The North Wales Weekly News

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8rC: PERSONAL AND SOCIAL. The Duchess of Westminster has gone from Grosvenor House to Leicester for a few days hunting. The H. E. R. Llo-d, cuate of Carnar- von, and son of the Vicar of Aberdaron, has been appointed assistant chaplain to H.M. Prison, Wakefield. < Lord Carrington, on Thursday night, after speaking at Spalding, was on his way to address another meeting, when he be- came indisposed and had to return to Spalding. His lordship was reported to be better on Friday morning. Miss Megan Lloyd George, the little daughter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was to have opened a charity sale at poplar on Monday, wrote from Carnarvon regretting that she was unable to fulfil the engagement. She enclosed a cheque for one guinea for the charity. < Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd George, who were the guests on Monday night of Mr. David Davies, M.P., at Plasdinam, Montgomery- shire, proceeded on Tuesday to London. On Sundsy Mx. Lloyd George attended I IJivine service at Berea Bwptast Criccieth, and was accompanied by Mr. Herbert Lewis, M.P., Sir Francis Edwards, M.P., and Mr. Ellis Davies, M.P. The preacher was Mr. Richard Lloyd, the Chan- cellor's uncle, who has been an unpaid pastor of Berea for fifty-two years. Mr. J. H. Lile, an old and esteemed mem- ber of the City Corporation, London, has been lying ill at his home in Russell-square for some time. He was greatly surprised a few days ago to have a visit from Mr. Lloyd George. The Chancellor had heard 5* Lile's illness, and in spite of the T^^nds on his time during (the election, ound an opportunity to call upon Mr. and offer his sympaithy. The Chancel- lor told Mr. Lile that he had been very kind to him when he came to London 20 years ago-a circumstance which Mr. Lile had entirely forgotten. The invalid was y I very much touched with this proof of the Chancellor's sympathy at a time of such pressure.

I-VEEK B Y WEEK. Mr. S. R. Jenkins, the well known Con. gregational minister, part of whose boy- hood was spent at Penmaenmawr, has been called to the Bar. The statute of Queen Elizabeth ordering the translation of thee Bible into Welsh gives this extraordinary reason for the enact- ment:—"That it might promote the know- ledge of the English language in Wales." A golden eagle has been caught at Aber- soch, Pwllheli. fr. FitzHugh, of Plas Power, Wrexham, who is staying in the neighbourhood, has bought the bird for Z5. It is his intention to send it to Scotland, where it will be set at liberty in its native haunts. A Colwyn Bay lady, who has no sym- pathy with the women's franchise move- ment, declares that when women get the vote, men will have to give up driving en- gines and turn to driving perambulators! In an official document relating to Howells School, Denbigh, rererenoe is made to the Anglican section," which the typist makes to appear as "the Angelican section." Perhaps the) gallant young typist was think- ing of some sweet little thing of twenty whom he had seen at Denbigh Church. A Welsh will was once made in the form of a quatrain, which has been translated as follows: Mary Ann, thou art my wife, The joy and comfort of my hfe. Whatever God liath gave to me, When I will die I'll leave to thee. Mr. Ellis J. Griffith, who for the third time has been returned unopposed for Angle- sey, received part of his education at (the University College of Wales, where he be- gan a lifelong friendship with Mr. Tom Ellis. Nearly twenty-five years ago he was called to the Bar. lie successfully defended Major Spilsbury, of the Tourmaline, who was charged with gun-running on the coast of Morocco, and went out to Gibraltar to take the case. The w;rk of renovating Owen Glyndwr's Parliament House at Machynlleth, which has been purchased by Mr. David Davies, M.P., of Llandinaan, is rapidly rpproac.hing completion. The building is being made as like as possible to what it was in the days of its glory. The old Parliament House after the renovation will be used as a pub- lic institute. Is it not possible to secure for the (town of Machynlleth Sir Dafydd Gam's old prison and other buildings of historical interest which are to be found in the town? Mr. David Davies has presented the Parliament House to the public. Reference in this column lately to a fine British gold torque discovered at Glaston- hury reminds a correspondent that there have been several similar finds in Wales. One of these, unearthed many years ago in Glamorgan, and now in the British Museum, was made of gold coils over four feet long and weighing over seven ounces. One was found at Cad:r Idris, another near Ilailech Castle, one in Breconshire, and one near Holywell. The latter is preserved at Eaton Hall, and weighs neatly 28 ounces. A writer in the current issue of "Cymru" recalls the fact that at a time when hymn- books were scarce in Nonconformist places of worship in Wales it was the custom for the preachers to give out only such hymns as were most familiar to the congregation, who sang words and music from memory. This does not quite cover the situation, however. In most country districts forty years ago another system was in vogue. The minister, perhaps the only man who had a hymn-book before him, would read out two lines of the hymn, which the congregation would then sing. Then the preacher iould read the next two lines, and so on to the

