The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

HOMING INSTINCT IN FERRETS.-The Field gives from Mr. Cumberbatch, Wincham, Cheshire, an instance of the frequently observed homing instinct of ferrets. When ferretting on February 13th, about 2.30 p.m., one of the ferrets was lost. I left a man watching the earths until dark. and then gave up all hope of finding it that evening. However, at nine p.m., it was brought in to me, having been found in the scullery by the servants. The distance from the earths to the house in a bee line is a quarter of a mile, with deep ditches, ploughed and grass fields to traverse. I may add that the ferret was muzzled."

ROWLANDS i A KALYDOR EM in FOR SKIN COOLING, SOOTHING, HEALING Removes Freckles, Tan, Snabnrn, Irritation. | 2s. 3d. & Ge. 6d, of Stores and Chemists. B

THE FISCAL DEBATE. -+-- LORDS' DIVISION. ANOTHER 51 MAJORITY. In the House of Lords, on Friday, the Duke of Devonshire resumed the debate on the Fiscal policy of the Government, initiated on Thursday by the Earl of Crewe, stated the points associated with his resignation from the Cabinet, and sup- ported the demand for a fuller statement of the Government proposals In the course of the dis- cussion Lord Robertson said he should, as a Tory, vote against the Government. Earl Spencer having spoken, Lord Landsdowne replied. While the critics of the Government, he said, had en- deavoured to shew that its policy either meant Protection or nothing at all, the Government actually did mean something, though that some- thing was not Protection. Th? tendency was to raise. greater obstacles to our foreign trade, and it was essential that the Government should be able to use arguments that would not be without effect. On the House dividing there voted for the motion 47. and against 98 Government majority 51. Their lordships adjourned at 12.5. REALLY "FREE FOOD." A fresh proposal on the Fiscal question has made its appearance among the Commons notices. Mr. David Maclver announces his intention of moving on a day still to be fixed-" That, in the opinion of this House, all food taxation ought to be abolished: that free food should be made a reality as regards everything grown or raised in this country, the food-producing industries of Great Britain and Ireland being altogether relieved from taxation; and that the burden should, as far as practical, be placed unon foreign importations of competing products, all food importations from our own Colonies beiner admitted either entirely free or subject to low revenue duties not exceeding 5 per cent. ad valorem." THE "DEAR LOAF" FARCE. Sir Howard Vincent has given notice that he will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention hws been called to the prices of bread, wheat, and flour furnished at the beginning of February bv 26 of the local correspondents of the Board of Trade in respect of the prevailing prices paid at the various places by workpeople for 41b. of ordinary bread of average quality, and whether, having regard to the fact that the price of the quartern loaf was on February 1. 1904, higher at London, Birmingham, Ipswich, Liver- pool, Middlesbrough. Dundee, and elsewhere, and that the price per cwt. of wheat, wheat-meal. and flour was higher than on February 1. 1903, when £ 7.000 a day Customs duty was levied on such imports from the foreigner, he will consider the advisability of restoring that market toll to the national revenue, exempting, however, wheat produced in Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and other parts of the British Empire.

FOOD SUPPLY TN WAR. -+- MR. YERBURGH'S VIEWS A dinner of the Imperial Industries Club was held on Tuesday night at the Hotel Great Cen- tral, London. Colonel Sir John E. Bingham oc- cupied the chair, and the company included Sir G. Hayter Chubb (president of the club), Lord Balfour, Sir John Colomb, M.P., Sir H. Seton- Karr, M.P., Colonel Sir Howard Vincent, M.P., Sir A. E Bateman, Mr. Yerburgh, M.P., Mr. H. H. Cunynghame, C.B.. Mr. Cutler, K.C., Col. A. W. F. Street, Mr. Kenric B. Murray, and Mr. J. E. Evans-Jackson (hon. secretary). After the loyal toasts had been duly honoured, The Chairman opened a discussion on "Our Food Supply in Time of War." He expressed his belief that this was an urgent and serious ques- tion, and said that the Government ought, without delay, to store supplies of food as the cost of doing so during a period of peace wouid be frac- tional compared with what it would be at a time of war. Mr. Yerburgh, M.P., said that if we were at war with any great European country the price of wheat would, in all probability, be advanced to an extent that would put it out of the reach of the poorer classes. He did not think that we could very well giow sufficient corn for our own needs, and so resort must be had to the system of storage. The cost of that was estimated at about i;1,000,000 per annum, to meet which he was prepared to support Is. registration duty on corn. Sir Howard Vincent, M P., thought that, in- stead of storing wheat in a granary, it would be much better to encourage the tillage of the soil by some modification of our Fiscal system. The price of bread to-day was higher than when the Is. duty imposed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach in April, 1902, was in force. Mr. W. P. Wood (president of the London Corn Association) said that, of the 3 nitliion quart-ers of breadstuffs consumed annually in this country, only five or seven millions were produced by Great Britain herself, while for the rest we were dependent on foreign contributions. In some years we were dependent for 70 per cent. of our supplies on the United States and Canada, and it was not too much to say that if we had been in that position this year there would have been a repet.tion by wheat rings in Now York and Chi- cago of that speculation in cotton which had so disastrously affected the interests of Lancashire. Professor W. J. Maiden spoke of the impor- tance of growing potatoes on a large scale. With 4 000,000 acres of potatoes in England it would be impossible to starve our population in time of war. Lord Balfour, In proposing the toast of the "Im- perial Industries Club" later, said that whatever remedy the Royal Commission ultimately de- cided to recommend for the difficulties which might bo established before them, he thought that there should be as little interference as pos- sible with the ordinary course of trade. The Commission had to consider a matter which, in conceivable circumstances, might touch the safety of the country, and for such a mission as that questions which might divide Sir Howard Vincent from him, or Mr. Yerburgh from someone else. paled into absolute insignificance. He was bound to say, and he said it with gratitude to his col- leagues, that during the sittings of the Commis- sion the Fiscal controversy had never been intro- duced into their deliberations in such a way as to interfere with the object which they had in view. Sir G. Hayter Chubb briefly replied to the toast.

