The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

CHESTER BENEVOLENT INSTITU- TION -+- The annual meeting of the Chester Benevolent Institution was held on Monday at the Town Hall. Sir Horatio Lloyd presided, and there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen. The Chairman read the 106th annual report of the Ladies Committee, who were glad to state that the institute still continued to carry on its useful work. The addition to the buiiding made by the generosity of the Duke of Westminster had been opened during the year, and tne necessary furnishing done out of the funds of the institution but it had changed the balance brought forward into a small adveise balance. The thanks of the committee were especially due to Mrs. Pitcairn Campbell, Mrs. H. T. Brown, Mrs. B. C. Roberts, Mrs. James G. Frost, and other ladies for presents. The ticket cases dealt with had num- bered 381, against 374 in the previous year. The number of visits paid by the matron had been ■834, and by the nurses 3,600. The committee re- corded their thanks to the officers and members of the Finance Committee for their assistance. In moving the adoption of the report and state- ment of accounts the Cnairman explained how the credit balance had become an adverse balance He said the institution began the year with JB129 in hand, and ended it with a deficit of JE4 4s. lid so that they were worse off by L134. It had arisen in various ways, but the main cause was that the committee had paid out of their in- come a capital charge for furniture. The Duke of Westminster having added seven cubicls-s, they had' to be furnished, and having no capital fund or special fund, the sum of j371 13s. had to be paid out under that head. House-keeping had cost E24 more than it did last year, but that had arisen through three in-patients having been taken in on the advice of medical men and others On the other hand the institution had received L21 more in cash for their care of the in-patients. There had been an increase of income from pri- vate cases, and dividends had gone down. There had been a fall in subscriptions of a little moie than £ 13, and that was really the most serious item they had to face. The decrease of income had been JS40 16s., but the increase of about C21 from private cases reduced it to a nett decrease of £ 20. Mr. B. C. Roberts seconded, and the resolution was carried. Katharine Duchess of Westminster was re- elected patroness, while Mrs. B. C. Roberts, who had been vice-president for the past year, was appointed lady president, and Mrs. James G Frost was appointed lady vice-president. The Ladies' Comm. ttee and the Finance Committee were re-elected, the names of Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Robinson being added to the former. The'Chairman suggested that as the rules of the institution were out of date, a small committee -should be appointed to examine them.—Mr. J. R. Thomson moved that the following constitute the committee:—Mrs. B. C. Roberts Mrs. James G. Frost, Sir Horatio Lloyd, Mr. John Thompson and Dr Archer.—This was agreed to Votes of thanks were passed to the Duke of Westminster the Chairman, the Ladies' Com- mittee, and the staff of the institution.

BOARDS OF GUARDIANSI. --+- CHESTER. THE EDUCATION RATES. The fortnightly meeting of this Board was held yesteray (Tuesday) morning, Mr. Rowe Morris presiding over a large attendance. On the motion of Mr. E. T. Hallmark, seconded by Mr. Hart Davies, Dr. Parry was reappointed district medical officer for the north-eastern dis- trict at a salary cf £ 40 per annum. It was reported that 27 applications had been .received for the appointment of foster mother at .the Saughall Home. From these the committee had singled out two to appear at the Board meet- ing. The two candidates were accordingly inter- .viewed, and the Board appointed Mary Askew, from the Orphan Boys' Asylum, Myrtle-street, Liverpool. A communication was received from the Wern .Board of Guardians enclosing a resolution they had passed, calling the attention of the Govern- ment to the burden of the education rate upon urban and rural ratepayers, and urging the neces- sity of placing the cost ofteaohing in elementary schools upon tihe Imperial exchequer, a large por- tion of the cost being already paid out of such fundi. Mr. E. T. Hallmark thought this was too large a question for them to go into that morning, and was too big also for the Wem guardians. The Chairman: I feel very strongly on this ,matter, and I suggest we appoint a committee. Mr. T. Butler did not think the letter ought to be allowed to lie on the table. The Education Act was at the present time strongly in the public mind, and involved, he was afraid, a heavy rate which ought not to be saddled on the public. He ,did not see why they should educate children whose parents could very well afford to do so themselves. At all events, he thought the Board ought to take :up .tho matter as they had in Wales. The Rev. F. Edwards pointed out that this was -not a.question of altering the Education. Act, but of transferring the public cost from local to Im- perial raftes. The Rev. W. Jones movecP, and Mr. T. Nixon seconded, that the letter lie on the table. Mr. H. Crowder was in favour of adopting the resolution. Mr. E. Dean thought the guardians would feel strongly upon the matter if they knew what ex- pense had a'iready been incurred locally in the administration of the Act. Mr. Butler: In Cheshire they have risen the salaries from £ 15,000 to 1;17,000. Who has got to pay it? The msoluti!on, on being put to the vote, was lost. t Mr. Crowder then moved, and Mr. Butler seconded, that the -resolution of the W,-Nl guardians be adopted. Ultimately the Board adopted an amendment moved by the Rev. F. Edwards, and seconded by Mr. W. Vernon, in favour of appointing a oomr mittee to consider the subject. Messrs. H. Pres- ton, W. Vernon, J. Minshull, E. Dean, T. Butler, the Rev. F. Edwards, and the Chairman ex-offieio, were appointed on the committee.

WHIICHURCH. c On Friday the fortnightly meeting of the Whitchurch Board of Guardians was held. Mr. R. P. Ethelston (chairman) presided, and there were also present Mr. E. Langley (vice-chairman), the Rev. G. Musk, the Rev. R. B. Faulkner, Colonel Barnston, Messrs. T. M. L. Vernon, T. Topham, W. H. Smith, E. J. Howell, R. T. Smith, jun., J. Woollam, R. Pearson, E. P. Thompson, P- T. Godsal, H. B. Lee, W. C. Roscoe, H. Robinson and W. Penk.—The Wem Union wrote staling that the whole cost of teach- ing in elementary schools should be a charge on the Imperial Exchequer, and asking this Board to support a resolution which they had passed on the subject.—Mr. W. H. Smith said the County Council had already passed a resolution urging the County Councils' Association to bring pressure to bear on the Government so that any increased cost of education should be borne by increased grants from the National Exchequer. They all agreed, he thought, that these increased grants should be made. On grounds of public policy, he was strongly opposed to the whole cost of educa- tion being borne by the Imperial Funds, because in that case there would certainly be Imperial management and red tape. and no local interest in education; and where there was local control there must he at least some local payment. (Hear, ,hear.) He proposed that the resolution be sup- tported with the substitution of the words in- icreased grants from Imperial sources" for "the whole cost," &s was stated in the resolution sub. mitted to thetn.—Mr. Topham: Of course we could ask for the whole, on the principle of the old Adage "it is always safe to ask for enough." (Laughter.)—Mr. W. H. Smith: If you ask for what is reasonable you will stand a chance of getting it. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. Thompson ex- pressed the view that the whole cost should be met out of the Imperial Revenue, but proposed no re.,olutioi-i.-TI)c, Rev. C. Musk seconded Mr. Smith's proposition, which was carried unani- mously.—Mr. W. H. 'Smith, on behalf of the House and Stores Committee, asked for power to proceed with a view to the acquisition of fire escape bal- conies outside the front windows of the House, as suggested at a previous meeting. The required power was given to the <jommittee.—Mr. Thomp- son called attention to the state of the wall of the property adjoining Deermoss held. which needed repairing. The Master said the owner was going to repair it on the first opportunity.—The vaccina- tion officer's returns were submitted by Mr. M. C. H. Chubb for the half-year ending June 30th, 1903. For this period there were 84 births, 70 successful vaccinations, 3 unsusceptible cases, 1 certificate of exemption, 6 dead mivaccinated, and 4 postponements by certificate. In the Malpas district for the same period there were 42 births 32 successful vaccinations, 3 exemption certificates, 4 dead unvaccinated, and 3 postponements by certificate. The total number of certificates of exemption during the year 1902 for Whitchurch was 6 and for Malpas 5.—Mr. Chubb, in reply to Mr. W. H. Smith, explained that the postpone- ment casep were brought forward, being inquired into from time to time and further reported on in the current returns.—In the supplemental returns for 1902 it was shewn that the total number of successful primary vaccinations during the year j902 was 362; AS against 268 for 1903.