CAKES AND PUDDINGS.—No 57, CHRISTMAS CAKES. No.2. No. 3. » packet Cakeoma i packet Cakeom a. £ ?• Setter and Lard. 3 or 4 oz. Lard or Dripping* ■ A- **»• Currant*. .J IDST Currant. ;„id } lb, Candied Peel 1 il r Ia grated Nutmeg, i lb, Candied Peel. A pinch mixed Spice.* J glass of Milk. i glass Milk. A wimglassful Rum X a grated Nutmeg.* Makes about aj lbs. Pinch mixed Spice.* Makes about 3 lbs. Opv|ona]. METHOD.—Mix the y ingredients to. gether and rub the Butv^ &c., in with p them. Beat up the Eggs o.nd Rum (if any are used) and add them, tben the milk, and mix lightly. Finally thod uit and finish mixing. Bake in a moderate ^v€ni Cakeoma is sold in 3jd. buckets by Grocers and Stores everywhere. Recipe book will be sent post tjee on request to Latham & Co., Ltd., Llv**p0ol.

end. The result, as may be imagined, was not exactly pleasing, and the wonder is that the old precentors were able to retain their grasp of the tune throughout the long- I drawn-out performance. Mr. Herbert Lewis will not find his duties as Constable and Keeper of the Gaol and Castle of Flint so onerous as the title suggests, for since the Municipal Corpora- tions Reform Act (they have been limited to the care of the castle ruins. The gaol, which once occupied an angle of the building, was converted some years ago into a workmen's club, and prisoners nowadays are sent to Chester. The building—once an Edwardian tortrejs—stands, as every visitor to North Wales knows, on the shore of the Dee estu- ary. It was dismantled after it surrendered to the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War. Earlier in history it ,aw the close of Richard II.'s career, for it was here that he surrendered to Bolingbroke. The story of that episode in the form given to it by Shakespeare was re-enacted within the walls of the castle itself fby Mr. Benson's company some years ago. But the experiment prov- ed rather trying, and was never repeated.