SOUTH AFRICA TO-DAY. ♦ PRAISE FROM A BOER. The following extract is published from a letter written by a Free State Boer who fought all through the war as a field-cornet under De Wet: I am now giving you a few lines as to the present state of both Colonies. As can be imag- ined, everything looked very glum when peace was concluded, and we were fighting with a very heavy drought as well. Still, all praise is due to the military for the way they have acquitted them- selves of this enormous task. Hardly had peace been concluded ere arrangements were made for the families to depart to their respective homes; and these thousands upon thousands of indigents had to be supplied with provisions as well, and not only that, but also with seed, etc. Thousands of prisoners of war had to be. returned to their respective homes, and all this was executed in a most inconceivable short- time. They all had to be supplied with tents till such a time as they could erect dwelling-houses; ploughs and teams had to be provided as well as the seed for agricuituial purposes. Before I conclude as to the present state of the Colonies, I beg to remark that the male prisoners of war speak in glowing terms of the treatment accorded! them by the military; in fact, they have nothing to complain about what- ever. If anybody should tome from any part of Europe into these two Colonies, and he was told that a three years' war and two years' drought raged in these Colonies, and that everything was devastated, he would never believe it. It is not two years since peace was concluded, and yet I may venture to say that as far as poverty is concerned there is nothing in these Colonies to be compared to some European States, London not excepted. I think Miss Ilobhousc applied it rather too thick, and should study the adage that "char- ity begins at home," although I must admit that we are heartily thankful for what she did for our needy, and her name will be a household word for generations to come. Schools are established throughout the two Colonies, and the British Government is doing everything in their power for us in the line of education; and. as the Eng- lish language will be the future language of the Colonies, we cannot do less than comply with the principle laid down on this point. We are, I must admit, living very harmoniously together with the British the only difficulty is in getting reconciled to the National Scouts, but also this prejudice is gradually dwindling away. and will in time to come entirely disappear. What we want badly is imported labour; and once we have that obstacle removed, so that the mineral resources of the two Colonies may be uncovered and made to yield profitably, I don t hesitate to say that the Colonies will prove a valuable addition to his Majesty's dominions; and we Boers, as British subjects. will be none the worse for it. for we are already commencing to experience that there is not a freer rule on the face of the earth than British rule.

CHESTER GLEE CLUB.—On Tuesday even- ing the usual monthly concert was given. The vice-president, Mr. H. R. Thomas, presided^ accom- panied by the ex-president, Mr. J. H. Jones. There was a good audience, and the concert—a highly successful one-was conducted by Mr. Butterworth, the cond uctor of the society, and the pianist, Mr, Richard Thomas, was at the piano.

FLINTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL -+ A special meeting of the Flintshire County Council was held on Wednesday at Mold to con- sider several Parliamentary bills affecting the county. Mr. P. P. Pennant presided. The report of the Sub-committee appointed to deal with the Milwr Minos Drainage Bill shewed! that a conference had been held with the solici- tors to the promoters and the Parliamentary agents. A point conceded by the promoters was that of dcfiling the limit of vertical deviation. A written, undertaking was given that the rating clause would be withdrawn. It was also agreed that the promoters should not come nearer the surface of the ground than a certain specified distance. Protective clauses were also arranged so far as the county roads, bridges, culverts, water courses, etc., were concerned. The report con- cluded by acknowledging the assistance given by Mr. J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., and referring to the reasonable spirit displayed by the promoters. Mr. G. A. Parry .(vice-chairman) asked whether the Holywell authorities were satisfied that their renowned well would not be injured.—The Clerk said it was understood that this aspect of the ques- tion did not conoern the Council. The news- papers reported that the Holywell Urban Council were not satisfied, and he understood they were taking steps to oppose.—Mr. U. Bromley said he was a member of the Holywell Council, and there was a feeling that unless protective clauses were put in, the well might dry up. It was thought at Holywell that the County Council might have done a little more in this question.—-Mr. S. Davioo said there were a few who shewed them- selves hostile to a concern calculated to be of vast benefit to the locality. The spirit cf opposition seemed to him nothing more than an endeavour to heap expenses on a company who were doing a great deal of good. He had nothing to do. with the promoters, but he would not like to see them handioapped when they were doing their level best to enrich the county of Flint-Mr. U. Brom- ley protested against the word hostile. It wa.s not a hostile spirit at all.-Afr. S. Davies saidl the op- position to the bill was a farce.—The Vice-Chair- man said he was perfectly disinterested, but what could compensate them for the loss of this well and stream? The stream afforded employment to some 500 hands, and was capable of giving em- ployment to 500 others. He wag not opposed to the bill so long as the Holywell industries were safeguarded.—The Chairman saidi it was a mere idea, that this scheme would destroy the Holywell stream, held by a number of nervous individuals. He said that the scheme proposed to bring a large amount of capital into the oounty-(rear, hear)- and the Council should be shy of doing anything to frighten away oapital. Mr. R. Ll. Jones (Rhyl) proposed the adoption of the report which implies that the bill will not be opposed by the County Council.—Mr. T. Parry se-rondel, and the proposition was carried by a large rraiority. The Great Central Railway Bill was next dis- cussed, and it was reported that neither the Buckley Urban Council nor the Buckley Traders' Soc:ety had decided to oppose The subject- was referred back to the Parliamentary Committee, with instruction* to watoh the bill and' ascertain the nature of the Rowers affecting Flintshire that would be token over. At the ckn" 0+ fl-c, business tl-e mcmners and officials of the Council were entertained by the chairman to luncheon at the Black Lion Hotel.

FLINTSHIRE POLTCE COMMITTEE. 4, COMPLAINT AGAINST BUCKLEY POLICE. MAJOR WEBBER'S REPLY. A quarterly meet'n<r of this committee was held on Thursday at Mold, Mr R. Llewelyn Jones pre- siding. The Chief Constable (Major Webber) reported that at th? general annual lioensing meeting, held at Holywell, on the 2nd inst., the magistrates of that division then sitting, ordered that the re- newal of licences to all fully-Iicenscd houses in the Holywell urban and rural districts should be de- ferred until the adjourned general annual licen- sing meeting, which took place on the 26th Febru- ary. In the meantime the police had been ordered. to serve notices of objection on all of them. As it had been necessary that he should employ legal assistance, he was availing himself of the services of Mr. A. T. Davies, of the firm of Messrs. Her- bert Lewis, Davies and Griffiths, of Liverpool. Mr. Chas. Davison asked whether there were no solicitors in Flintshire who could have been engaged in place of going to Liverpool for one. Major Webber said in the past he had always shewn his faith in the solcitors of the county by engaging them. He had, however, time after time found that certain solicitors were engaged by certain firms of brewers. Mr. Walk nson desired to know where the mat- ter would end If they thought that they were going to bowl all the licences out at a magistrates meeting, then they were mistaken It would go to Quarter Sessions, and might go further even than that. The Chairman thought that that was a very indiscreet remark. It might encourage an appeal. Tlie Chief Constable stated that these objections were not "police objections but objections on tii3 part of the magistrates. It was decided that the Chief Constable should employ Mr. A. T. Davies Liverpool, and should engage the services of the County Surveyor to go over the houses objected to, with a view to re- porting upon them. MR. HENRY HUGHES AND THE POLICE. SENSATIONAL CHARGES AND COMPLETE ViNDICATION. A communication was about to be read from Mr. Henry Hughes, of Buckley, when Mr. Lindop (Buckley) sa.d that in view of the fact that the communication was sent as the result of police court proceedings, he would advise that it should lie on the table. The committee should not be used as a means whereby private individuals should wreak their vengeance upon police officers for discharging their duty. He knew Buckley, and he would say that he was echoing the senti- ments of all when he said that two more excellent officers no place ever had It was also a pity that respectable licensed victuallers should, along with the officers, be tyrannised in this manner. Mr. J. Prince (Connah's Quay) proposed that a small committee should deal with the matter. It was finally decided that it was desirable anything reJating to the police and their conduct should be made public. The oommunication was then read. Mr. Hughes wrote that he had to report the doings of Sergt. Davies and P.C. Dempsey, who, he alleged, were at. various publio-houses from July to November of last year. The officers had remained hours in the premises, drinking sometimes as much as five glasses apiece. In addition, during the past twelve months Sergt. Davies had been almost every night at the billiard-room of the Black Horse, Buokley. Mr. Watkinson stated that if they had followed the public prints carefully, they would see that Mr. Hughes had himself been convicted of drun- kenness and fined. He desired the committee to ignore the communication. Sir Wm. Grenville Williams, Bart., proposed that the matter be referred to the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable said he was quite prepared to go into the matter. He had already thoroughly investigated it, and with regard to one charge to the effect that Sergt.. Davies, on July 23rd, had been at a public-house for two hours, he would state that the sergeant was on duty at a sale which was taking place on the premises, and he denied having any drink. He had every confidence in Sergt. Davies. With regard to the second charge, as to his being at the Black Horse on a certain date along with his brother, the sergeant said he was not in the Black Horse that day, neither had he any brother in Buckley on the day re- ferred to. As to the allegation of Sergt. Davies having been for twelve months in the Black Horse billiard-room every night, Major Webber said that tho sergeant assured him that he was not a. bil- liard player. The sergeant was continually forced to go to such places in the discharge of his duty. because peisons were often wanted whose descrip- tion was "fond of billiards, singing or reciting in publio-houses," and for any one to say that the sergeant was there to drink was all nonsense. With regard to Dempsey, he would state that the very day that he was accused of being on licensed premises for two hours with Sergt. Davies he (Dempsey) was there from one to eight p.m., at- tending a sale. P C. Dempsey also had denied the other charges levelled at him by Mr. Hughes. The chargos related to a period between July and November. He (Mr. Hughes) never wrote to him (Major Webber) until December, when he was fined on the evidence of Sergt.' Davies 10s. and costs for being drunk and disorderly. Later on. at the Mold Licensing Sessions, Mr. Hughes ob- jected to the renewal of the billiard licence of the Black Horse. He (Major Webber) upon that oc- casion addressed the Court in defence of the character of Sergt. Davies. He was perfectly satisfied that he had two excellent officers at Buckley, and personally he felt glad that he was able to defend them. Mr. Lindop sa;d he did not know where Henry Hughes got his information from. Mr. James Peters (Buckley) was thoroughly convinced that the officers, especially Sergt. Davies understood their business and knew their work. He was very sorry that the time of the committee should be taken up with discussion of such a matter. It was finally resolved to refer the whole mat- ter to the Ch;ef Constable the committee at the same time endorsing all that he had hitherto done.

