The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

A POOR OUTLOOK. The new year seems inclined to keep to the old uncongenial weather, and yet it may be regarded as seasonable; it is the long continuance of the wet that is so discouraging and disappointing. Not- withstanding the unpromising state of things, some attempts at ploughing were made in the district on a comparatively dry day or two; but the major portion of the land continues in such a condition as to be unapproachable for tillage. In fact the water lies in the hollows as badly as during the late season, short of absolute flooding. A more uncom- fortable state of things m the face of the heavy pressure of work could scarcely exist than in the variable rain, sleet and hailstorms that have prevailed of late. As we write, however, a ruing barometer gives better promise. At a fire at the stock yards in East Buffalo, New York, 7,000 sheep, estimated to be worth £15,000, were burnt to death recently. From Capetown it is reported that good rains have fallen in the districts of Richmond, Carnar- von, Grootfontcin, Fraserburg, and Victoria West, where there has been almost absolute drought for two years. At the annual dinner of the Ormskirk and Dis- trict Farmers' Associat on, Professor .Bayne (County Council Agricultural Department) re- marked that there ought to be a State jAgricul- tural Department, equipped in tho most modern way, and capable of giving the best advice to far- mers throughout the land. Referring to the sterility of farm animals, he said if more attention were paid to the matter it would lead to a great deal of good all round. At the same gathering Mr. Roper, agent to the Earl of Lathom, remark- ed that he had spent three years m growing sugar beet with ouccess, but what was wanted was a factory such as they had in Germany for the manufacture of the sugar. TITHE COMMUTATION. The editor of "Willick's Tithe Commutation Tables" gives as a result of the corn averages for the seven years to Christmas, 1903, published in the "London Gazette," Viz., wheat, 3s. 6d. per Imperial bushel; barley, 3s. lid. per Imperial bushel; oats, 2s. 2id. per Imperial bushel. He states that each £ 100 of tithe-rent charge for the year 1904 wdl amount to £ 69 19s. 6d., being on the commutation about i per cent. more than last year. The following statement shows the worth of £ 100jof tithe-rent charge for the last seven years:—I'or the year 1897 £ 69 17s. ll^d.; 1898, £ 68 14s. lid.; 1899, £ 68 2s. 4|d.; 1900, £ 66 15s. 93d.; 1901, £ 66 10s. 4 9 £ d.; 1902, JB67 3s. 8id.; 1903, £ 67 7s. 5d. The average value of L100 of tithe rent-charge for the 68 years which have elapsed sincc the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 is B94 17s. llld. I A NEW WHEAT. At the annual dinner of the Stockton Chamber of Agriculture, Dr. Somerv.lle, of the Board of Agriculture, in the course of responding to a toast, replied to a suggestion that English wheat was not of the quality of Canadian wheat. He said the idea had occurred to the National Society of Millers, who, accordingly, had started experiments with the view of ascertaining whether they could not obtain a hard-milling wheat which would, com- mand a higher price. The Board of Agriculture being impressed with the valuable suggestions made, had been able to supply a certain amount of its scanty funds for the carrying out of experi- ments. The results were exceedingly encouraging. A new wheat had been produced, and, so far as tests on a small scale went, it had been found that the new wheat was of a strength which left noth- ing to desire SHORTHORN SALES IN 1903. Whatever other failures are to be lamented dur- ing the past year the owners of first -class short- horns at least have no reason to complain, as shewn by Mr. John Thorntcn's summary in the "Live Stock Journal" Almanac. To begin with, the general average of auction sales for the United Kingdom was JE56 3s. 4d., being in excess of any year since 1885. Mr. Thornton attributes these good figures to three and probably four oauses. In April and May the season was highly favourable for good and abundant hay and corn crops; the war had ended, and the country was in a hopeful state. The Argentine ports were re- opened, and trade rapidly revived, while the con- templated alteration of the Fiscal duties inspired hopo among those interested in agriculture. Fore- mcst among the noticeable sales was that of the dispersion of his Majesty's surplus stocks at Sand- ringham and Windsor, which drew many noted buyers fronu all parts of the United Kingdom, as well as from Australia, Africa, the Canadian Oolonies, the Argentine, and