Our Library Table. LIBERAL CLUB LIBRARIES. All around us there is evidence that the position in which Liberalism stands to-day has been achieved as the result, not of shouting at public meetings, but of careful reading and thinking before the day of battle. Party enthusiasm is all very well in its way but at its value must largely depend upon the amount of study which has given rise to that enthusiasm. Recognising what Literature has done for the cause in the past and present, and that the future of Liberalism must depend to a very great extent upon the same good influ- ence, some of our leaders are eager to build up a library of useful works in each Liberal Club. The idea is an excellent one, and should be encouraged. Very naturally the question of expense raises its head when such a suggestion is made, but after all is said and done the expense need cause no alarm. No Com- mittee or individual member need hesitate to launch out a modest penny for a standard work by an acknowledged authority on this and that aspect of one of the great problems of the day. It is difficult to believe, but it is quite true, that for a penny each the Cobden Club publishes (through Cassell) authorative works dealing, for example, with the. various aspects of Tariff Reform. We have four of these penny booklets before us, and can testify to their high standard. They bear vhe following titles:- The Effort of Tariffs on Unemploy- ment." Pp. -5. By an Economist. The Revolt of Protectionists in Germany against their own Tariff." Pp. 24. An Empire Aspect oi Preference." Pp. 30. By Senator Pulsford, of Australia. Political Economy and Fiscal Policy." Pp. 29 By Professor Brentone. "The Fiscal Policy of International Ii ade." Being a summary of the Memor- andum by Professor Alfred Marchall, pub- lished as a Parliamentary Paper in 1908." P.p 36. By J. M. Robertson, M.P. Although written in a popular style, every word in these books is carefully weighed, and each book is a standard work in its way. The General Election, it is true, has given a reeling blow to the Protectionist movement, but it is important to be pre- pared for its revival next year when the Colonial Conference will be held. In anti- cipation of that important event it is essen- tial that the intelligent citizen should read books of the kind mentioned, notably that on the Empire Aspect of Preference." It will be seen from the foregoing that the getting up of a useful and reliable library for each Liberal Club is not such a formid- able undertaking as at first sight might appear. Cropping Allotments," by John Wright, V.M.H., F.R.ILS., London: Agricultural and Horticultural Association. Price one penny. Th!s 1 seful little book by the well-known veteran horticulturist, Mr. John Wright, is No. 28 of the One and All popular practical garden handbooks edited by Ed- ward Owen Greening. Like previous issues of the series, it is veiy fully illustrated. The author gives detailed plans for crop- ping to the best advantage garden allot- ments, of various sizes from a single rod plot, as alloted in school gardens, to 10 rod allotments and upwards. The principles and practice oi rotational cropping are ex- plained, and how to intercrop tall growing vegetables with dwarf kinds. Seed sowing, thinning of seedlings, transplanting, and general culture are all dealt with. Chap- ters are added on fruits for allotments and the planting of fruit trees. It would be difficult to condense in a booklet of small size a larger amount of sound information for the amateur cultivator.