RAILWAY'S BAD TIMES. — Lord Stal- bridge, at Friday's annual meeting of the London and North-Western Railway Company, said that the company had to record a nett decrease in the number of passengers carried of 615,586, and of receipts from that department of £ 59,530. The short-distance traffic in several parts of the country continued to decrease, mainly owing to the com- petition of the tramways, but the rate of decrease had fallen off. Owing to the bad trade in Lan- cashire, goods shewed a decrease of £ 50,000. J

MILITARY TRAIN WRECKED. A serious accident befel a South-Eastern special train conveying a draft of Northumberland Fusiliers from Gravesend to Southampton, on Saturday morning, as it was passing through Gomshall Station, about four miles below Dorking and seven and a half miles from Guildford. The detachment was oomposed of two officers and 142 men, who were to leave England for the Cape by the ss. Gascon. The train reached Gomshall about eleven o'clock, and before it was clear of the station the engine, owing to its fouling the points or to a "line spread," jumped the metals, and, after ploughing up the permanent way for twenty or thirty yards, turned right round in a most re- markable manner, falling on its left side on the up rails. The train consisted of two brake vans and four coaches. The front van, containing the men s kits and luggage, was completely wrecked, and the first carrIage was thrown up on the plat- form. Its end was battered in, and the occupants of the first compartment, seven or eight soldiers, fell down a steep embankment. The body of this carriage was forced from its wheels, while the coach next to it ran up on the frame of the smashed brake van. The other two carriages and the guard's van remained on the line, and were com- paratively undamaged. Despite terrible injuries, the driver stuck to the lever of his engine till the last, and was discovered in his "cab." The fire- man, on the other hand, was thrown out. All the passengers were severely shaken, but there were only three whose injuries were really serious. l:.cse were removed to the station goods shed and attended to by several doctors, who had been hastily summoned. Help was also rendered by the Shere Fire Brigade with their ambulances. As a consequence of the accident both lines were blocked, and the telegraphic communication was broken. A South-Western relief train was made up at Guildford and promptly despatched to Gomshall. In it the injured men were conveyed to Guildford, where they were taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, and the remainder of the draft continued their journey to Southampton, I embarking on the Gascon in good time. The patients admitted to the hospital were: Richard Pavne, thirty-eight, engine-driver. 165, Gardner- road, Redhill, injuries to back of head, and slight concussion of the brain; Frederick Leppard, twenty-two, fireman, 15, Cecil-road, Redhill. in- juries to head and both legs, arm fractured; Lance-Corporal White, twenty-two, A Company Northumberland Fusiliers, Gravesend, fracture of upper part of thigh Private Daniel Foster, twenty, C Company Northumberland Fusiliers; Drummer Maurice Turnbull, sixteen B. Company North- umberland Fusiliers, dislocated ankle and injury to foot. Upon inquiry on Sunday it was ascer- tained that all the patients were going on satis- factorily.