COLONEL COTTON-JODRELL FOR EDDISBURY. + WILLING TO BE CANDIDATE. THOUGHTFUL SPEECH. MILITARY EFFICIENCY AND THE FISCAL QUESTION. A general meeting of the Eddisbury Oonserva- tive Registration Association, which was also at- tended by members of the Cheshire County Liberal Unionist Association, was held at the Assembly Rooms, Newgate-street, Chester, on Saturday afternoon. -Sir Philip Grey-Egerton pre- sided, and the attendance included Baron Schroder, the Hon. Cecil T. Paiker, Colonel Wilford LLoyd, Colonel Lascelles, Canon J. R. Armit- stead, the Rav. Morris Jones Messrs. Henry Tollemache, M.P., Geo. Barbour, S. H. Sand- bach, H. Lyle Smyth, St. John Charlton, H. E. W.lbraham Cudworth H. Poole, B. C. Roberts, John Thompson, Robt. Barbour, R. O. Ortoii, J. H. Cooke, Haswell (Bickerton), John Jones (Saighton), W. Fearnall, Evan Langley, Hy Barnee J. Challinor, S. Challinoi, R. Cecil Davies, J. Egerton Gilbert, G. B. Lowe, Bower (Nant- wich), Done (Aston), E. Goulbourne, W. Dean, W. Mapes R. H. Willis, C. F. Prichard, Dr. Brierley, R. N. Owen (central agent, Conservative Association), Owen, junr., etc The Chairman explained that the committee ap- pointed to consider the queston of a candidate to take tne piace of Mr. Henry Tollemache, whom they weie very sorry to lose, want into the names that were mentioned. They came to the conclusion that the name they should recommend as likely to be adopted wouid be that of Colonel Cotton- Jodrell. (Loud applause.) He should like to make one point clear. It was stated in some papers that Colonel Cotton-Jodrell had been adopted as a candidate by the committee. As they knew it was not in the power of the committee to adopt a can- didate what they did was to recommend a name for aclopt,on by the association. The committee had ascertained that Colonel Cotton .J odrell would be pleased to allow his name to be submitted to the association. (Applause) Tuey came to the conclusion that there was no stronger candidate who could possibly be brought forward than CcI.. Cotton-Jodrell. (Applause.) He was very well known and respected throughout Cheshire; he was an old Parliamentary hand, and his interest in agriculture was well known throughout the constituency. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell was in at- tendance in another room, and was willing to ad- dress th3 association. (Hear hear.) Sir Philip, in conclusion, proposed "That Colonel Cotton- Jodiell adopted as the candidate for the Eddis- j bury Division when the necessity arises." (Applause.) Mr H. E. Wilbraham, as a Liberal Unionist seconded. He did not think it possible for them to get a stronger candidate than Colonel Cotton- Jodrell. If they all made up their m nds to puli well together to support him, there ought to be no doubt about the result when the election took I place. (Applause.) The proposition was carried unanimously. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, who was enthusiastically re; eived, was then called into the room, and in- formed by the Chairman of the decision of the mc-oting. M., COLONEL COTTON-JODRELL'S THANKS. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, in acknowledgment, said: Sir Philip Groy-Eg-erton, Mr. Tollemache, and gentlemen I am sure I can only express in the first instance my very high sense of the deep honour, the great honour, which you are propos- ing to confer upon me. I will say this, that if after you listen to the few remarks I desire to make now, and if you are of the same opinion at the conclusion of them as you appear to have arrived at already, according to your chairman's statement, 1 shall be very happy when the time arrives, to undertake the candidature of this division. (Loud applause.) I have. as you are all aware, represented another division in this county for several years—(hear, hear)—and if it shouid be my fate to become. the member for the Eddisbury Division, I am sure I shall feel I am far nearer home than I was even in Wirral. I am quite certain I shall have no lack of kind friends to support me in any exertions we may have to make to keep possession of this seat. (Applause.) It is with feelings of the very greatest regret, in one way, that I come here be- foro you to-day, because it means I suppose, the passing away as a member of Parliament of your old, very loyal, and .very good friend who has represented you in Parliament for some years. (Hear, hear.) I, who have worked with Mr. Hy. Tollemache for eo many years, fed very acutely, I can assure you, the loss it will be to me and to the constituency in general. He has done you gallant service, he has rendered you yeoman ser- vice—(applause)—but I am sure from what I know of him, although we may be sorry at his depar- ture from the political arena, still we shall feel that he will be far more at home among us, living at Doifold, for which he has a very good reason ,at the present time—(hear, hear)—and we may be quito certain his valuable services, as far as re- gards publio life in the county, will by no means be lost to us. (Applause.) I presume I may as- sume fiiy POLITICAL OPINIONS are tolerably well known. At all events, now I have lived among you for nearly a quarter of a century, if you do not understand them, I do, not think I should make a very good hand at explain- ing them to you. I may say I~am a strong sup- porter of the present Government. (Applause.) 1, like a more celebrated man—Lord Rosebery- during my three years of retire.ment have watched public events tolerably carefully, and although I am not going to minimise the mistakes the Government have made from time to time, still there is no reason to substitute for them any Government which the Liberal Party can offer. (Applause.) During the last three or four years one class of interest has come very much to the front in our minds, And that is our Imperial inter- ests. My memory is rather tenacious on some of these points, and when I reflect upon the conduct of foreign affairs by the Liberal party in the years 1881, 1882 and 1883, I cannot but help re- membering that though that party has lost its chief figurehead in the interval which has elapsed since then, still at the same time it is composed practically of the same men and is actuated by the samo methods. Lord Rosebery some few years ago talked about a clean slate. Where is that clean slate now? (Laughter.) I think it is buried at the bottom of his lonely furrow. (Re- newed laughter.) We had great hopes at one .time that he was going to rise to the occasion and was going to take Imperial affairs in hand in a broad and statesmanlike sort of way, but at the very first moment that a broader or domestic ques- tion, this question of Fiscal policy, is spread be- fore us, away go Lord Rosebery's Imperial ideas and the slate is consigned for the present to oblivion. In the words of Mr. Chamberlain, it seeras to me that the Liberal party have during the last 25 years forgotten nothing and have learnt nothing. They seem to me to be always very much tarred with the same brush of ineptitude, and appear not to see beyond their noses, in the same way it was said of the old Tory party some 40 or 50 years ago. For these reasons I do not see how we should be justified in transferring our j confidence from the present Government, what- ever mistakes they may have, made, to a Liberal Government, which would be constituted of such elements as the present front bench in the House of Lords and the House of Commons. (Applause.) Apart from Imperial matters, I have, as many of you in this division, must be aware, devoted a great deal of my time since I have left Parlia- ment to following out the PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE— that and agricultural matters in this county. Time has been my friend, and has been on my side, and I have been enabled, owing to the position I have been placed in, to give a very regular amount, of attendance at the great agricultural associations of this county, such as the Chamber of Agriculture, the Milk Producers' Association. and the Cheshire and North Wales Farmers' Supply Association. Now all these matters have brought me, I hope--and it certainly is my fault if they have not done so-more and more into the track of public opinion on agriculture-of land- owners, tena.nt farmers and labourers. Whether I am returned to Parliament or not, I can only tell you my interest in these matters will still be of the same absorbing character, and if you do not do me the honour of returning me to Par- liament. I hope and believe it is possible some of the experience I have gained in these matters during the last four yean* may be turned to some advantage and some account, at all events, in your interests. (Applause.) Now. before I come to the interests. (Applause.) Now. before I come to the prevailing topic of the day. there is one question regarding which I should wish to re-enter Par- liarnent, unci it is because I have my own views, and very strong views, as to the inefficiency of our present MILITARY SYSTEM, both as regards the regular Army and as regards what touches us more directly here, and that is the home defence Army, both Militia and Volun- teers. Since I was here three weeks ago war has broken out between Russia and Japan, and the early events of the war have shewn us the very strongest reason why parties who may be thrown into conflict should always be in the highest pos- sible degree prepared for war, as Japan appar- ently is (hoar, hear)-and; Russia is not. I say we should take our lesson home to our hearts at once, and the Government should1 lose no time m carrying out schemes w hich can be suggested to them, and which have been suggested to them I know, for ensuring the more thorough organization of both our Militia and Volunteers. (Applause.) This is not the place to enter into any details, and it will be difficult for me perhaps under the. cir- cumstance that I have already tendered evidence on this point before a Royal Commission to deal with the matter at any meeting of electors I may address, but still I hope there may be opportuni- ties, and there may be places in this division where these things do command seme attention, and will be listened to, and where I hope I may be able to expound my plan at more length than I can possibly do to-day. Without going into military details or matters at all I