I Chancellor's Splendid Triumph. IXCREASED MAJORITY FOR MR. LLOYD GEORGE. CARNARVON BOROUGHS TRUE TO THEIR DISTINGUISHED MEMBER. One of the outstanding features of the present General Election is the increased majority by which the brilliant Welsh Chancellor of the Exchequer has been re- turned as representative of the Carnarvon Boroughs. The Chancellor took no part in the con- test until Friday, the eve of the poll, when he delivered a series of addresses, so that his Conservative opponent, Mr. Austin Jones, barrister-at-law, had matters very much his own way. And every advantage was taken of the Liberal Member's absence from the division, the Conservative organ- isation having been brought to a high pitch of perfection in the hope of reducing Mr. George's majority. It is due to Mr. Austin Jones to say that he fought a clean and honourable fight throughout, and that he has created a very favourable impression in the constituency. It is not quite clear why he allowed himself to be led into the unequal fight like a lamb to the slaughter, but as he must have forseen the conse- quences, he has no one but himself to blame. The Liberals were determined to secure an increased majority for their beloved leader this time, and to their credit be it said that they succeeded to a splendid de- gree. But they must not be satisfied with 1,208. POLLING DAY INCIDENTS. Saturday was the polling day in Carnar- von Boroughs. Un/tiil the arrival of many hundreds of jubilant quarrymen in the town late on Saturday afternoon the polling at Carnar- von was one of the most uneventful within memory. Partisans showed their sides by a display of colours, those of the Liberals, of course, greatly predominating, but there was a singular absence of electioneering enthusiasm on both sides. It was also a matter of comment that on the Conserva- tive side there was a lamentable lack of pro- minent workers. Polling took place at the Guildhall and the National Schools. Mr. Lloyd George, who had been in the town overnight as the guest of Mr. Norman Davies, drove in his bedecked motor-car with Mrs. Lloyd George to the National Schools at half-past ten, and was there re- ceived with great heartiness by a strong band of supporters. He afterwards paid a similar visit to the Guildhall, and once again the right hon. gentleman was accord- ed a rousing reception. A few minutes later Mr. Lloyd George was on his wav to Criccieth, where he remained until the evening, returning to Carnarvon. in time for the declaration. Mr. Austin Jones (Mr. George's opponent), accompanied by his agent (Mr. W. Lloyd Griffith), reached the town two hours later from Criccieth, and upon calling at the polling stations was loudly cheered by his supporters. There was nothing unwonted in the ap- pearance of the town until late in the after- noon, when soon after five o'clock the streets underwent a sudden transformation. The incoming trains from rtlhe Llanberis and Nantlle districts poured many thousands of quarrymen into the town, and, forming themselves into procession, they made things rather unpleasant for those who dis- played the Tory colours too prominently. Having in mind the regrettable recurrence of the last polling day in this constituency, the Mayor had caused circulars to be ad- dressed to all the churches and chapels in the district, appealing to their congrega- tions to be of good behaviour on Saturday. The appeal had undoubtedly some effect, though not all that could have been deired. SCENES AT CONWAY AND DEGANWY. The polling at Conway and Deganwy opened briskly, and there was eagerness on the part of mamy stalwart Liberals to be the first to record their vote at Conway for the Chancellor. For the first time the Liberal party were in front on their op- ponents in the supply of vehicles. Through- out the day both parties worked strenuous- ly to get everybody to poll, and in the Lib- eral committee rooms it was announced that every available Liberal voter had polled with the exception of nine, and eight of these were railwaymen working in Ireland. They were expected home on the 7.44 p.m. train on Saturday night, but failed to arrive owing to the work on which they were en- gaged oeing delayed through the wet weather. The men arrived in Holyhead at i a.m. on Sunday, and reached Conway at 7 a.m. greatly disappointed. A motor-car was waiting at the railway station in order to rush the men off to the booths, and their non-appearance was the cause of jubilation amongst a few of the opposition workers. During the (afternoon large numbers of children congregated near the Guildhall, the Liberals on one side and. the Conservatives on the other, and as a gaily decorated car or carriage arrived there was cheering and hooting. Two police officers stood between the parties, although it was not expected that they would cause any disturbance be. vond shouting. After the close of the poll the ballot- boxes were conveyed to Carnarvon by special train. Large crowls of country people in- vaded the town and sang election songs. There was considerable excitement. With a view to possible disorder a number of extra police were drafted into the town. There were several fights, but nothing of a serious nature occurred. The Conservative Club had been closed at 10.45 p.m. As 11.30 p.m. approached a crowd of close upon 2,000 people congregated in Lancaster- square. Telephonic messages arrived that Mr. Lloyd George was elected, but no offi- cial figures were received. The vast crowd were kept in ignorance of the result until the arrival of the telegram which would convey the exact figures. This came a few minutes after midnight, and the message was read by Mr. T. C. Lewis from the steps of the police station. Before reading out the figures he made a strong appeal to the crowd to be orderly, and to quietly go hornet ■mtter- tlio result "was madip known. I he figures were read as follows Lloyd George 3,112 Austin Jones 1,904 Majority 1,208 -1 ineae was a iremenaous cneer when it was found that the Chancellor had incas- ed his majority by 130 votes, he at thiat time being the only Cabinet Minister who had increased his majority during this elec- tion. The crowd commenced to disperse, and bands of young men formed processions around the town singing election songs. Afterwiards a very large crowd visited the Liberal Club expecting results of other elec- tions. From somewhere there was a fusil- ade of stones in the back of the club, and one of the missies broke a window in the Town Hall. Those inside were becoming furious, but they became pacified when the I police were told of the incident and had made an investigation. There were several fights during the evening, but the police easily coped with the disturbers of the peace. During the evening rockets and fireworks .were let off at Conway and Deganwy. Early on Monday morning Mr. J. P. Griffiths, the president of the local Liberal Association, sent the following telegram to the Right Hon D. Lloyd George at Cric- ci-eth Conway Liberals send hearty congratulations on splendid victory." COUNTING THE VOTES. By special arrangements made by the re- turning officer the ballot-boxes from the outlying boroughs were brought to Carnar- von by half-past nine o'clock, and the counting of the votes proceeded forthwith. Mr. Lloyd Geoige reached the counting- room an hour later. The declaration took place at a quarter pasft eleven, and for three-quarters of an hour before that the street on both sides of the Guildhall arch- way was packed with a surging crowd. When the Mayor appeared on the bal- cony, the hubbub below was so great that his repeated attempts to make known the figures were ineffectual. They were: Lloyd George 3,112 Austin Jones 1,904 Liberal majority 1,20s fr. Lloyd George moved a vote of thanks to the returning offiter for the very efficient manner in which the election had been con- ducted. He also expressed his appreciation of the good temper shown in the contest, and of the honourable manner in which his opponent had carried on the campaign. (Cheers.) Mr. W. Lloyd Griffith, the Conservative agent, seconded the vote of thanks. MR. LLOYD GEORGE ON THE VICTORY. It had been arranged that Mr. Lloyd George should after the declaration address his supporters in Castle-square, and on ar- rival the right hon. gentleman's car was quickly surrounded by a vast cheering crowd whose enthusiasm made it quite impossible for Mr. George to deliver more than a few fragmentary words of thanks. My dear fellow-countrymen, said Mr. Lloyd' George, after The Land of my Fathers" had been sung, twenty years ago I was thanking you for giving me a majority of 18, but the times have improved wonderfully since then, for to-night the majority has reached 1,208." (Loud cheers.) He went on to say that he was proud to have taken a part once more in the great fight in a righteous cause to which their dear nation had already contributed so much. Wales had proved true to the ban- ner of liberty—(cheers),—and in a few months more he would see the old enemy of democratic freedom laid prostrate. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Herbert Lewis, M.P., and Mr. E. W. Davies, M.P., who accompanied Mr. Lloyd George, also added a few congratulations to the men of the Carnarvon Boroughs, and subsequently the newly-eleoted member, now lookng back upon his seventh contest, drove back to Criccieth amidst tremendous cheer- ing. SCENES AT CRICCIETH. Criccieth Town Hall was densely packed on Saturday night with an excited and ex- pectant audience, awaiting the result of the poll. Good cheer was maintained by an entertainment consisting of songs, recita- tions, and gramophone selections, and when the Chancellor's magnificent victory was announced the audience burst out into tre- mendous enthusiasm. The meeting formed into a procession, which marched to Bryn- awelon, the Chancellor's residence, to await the return of the victorious member. They congregated on the lawn and sang election songs with real Celtic fervour. Little Megan, the Chancellor's daughter, who had gone to bed, got up and waved her hand at tb- crowd as it shouted wildly, Lloyd George for ever." At tw') o'clock in the morning the Chan- cellor returned by motor from Carnarvon, accompanied by Mrs. Lloyd George and Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., and was greeted at Brynawelon by Sir Frank Edwards, M.P., who literally jumped in ecstatic delight at the triumphant issue of the fight. The crowd gave a most rousing ovation, and sang the National Anthem. In a short address from the doorstep the Chancellor thanked his neighbours for their unflinching loyalty to him, and for the hand- some majority which had been accorded him. The crowd then gave the Chancellor three rousing cheers and bade him good night. The singing of election stanzas continued until nearly three o'clock.