_0- A BIRKENHEAD SENSATION. REMARKABLE LOVE TRAGEDY. A tragic affair occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning at Birkenhead, where a. man named Thomas Gilbert intercepted two actresses aa they were on their way home, fired a revolver at one of them, and seriously wounded their land- lady's son, who came to their assistance. The assailant afterwards shot himself dead. Gilbert was a man of good position, being an ex-J.P. for the county of Essex, and w-as about 40 years of age. Some time since he met Miss Fkrrie Bates, who, with her sifter, was employed on the music- hall stage. He fell deeply in love with the young la/dy, became engaged, and bought a public-house, The. Me Carpenters, at St. Luke's, London, which he settled on her, conditional on her marri- age. As Miss Bates afterwards refused to many him, Gilbert entered an actAon for the recovery of the house. Quarrels ensued, and in June last Gilbert was brought up at a London pohce-oourt on a oharge of threatening to murder Miss Bates. He had then a revolver, and, ir, was. alleged, told the girl, he would sbcot heT if she did not marry him, and would keep a bullet for himself. The defence was a denial of the threats, Gilbert saying he loved her too much to- hurt her. The man was bound over for six months, and until the begin- ning of the year he had left Miss Bates alone. He had recently been following her about, and arrived on Friday in Birkenhead, where she and her sister Lottie were playing second1 boy and girl in the pantomime, •' Sdnbad the Sailor," at the Metropole Theatre. On Friday night the two young ladies left the theatre in oompany with two gentlemen, also members of the company, and left them at the top of their street. All was quiet- as they walked along to their home, but when only a few paces away Gilbert stepped across their path. The elder girl, Lottie, dashed into the middle of the road, but Florrie fearlessly faced him. He drew a revolver and fired at her body. The screams of the sister attracted Alan Roberts, the son of the girl's landlady, who threw himself upon the assailant and was immediately shot in the side. One of the girls' companions heard the shot-s and ran to the scene of the. affray. Gilbert attempted fire at him also. but the revolver would not go f'P 5 «ffi«rthen arrived and, not suc- e> from Gi.bert s calm demeanour that he was the author of the crime, devotedl his attention to the injured people. Immediately afterwards another shot was fired, and it was found that Gil- bert bad blown his brains out. It was ascertained at the hospital that young Roberts had had a narrow escape, the bullet having entered hig body in the region of the spine without, however, touch- ing any of the vital organs. The young lady had a still more remarkable escape. The bullet pierced one of her hands, whi-()h was. clasped over her heart. A correspondent states that late on Saturday night Miss Bates gave the following account of the tragedy:—"Last night he sent me a note in through the stage-door, where he had been wait- ing, but we managed to slip past him. He wrote, Dear Florrie,-You don't know how much I love you. No one else shall have you if I can't.' He went on to suggest that if I absolutely declined to see him we should each send our present-s back. I sent him word that I did not want anything to do with him. Well, I thought I had d-one with him-, but when we left the theatre, and were nearing home, Alan Roberts, the son of our land- lady, met us, and said Gilbert was waiting down the street. Lottie and I, with two gentlemen members of the company with us. hurried1 towards the house, but when we were almost at the gate the man appeared. He made straight for us. ie ran into the road, and I went towards the without speaking a word, saw 13? *«d fired. As soon as I nf-plv if iiic+ r my hand, and, fortun- y.' ■ i °°vered my heart at which he evi- dently aimed. Of course. I can hardly tell what happened then. All I know is that the bullet went through my hand between the thumb and first finger and struck me just below the heart. The skin was cut. I suppose the bullet must have struck the steels in my corset, for it came out again, and wounded mv little finger. At any rate I made a rush for the house, and the bullet dropped on the porch." THE INQUEST. The Birkenhead Coroner on Monday afternoon opened the inquest touching the death of Thomas Gilbert, ased about 45. a stockbroker, whose per- manent address was 400 Kingsland-road, London. N.E. It appeared that towards midnight, while they were going to their lodgings, deceased spoke to the sisters, and without any warning fired at Miss Florence. The bullet struck her on one of her hands and seriously injured it. Allan Frank Roberts, the son of the sisters' landlady, came upon the scene and held the deceased until the girls escaped into the house. Deceased then fired at Roberts's chest, inflicting: injuries which will necessitate his detention in hospital for three weeks. He afterwards placed the firearm behind his own right ear and fired. The bullet went straight through his head anc' °ut the other side, killing him instantly. Formal evidence of identification having been given by the injured straight through his head and came out on the other side. killing him instantly. Formal evidence his own right ear and fired. The bullet went straight through his head anc' °ut the other side, killing him instantly. Formal evidence of identification having been given by the injured actress's sister, the inquiry was acljourneci unrii the 14th March, in order that the lad Roberts. who, the coroner remarked, had acted with great bravery, might attend.—Conversation with friends of Gilbert has elicited the fact that long and loving correspondence was carried on between him and FI(irrit, Bates, the Otters being addressed to r>-n, and "Dear husband" respectively. Gilbert wrote m most infatuated terms beseeching the girl not to throw him over after the happy times they had had together. Gilbert had told a friend that he had spent over £ 2.000 on Florrie and her family, and ho could not understand her.