the United States of America. At this sale 39 females and 30 males were catalogued, pricos ranging for the former frqTU 26gs. to 210gs., or an average of L78 13s. The bull "Royal Duke," six times a champion at the three national shows, was keenly competed for by Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., Sir Thomas Goooh, Bart., and Mr. Miller, who finally secured the animal for 800gs. for the Argentine. Mr. Douglas Fletcher gave 300gs. for "Bodyguard," bred at Sandringham, to go to Scotland', and Mr. Wilson 155gs. for "First Fruits," for Buenos Ayres. Altogether nine animals were bought to go abroad, and averaged £ 82 2s. 6d., eclipsing all the herd sales of the year. Mr. W. Bell, a tenant on the Alnwick Castle estate, made an average of £ 68 3s. 8d. for fifty animals. None of the females reached 100gs., yet they averaged B45 but fifteen bulls averaged £ 127. Several English buyers competed against Mr. Maclennan, who was buy- ing for the President of the Argentine. Foreign and Colonial buyers were equally in evidence, at the later sales, and the total number of exporta- t:ons compares very favourably with the records of previous years, .despite the demand for the tuberculin test in America and the restrictive regulations made in 1902 by the South American Herd Book authorities. "WILDFIRE" IN SHEEP. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have received information of the appearance in some of the western counties of England of a disease known as "wildfire" in sheep. This disease affects the mouths and feet. of sheep, and from its general appearance is sometimes mistaken for foot- and-mouth disease. It is quite distinct, however. and is confined entirely to sheep, whereas foot-and- I mouth disease affects sheep, cattle and pigs. Fur- ther. in the case of foot-and-mouth disease, vesicles or bladders containing a watery fluid form inside the mouth, and usually on the tongue of the affected animal, but are not present in wildfire. The lesions of wildfire are oonfined to the skin. It generally commences round the hoof and ex- tends sometimes as high as the knee and hock. It may at the same time be found to exist in the same animals on the skin around the margin of the lrne £\'("'Ö1" ;.1" C01" .t ..L- £_ --1 mo oiucs ui uit? ia,c», ana up as tar as the eyes. It is apparently of a contagious nature and almost always pas-ses through the entire flock. It is seldom fatal, especially if the affected ani- mals are kept, from moisture and fed,, upon diets which can easily be taken up by the lips. Various remedies are adopted, but it is found in practice that with care in tending the animals and keeping them on soft diet the disease passes rapidly through its various stages and the animals recover. Dress- ing with lotions or ointments only serves to re- tard the healing process. BROWN ROT OF SWEDES. There is a short but prominent and interesting article on the brown rot of tho Swedish turnip by Mr. W. C. Potter in the recently issued number of the "Board of Agriculture Journal." which is worth a close study by farmers. The author, after mentioning that he has had the subject under his observation for five years, having found it very generally prevalent throughout Northumberland, x:curring notably from October onwards in roots 3till growing, says the disease (Brassica camnestris I rutabaza) is due to the action of bacteria. It has hitherto in England remained undescribed upon tho swede or turnip, but its appearance has been noted on the cabbage, and is known to have caused great damage to crusiferous crops in America and on the Continent. One of the most noticeable features of the disease is the brown or black staining of the tissues occupied by the bacteria. In the initial stages the outermost wood vessels of the rind are the first to be invaded, and these can be clearly distinguished by the naked eye standing out as dark brown spots near the rind. The attack gradually extends until a large por- tion and often the whole flesh becomes a dark brown mass; but even in its advanced stages the tissues remain firm to the touch, and are not re- duced to a soft, pulpy condition. The disease, it appears, is highly communicable, and at Racine (Wisconsin) the damage for three years was esti- mated to exceed £ 20.000. It see'ms impossible to check it, and all that can be done for preven- tion is to take every precaution to purify the land and keep it as clean as possible, removing and destroying infected specimens. The greater im- munity from the disease in England is thought to be due to a better system of rotation cropping; also possibly to our lower temperature.

CHESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.—The first meeting of the local committee formed to prepare for the holding of the Cheshire Agricul- tural Show at Sandbach, on August 23rd, was held at Sandbach on Friday. Upwards of £ 20 has already been raised in subscriptions.

WOMAN'S SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest was held at the Grotto. Bridge-street, on Wednes- day afternoon, by the City Coroner (Mr. E. Brassey) on the body of Eliza Morris, a single woman, 49 years of age, who had been living at 18, Commonhall-street. The evidence shewed that deceased had not been well on Tuesday, and shortly after four o'clock she went into the yard and was seen to fall. She was picked up by Jane Mayers, a neighbour, and Mary Morris, deceased's sister. and carried into the house, but when Dr. Hamilton arrived later he pronounced life extinct. The doctor said he had known the family for many years, and the deceased had to ail appearances been a healthy woman. In his opinion death was due to failure of the heart. A verdict accordingly was returned.

NANTWICH FARMERS' CLUB. I TUBERCULOSIS AND THE MILK SUPPLY. The annual meeting of the Nantwich Farmers' Club was held on Saturday. The balance-sheet shewed an income of JE24 15s. lid. and a balance in hand of £ 40 Is. 4d. The newly-elected presi- dent, Mr. Harold Bower, in calling attention to the alarming spread of anthrax, said that steps should be taken with the object of ascertaining i the mysterious origin of the disease, and expressed the opinion that when a loual authority took charge of a farm upon an outbreak of anthrax which had been notified by the farmer, compensa- tion should be pa.id for any subsequent losses. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. Joseph Furber propoed that the club write to the Central Chamber of Agri- culture representing the necessity for compensa- tion being paid to farmers, and the resolution having been seconded by Mr. Gleave, it was car- ried unanimously.—Mr. John Hobson, replying to the criticisms of the inspectors of the Man- chester Corporation with reference to the milk supply from Cheshire, characterised as so much twaddle certain statements which had appeared in the Press. He attributed the cause of the preva- lence of certain diseases not to the conditions under which the milk was produced, but to the filth and squalor of the slums of Manchester, where people were to be found living amid sur- roundings which were far more filthy and dirty than the surroundings of Cheshire shippons. People in Manchester appealed to imagine that the sole cause of tuberculosis arose from milk. All the blame was laid on the shoulders of the farmer, when a far more probable cause was to be found in the filthy condition of the homes of the people (Hear, hear.) He thought farmers should organ- ise themselves with the object of appointing- in- spectors to visit the slums of Manchester, and sug- gesting to the Corporation that they should put their own house in order before criticising unjusti- fiably the milk supply from the country. (Ap- plause.)

LAW & CUSTOM IN (JHESHIRE. — INTERESTING CASE. At Crewe County Court, on Wednesday, Judge Reginald Brown, K.C., had before him a case of considerable interest to farmers. John Hobson, a large farmer, of Audlem, had claimed compensa- tion from Mrs. S. A. Remer. a Cheshire land- owner, for unexhausted improvements. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Hobson rented about 20 acres of accommodation land, some distance from his own farm, from Mrs. Romer, and covenanted to give up possession at six months' notice, such possession to be yielded up either on February 2 or August 2. Mrs. Remer, requiring the land, gave the usual notice to ter- minate the tenancy on February 2, but Mr. Hob- IC son kept possession of the land until March 25 (Lady Day), and pleaded that that was the custom in Cheshire, when, therefore, he sent in a claim under the Agricultural Holdings Act for com- pensation for unexhausted improvements, the claim was disputed as having been filed too late. The question was referred to arbitration, but the arbitrators were asked to take his Honour's ruling as to the custom of the county with regard to giving up possession of land. A considerable body of evidence was called. The evidence for the plain- tiff went to shew that notwithstanding any agree- ment to the contrary, accommodation land could bo held until March 25, and that the custom of the county would over-ride the agreement. Mr. Hob- son admitted *hat he signed the agreement to give up possession on February 2 if required, but stated that in such & case it was the custom of the county to hold the land till Lady Day, and he kept his stock on it till that time. Against this view the agents for the, estates of Sir Delves Broughton, Bart., of Dod<iington, Mr. Wilbraham, of North- wich, Mrs. Ackers, of Congleton, and a number of farmers were called, and stated that they had no knowledge of such a custom in Cheshire. Mr. H. A. Remer said he distinctly told Mr. Hobson the nature of the agreement, and it was understood he was to give up possession on Feb- ruary 2. His Honour said that if a custom was univer- I sally practised in a county, it could over-ride an agreement; but there was no evidence that such a custom as had been described existed in Cheshire. He therefore found that the claim for unexhausted improvements was filed too late, and he gave judgment for Mrs. Remer, and costs. u