may say that the chief or figure-head of my proposals with regard to both the Militia and Volunteers is that each of these forces should be constituted into two separate armies, each with a headquarter staff of its own to thoroughly re-organise it, and see to its equip- ment and drill. (Hear, hear.) To plunge 200,000 Volunteers and Militia into the field, without any organised staff whatever, as we have not at the present moment, to direct and control them, seems to me to be like driving sheep to the slaugh- ter. (Applause.) There is no needi for me to detain you at great length to-day, but I am sure you will not feel content unless I lay my position before you, in somewhat broad terms, as regards the question of FISCAL POLICY. In the first place I think we should all honour MT. Chamberlain for bringing these questions of Fiscal policy and Tariff reform to our attention. (Loud applause.) It seems to me that it is part of the .1 wake-up" reminder to this oountry which was given by the Prince of Wales on his return home to England after his memorable voyage round the world in the Ophir. I have no intention to imi- r-ate the so-called attribute of the ostrich and bury my head under the sand, while the present state of commercial progress or want of progress in this country goes on. The sooner we begin to bestir about the Army and the home defence of this nation, the better for peace and prosperity. I accept, as the Government have done, that it is time to rouse ourselves as to the commercial prospects of the country. (Applause.) I fail to see how enquiry into these matters can result in anything except what is productive of good. There are a few propositions which 1 am going to lay before you which seem to be absolutely self-evident fac.s. We know that our exports of raw material are going on apace, and, therefore, we axe dftiwing seriously upon our capital, which is always a bad thing to do. We know that our general imports vastly exceed exports, the latter being mainly due, as regard is manufactured material, at all events, to what the Colonies, who themselves are not in as high a sta.tc of manufacturing prosperity, as Continental nations—to what the Colonies want from us at the present time. We are tcld that the surplus of imports over exports is paid for by our carrying trade, and by the money inverted in foreign securities. Will, however, that go on for ever when we know that foreign countries are getting richer, when they are adding day by day, and year by year, to their mercantile marine, and when much -of our own tonnage is lying idle for want of freights? We know that agriculture, once the greatest and perhaps the most prosperous in- dustry in this land, is on the down grade. We must be fully convinced by this time also that we have not yet got the slighest reserve for a good supply of bread and meat in time of war. Finally we are told that nearly one-third of the people of this oountry do not get anything like sufficient food. Supposing that even one of these items which I have enumerated is true there is no evil surely to be attributed to those who advocate that we should bestir ourselves and try to set our house in ordter. (Applause.) There are THREE COURSES PROPOSED. The first one is to do nothing—(laughter);—the second is to open the door for Retaliation; and the third is to suggest a Protective tariff. At the present moment there is only one scheme of the three which may be said to hold the field for the Unionist party, and that is the course number two, suggested and promoted by the Government, and which I am ready to support. (Loud applause). The last course is in the process of construction; it is not ready for public digestion. The con- structive force in this case is the Tariff Com- mission, composed of a body of trained experts in v' business matters, with a leaven of those who have had much to do with the problems of labour and the working classes. Our opponents say these men are biassed; they may be, but I do not see how that can affect the thousands of answers from every industry in this country, which a,re being collected for public information and opinion. The men composing the Tariff Commission are not, for the most part, politicians they are business men, of business methods, and their report should be a businesslike affair. (Hear, hear.) In the "Times" to-day there is a report of the proceedings of this Commission, in which it is stated that the trades unions of the country have applied to the com- mission in large numbers to obtain papers for them to fill up as to the state of trade and the operations of trades unions, and the Tariff Com- mission have gladly assented to. and in fact wel- comed. such a course. I think that is one argu- ment in favour, at all events, of the theory Mr. Chamberlain holds that the Tariff Commission is a body composed of serious business men who are I trying to do their best for the prosperity of the whole nation. (Applause.) I wish to preserve AN OPEN MIND on these matters before taking the very important step of pledging myself to give a vote off-hand in favour of taxing food, that is in the sense generally meant by that phrase. There are three main reasons for that conclusion. First of all, that the amount of practical information which we may reasonably expect to derive from the reports of the Tariff Commission is not yet in our hands; secondly, that no sufficient or definite forecast has yet been prepared as regards the probable effect of these proposals upon agriculture and those affected thereby, a matter which especially con- cerns a constituency such as this; and the third reason is that I am to stand as candidate, so far as we at present know and according to the strict declaration and intention of the Government, at an election when the question of the taxing of food will not be brought forward. My position, therefore, is—first, that I am in favour of resuming absolute freedom of negotiation with foreign countries and of having recourse without hesita- tion to retaliation whenever desirable—(applause); -and, secondly, I want further information before pledging myself to a policy involving the taxation of food. (Renewed applause.) I have made no allusion to the past; I think it necessary to only say at tins time that I am just as strongly against granting Home Rule as ever I was. (Applause.) I trust that things may improve in Ireland, but as long as the Irish members hold the power there, and as long as they unmistakably shew us by every sign that they are not going to be content until they get Home Rule, then I think the longer the Unionist party sticks together the better it will be. (Hear, hear.) About the other questions talked of up and down the country, I at all events can claim, so far as the framing of them is con- cerned, a clean bill of health. Hero is the guilty partv on my right (Mr. Tollemache), but I have no doubt I shall have an opportunity of giving my views on these points to the public before long. One word in conclusion—if you do me the great honour of adopting me I shall, in the first place, do the very best I can to get in, and, in the second place, I shall endeavour to do my duty conscientiously for what I think are the best I interests of the constituency. I have no testi- monials, such as a servant would have seeking I for a new situation, except my record of the past twenty years. I leave that to your judgment to do what you like. (Applause.) I cannot hope ever to rival that beautiful facility of speech with which your present member has often regaled you. I know that has gone down with a great many people, and especially the members of the fair sex. Seriously, I always feel that I am a poor public speaker, still I try to do my duty as well as I can, and what I lack in public speaking I hope I may be able to atone in some measure for by performance of public business. (Applause.) I am no extreme party man, as I think you know. I should like to divorce a good deal of party politics from the House of Commons: under our present system I suppose it is impossible, but still it always seems to me, looking at it from a serious point of view, that the government of a great country like this is too serious and too weighty a matter to be altogether the dumping ground for strong party and political feeling. (Loud ap- plause.) The Hon. Cecil Parkei7 said that, having heard the clear statemnt which Colonel Cotton-Jodrell had given them both on the home defence ques- tion and the Fiscal policy, he had great pleasure in proposing a vote of confidence in him (Cheers.) Colonel Cotton-Jodrell had touched upon the most important things that would come before Parlia- ment in the future. As the Colonel had said. first of all the war between Japan and Russia had shewn us how necessary it is to have a good fleet, with good guns and good ammunition. Secondly. he had given to them his views on the Fiscal question. He (Mr. Parker) confessed that he was suffering from "fiscal iti s"-(Iaiigh ter)-and was a devout follower of Mr. Chamberlain. (Hear, hear.) Colonel Cotton Jodrell's views on that point met entirely with his approbation, and, he felt, with theirs also. (Hear, hear.) He was certain that if Colonel Cotton-Jodrell would only support the Government in the way he (the Colonel) had indicated, they would be in very good hands. (Hear, hear.) What the Colonel had said had given him the greatest pleasure, and, ho hoped, them ako; and he had the greatest pleasure in proposing a vote of confidence in him. (Cheers.) Mr. H. E. Wilbraham said he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He was sure Colonel Cotton -Jodrell's views were quite in concord with those of all sections of the party. (Hear, hear.) The vote was carried unanimously, with cheers. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, in returning thanks, said that vote enabled him now to say that he gladly accepted the invitation which they had accorded to him, and he would try to do his very best. They would very likely have a big contest, but he was sure that. with willing hearts and willing hands to help throughout the division, where he had so many personal friends, they would be successful. (Loud cheers.) Mr. St. John Charlton proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. The Rev. Morris Jones seconded, and it was carried unanimously.

