The North Wales Weekly News

Mr. J. Allanson Picton. A RESIGNATION OWING TO ILLNESS. FINE TRIBUTE TO WELSH EDUCA- TIONAL SYSTEM. Mr J. Allanson Picton, son of the late Sir James Picton, and formerly member of Parlia- ment for Northampton, and a prominent mem- beT for many years of the London School Board, but who has resided for many years at Caer Llyx, Dwygyfylchi, Penmaanmawr, has just re- signed his position as a co-opted member of the Carnarvonshire Education Committee, which he has occupied since the formation of that authority. His health began to fail some months ago. Mr Picton has been a justice of the peace for Carnarvon shire since 1894, and has held the office of Chairman of the Llandudno County School Governors for some years. In the course of a letter he has addressed to Mr E. R. Davies, the Secretary for Education in Carnarvonshire, resigning his office as a member of the Education Authority, he writes:" The notice which I have received from vov; on my return from a medical consultation in London only increases the pain of the step I am com- pelled to. take. The condition of my health leaves me no option but to ask immediate relief from the honourable responsibilities attaching to a co-opted: member of the County Education Com- mittee. Nothing that has occurred to me dur- ing my resiidlence in this county has ever given me greater gratification than the honour done to me by the County Council in co-opting iw from year to year to a committee of such grew importance and imimeasurablo usefulness but I canmot help it. I am no longer capable of dis- charging the duties of the position as I should wish, and I should ill-requite the kindness shown me if I were to hold .the seat a moment longer than I can do the work. I will not obtrude pri- vate cares upon a public body, but I cannot help mentioning what is known to most of my friends, that I have had to endure twelve months of a prolonged anxiety about the health of one most dear to me. This has added! at least ten years to my age. I shall ever cherish a grateful remembrance of the kindness and courtesy always shown to a comparative stranger and also of the generosity with which my occasional differences from the prevailing opinion has been treated. I have taken a special interest in the most beautiful feature of the Welsh educational system—namely, its intermediate schools The Act creating them seems to me to have combined in a wonderful degree efficiency and freedom. May I be allowed to express a hope that no passion for centralisaition will ever be allowed to mar this specially admirable feature of the Welsh national edu cation.

-.c: Llanfairtalhaiarn Council School. The reports of H.M. Inspector upon the work of this new school are .of more than, purely local interest. In the first of these reports the In- spector says:— This school demands the immediate atten- tion of the Local Education Authority In re- ports sent in for 1903 and 1904 the need of in- creased accommodation was pointed out. I am glad to know that the enlargement of the build- ing is now being contemplated; and it is hoped that the work will be proceeded' with as-soon as possible. Very satisfactory progress is being made by the scholars. Mr. Jones shows. great resource- fulness in organising the work. Welsh is used throughout the school in the instruction, with good results on the minds of the children, whose intelligence is further developed by careful nature study observations and by means of cut- tings from illustrated papers, &c. The scholars read music with great ease, and songs in three parts with pianoforte accompani- ment were rendered in a very pleasing manner." The second report is dated 30th October, and is in the following terms: — "Mixed Department.—Important and much- needed improvements have been made in the premises: The main room has been enlarged, its lighting improved, and a glazed sliding par- tition put up, the infants' room enlarged, urin- als. cloakrooms, and lavatories provided, also, a room where the children can have their mid- day meal Ñ1 comfort. Building operations and closure of the school for several weeks because of an epidemic among the children have hindered the work; in spute of this the progress made reflects great credit on Mr. Jones and his staff Geography, which is taken in some detail, is carefully correlated with history, and drawing with mensuration. Composition is a strong feature; it is carefully taught throughout the school, and the upper children are able to ex- press themselves grammatically in written exer- cises and with correct spelling both in English and Welsh. ° "Tpe headmaster has for many years made intelligent use of Welsh-the home language of tihesaholars-in teaching them English; by this means their interest is aroused, and the study of English becomes a delight We heartily congratulate the headmaster and his staff, the pupils, and the village generally authority0- eXCeJIeilt rePorts from so high an