JOTTINGS FRO31 NATURE. DECEMBER IOTII, 1910. To-day I picked up the dead body of a com- mon shrew, and on examination found, as in the majority of cases, it bore no signs of violence. In the autumn and during the fall of the year we frequently see the bodies of departed shrews on the roadways, but the cause of their death still remains an open question. It is common knowledge among naturalists that cats will destroy shrews, but as the little insectivores throw off a foetid odour, their flesh is not partaken of. It is the least likely that death is brought about by atmospheric conditions some credence has been given to the statement that thundery weather kills them, while others assert, though their theory need not, I think, be seriously contemplated, that they are antagonistic one towards the other, and that combats most frequently result in the death of one of the contending parties. What is to prevent us assuming that they die a natural death ? The status of the three shrews in Carnarvonshire and, I venture to think, Denbighshire, is as yet imperfectly known the distribution of the common shrew appears to be general, but the water and pigmy shrews are confined to certain tracts. With the combined efforts of naturalists it would doubtless be possible to ascertain which of the three occur in each district, and whether and, if so, to what ex- tent one predominates over the other or others.

Love's Farewell. Oh; love most dear, down in the depths Of this sad heart of mine, This passion lives unchanging still In sympathy with thine. 11 I met thee once, 'twas then I knew, A path of love begum, And then they passed, those happy days, And love for me was done. What do I ask, oh, lonely heart, Those happy hours have fled, Oh, think and pity me sometimes, Whose love on earth is dead. GWVKEDD J. FCRNESS.