A WONDERFUL STORY. Many women will read with pleasure and profit the story of Miss L Williams, Hill Cottage, Cwmyoy Lower, Abergavenny. Miss Williams certainly is in a position to advise her suffering sisters, and her experience should be a guide to all who have similar troubles. "I had for a long time been troubled with Palpi- t'ition of tli(- Heart. aid I was, also subject to Headaches, Dizziness. parcbed dry Throat, bad taste in the mouth and furred tongue. I was greatly troubled with pains across my back, loss of memory, fainting fits, and I used to be so tired and languid that I could do nothing, and the least excitement set my heart pa!p>tahng violently I r n JJ' r TV 11= and thev soon put me took Dodd s Kidnev P'Hs, joug mpdicineSi right, and though I nave tne these- Pills were the only re111 -7 A T good. They completely cured me, and I can recommend them." There is really no reason why any woman should continue to suffer, for Dodd's Kidney Pills will cure an such eases, and they are for sale wherever medicine is sold.

The. East Denbihshjre Temperance Association, at Wrexham on Thursday, passed a resolution asking the Government to introduce legislation closing all public-houses at Dine o'clock.

LITERARY. NOTICES. NEW BOOKS. THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH IN RUGEN (London Macmillan and Co., Ltd., St. Martin's-street, W.C., 6s.). Those who have already made the acquaintance of that cha.rming per- sonality Elizabeth," as seen in Her German Garden," in The Benefaotress," and her other works, will read with avidity "The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rugen. Quite an unpretentious work it is, merely the stcry of a twelve days' holiday in the deeply indented island of Ruge-n in the Baltic Sea. Elizabeth," however, does not com- pile a guide-book. She is an indepeiident-mi^dk?*i German lady who undertakes the perilous of driving in a Victoria all round this pleasant islet aocompanied only by her faithful domestic and a bandbox. In her wanderings she meets various tourists whose idiosyncrasies she pourtrays wi^h irresistible humour and satire. The whole! story is told in the merriest mood, and it is hard to say whether the writer's whimsical philosophy or the fun she extracts from her fellow-tourists is the more engaging. Her nightmare is a cousin Char- lotte, into whose arms she literally falls unex- pectedly under amusing conditions in the course of a sea bath. Charlotte, albeit the wife of a celebrated German professor, has run away from her aged but amiable husband and is altogether an unloveable lady, grim and purposeful, and possessed by the craze for the emancipation of woman. The professor himself is a dear old fool, who pursues his unresponsive spouse with all the ardour of a giddy youth. The English tourists encountered on the island are cleverly drawn, especially the Bishop's wife, a stamp of character that is sometimes met elsewhere than in Geimwiy. The only literary luggage that Elizabeth" carried to Rugen was The Prelude," and with all respect to her peculiar taste we should recom- mend the holiday-maker to take instead, as a com- panion on a tour in RUben or anywhere else, "The Adventures of Elizabeth." The volume is fvJl of ti.e sunshine of a merry heart ooupled with a singularly bright and clever brain. "THE TARIFF DICTIONARY" (London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co., 4, Stationers' Hall-court, E.C., 2s. 6d.)—This oompeadi- j ous handbook on the Fisctal question j will no doubt attain great popularity during the exciting controversy that is now before us on the weighty pol-tical problem. It is a resume of the information relating to the ques- tion contained in various Blue Books and statis-' tical compilations ail alphabettically arranged for ready reference. The selection and arrangement of an enormous raas. of material have be-en exe- cuted with care and judgment and the result is a work that win be invaluable to the politician be he speaker or writer. The Tariff history of our own and foreign countries is an excellent com- plement to the starist.es, while the mysteries of trusts, bounties and kindted matters are fully elucidated. "Home Management" (London: C. Arthur Pearson, Limited).—The second part of this in- teresting domestic work, edited by Isobel, of "Heme Notes," contains much useful informa- tion for the housewife on the subject of cookery. FEBRUARY MAGAZINES. The "Lady's World" for February contains illustrations of the new Spring fashions, with some good ideas for costumes and blouses, millinery and underwear, and instructions how to renovate a matron's mantle. The fancy-work section contains a new blouse decoration. The gratis pattern con- sists of a seven-gored skirt, with instructions how to make it up.