RADICALISM AT ELLESMERE PORT. —— SPEECHES BY SIR JOHN BRUNNER AND MR. JAMES TOMKINSON. There was a large gathering of local Radicals at the Central Hall, Ellesmcre Port, on Wednes- day, at a meeting addressed by Sir John Brunner, M.P.. and Mr. James Tomkinson, M.P. Mr. W. Stockton, chairman of the Ellesmere Port Urban Council, presided. Apologies for absence were read from Mr." A. Mond and Mr. W. H. Lever. The Chairman confessed that the Radicals were like sheep without a shepherd. They were in a wilderness. They had been wooing an old friend to come and shepherd them. They might be suc- cessful, and f Mr. Lever would once more come forward thtly, were not without hope of victory. Referring to Mr. Hoult's recent speech, he said Mr. Hoult stated that food would not be taxed under Mr. Chamberlain's scheme. Mr. Chamber- lain did not say that; Mr. Balfour did not say that, and people were too hard-headed to accept Mr. Hoult's statement alone. We were not pre- pat: ed to give up Free Trade, but what was needed was social legislation. We wanted religious equality and the destruction of the strife engen- dered by the most iniquitous Education Act. (Applause.) Mr. Worsey moved a resolution protesting against the Education Act, the Government's mis- management of the war, and the manner in which the affairs of the country had been managed, and earnestly hoping the country would decisively re- ject the new Fiscal proposals.—Mr. T. Stockton seconded. Mr. James Tomkinson, speaking in support of the resolution, said, with reference to the Fiscal question, that at the end of thirty years of Pro- tection, from 1816 to 1846, our whole foreign trade stood stationary. It could not get any greater be- cause as we would not buy what the -foreigners had to send us-the surplus of their food, which we wanted—they could not take our manufactures. All trade was exchanged, and so far from the foreigner being an enemy and imports an injury and loss to us, the more we imported, the more we must export, because we could only pay for im- ports by exports. Money in the shape of gold did not play even the smallest part in the exchange of the world except as a token and standard of worth. England was immensely rich. Wealth poured into the country, and it was the distribution of wealth we needed to look after. We had not got poorer by Free Trade, because in 1854 one penny of the income tax produced one million, whereas it now produced 2 millions. Our carrying earnings by our shipping came to one hundred millions a year. We had lent the world during the last 50 years from two to three thousand millions. He denied that foreign imports threw men out of employ- ment. Every import necessitated an export. The Board of Trade returns shewed that during the last seven years the foreign imports of manufac- tured or partly manufactured goods had risen from 60 to 120 millions, while the rate of the unem- ployed had dropped from seven per cent. to 2 per cent. Germany and America were our great rivals, but if they adopted Free Trade then Eng- land would indeed have to "buck" up, His can- did opinion was that Protection adopted by for- eign countries, so far from injuring England, did her good. He admitted that it checked trade, but if trade was perfectly free there would be a greater division of goods all over the wjjrld. Ger- many and America were fighting us with one hand behind their backs owing to the tariffs. The German artisan earned two-thirds of the wages per week and worked three hours a day longer than the English workingman, so that the Englishman earned twice as much as the German. Sir John Brunner also contended that every import was paid off by exports. Ho afterwards congratulated Mr. Tomkinson on the selection of a good Liberal candidate for Eddisbury, and. con- tinuing, said he had read German official statis- tics which shewed that the consumption of horse and dog flesh by the workingman in Germany had risen, while the consumption of ordinary food stuffs had decreased. He was engaged in the manufacture of soda, and he received the returns from 16 works all over the world of tho cost of wages per ton of their manufactures. The English- man got on an average 28s. a week, the German 21s. 10d., the Frenchman 21s. 7d.. the Austrian 15s. 8d., and the Hungarian 12s. The Englishman worked eight hours a day, the men in Germany, I1 ranee. Austria and Hungary twelve hours a day. It took 124 Germans, or 131 Frenchmen, or 228 Austrians, or 331 Hungarians to do the work of 100 Englishmen. Sir John Brunner appealed to the voters not to be hoodwinkod into accepting Protection. He admitted there were some trades in which we had been beaten, as. for instance, in the making of machinery for electricity; but that was no justification for the drastic changes suggested by Mr. Chamberlain. (Hear, hear.) We must, on the contrary, do our best to get railway rates reduced, so that goods could be carried cheaply. As a nation we were spending too much money, and needed more economy. The resolution was carried.