Llanrwst District Council. THE PIG SALES SITE. The monthly meeting of this Council was .held on Friday. Present: Mr. H. J. W. Wat- ling (chairman), Mr. T. Rogers Jones (vice- chairman), Messrs. W. J. Williams, William Hughes, Griffith Jones, Edward Mills, D. J. Williams, William Jones, Albert Hughes, and Dr. Huw Williams; with the Clerk (Mr. T. Latimer Jones), the Surveyor (Mr. George Wynne), and the Collectoir (My. E. M. Jones). PROPOSED ISOLATION HOSPITAL. The Clerk reported that he had written the various Councils with a view of their co-opera- tion in providing a hospital. The Rural Dis- trict Council had already consented, but the matter had not yet been discussed by the Geir- ionydd Council. CRAFNANT LAKE SCHEME. The Clerk read the report of the Crafmant Lake Fishing Committee, which contained several important suggestions. It was decided toi refer the same to a Com- mittee composed of the Chairman, Dr. Huw Williams, Messrs. William Hughes, D. J. Wil- liams, and T. Rogersi Jones. THE PIG (SALES. A long discussion took place on the above subject, and it was finally decided that the motion of Dr. Huw Williams that they rescind the minute to the effect That they do not purchase a permanent site," should be nlaced on the agenda of a meeting to be called on Friday week; and Mr. T. Rogers Jones gave notice that hel would move that they adopt the suggestion of the Surveyor to pave the neces- sary space on the adopted site in Station-road with Yorkshire cobbles, at an estimated cost of ^102 105 FINANCE. The Collector reported having collected the following ,sums during the monthGeneral district rate, ^132 6s. 7d. water rate, £8 17s. 6d. Town Hall and market tolls, 1.03 14s. iod. The Finance Committee reported having ex- amined accounts amounting to £n3 7s. 3d., which they recommended for payment. 'The balance in. Treasurer's hands was £472 13s. 4d„, leaving an available balance of Z359 6s. id. STREET ADOPTION. It was decided to take osver and adopt the roads known- as Salisbury-terrace and Railway- terrace, both having been repaired to the satis- faction: of the Surveyor, and the Surveyor was instructed to Prepare an estimate of the erec- tion of a wooden fence.at the railway station entrance, which Was now in; a dilapidated state. The Chairman was appointed a Governor of the University College of North Wales for the next year.

Colwyn Bay Police Court. This Court was held on Saturday, Mr. Henry Kneeshaw presiding. The following Justices were also present; MesSirs. J. W. Lumley, J. W. Raynes, Rev. Thomas Parry, Messrs. Joseph Dicken, Charles Reynolds, J. Berth, Jones, and Edward Wiilliams together with the Clerk (Mr James Amphlett). THE VICTORIA PIER LICENCES. At the last Court an application- for the trans- AT °l.th'e decree of the Victoria Pier bar form Mr. Renault Eld-rid to Miss Summers was ad- journed to. the present Court, there being a magesterial objection to a lady being in charge. Since then Mr. Edward Gilmore Bradshaw, of Blackpool, has been engaged by the Pier Com- pany as Secretary, and an, application was now or made by him for a transfer of the licence to him from Mr. Eldrid Mr. Bradshaw made his application person- ady and in answer to the Chairman said that he had not held a, licence in his name. He had been engaged bv the Blackpool Pier Com- pany for the last 167f years, where there was a bar, but the licence was not in his name. The Chairman was handed some testimonials, which he said were good as far as they went. Sxiperintendent Beresford said he had written to Blackpool about Mr. Bradshaw to the Chief Constable, J. C. Derham, and he had written in reply tot say that Mr. Bradshaw was a man, of the highest character, and a fit person to hold a licence. The application was granted. Mr. Bradshaw also applied for a transfer of the theatrical and musical licences into his name, which were granted. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CASES. Robert Williams, 33, Park-road, Colwyn Bav, mason, was summoned by School Attendance Officer Bithell for not sending his chijd to school, a fine of ios., including costs, was im- posed. Catherine Jones, Caethiwed, Llwydgoed, Brynymaen, was also summonled for a similar offence. The officer applied for an attendance order, which was granted, the costs being 5s. 6d, RATE CASES. A long time was spent by the Bench in {Seal- ing with a number of non-payment rate cases, and the collectors stiated that although the poor rate was 8d. more this year than last the col- lections had been more satisfactory. ALLEGED POACHING. George Goodband, Park-road. Colwyn Bay chimney sweep; George Jones, Park-road, Col- wyn Bay, labourer; and Charles Roe, Dun- dtoniald-road, Colwyn- Bay, boatman, were sum- moned by P.C. William Evans with poaching on land in Upper, Cblwyn Bay on, the 29th October last. y Goodhand was the only defendant that turned up, and! he objected to being tried, without the other defendanits being present. Mr. Lumleiy thought his objection a reason- able one, and the case was ultimately adjourned EXTENSION OF HOURS. An application by Mr. J. A. Lang, of the Queen's Hotel, Old Colwyn, for an extension of hours OlD, the- 3rd December from 11 p.m. to 12.30 a.m., on the occasion) of the Hockey Club ball was granted.