J UNPRODUCTIVE ADVERTISING is the only kind that costs money. Advertising in the North Wales Weekly News" pays you. I Christmas Confections CHRISTMAS CAKES. MINCE MEAT. -O PLUM PUDDINGS. BONED & TRUFFLED TURKEYS. BOAR'S HEAD. C>> PRESSED BEEF. COSAQUES. syJBk* CHOCOLATES, V BOXES. yS yS <<AT HOMES." S' BALL SUPPERS yS HUNT BREAKFASTS. oo DINNERS. BANQUETS. WEDDING RECEPTIONS, &c. YS CARRIED OUT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY. Telegrams: "Bollands," Chester. Telephone 37.

Abergele Sparks. Scene Market-street, Abergele. Radical working man: We are winning this election fight all a.long the line. Hurrah! Tory working man If the Liberals are re- turned to power again we shall have a civilized war very soon, mark my words. < < Gan mai Mon ydyw mam Cymru, gresyn na bai Caerdydd a Bwrdeisdrefi Sir Ddin- bych yn sugno eu llaetii politicaidd o'i dwy- fion iach, onide? Anhawdd ofnadwy ydyw lladd snobyddiaeth," yn enwedig pan fo'r aflwydd wedi cael gafael yng nghyfansodd- iad Cymro sydd yn rhoi mwy o bwys ar ei waseidd-dra i'r 3ais Toriaidd nac a wna i'w genedl, ac yn ami iawn i'w grefydd. 'Does dim ffasiwn beth a "genuine working-man Tory yn bod tu yma 1 wallgofrwydd ebar- gofLant. Fire—and Bravery. A bolting man- mounted flesh and bones horse is dangerous enough, to f\.li innocent community if the animal is of a fiery disposition, but a linen-mounted clothes-horse on fire is a hundred per cent. more so. And that brings me slap-bang to my stoiy of what happened at Manchester House on Thurs- day morning. The facts are simply and briefly these, as MT. Crabbe would say. The hereinbefore mentioned Thursday morning was on a par with the vile weather we have been blessed with lately—rainy and miser- ably damp. Hence, the open-air treatment was out of the question for clothes-drying purposes at least that was the conclusion the good people of Mane hitter House came to. And acting on the principle of any port in a storm," they did the best thing under the conditions prevailing. That is to say, they brought into requisition before a blazing file the ever-faithful domestic clothes-horse, on which was mounted a por- tion of the family wash. And the result was disastrous-to the aforesaid family wash, which became ignited. The first person to notice the blaze and to give the alarm was "iiss Gabriel-a real ministering angel in this case. In response to her cries for help Police Constable Manuel Davies, Messrs. John Jones, Ship Cafe Thos. Jones., Rose Cottage; Edward Ellis, Berthtopic; W. E. Jones, Crown Fish Stores, and Samuel Davies, builder, rushed with commendable promptitude and death-daring pluck on to the scene of conflagration. Seeing there was no hope of saving the mass of flaming frills and fringed frocks, the volunteers, being men of brawny arms and muscles of steel, managed, by superhuman exertion, to bring the roaring inferno to a state of sub- jection by pushing the whole bag of tricks up the chimney. Will the gentlemen named therefore kindly step on to an imaginary platform while I pin on their manly chests the much-coveted Victoria Cross. I feel I have grown to the extent of about ten inches since Thursday night, when, on the platform of a Liberal meeting held in the Capel Iawr, Denbigh, I had the honour of shaking hands with Mr. Lloyd George for the first time. I am not a worshipper of men by a very long chalk, but I am not ashamed to admit that the Chancellor of the Exchequer his complertly won my heart —captivated me body and soul. Call me an exaggerating fool if you like, but I cannot help believing that Lloyd George is head and shoulders the greatest man Wales has ever produced, from Llewelyn, ein Llyw Olaf," down to Mr. Austin Lloyd Jones, who had the pluck (or the cheek?) to try and capture Carnarvon Boroughs for the enemy. SEARCHLIGHT.