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DENBIGHSHIRE CRIME STATISTICS. -♦ MEETING OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE. The quarterly meeting of this committee was held at Denbigh on Tuesday, Captain Griffith Boscawen presiding. The Chief Constable reported 181 indictable offences during the year, an increase of 11 on the previous year. The persons proceeded against numbered 224, 36 of whom were discharged, 140 summarily convicted, and 48 committed for trial on various counts. The persons proceeded against for non-indictable offences were 2,710, 2,227 of whom were fined, 8 delivered to the Army and Navy, 10 to industrial schools, 22 bound in recognisances, 30 other punishments, 278 discharged, and 12H com- mitted to gaol. The publicans and beerhouse- keepers proceeded against for breaches of the Sunday Closing Act numbered 22, 7 of whom were discharged and 15 convicted, as against 21 last year. Persons charged with drunkenness were 1,222, 158 of whom were for being drunk on Sundays, as against 1,041 and 158 the previous year. During the year 20 males and 3 females bad been placed on the black list, 2 females were sent to the Lewes Inebriates' Home, and 7 persons had been tined for obtaining or attempting to obtain liquor when black-listed. The clerk of the peace (Mr. W. R. Evans) has notified his intention of applying for an increase of salary.—The matter was referred to a sub-com- mittee.

DENBIGHSHIRE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. ♦ — ANOTHER NONCONFORMIST GRIEVANCE. SINGULAR ACTION. A meeting of the Denbighshire Education Com- mittee was held at the Queen Hotel, Chester, on Wednesday, Mr. W. G. Dodd (Llangollen) pre- siding. The Clerk (Mr. W. R. Evans) submitted a sum- mary of the provisions of the draft final orders issued by the Board of Education tor the appoint- ment of foundation managers, from which it ap- peared that the managers in each case would consist of the following classes, riz. ex-orhcio, co-optative, nominated and representative. The ex-otiicio member in each case was the clergyman of the parish. Thu co-optative members in every case were to be appointed by the present founda- tion managers, and afterwards by the existing managers. The nominated managers in every case were to be appointed either by the principal officiating minister of the parish and the church- wardens, or the principal officiating minister and the overseers, or by the governing body of the Association of Voluntary Schools, or by the trustees for the time being of the school premises, and in one case by the trustees of a charity, and in one case by the owner of Gwyrch Castle for the time being. In every case except six the nomi- nated managers must be qualified persons, viz., bona fide members of the Church of England, and before they acte 1 they must subscribe a declara- tion that they were members of the Church of England. In the six exceptions the nominated managers were to be appointed either by the governing body of the Association of Voluntary Schools or by the principal officiating minister of the parish. In those cases they need not be qualitied persons. The representative members in every case must be qualified persons. The Rev. E. Roberts (Bryinbo) said they ought to strongly object to any ex-officio appointments, and he trusted that they would express such an opinion to the Board of Education. Mr. J. W. Lumley said there was one clause in the orders which negatived the right of certain subscribers to be members of the school manage- ment unless they were members of the Church Cof England. That did not meet the position of affairs in that county. Sir Watkin Wynn had informed the County Council that in a parish with which he was veil acquainted, and which con- sisted principally of Nonconformists, it would be a loss to the parish to be deprived of the services of tho Nonconformists that had hitherto been acting upon the committee of managers of that parish. What tho committee ought to do was to point out to the Board of Education that particular clause and ask them to have it eliminated, so that Nonconformists, where there were suitable persons to act upon such foundation management, should have the opportunity of being elected. He moved:—" That application be made to the Board of Education to amend their final orders by eliminating therefrom the clause disqualifying Nonconformists and others who are now or may hoieafter become subscribers from being appoint" i foundation managers of Voluntary schools witnlu the county Colonel Cornwallis-West said personally he should b3 glad to see this clause altered, but he did not believe the Board of Education had power to alter it. If he was not mistaken, the Act of Parliament absolutely laid down the rule that four out of the six managers ought to be members of the Church of England. Was he not correct? The Clerk: No, sir. Mr. S. Jones (Wrexham) seconded, and said he was surprised to see a provision of this nature in the Order, excluding members who happened to be Nonconformists from having power to join in the election of four foundation managers. It was such a short-sighted policy He knew of Church schools in the district of Wrexham which had been managed by very reasonable clergymen, who had called their parishioners together and told them they could not manage the schools and find all the money necessary to carry them on by themselves, and asked what they would do. All classes had then submitted to a voluntary rate, and the schools which had been so supported had been worked amicably. Liberal-minded persons of that kind would also admit representatives of sub- scribers of the past to the boards of managers. He was sorry Mr. Rigby was not present that he might see the narrow sectarian spirit in which the Act was being administered at the present moment by the Board of Education. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. E. Powell said that surely persons who had voluntarily come under a rate ought to have their share upon the management. Mr. Darlington said he was absolutely opposed to the motion, because he believed it was abso- lutely contrary to the spirit of the Act. The Act gave the control and general management of the National schools and other Voluntary schools to the people that the trust deeds intended should be managers. The National schools had all got one common lorm 01 trust aeecl, wmcn was that the whole of their management must be under the terms of the National Society. That Society insisted that the management should be under the Church of England. From that point of view tho National schools could not help but insist that that provision should be put into operation. It had been suggested that it would be a very un- fortunate thing if Nonconformists were not put upon the management. It would be unfortunate in districts where Nonconformists had taken an interest in the schools. On the other hand, the Nonconformists were safeguarded, because the County Council and the local authority might appoint Nonconformists as their representativas. It seemed to him there was no great hardship to Nonconformists in their immediate school areas. On the other hand, it seemed to liirn that in the present position of Voluntary schools, when the County Council flagrantly and openly said they intended to destroy every interest these schools might have under the Education Act, it would be impossible for managers of Voluntary schools to allow their schools to be handed over to any state of things but what the Act stated should be, namely, a majority on the boards of managers of Church people. Mr. Powell charged Mr. Darlington with being afraid of the men who had already supported the schools appointing the four managers. Mr. Darlington said the person he objected to and was afraid of was the County Council of Den- bighshire. (Hear. hear.) Mr. Powell said they were asking that the local authorities should have power to appoint as managers those who were not Churchmen. In the past the Church had asked for subscriptions from Nonconformists. In the parish of Gwersyllt they had asked them for a rate, and they had rated themselves voluntarily to the extent of a shilling. Now was it fair that the persons who had already rated themselves should not have a share in the management? They were only asking for equity. Sir Watkin Wynn said he thoroughly agreed in principle with what Mr. Powell had said, but unfortunately the Welsh County Councils had raised this war cloud, and had shewn such awful antagonism to the Church schools, or this ques- tion might have been considered in a very different spirit. He felt sure that the motion would be carried there—(laughter)—but he was perfectly certain that it would be carried no further. There- fore he was not nervous on the point. He fancied the subscriptions from Nonconformists in support of Voluntary schools were not very large. Mr. Powell: Then you need not fear them. Sir Watkm Wynn said the County Councils were now trying to starve the National schools into submission by fixing a ditch round them and withholding supplies. Mr. Powell: We have not said so. Sir Watkin Wynn: We have all got eyes, some of us have got a little brains, and there are devices we can see through. The Chairman said the committee were only acting consistently with their declared policy of objecting to tests, and supporting the principle of representation for those who provided the funds. The resolution was carried by sixteen to three votes, the minority consisting of Sir Watkin Wynn, Colonel Cornwallis-West, and Mr. Darlington. Mr. Powell moved that it be recommended that I clause 2 of the final orders be so amended as not to provide for any ex-officio manager in any case. Mr. Christmas Jones seconded, and it was carried.