A SCHOLASTIC APPOINTMENT.-Mr. E. Clwyd Jones, of Dolsrelley, has been appointed to succeed Mr. J. M. Edwards, who was recently ap- pomted headmaster of the Holvwell County School, as science master at the Rhyl County School.

I THE WEATHER. Our Farndon correspondent writes: The vagaries of the weather still supply the chief topic of conversation, but latterly one detects a grow- ing note of despair in the constant discussions. With hundreds of acres under water, and thou- sands little better than a bog; with land un- ploughed and unsown; with vegetables rotting and cattle breeding disease, little wonder that the farmer begins to despair. And with no work to do and no wages to keep body a.nd soul together the labourer and his family are in a. still worse plight. The oountry looks forlorn and miserable, and one can ride miles without seeing any work being done on the land!. One misses the plough- man and his team; there is no harrowing and drilling, and even the necessary but odorous manuring has been stopped. It is as if a blight had passed over the land and all the people had deserted it, so quiet and still it seems; and even when the tardy sun makes-a brief, shame-faced ap- pearance he does but bring into greater promin- ence the prevailing saturation. Are our climatic conditions altering? is a question people are be- ginning to ask seriously; and one longs for the coming of a man who can read Nature's laws after the manner of a Newton or a Galileo, to give us some answer to that question. Science which has done so much for humanity, has signally failed in this most vital department. One would like to know what part of the earth's surface is being robbed in order that we may have this undiesired superfluity of moisture, for the rain which falls on us must first have arisen as vapour from the earth. Now as the only means of raising, or evaporating, water is the solar energy it follows that the quan- tity each year can never increase. It should, and does in fact, decrease as the sun's power diminishes, although that is annually infinite- simal. There would be no appreciable difference, say, between the beginning and the finish of the late Queen's reign although, as Sir Robert Rill points out, the sun's diameter in that time had beoome five miles less in extent. We can, there- fore, safely assume that the amount of moisture taken up from the earth's surface is not increas- ing. Then why are we getting an abnormal share? and what portion of the earth is not getting its share? By comparing the various surface changes brought about by man on those countries where the climate is changing we should obtain some valuable help. For instance it has lately been noticed that an increased rainfall occurs in Egypt, and it has been assumed that the increase of vegetation and the damming of the Nile are the contributory causes. Again, the influence of forests has been brought into prominence-, and a suggestion ha.s been made that the afforestation of the West Coast of Ireland would materially benefit- the climate of this country. If there is any meteorologist who has a higher ambition than the power of predicting to-morrow's weather, let him use these jottings for what they are worth.