0ME BOX OF CLARKE'S B4I PILLS" rnnln^ i rn either sex> ail acquhed or constitutional Discharges from the Urinary Organs ?^ler f1!? PamS the back- Free fro™ Mercury.' Established upwards of 50 years. In boxes 4s. 6d each, of all Chemists and Patent Medicine Ver-dors tnroughout the World, or sent for sixty stamps bv the makers, 1 lie Lincoln and Midland Counties bruo- Company, Lincoln. 0

Nomination of Sheriffs. The annual ceremony of the nomination of the fHigh Sheriffs of the counties of England and Wales (excepting the Royal Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster) took place in the Court of the Lord Chief Justice on Friday. The nominations are made in this manner. The King's Remembrancer (Master Mellor) reads from a list of names (prepared at the Privy Council office) o- £ those qualified by the posses- sion of propenty and by social position to fill the office of Sheriff for each county ini alpha- betical order. If there are any objections or excuses they are considered by the judges on the bench, and if an excuse or objection be allowed another name is supplied from the list, and this process goes on till three names are selected for each county. It is from this list that the King chooses the High Sheriff in each county at the ceremony known as pricking the Sheriffs," which takes place early next year. The first name on, the list i-9 usually pricked by the King, who uses a golden bodkin for the purpose. There were present on Friday Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), who presided, Lord Wolverhampton, Lord Alver- stone (Lord Chief Justice), and Justices Grant- ham, Bucknill, and Hamilton. Among the nominations were:- An,glesey.-i, James Veomore, of Park Side, Anfield, Liverpool; 2, Major William August Lane Fox-Pitt, of Presaddfed, Bodediern, Val- ley; 3, Dr. Henry Stinton Lowe, of Rhosneigr, Ty Croes. [Mr. Pennant appeared on behalf of Mr. Hughes, of Simdda Weir, Llanbadrig, Anglesey, and submitted that he ought to be excused on the ground of his health not being such as to enable him to perform satisfactorily the duties of the office. Counsel said he had two medical certificates, one six months old and one given recently. Mr. Hughes was accordingly ex- cused.] Carnarvonshire.—1, David Pierce Williams, of VrondifSias, near Carnarvon; 2, Thomas Ed- wards Roberts, of Plasybryn, near Carnarvon 3, Captain Neil Patrick Stewart, of Plas Lod- wig, Bangor. Denihighshire.-I, Godfrey Fitzhugh, of Plas Power, Wrexham; 2, Colonel Charles Salusbury Mainwaring, of Bwlcbybeudy, Cerrigyd-ruidion, Corwen, and Bron Haul, Rhyl; 3, Colonel Samuel Sandb-ach, of Hafodunos, Abergele. Flintshire.—1, James Woolley Summers, of Cam-yr-Ahm, Rossett, Denbighshire; 2, F. Leigh Hancock, of Warren Bank, Broughton, Chester; 3, Arthur Phillips Roberts, of Coed Ddu Park, Mold. MeTion-othshir,e.-i, Captain Henry Meredyth Richards, of Caerymwch, Dolgelley; 2, Colonel Lewis Owen Williams, of Borth Wnog, Dol- gelley 3, William Orford, of Bronyffynon, Towyn. Montgomeryshire.—i. Lord Herbert Lionel Vane-Tempest, of Plas Machynlleth; 2, William Llewelyn Lloyd, of Castell Forwyn, Abermule; 3, Edward Stisted Mostyn-Pryce, of Gimley HalL [Mr. Mostyn-Pryce was first in the official list, but ,apnlied in person to be excused on grounds stated in a written document, which he handed in to the Court, a copy of which he said had been forwarded to the Privy Council. Their Lordships, however, on the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, placed him third on the list.1 I AMUSING INCIDENTS AT THE CEREMONY. A laughter-provoking account of the cere. monial was telegraphed on Friday night by the London correspondent of the Liverpool Courier To-dav being the tc morrow of St. Martini," the ritualistic ceremony of nominating the sheriffs for English and Welsh counties was duly performedl at the Law Courts. As in duty bound, the Chancellor of the Exchequer pre- sided on the judicial bench, having on his right the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, ana on his left the Lord Chief Justice of England. Mr. Lloyd George was wearing his handsome robes of black and .gold, and looking very like his Academy portnait. The reading of the names occupies the best part of an hour, the procedure being for one of the judges, in this instance Mr. Justice BuckniJI, to read out the list which the King's Remembrancer, standing below in full legal panoply, repeats name by name in a ibelautiful initonationi. Everything went very well to-day, until it came to the Welsh sheriffs, with their very Welsh addresses. Then Mr. Justice Bucknill became conscious, all at once, of the critical ear. He struggled man-fully on, and the King's Remembrancer stuck to his Lordship s pronounciation like glrue, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer's expression, re- sembled that 01 an Oxford Professor of Latin who hears Virgilian lines rende-Ted in a Cockney accent. Finally there came the inevitable crisis. Mr. Justice Bucknill titnidly made a venture, but such a had one that he felt constrained to appeal unto Caesar. Mr. Lloyd George frankly did not recognise! the place as pronounced, but he borrowed the; list, and his brow cleared in- stantly. Oh, GIanmiadenny," he said, giving the true music to the syllables, and the King's Rremembranoer echoed him like a defective phonograph. Things went pretty smoothly after that, although Mr. Lloyd George tried in vain to hide his amusement at the judicial Welsh pronounci.ition, and was only reduced to abso- lute solemnity when, like a sudden echo of the Budget, counsel objected to nomination on be- half of one gentleman with an income of £4,000 a year, who represented that he "could not afford' it."