SUDDEN DEATH AT HOOLE.-Mr. ,J. C. Bate held an inquest on Saturday morning on the body of Jane Robinson, aged 31, wife of Samuel Littler Robinson, 48, Hewitt-street. Deceased was taken ill suddenly on Thursday, and Dr. Butt was called in, but death occurred before he arrived. The doctor told the jury that death was due to natural causes, probably embolism. The verdict was in accordance with his statement.

Have you ever im= proved the stew by the addition of a little | ■ BOVRIL? j u Ask the Cook." -Un-xmumlm

EDUCATIONAL DEADLOCK IN FLINTSHIRE. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL. On Wednesday the members of the Flintshire County Council assembled at Mold for the purpose of discussing the postponement of the "appointed day" to the 1st Februaiy next. Mr. P. P. Pen- nant (St. Asaph) presided over a moderate attend- ance of members. The Clerk (Mr. R. Bromley) read a communica- tion from the Board of Education regretting they could give no undertaking as to a further post- ponement of the "appointed day," and requesting that the Act be put into operation on the 1st February, if circumstances by that time made it possible so to do. Mr. R. LI. Jones, of Rhyl (the chairman of the Education Committee), said that at the last meet- ing they protested against the postponement of the "appointed day," and at the same time drew the attention of the Board of Education to the great lack of accommodation in certain districts for children of school age. He thought the Board of Education were wanting in respect to that Council when they entirely ignored the resolution referring to the want of accommodation, and he would now propose: "That the Council respect- fully beg to express their surprise and disappoint- ment to the Board of Education with regard to the reply to the Councils protest, as the Council drew attention to the deplorable state of affairs in the parishes of Hawarden, Saltney and Sealand, and the urban district of Connah's Quay, there being about 1,000 children of school age for whom there was no accommodation in the existing schools." He thought this was a state of things which should not be allowed to continue a day longer. Mr. J. Prince, of Conn ah s Quay, in seconding the motion, said there were hundreds of parents who would be- grateful to the chairman of the Education Committee for bringing this matter for- ward. That there should be so many children rambling about the roads was a most deplorable state of things. The Chairman said he was able to agree to a considerable extent with the remarks of the pre- ceding speakers on the question of lack of accom- modation. But he thought these gentlemen had not really looked the whole question in the face. There was no doubt that after the "appointed day" the body that would be responsible for education in the county would be the County Council This fact did not seem to be fully realised by the Council. A resolution had been passed limiting rate-aid to provided schools, to prevent rate-aid from going to non provided schools, that was, to the larger number of schools in the county. The Council was charged with the maintenance in efficiency of all the schools, and it was their duty, and no other people could take that duty out of their hands, to do this. The managers of the schools would not take the responsibility on their shoulders. He believed they would drift into such a position by their action that they would have no money wherewith to pay the salaries of the teachers. They would then find there were about 70 schools that would bring actions against the County Council for the payment of teachers' salaries. Dr. Williams (Flint): An action has been en- tered by one master in the County Court, and it is going to be fought. The Chairman said if they were so anxious as they professed to be for the educational interests of the children, the straightforwaad way out of the difficulty would be to carry out the Act, and if they disagreed with the Act to do what they could to get, it amended. Mr. Prince said that if the Voluntary schools were starving for want of funds the responsibility lay with the managers of those schools, who might easily transfer their schools to the County Council. After further discussion the motion was put, and carried by a large majority. Mr. W. E. Williams proposed that they call the attention of the Board of Education to the con- dition of many of the schools in the county as to accommodation, sanitary arrangements, etc., but at the request of several councillors he eventually agreed that he would bring the question forward in February. The Council then proceeded to discuss the final draft orders made by the Board of Education with reference to the appointment of foundation mana- gers of Voluntary schools. The discussion ended in the passing of a resolution, proposed by Mr. R. Ll. Jones, of Rhyl, to, the effect that the Council respectfully request the Board of Education to give an opportunity to make detailed objections to the draft orders before they were finally approved by the Board.

I I 1 Cod Fish and Mustard. I The roe of a cod fish contains 9,344,000 eggs. If these all became fishes they would weigh 60,000 tons and require half a million pounds of Colman's Mustard to make their eating thoroughly enjoyable. Fish, especially smoked fish, is really improved by Colman's Mustard. a a Ba st B N N N M NB Colmairs Mu t rd, 8.H.D..R£G. &IU 0' VEGETABLE m & FLOWER 1 SEEDS I Seed Potatoes, Garden Tools & Sundries, j 8 All best qualities. Carriage Free. I Illustrated Catalogue 582 post frit on application, j I Royal Jfa 9 I Seed Warehouses | L J

Sarah McCumsky, a septuagenarian smoker, of Lancaster, suecuuJ«-d • T rwi > o burns caused by her clothes catching fire while she was lighting her pipe. GRIMSBY ELECTION PETITION. By direction of the Publie Pro editor summonses were served on Saturday nitrhi up HI Arthur Wna Simons, builder's merchant; Thomas M I vin. fish merchant's manager; Harry Brown, clul, steward; and Wm. Andrews, tobacconist, to appear before the borough justices on the 27th insf. to :i n,r charges of treat- ing and bribery ansim out of the Southwest Ward election. The TownC!< rk h" f-irther been advised that the seat held bv .Simxi is void. The seat held by Mr. Andersoo i; i!v i dared vacant, but he has received a e< rt.iH< ■ ■ f indemnity and no proceedings will bp iriiust him. No further proceeding'- t <ken aarainst the respondent John already lost his seat and been ork ",(I;,Io costs of the petition.

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