HUNTING NORTH CHESHIRE. Astle Hall, near Chelford was the fixture for these Hounds on Tuesday. A fox, found in the park, took us over the Macclesfield road into the park at Alderley, and hounds killed him on his trying to jump the wall. Capesthorise was blank, but Sid- nuck, one of Lord Harrington's covers, gave us a fox which took us over Marton Heath, then to Antrobus Eaton. Here the fox turned back, taking the field over a country containing much wire. The consequence was that hounds had the hunt to themselves. Champion not getting to his pack before they had returned to where they found I may say this is a country not often visited by ounds, or there would not be so much wire about. 4-vf j farmers are quite pleased to see hounds in the district. The North fixture was the Swan Hotel, Tarporley, on Thursday, but the pack did not turn out on account of the snow. m,. ™E WATER-LOGGED LAND. Ihis pack had a moderate day's sport on Satur- day, the fixture being the Kennels. Prior to hunting, the committee held a meeting to con- sider what steps should be taken in view of the wet state of the country. It was decided to lea-, e it in the hands of the masters of both packs as to any alterations they might deem it advisable to make in their fixtures. A brace of foxes were found in Abbot's Moss. One was soon lost on the Petty Pool side of the railway; the other, after several rings round the wood, was marked to ground. The remainder of the day was spent in wretched weather, so hounds were taken again into the Forest. Finding one on Blakemere. they hunted through the Forest, past Ashton Hayes, R'Jh,Ufi .*fnS]ey> crossing the road again above woItWV1ll ag1e(and oIer1a portion of Mr. Ken- worthy s stud farm into Primrose Hill. Here the fox was left after a nice forty minutes' hunt, although not the best country to ride over. SOUTH CHESHIRE. Mr. Corbet met again on Tuesday at Bulkeley Mill for another day on the hills. Hounds found at once on Raw Head, the fox no doubt being the same one that gave us a run the meet before. Hounds went away down hill straight into the Vale, over seme fine grass fields to Tattenhall. Leaving I the village on the right they came round for Handley. Just before hounds could reach the eover the Master got up to them and had them stopped after a fast 35 minutes from leaving the hills. Mr. Corbet went back to the hills and soon found again, but hounds were stopped again before going into the valley. BLUECAP. SIR WATKIN'S. The meet of Sir Watkin Wynn's hounds on Thursday was altered from Barton to Duckington for the Hills, but owing to a very heavy snowfall, followed on Wednesday night by a hard frost, the appointment had to be cancelled, to the no small disappointment of those who went to the meet The master, on account of the wet state of the country, the like of which has not been seen for a great number of years, also cancelled the meet ^^to^day at Llai Smithy, and on Saturday at TIJE CHESHIRE BEAGLES. these hmmds^at4 assembled to meet wffi short of nn^,ldge Trafford. Being some- riewo fa ?8 at,the preseint time* and in J meet with the Royal Rock Beagles Thursday, most of the pack were given a rest, so Bishop arrived at the trvsting- place with only six couples. Our good friend Mr. Hassall has always got a hare somewhere handy for us, and on the present occasion one was found sitting upon the fallow adjoining his farmyard, and a right good one, too. At the outset she had a narrow shave of being chopped, as Prefect gave her a snip as she jumped up. For the first ten minutes hounds ran very fast straight across the meadows. Then, turning right-handed, they crossed some small fields, where the hare had been chased by a retriever dog, which caused a check, but, recovering the line further on, they hunted up to the road beyond Thornton Schools, and puss was viewed crossing the road just ahead of the pack, which now raced away to just beyond Thornton Church. Here she doubled back again, and, just skirting the village, went on to the water meadows, where hounds ran fast to the river Gowey, which they crossed. The river was bank full, and proved an effectual stopper to the field, but nearing Picton the hounds turned left- handed, and hunting slowly across the meadows, which hereabouts were very wet, returned to the fallow field where we first found. Our hare was viewed leaving the field just as the pack entered it; and after crossing the road they ran in the direction of Dunham. Soon afterwards the hare crossed a couple of fields spread over with lIme, and this caused a check which probably saved her life, for, although hounds afterwards recovered the line again, she ran us out of scent upon the road near to Thornton Schools, after a capital run of just under two hours' duration. Had the usual pack been out the run would probably have had a different termination. Anvway, she was a real game hare, and well deserved her life. LEVERET. IMPORTANT NOTICE. Owing to the very wet state of the country, and as several packs of hounds in the vicinity of the Cheshire have ceased to hunt the committee of the Cheshire Hunt ask, and particularly desire, that gentlemen who do not belong to the hunt, and who are not regular subscribers to the bounds, will not come out at all with the hounds till further notice. A BRUSHLESS FOX. A fox s tail was found on the railway in the Quorn county, near Leicester, on Sunday. It is supposed that the fox was crossing the line on Saturday evening when an express train bore down upon him. The capture of a fox without a tail will be looked forward to with keen interest by hunting people, although there will be no brush for the first in at the death.

THE ORIGINAL CRAWFORD'S "POLO," A PERFECT COCOANUT BISCUIT. SOLD EVERYWHERE.

THE GLADSTONE FAMILY MONU- MENT. At the Turner Studios, Glebe-place, Chelsea, there will be on view for a short time the- monu- ment to Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone, commissioned by Mr. Henry Gladstone, and executed by Sir Wm. Richmond, R.A., for Hawarden Church. At present it is in white plaster, so that the visitor derives only an imperfect impression of what the memorial will be when finished in marble, when the supporting figures and the reliefs of the tomb will have been ease in bronze, or bronze partly silvered. But, even without the splendour that will then belong to it, the monument is singularly impressive. It is in the form of a double tomb. with the figures of husband and wife lying side by side, as we so often see in mediasvaJ tombs and so rarely in modern. Mr. Gladstone is repre- sented at about sixty-five years of age His wife appears a good deal younger, but this will doubt- less be modified in the marble. nor will the differ- ence be so sensible in the fainter light of a church. He is clothed in academic robes, and Mrs. Glad- stone in a flowing dress; the eyes of both are closed, as in sleep. Between them lies a large crucifix, with the symbols of the Evangelists at the points of the cross. An angel bends over the heads of the sleepers, the wings spread wide, the whole form and outline giving almost the idea of a breaking wave. At the feet is the symbol of wisdom Below the roof of the tomb rests on figures symbolising the Christian religion; and at e.ther end are reliefs of the Adoration of the Magi and of the Deposition, while on the side sup- posing Mr. Gladstone are reliefs from Homer and Dante, and on the side supporting his wife are reliefs of Maternity, symbolising her goodness to the poor and suffering. We understand that the marble will at once be put in hand, and that the sculptor himself will finish every portion of it with the chisel. It is hoped that it may be com- pleted within twelve months, and that the model, coloured to match the completed work, will be shewn in the Royal Academy in 1905.

BPTOXTO-N PETTY SESSIONS. ——♦ YESTERDAY (TUESDAY).—Before Mr. R. Howard, Mr. R. O. Orton, Mr. T. M. L Ver- non Mr. R. Barbour and Mr. E. Langley. THE DANGERS OF SHEEP SCAB.-James Steel, fa. mer Glutton, near Malpas, pleaded guilty to failing to report to the police the ex- istence of sheep scab on his farm on February 9th.P.S. Howard, Malpas, said that in oonse- quence of sheep scab having broken out at Edge, where defendant's sheep had been, he visited his premises on the 8th inst.. and examined the sheep. Several were affected with scab, and somo of the sheep had died. On the following day he we: with Mr Barnes to the farm, and certified them. to be affected to the number of twelve. One sheep was found at Mr Bitheil's, of Bickley, and Mr. Raines had certified that to be affected.- Mr. Barnes, H terinary surgeon, Malpas, deposed to visaing defendant s farm and examining 23 sheejx S;x were affected with scab in a con- tagious iorm. Others shewed signs of having had the scab, but recent dipping had killed the disease, and he did not consider they were at all infectious at the time. The disease must have be: n on the farm at least a month.—Defendant; pleaded that he had taken every precaution. He had dipped the sheep three times since last. Octo- ber, and once since the visit of the police. He did not know that they had had the scab, and MI. Bames had to use the microscope.-—A fine of 20s. per sheep for Eeven sheep (six on his own farm and one at Bickley) and costs was imposed. DAY POACHING.-Absolam Hampton, a canal boatman, was summoned for trespassing on land at Hatton in the day time in pursuit of game on January 24th—John James Bebingtor., gamekeeper at Hatton to Mr. Vere CLolmcnduley. said about noon he saw defendant on Mr. Nixon's farm. Hatton, of which Mr. Cholmondc-Iey was the landlord and had the shooting rights. Defendant who had a companion, was hunting for haies with a joung lurcher dog. When he saw witness he went back oil to the canal, and afterwards brought the dog back again. He went. over the farms of Mr. Sherwen, Mr. Bate, and Miss Willis, and on the land of the last-named he started to run, apparently putting the dog on a haxe.-jos- Dutton, of Hatton Heath, gamekeeper, who ac- companied last witness corroborated.—A fine of 10s.. and costs was inflicted.