CAMBRIDGE CLASS LISTS. ♦ — LOCAL SUCCESSES. The names of the successful students in the local examination of the Cambridge University in December have just been published. We give a list of those boys and girls who have brought honours to this district SENIOR DIVISION. Students under 19 years of age who have obtained honours :-Class II., J. K. Best (dis- tinction in mathematics), Arnold House School, Chester (Rev. A. H. Fish, B.A., B.Sc.). Students under 19 years of age who have satisfied the examiners, but who are not included in the honours classes: T. E. Allwood, Nantwich Grammar School (Mr. S. A. Moor, M.A.); G. A. Dutton (son of Mr. H. B. Dutton, Chester). Deytheur College, near Oswestry (the Rev. W. B. Dowell Lee, M.A., B.D.). JUNIOR DIVISION. Students under 10 years of age who have obtained honours:—Class I., First Division, C. M. D. Belton (distinguished in mathematics) and E. N. Loveli (distinguished in mathematics), King's School, Cuester (the Rev. J. T. Davies. M.A.); Second Division, H. J. Davis (distin- guished in mathematics) and F. J. E. Raby (dis- tinguished in Latin), King's School, Chester. Class II., F. W. Walker, Nantwich and Acton Grammar School. Class III., A. W. M. Wood, Chester (private tuition). Students under 10 years of age who have satisfied the examiners, but who are not included, in the foregoing classes-W. N. Bayley and W. O. L. Smith, King's School. Chester; N. H. Swancoat, Arnold House School, Chester. Students not under lo years of age who have passed the examination as juniors:—G. H. L. Woodley, Arnold House School, Chester; C. W. Shurrock and F. A. Shurrock, Tarvin Gramrnai7 School (Mr. A. H. Shurrock). PRELIMINARY DIVISION. Students under 14 years of age who have obtained honours:—Class I., W. Robinson (dis- tinguished in Algebra), King's School, Chester; Class III., W. Davison, King's School, Chester. Students under 14 years of age who have satisfied the examiners :-W. W. Tate, King's School, Chester; R. A. Duttain, Deutheur Grammar School. GIRLS. Students under 19 years of age who have ob- tained hoiiours:-Clas-i III., M. A. May (distinc- tion in religious knowledge, English and geo- graphy), Eiwy College, Rhyl (Misses Best and Ley); M. Parry, Higher T-raninere, College. Bir- kenhead (Miss Bond); V. G. Cooper, The Elms, Haw&rden (Miss Evans); N. Jones, The Eims, Flookersbrook, Chester (Miss K. Neville); M. Marshall, D. Parry. E. Smith, P. M. Storrar and H. E. Vincent (Miss M. Birch, Upper Northgate- st-ieet, Chester). Students not under 19 years of age who have satisfied the exalniners: -M. Foden, Sea Bank High School, Liscard (Miss L. Gadsby); K. M. Spittle, Wallasey (private tuition). JUNIOR GIRLS. Class I., first division:—G. I. Good acre, Sea Bank High School, Liscard (Miss L. Gadsby). dis- tinction in English. French, drawing and music. Students under 16 who have satisfied the exam- iners:—E. Wh i nil e rah, Sandholme, Oxton, Bir- kenhead (Miss A. Dagnall); N. J. Delaney, Dee House Convent, Chester (Madame Blackett); C. M. Exshaw, The Elms. Flookersbrook (Miss K. Neville); P. C. Hugh Jones, Chester (private tuition); J. Meacock. Upper Northgate-street, Chester (Miss Birch); F. E. M. Ryan, The Elms, Hawarden (Miss Evans); M. Toft, Dee House Convent, Chester; D. Wynne, The Elms, Hawarden. Students under 14 years of age who h&ve ob- tained honours: —E. Klein, St. Oswald s, Rhyl (Misses Rces), instruction in religious knowledge and French. Students under 14 who have satisfied the ex- aminers, but. aie not. included in the foregoing classes:—B. N. Baildon and K. Ridgway, Higher Tranmere College, Birkenhead (Miss Bond); E Davies, Fairholme Rhyl (Miss E. A. Roberts); M. G. G. Kelly, Blencathra, Rhyl (Misses Troas- dell and Alexander). Students between 14 and 16 who have satisfied the c-xamaers:-B. A. Grice, Higher Traninare College, Birkenhead (Miss Bond); M. E. Bayley and E. M. Maclcan, Stone Villa, Hoole, Chester (Miss'A. M. Morcom); X. Kortwright, The Elms, Hawarden (Miss Evans); M. Klein, St. Oswald's, Rhyl. HIGHER LOCAL EXAMINATION. The following are the successful local candi- dates in tiie Higher Local Examination —Group B., class III.. M, D. Cunningham, Higher THill- mere College, Birkenhead. Group C., class III., D. L. Owen, The Hollies, Shrewsbury; and H. B. Spencer, Aysgarth, Ashton-on-Mersey.