At the Sign of The Maypole." The bright display outside, and the superb quality and value sold within make The Maypole" as attractive as ever to the lady of the house on shopping bent,whois rightly deter- mined to get the very best money's-worth for her tea and breakfast tables. In addition to their best British-made Over- weight Maypole Margarine now reduced in price from 1/- to iod,, the Company have in- troduced a "Mayco" brand of Margarine made from choicest Nuts and Milk, and priced at gd., a half-pound extra being given, gratis with each pound sold, or two pounds net being retailed for a shilling. The Maypole dispatch fresh supplies of their famous British-made Margarines direct twice every wpek from the Works, which are un- doubtedly the finest in England, to their numerous Branches in all the largest cities and towns of Great Britain. Their Butter, too, still the very best as it was when it made their reputation, is also sent direct from the Dairies to their Branches. Soon after the Company paid their Record Duty Cheque of 4111,848 7s. id. to the Government, they were the first to bring down the price of best Tea to 1/4. No wonder therefore, that the very best Maypole Tea, retailed by the Company as it is everywhere at 1/4 is now in universal demand. It is, indeed, marvellous money's-worth al' The Maypole have opened upwards of fifty more new Branches during the present year, and they have now over 660 shops open throughout the Kingdom, a larger number, we believe, than any other multiple Sbep Company possesses. It is no mere boast on their part that the Maypole now claim to be the largest retailers of choicest quality Butter, Tea and Margarine in the United Kingdom, and indeed, in the world, and they attribute their unique success simply to the fact that they have always sup- plied the very best value direct to the public at the smallest possible margin of profit, thus saving the public all middlemen's profits. — h- t

The Finance of Education. t NEED FOR MORE IMPERIAL AID. At a meeting of the Spencer Club, held in the Imperial Hotel, Birmingham, Mr. Marshall Jackman (president of the National Union of Teachers, and a member of the Consultative Committee to the Board of Education) delivered an address on More Imperial Aid for Education." Mr. Jackman contended that education was a national service, and said some people wished to make it entirely a national charge He disagreed with this idea, urging that it would make the administration bureaucratic and lead to lack of emulation. The great advance in national education made during the 'ast forty years had been largely due to the spirit of emulation among the school boards oi the country. Accord- ing to the Board of Education statistics for 1908 elementary education cost 22 millions, of which about 11 millions, or 50 per cent. came from Imperial sources. It was a strange thing that during recent years, when new obligations had been imposed by the Imperial Parliament on local educational authorities, the grant from the Exchequer was growing less, not only proportionately, but actually. In igio it was 6420,0o0 less than in 1907. In 1908 the falling off in Im. perial aid amounted to 7270,000, while the increase in the rates was £ 220,000. Recent- ly the FEEDING AND MEDICAL INSPECTION OF CHILDREN had been in. posed on the local authorities, and the cost of these two serves was in- creasing each year. Mr. Runnman's recent regulations -with regard to reducing the size of classes to 60 would impose a further con- siderable charge on local authorities. Re- lief was urgently needed. Up to* the present time political exigencies had prevented promised grants being paid, but they had a right to look forward to some of the surplus in 1he near future to go towards (1) the substantial relief of localities; (2) the reduc. ing of existing inequalities; and (3) the en. couragement of improvements. Mr. Jack. man contended" that at least 75 per cent. of the cost of -education should be borne by the Imperial Exchequer. In New Zealand, with 141,000 children, the school aid amounted to Z775,000, while the local rates were less than ^13,000. Birmingham with 83,000 children in school attendance, more than half of those in New Zealand, only received £ 177,000 in the shape of Imperial aid. If the same aid were given Birmingham from the Imperial Exchequer as was given the educational authorities in New Zealand she would receive £ 440.000. The staffing of schools ought to be one of the tests of claim for increased grant. In conclusion, Mr. Jackman urged upon the Government the necessity of making increased grants as soon as possible, and as a rough and ready method of meeting the present difficulty he suggested the present system of special grants should be extended.