LIBERAL UNIONISM. THE CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Cheshire County Liberal Unionist Association was held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Chester, on Saturday after- noon, Mr. H. E. Wilbraham presiding. Several letters of apology for absence were received. Mr. John H. Cooke (the hon. secretary) pre- sented the following report:—The general work of the Cheshire County Liberal Unionist Associa- tion during the year 1903 is set out in detaii in the report of Mr. Prichard, the organising agent, who has discharged his duties at all times with very great courtesy, and has manifested much interest in the work of the association, and the success of the Liberal Unionist party in the county. On the 31st October, 1903, the following resolution was passed by the association: "That this meeting cordially endorses the view held by his Majesty's Government, that the time has now come for the reconsideration of the Fiscal policy of the United Kingdom, and desires to express its grateful recog- nition of the devoted patriotism and public ser- vices of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain." I am sorry to report that a few members of the association have taken exception to the above resolution and have resigned their memberphip. The Central Liberal Unionist Association has passed resolutions that it is desirable to continue and maintain the Liberal Unionist Associations which have been formed in different parts of the oountry, and that such associations should support Unionist candidates, whether they are Free Traders or otherwise. Such policy is really in accord with the general principles of the Unionist party which has been so styled, in opposition- to those who are in favour of Home Rule. Such a policy should commend itself to all those who favour a change in our Fiscal po!>oy or otherwise, and I trust that wc may be able to continue our work on somewhat similar lines. The Organising Agent reported that at the revision courts last year the following Liberal Unionist claims and objections were smtained:- Claims in Crewe division. 71; objections in Crewe division, 12; claims in Northwich division, 176; objections in Northwich division, 7; claims in Eddisbury division. 12; claims in Kmiteford Division, 1: total, 279. The Chairman announced that at a meeting of the Conservative Association that afternoon a recommendation of the Executive Committee that Colonel Cotton-Jodrell should be the candidate for Eddisbury at the next election was confirmed. (Applause.) The Chairman proceeded to move the re-election of the Duke of Westminster as president of the association. They were sorry his Grace, not being in England, was unable to be present that day. Colonel Evans-Lloyd seconded, remarking that the Duke had harnessed himself to a good cause, and he hoped it would be the means of strengthen- ing them in that county. (Applause.) The proposition was carried. On the proposition of Mr. J. F. Marsden (Crewe), seconded by Mr. Bebington, the following vice- presidents were elected:—The Right Hon. Lord Stalbridge, Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Sir Thomas Frost. Major Wilbraham, Messrs. J. E. Reiss, R. Brocklebank. F. Monks, Warrington: R. Howard, T. G. Frost, P. Okell, Stockport; H. Eirchenough, Macclesfield; H. Martin. Nantwich; W. Y. Craig, Alsaeer; J. E. Gray Hill, Birkenhead; W. R. Sidebottom, Wilmslow; R. A. Navlor, Thelwall; J. J. Evans. J. D. Crosfield, Sandiway; E. Bell- house, Altrincham; R. Clay, Northenden; W. Jink", Sandbac-h; A Reiss. Winsford; G. L. Dewhurst, Lymm: J. W. Macfie, W. H. Shiers, Davenham; Colonel Evans-Lloyd, and Dr. McDougall, Runcorn. On the proposition of Colonel Wilford LLcyd, a representative Executive Committee was elected. Colonel Wilford LLoyd was elected hon. treasurer and Mr. J. H. Cooke hon. secretary, on the proposition of the Chairman, seeonded by Mr. Leigh Maclachan. representing the Central Liberal Unionist Association. The same two gentlemen were elected delegates to attend the Central Association. The following resolution was unanimously passed:—"That tb.e officers of this association be instructed to assist as heretofore all Liberal Unionist candidates and Liberal Unionist associations that are prepared to support the Unionist Government, without regard to their personal opinions upon the question of Fiscal reform."