A Remarkable Wedding. Last Thursday a bridegroom of 60 led his bride to the altar within, the walls of the old parish Church of Llanfaglen, near Carnarvon, where service is culv held once a year. Not for 72 years-, it is said, had a marriage been solemnised there until this week. The officiat- ing^clergyman, the Rev. D. L. Williams (Llan- wndia.j, is an octogenarian with a good margin, and is probably the oldest incumbent in Car- narvonshire.

No fewer than fifteen hundred towns and vil- lages Tn Germany still own, and have owned, down from the Middle Ages, so much common land that their inhabitants pay neither rates nor taxes. Five hundred of these townships and vil- lages derive so great a rental from their lands that they are able, in addition, to pay every citizen on New Year's Day a bonus of from Z5 to [20 as his share of the surplus revenue.

Mr. E. R. Davies on the Budget. ADDRESS TO COLWYN BAY LIBERALS. OBJECT OF THE LAND CLAUSES. Mr E. R. Davies, solicitor, Pwllheli, in his re- cent address at Colwyn Bay upon the Budget (the first portion of which was reported in our last issue), said that the object and purpose of the taxation of land was to break up the huge mono- poly in land which existed at the present time. (Hear, hear.) There was sufficient evidence to prove the need of some measure which would have the effect of compelling the use of the land, instead of it being locked up, whether by landlord or farmer. After all was said and done, the fault did not lie entirely at the door of the landlord, because there had been too much of a disposition on the part of the farmer to allow huge tracts of land to stand idle-to rent more land than they were able to develop. (" Shame.") 'He never could understand the voracity of people of that kind. (Hear, hear.) If they saw a man at Colwyn Bay insisting upon taking over a twenty-roomed house when he bad only sufficient furniture to furnish a six-roomed house, they would conclude that there was some- thing the matter with his garret. (Laughter.) At any rate, the vacant fourteen rooms would soon deteriorate into garrets, and that was ex- actly the sort of thing that was too prevalent in 11 regard to large farms. People took farms of 100 acres, not half of which was farmed, and the rest was purely waste, with serious consequences both to the farmer himself and to the country at large. Dealing with the proposal to value the land in order to arrive at the amount of unearned in- crement to, be taxed, Mr Davies explained that all the land was to be valued, and not only the land that was undeveloped or unbuilt upon,. Every inch of land in Colwyn Bay, including land under shops and houses, would be included in the valuation. And after all was said and done, that was the main ground upon which the Tory party were opposing the Finance Bill with such intensity of feeling. Did the audience know how much one acre of land was worth in Cheaps-ide, London? He had taken good care to put the figures down on paper so as to be sure of his facts. The value of one acre in that part of London was ^3,000,000. It was impossible to realise that one acre of land was worth three million sovereigns. And that land, worth such a stupendous sum of money, was not assessed at all, but only the buildings standing upon the land. Assuming for a moment that the rental of the buildings upon that acre of land was ^"150,000 a year, more or less, it did not cost amy more to put up the buildings on that land, that was worth three millions an acre, than it would cost to put up the same shops on an acre of land at Colwyn Bay worth [1,000; in fact, the cost in London might even be less than in Colwyn Bay. Such being the case, it was only equit- able that land which had increased so enormous- ly in value as the result of the enterprise of the community .should bear a portion of the rates and taxes levied upon that community. (Ap- plause.) And was it not right that the charge proposed to be made ishould be made on the basis of the real value of the land, and not merely on the basis of the annual rental paid by the tenant? (Hear, hear.) Of course, the rental bore some relation to the value of the site, but the result of the existing system of rat- ing w'as that the landlord was able to run away from his liability and to shoulder it on to some one else. The object of the valuation was pri- marily to secure a return of the values of all land throughout the country, and all increase in value after the 30th April, 1909, would be taxed to the extent of twenty per cent. on the actual increase. It had been suggested against the Chancellor of the Exchequer that in submitting that tax he had been copying something which was already being done in other States by other people, but Mr Lloyd George was able to show in the House of Commons that this increment duty of twenty per cent. was entirely his own patent. (Laugihiter, and hear, hear.) It had never been done before in any country in the world, and he was quite justified in believing that it would reap a rich harvest for the country. (Hear, hear.) Land companies would only pay every fifteen: years at the rate of twenty per cent. on the in- crement. (A Voice: "A very good thing.") You are not a shareholder, perhaps, continued Mr Davies amid laughter, but I quite agree with vou it is a good thing. (Hear, hear.) But I have somethingels.e to say. If any improve- ments are carried out by the owners, whether companies or individuals, those improvements are to be credited for. (Hear, hear.) If the value of the Cayley Estate on the 30th April is [250,000, and improvements are carried out to the extent of £ 50,000, making a total value of £ 300,000, and the estate rises to a value of half a million, they will pay twenty per cent, on [200,000, which is perfectly equitable. If Mr Lloyd George had been Chancellor of the Ex- chequer fifteen years ago, you in Colwyn Bay would have no rates at all to pay. (Laughter, and cheers.) Proceeding, Mr Davies dealt exhaustively with the Development Tax and all the other propos- als in the Budget affecting land, giving examples of the policy adopted by Germany, New South Wales, and other countries and states, and in conclusion he urged the Liberals of Colwyn Bay to make a careful study of the question for themselves. (Applause.)