It Geirionydd District Council. it A PENMACHNO IMPROVEMENT. The monthly meeting of this council was held on Tuesday, presided over by Mr Hugh Hughes. Others present were the Rev Henr Jones (vice-chairman), Rev J. Llewelyn Richards. Messrs D. G. Jones, R. T. Ellis Mathew Roberts, Ll. G. Jones, Wm. Evans and J. G. Evans; with the Clerk (Mr Tbos. Hughes), and the Surveyor (Mr H. P. Evans). Dr. Travis, the Medical Officer of Health tor the district, was also present, and spoke at length respecting consumption and the efforts now being made to combat with the disease. He strongly advised the council to pay for the notification of such cases, and also to supply bottles and boxes (which were now supplied to many authorities) to patients. On the motion of the Rev J. LI Richard .t was resolved that the recommendation of the Medial Officer of Health be adopted and tins was unanimously agreed to, Dr: ^Travis further recommended the supplvine- of Antitoxin for d.ptheria. He emphasised thf value o this in the rural districts, as a prompt application to the pat.ent on the first dfv meant the saving of one child's life ThU recommendation was also agreed to. Mr D. G. Jones stated that he had learnt on good authority that by the passing of the recent Budget some good had come to this Council as nearly £3000 was to come to Carnarvonl shire towards road widening and other road improvements. The Surveyor reported having inspected 50 houses within the district undeP the Housing and Town Planning Act, and the report was referred to a committee for further consideration. A letter was read from the Bowen Jones Estate, stating that they were prepared to give, free of charge, a piece of land for widening the road at Cwm, Penmachno, pro. video the Council erected a 5-foot wall. The offer was accepted. A letter was read from the Dolwyddelen Parish Council re alleged encroachment near Cae Sam," and the matter was referred to the Surveyor to report upon at the next meeting. The Chairman welcomed Mr. J. G. Evans, Cwm, as a new member of the Council, this being Mr. Evans's first appearance since his election.

A certain wag the ntl-^r that after the Liberals had settled of Lords veto and the i? ?lQuSe round question, it would a11 time to tackle th* 3^ 311 °PP°rtune known as the Hu<jhan^"f measure Maids BUI." ust)ands for Abergele Old Great Scot 1 U catch it for this illumina. tIng ]

he says in effect, score a majority of 124. Rut that doesn't count, because the major- ity of January last was 124, and therefore you haven't gained anything, and the elec- tion has been all in vain. You are, in fact, badly beaten, but in order to spare your wounded feelings I will condescend to make a suggestion for your benefit. After all, it is for me as the victor to be merciful. In- stead of having to fight all over again, let us appoint another Conference or take the voice of the people by means of the Refer- endum This topsy-turvey argument, this comic opera logic, which gives the spoils of victory to the defeated, is alto- gether too subtle for us. We can only listen to it with admiration for the skill and dexterity of its author. But after the fascinating spell has passed away, it is not impossible that we shall yet be able to find an answer to what is nothing less than a cleverly veiled defiance of the people's de- liberate decision. Mr. Balfour believed it to be his duty in iqoo to appeal to the country for an en- dorsement of his party's policy regarding the.South African War, and although it was given with a reduced majority (from 150 to 134) he said then that the fact of the Tory Government being returned a second time was a strange and unexpected departure from the law of reaction, a phenomenon which reflected the utmost credit upon and gave unprecedented authority to the Gov- ernment." Those words of Mr. Balfour might well have been used in reference to ibe Liberal Government last January. How much more applicable are they now in this hour of that Government's third and equally decisive victory? Moreover, in the Sep- tember of 1900, speaking in Manchester, Mr. Balfour stated that an appeal to the country was necessary, "because there is a. task before us for the due performance of which we require all the strength that the public opinion of this country can give us, which we cannot undertake unless we know that we have public opinion behind us, and which ought to be entrusted to others if that public opinion fails us." Those words apply most aptly to the existing situ- ation. Out of the mouth of Mr. Balfour himself it can be shown that the Liberal I Government did right in dissolving and in entering upon a General Election, that if in this election they failed to secure the support of public -opinion they ought to leave the work of Constitutional revision to other hands, but that, being backed up by such a unique expression of public opinion, it is their bounden. duty to go forward with the great work entrusted to them, that of weeping away the hereditary obstacle to the welfare of the people.