realise the benefits of the property, and second, that the value of the undertaking will be less, and the Works would therefore cost less now, than at any subsequent period. I need not go into the various reasons in support of the opinion that it would be to your advantage to acquire the Gas Undertaking, but you will be familiar with the fact that the Gas- works in all the important towns on the North Wales Coast have already become the property of the District Council, and that wherever the Gas-works of a town in the United Kingdom have been acquired and carried on by the Local Authorities the results have almost universally been more than sufficient to justify the step, and have been seen in repeated reductions in the price of Gas, and in some cases also in the relief of the public rates. If I can add to this report any information or explanation that may assist you in arriving at a decision on the question be- fore you, I shall be ready to render any service in my power.—I am, yours faithfully, J. HEP- WORTH, Mem. Inst. C.E., Buccleuch Street Works, Edinburgh, February 27th, 1896." The Rev W. Venables-Williams and Mr John Porter (being directors of the Gas Company,) left the room when this report was brought up, but, at the request of the Chairman, Mr John Porter returned, but took no part in the discus- sion, being present simply for the purpose of answering any question the Council might feel it necessary to ask him. Mr Blud was of opinion that the Council had already settled what to do in this matter, when it resolved to take the opinion of the ratepayers on the question of purchasing the Gas-works. He moved that that course be adhered-to. Mr Bevan seconded the motion. Mr Robert Evans moved an amendment that the Gas Company be asked to give a price for the Works, so that the Council would have some information for the public meeting. Mr Owen Williams seconded. Mr William Davies moved another amendment that the matter be adjourned for 12 months. By that time they would have the power to use elec- tricity, either themselves or by a private Company. Mr Blud was willing to accept Mr Evans's amendment. Mr Bevan declined to agree, because the Gas Company would «ot give a price, but were willing Company would tiot give a price, but were willing to accept a valuation. One of the chief reasons why they should decide, was that the Gas Com- pany would acquire additional capital every year, and, whenever the Council purchased the concern, they would have to buy the additional capital. Eventually the resolution moved by Mr Blud, was carried, the date of the Public Meeting being fixed for the second Friday in April. (For continuation of News, see Supplement. J Printed an-J Published by R. E. Jytf!" & Brothers, a their Printing Works, 3, Rose IJKi Street, Conway aud Published at the Central iJ^rary, Colwyn Ba y