POLICE COURT MISSION—An advertise- ment in our columns invites "all interested" in the Police Court Mission work to attend the an- nual meeting- to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, at three o'clock, not at eight p.m. as was inadver- tently published in our last issue. The-Lord Bishop of the diocese, Mr. Joyce (Wallasey), the Mayor of Chester, and others will support his Honour Sir Horatio LJovd. who will preside. I QUEEN HOTEL COMPANY. LTD.-A meet- ing of the shareholders of the Queen Hotel Co., Ltd.. Chester, was held at the hotel on Tuesday j afternoon In the absence of the chairma.n (Mr. J. G. Holmes) Mr. Cullimore presided The re- tiring directors, Mr. John Cullirnore and Mr. R. C. Drury, were re-elected. The auditor, Mr. Charles Coppmk, A.C.A., was re-appointed. A dividend of three p?r cent, was declared for the half-year, making, with the interim dividend paid CHESHIRE RECTOR'S ESTATE. The Ven. Archdeacon A'exander Goldwyer Lewis, of the Rectory, Davenham, Cheshire, from 1890 to 1896 archdeacon of Bombay, and from that date until recently rector of Aldford and chaplain to the Duke of Westminster, who died on the 14th January last, aged 54 years, appointed as sole executor of his will Dr. Arthur Babington Blaikie, of Oswestry, M.D.. by whom his estate has been valued at £2,012 3s. 2d. gross, and at £1,001 4S. lOd. nett.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. .0 SIGNS OF SPRING. "Now, what colour are ash-buds in larch ?" asked Mr. Holbrook, thinking of the recently published "Gardener's Daughter." I never see the early ash-buds without thinking of this old bachelor, the creation of Mrs. Gaskell's fancy, but in our minds associated with that old world house at Sandlebridge. This year the ash-buds are bla^k in February, for to-day, though half-melted snow lay in patches in the fields, signs of the coming spring were evident on every side. Even the tiny buds on the whitethorn hedge were, shew- ing green through their brown envelopes, and some of the sycamores are almost at bursting point. A blackbird was in full song on the 16th. early for this part of the country, though a corre- spondent writes me that he heard two near Oxford on the second of the month. How often we see remarks by writers on nature that blackbirds and thrushes were singing in January or even in December! The thrushes, both song and misrle, have been singing for some time, making the morning beautiful with their lays—varied and jubilant from the former, wild and defiant from the latter; but the blackbird, even when the weaiher is mild and open, seldom sings before the middle or the end of February. Common though the bird is, and one of the most persistent songsters in the spring, there are many people, who flatter themselves that they know all about birds, who fail to distinguish the mellow whistle of the blackbird from the joyous song of the thrush. Skylarks have been musical all this month. Though many of them mounted on high and poured forth their rich strains earlier in the year. the great chorus of the breeding larks did not begin until the end of January; a mild day— the 28th, I think—set th all off at once, and since then they have sung on cold and frosty mornings and wet, sloppy days alike. What with the thrushes, larks, robins, dunnock*. and wrens, not to mention the army of tits, we may confide- that the singing season of the birds has fairly begun; and the singing season means the pairing- season, and the pairing season means spring. GOLDEN PLOVERS AND CHAFFINCHES. The wanton lapwing," according to Tennyson, is due to get himself another crest, and while I was examining a flock to-day-a mixed flock-I saw that the lapwings were not the only birds which were changing their plumage; one or two of the golden plovers, winter companions of the lapwings, had already acquired the black feathers on their underparts which so markedly alter their appearance in summer. The winter dress of the golden plover, pretty though it is, cannot compare with the gay plumes of the spring: the bird cf our lowland fields is dowdy compared with the plover we see in the breeding season on the neather- clad moors of the Cheshire highlands. A little way beyond the lapwings and golden plovers was another flock of birds. feeding in the grass beside a marl-pit. If the waders were a mixed flock, what were these? Most of these gralSs feeaers were chaffinches, both males and females, belying the accepted theory that the males and females always flock separately; with them were one or two redpolls, a few dunnocks and meadow pipits. a blackbird, half-a-dozen larks, and a vscore or more of yellow hammers and greenfinches. All were busily feeding, creeping about in the grass, end whenever I put them up they only left the chosen spot for a minute, returning again as soon a they realised that their lives were safe. What they were feeding on—grain eaters and insect eaters together—I could not make out, but whatever it was it seemed to please them. The yellow hammers were the gayest of the flock; some of them were in magnificent plumage, golden as canaries. The greenfinches, too, looked very fine when the tun- light caught the yellow-green of their plumage: it is astonishing what beautiful birds some of our commonest species are, if only we see them to advantage. JACKDAWS AND STARLINGS. Almost every day I pass a church spire which is the home, in spring, of two or perhaps three pairs of jackdaws. At present some eight or ten birds come every day and perch on the weather- cock or the pinnacles and apparently talk over the coming nesting season. Few birds have mere to say than jackdaws, and whether the subject of discussion is who shall occupy the spire this year, or whether it is connected with the great question of mating, I cannot say; whatever it is, it means a great deal of conversation in high-pitched tones, and sometimes I fear a little bad language. One daw will settle on the vane and call again and again, and then another will fly up, exhibiting marvellous powers of rising in a short Bight. and evict the talking bird from its post. Then in turn this bird is dislodged, until all seem to have had their say. Other birds settle in a more uncom- fortable position, clinging to the lightning con- ductor, half-way down the spire; from a little way off they look like black bosses stuck against the slope of the. spire. These daws arrive in the morn- ing in company with a number of rooks, which straggle across the sky from their roosting trees to their feeding grounds, and when the sable army drifts over, a few of the daws drop towards the spire and remain for some time calling and quarrelling, for there is no doubt that they often do quarrel. About the same time that the rooks and daws pass, or perhaps a little later, small parties of starlings come over. They do not waste time in talking; they hurry on to their selected feeding ground as if their lives depended on their getting to their morning meal at a certain time. Very early in the afternoon they begin to come back, in quite as big a hurry. But when they arrive at the covert where they roost they do not settle down at once, but fly round and round in military order above the covert. When at last 'I'll they alight in the roosting trees they make up for any hours of silence, for the air is full of their jargon. But even the starlings are thinking about I the coming season; all of them do not go to the fields now; some come to the gardens and houses. Quite early in the morning the voice of the starling may be heard on the chimney or in the orchard tree. One bird perches regularly on the topmost twigs of a quince in my garden, and goes through a series of musical and unmusical snatches of song; sometimes he whistles loudly, then he clatters his bill, bubbling from hi throat, but every now and then he breaks into a mellow fluting not unlike the blackbird's song. Another starling, in a neighbour's garden, mews plaintively like a kitten in distress, and then gives a curious little chuckle which might be construed into a laugh. THE DEADLY POLE TRAP. I see that Mr. Sydney Buxton, one of the stoutest champions of our birds, is pushing on with his amendment Bill of the Wild Birds Protection Acts, by which he hopes to abolish the pole-trap. Anyono who has seen a pole- trap in action will wish Mr. Buxton success;»it is one of the most unnecessary and cruel in- ventions of the game preserver. It is to bo hoped that humanitarian supporters of Mr. Buxton will not let their enthusiasm run away with their commonsense. No good will be gained by slang- ing the game preservers as a whole; some cf the men who give most protection to birds-even to birds which are generally classed as verwin-aiv, sportsmen and preservers of game indeed, most of the men who will support, this Bill arc sportsmen of the right sort, who, though they love legitimate sport, abhor slaughter and cruelty. Owners of large shooting estates have already done and will do more than other people to prevent the destruction of our rarer birds; the very fact that they have preserved land where the pot-hunter and collector cannot go is a great protection to many species. The pole-trap is simply an un- baited tooth-trap chained to the top of a pole, which is set up in some open space or in the drive in a wood. It looks innocent enough, but woe to the unhappy bird which alights upon that pole to rest; its legs are clutched in the cruel teeth, and in its attempts to escape it flutters from the pcreh and hangs helplessly, head downwards, by its lacerated legs. There it remains until the keeper comes round,it may be hours later. One of tho great arguments used against the pole-trap is that it is not discriminating in its action; birds which are innocent of any evil intentions against game suffer along with the so-called vermin. It appears to me that this does not affect the moral side of the question. Have we or have we net the right to inflict unnecessary suffering upon animals for the furtherance of our pleasures? I think not. Even the worst enemy of game, or of mankind, deserves to be slain—if slain it must be—in as merciful a manner as possible. Torture is- obsolete in our criminal code, and it should be in our game laws as well. Even if the Bill fails to pass through Parliament, its introduction is a step in the right direction. We shall not save our disappearing fauna by legislation, but we may do much to stop the drain upon their failing numbers. T. A. C.

The Editor is net responsible jor the opinions of his Correspondents. All letters must be authenticated oy the sender's name and address, not necessar ily for publication Correspondents are particularly requested to write only on one side of the paper. "r.

A BAD EGG. TO THE LDTTOR. Sir, Is it true that since a certain most offensive SJid malodorous misiortime betel a prominent Welsh M.P. he is styled 'The bad egg: Long may he enjoy the somewhat; appropriate title WELSH RABBIT.