Conway Butter Fair. Under the auspices of the Markets and Fairs Committee of the Corporation, the annual buittex fair was held in the Town Hall, Conway, on Monday, when prizes were offered for the best exhibits of pot and fresh butter. There was a very good entry, and Miss Hughes, Pantvffrith, GIan Conway, proved herself a very capable ad- judicator. The awards were as foildws-- Best sample of pot butter, not exceeding rzlbs. and not less- that 61bs., confined to residents within the Conway Union- and Llangernyw: 1, T. H. Jones, Maesymerddyn, Pentrevoelas; 2, Mrs. Williams, Fedw, Llanrwst; 3, Owen Owens, Maesyrhendre, Maenan; vhc, J. O. D. Jones, Brynfawnog, Nebo, For the best 4lbs. in ilb. samples of fresh butter made by any method, and being the pro- duce of the exhibitor (open): I, Mrs. Davies, Gorswen Roewen; 2, Miss E. Cunningham, lanygwalia, Talycafn; 3, Mrs. Richard Owen, Farmyard, Llanrwst; vhc, Miss Nickson, Croeson Farm. For the best 4lbs. in ilb. samples of fresh butter made by any method, and being the pro- duce of the exhibitor (confined to residents of the Union and the parishes of Eglwysbach and Llan- gernyw: 1, T. H. Jones, Maesmerddvn 2, Miss Annie Roberts, Grujgfrym, Glan Conway; 3 Mrs. Williams, Nantyberrig Isa, Eedwysharh •' vhc, Mrs. Hughes, Ddol Castell, RIcwL; he' Mrs. R. Owen, Farmyard, Llanrwst. For the best 4lbs. in ilb. samples of fresh butter, being the bona fide produce of an ex- hibitor who had not won a prize at any show par fair: r, Mrs. A. Davies, Fforddlas. Dan- dyrnog near Denbigh; 2,. Mrs. Roibem, Grug- fryn, Glan Conway; 3, Dr. Cawthome, Llechan Isa vhc, Miss Mary Williams, Penlan Con- way. A special prize of a diploma for the best ex- hibit in the fair was won by Mrs. Davies GoTs- wen, Roe wen. A number of new butter-making utensils werd exhibtea in the hall by Messrs. J. and T Jones. Lancaster-square All the arrangements of the fair were capably carried out by Mr. John Hughes, the caretaker of the ball.

EVANS' CELEBRATED LLANDUDNO TOFFEE, Obtainable from leading corifectioner, or direct from mamifactrurer, Mostyn-aveniue Tel. ny. Tloj