LIGHTING UP TABLE. All cycles and other vehicles in the Chester district must be lighted upae stated in the foilowina tabe P. !Ii. Wednesday, February I'M 6.36 Thursday, February 25 6.33 Friday, February 26 6.40 Saturday, February 27 6.42 Sunday, February 28 6.44 Monday, February 29. 6.43 Tuesday, March 1 6.48

CHESTER DISTRICT NUR8I1NU ASSOCIATION. 9, W ATEB TOWEK-BTKEKT. WEEKLY REPORT. Old cases 66 Removed 3 New cases 25 I Deaths 4 Cured 5 | On books 78 Relieved 1 | Visits 430 Relieved 1 j) Visits. 480 E. i-A TESOiN, Lady Superintendent. February 20, 1904.

CHESTER liSFiiiiiAilY. WEEKLY STATE. ENDED SAT JED A i ;¡3T. In-patiente are admitted on Tuesday mornings ii o dock. ln-p&Eeate jDiseaaired. In-paiieiiLa. Cured 16 f Admitted 20 Believed 3 F K&maiii UJ cne HOUSE S7 Made Out-Patients j Unrelieved I lrregTiijurity j j Dead 2 j OUT-PATIENTS. Medical cases are seen on Monday, Wevinesdsy, and Saturday mornings at Eleven o'ciouk. Surgical cases are seen on Thursday mommas at Eleven o'clock. Ophthalmic cases are seen on Friday mornings at iileveu o'clock. Dental cases are seen on Tuesday and Saumii*\ uionii;.>jj at Ten o'clock. Out-patients admitted since Saturdi^ IJMK 95

BIRTH, MARiilAUEis & DEATHS --+- BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, ANL LHA'IHtt are charged at the rate of 20 words for h. (prepaid). If not prepaid, the charge wili be 2s. (xi. The announcement must be authenticated by the Si¡.. nature and Address of the Sender. .BIRTH. TRATOM-On the 21st February. at Breckon-le-Dale, Bebingtou, the wife of George ^rontom^ of a son. MARRIAGES. BURGESS—BARTON—Or. the 10th February, at All Saints', Princes Park, Liverpool. Frederick burg-ess, of Wood side, Watford, ond son of tne late Juan Jiurgess and of Mrs. Burgee, ot Harford Bank, Cheshire, to Ethel Marie, cniy daughter ot George Barton, formerly of G&tesheaiii Hail, TattfenhalL McFARLANE—DAVIDSON—On the IGth February, at Hamilton Memorial Presbyterian Churen. Birkenhead, by the Rev. James Fraser, M.A., assisted by the Rev. J. W. Walker, M.A., John, elder son of lioiteri Mcilarlane, Top House Farm, Ari-owe, Birkenhead to Isabella (Belle), third daughter 01 Jauies Davidson, 57, Grange Mount, Birkenhead. WHEELiER—HEALING—On the lath February, at St. George's, Shrewsbury, by the Rev. C. ii. Drinkwater, M. A., Henry, youngest son of E. W. Wheeler, of Bush- Ymry, to Neilie Bovdler, only daughter of the late "SV. Healing and Mrs. Healing, Mountfieds, Shrew-bury. DEATHS. BROOKS-On the lith February, at Brompton House* Charlesville, Claui-'hton, Captain Samuti brooks, in his 7-nd year. CAWOOD-On the 1Mb February, at Belle Vue, Shrews- bury, Elizabeth, widow of the Jate T. Cawood, of Crewe, aged b)-4 years. MACPHERSON—On the 21st February, at Willow Dar;k" road, Birkenhead, the Rev. Thomas Macpherson, M.A., minister of Everton Valley Presbyterian Church, Liver- pool.

a. MEMORIALS. AT ALL PRICKS, IN MA RBLE, GRANITE, STONE & ALABASTER On 'View, and to order W. HASWELL & MASONS, KALEYARDS, CHESTER. Estimates and Designs Free on "1"pl- ,o. Telephone o. ItilA

MR. H. GLADSTONE AND LICENCE COM- PENSATION.- Writing to a Yorkshire correspon- dent on the subject of compensation, Mr. Herbert Gladstone, M.P., says money for compensation must be raised by a levy on the trade, wbic-I could be done under an Act of Parliament, and he saw no reason why in the public interest the agency of the Government should not be employed for th J pur- pose, The money must not come out of funds -aised and devoted to national purposes, but by the creation of a special fund. This, if raised through the Government, would be the cheapest and most direct method, and would spread the burden over the whole trade. ACCIDENT TO A RUNCORN FLAT.-Henry Parr, of the sailing fiat Emily, belonging to Mr. Harrison, of Runcorn, was drowned in the river Mersey at Runcorn on Saturday afternoon. The craft, of which Parrs father was the skipper, carritd a cargo of sulphur ere, and was coining up the river on the flood-tide, when she was earned against one of the abutments of Runcorn Bridge. Young Parr was thrown into the water by the violence of the impact, and the fiat received such damage that she immediately began to sink. The father got into the punt and went to his son's rescue, leaving the flat to itself, but just as he reached him the young man threw up his arms and sank. The flat drifted to the Ship Canal bank at Old Quay.

Bj ? Royal Warrant Fertiliser Manufacturers rlo Bis Majesty the King. FLSONS' (IPSWICH) FERTILIZERS 1903 RESULTS: B\ III" Champioiishi of the World ./X 1\ JLi 1J X Brewers' Exhibiiiou Grower, Jir. Thomas Rawle. I'ùrlu<:Ji, Somerset. II A XTfii IT TW 80 tons II cwta. per acre, MAIN UULUO Peterslield Sh w. GrlJwe., Air. N. Rxsiiall, Rogiitt.Ubsex. C\ I) j) j j.V 70 ton-: t>. r acre, tirailsi'ord ii -1_JO and District XJJI.-W. Grower, Mr. V. Gibus, liirk Laugley, Derby. 'sW71 IV si tons cwt • ^°a^* O V» July L/>J thard Root Com petition. Oruwer, air. E. Thomas, Pentrvath, glesey. The Special Fertilizers for Grass, Oats. Potatoes and Hops have <;¿so done wonders. For illustrated price lists and full particulars of terms apply to JOSEPH FISON & CO. LD. IPSWICH.

LETTER-BOX ON .A, foolish prank played by some boys on Thursday evening nearly resulted in the destruction of all the letters in the piliar-box of the Northgato-street Post-office (Sir. 5. C. Noblet's). It appear;* that several small boys were dropping lighted matches into the box, and when it was afterwards opened about a dozen. letters were found to be more or less burned, several being too charred for identification. Tha mischievous children managed to make their es- cape and elude punishment. on the 1st September, five rx cent, for the vear. THE METRIO SYSTEM.-An instructive lec- ture was delivered the aevtmg of the Chester Debating Society this weel: by Mr. W. D. Laird. The speaker argued that foreign commerce was handicapped hy our out-of-date s-stem of measures. A Royal Comu-isticn had recommended the metric- ystm, ts also h ad British Consuls in all parts of the world, while cmr Colonies were also in favour of its adoption. Mr. Laird described the origin and development i-i the metric system, and explained the "-tana'arci:- of measures. He claimed many commercial and scientific advan- tages for the sy- t^rn. and particularly emphasised its simplicity. In the discussion that followed, Messrs. Orewe, Preston. Frown, Pratt. Sconce, Osbomr. Williams and the Jiairman (Mr C. Hib- hert) took part A cordkj vote of thanks to the lecturer ■-•as adopted. j