HISTORIC INNS THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.—In the thinning out process adopted by the Wigton (Cumberland) magistrates, some of [the oldest established licensed bouses in the county are threatened with extinction, several of which have quite an historic past. The whole of the licensed houses in Hesket-new-Market are objected to. This village, situated in the heart of the country hunted by the famed John Peel, was visited in 1858 by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. In their combined production, "The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices," one of the Hesket- new-Market hostelries, where they lunched on "whisky and oatcake," is vividly described. The first-floor room, with its ceiling, "crossed and re- crossed by beams of unequal lengths, radiating from a centre In a corner, so that it looked like a broken star-fish," still exists Skinburness is another district affected. Before it'was rebuilt as a palatial hotel, the old Duke's Head stood for generations in significant commemoration of the sharp and speedy suppression at Clifton and Culloden of the rising in '45 by the ill-fated Duke of Cumberland. The naval depot of the Edwards was at Skinbur- ness—a neighbourbood immortalised in Sir Walter Scott's Redgauntlet," as the scene of some of Prince Charlie's adventures In the thirteenth century a free borough stood at Skinburness, but was destroyed about 1302 by the breaking in of the s a. 1

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POOR HATES. INTERESTING FIGURES. The accounts of the overseers and Guardians supplied to the Local Government Board have just been issued. The following figures shew the amount collected from poor rates and ether sources in aid and the method of expenditure in Cheshire. together with the figures for England and Wales:— Cheshire: In this county the total receipts of overseers and Guardians was £ 508.2-6, against £ 498,012 in 1900-1, and £ 395,270 in 1S94-5. The overseers collected from poor rates lev:d £ 442,351, £ 431,668. and i349,927 respectively. The present return shews that the overseers paid to the Guardians £ 252.029. In addition to this the Guardians received grants under the Agricultural Rates Act £11,534, grants from county and county borough councils £ 37.114. and other receipts £ 15,003. Of these sums the Guardians expended on in-maintenance L47,426, out-rehe.' £ 60.352, maintenance of lunatics in asylums, eic., £36,141, principal of loans repaid and interest £ 10,388, salaries, rations, et-c., of officers £ 31.958, and other expenses connected with relief £ 25.744. Payments for purposes unconnected with relief— Contribu- tions under precept to county councils E78,023, registration of births, etc., £ 2,193, -vaccination £ 5,416, and other expenses £ 3,159. Payments partly connected with relief and partly uncon- nected--Costs of legal proceedings £ 266, valua- tions £2,350, salaries, etc., of parochial officers E2,241, other expenses £ 5.009. Expenditure by overseers under precept—Contributions to town councils £ 109,173. authorities under the Burial Acts £ 612. school authorities £ 12.944, district rural councils £ 53.316. and other authorities £ 2.197, registration of voters £ 5.311, legal proceedings £ 473, salaries, etc.. of parochial om C" £ 11.^28. valuation JE150, and other expenses £ 5,200. The j total expenditure of overseers and Guardians was £ 509.535, against £ 487,328 in 1900-1, and E-405,142 in 1894-5. In England and Wales the total receipts of over- seers and Guardians amounted to £ 26,180,021. and the expenditure £ 26.348.707. The overseers collected from poor rates £ 19.782,263. and £ 62,776 1 in aid. Tho amount paid by the overseers to the Guardians was £ 13.475,064: in addition grants- were received under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, of £ 596,787, grants from county and county borough councils £ 2,095,604, and from other sources £ 620,285. The amount paid cut of these sums bv the Guardians included in-maintenar.ee £ 2,379,343, out-relief £ 2,836.169. maintenance of lunatics in asylums, etc., £ 2.944,729. lo"ii, repaid and interest salaries, rations, etc., of union officers £ 2.353.249. and other exr^nses con- nec-ted with relief £ 1,607.681. Sums paid by the Guardians unconnected with relief—Contributions to countv councils £ 3.054.674. registration of births, etc., £ 98.343. vaccination £ 270 628. and other ex- penses £ 69.296. Amounts partly connected wit-0 relief and partlv unconnected—Leeral proceedings £ 35,633. valuation expenses £ 146.723, ;a!aries, etc., of parochial officers £ 149.352. and other expenses £ 160,777. ExpendiTure by overseers—Contribu- tions to county councils £ l 740.751. authorities under the Burial Acts £ 66.475. school authorities /) £ 1.672.242. rural district councils £ 2.055.261. and I other local authorities £ 330.^25. rr-ristration of voters £ 175.560. leyal proceedings £ 15.946, valua- tion exp°n«es £ 11.793. salaries, etc., of parochial officers £ 302,214, and other expenses x-128,835.

NANTWICH GASWORKS. 0 THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS. I On Monday, at the Surveyors' In-st.tuto, West- minster, Sir George Bruce sat as nmpiio in ar- bitration proceedings to determine tie. price to be pa.id to the Nantwich Gas Comr-r.y for the purchase by the- Nantwich Urban District Council of their undertaking. Mr. E. Stevenson acted as referee on behalf of the Urban District. Council, and Afr. Corbet Woodhall as referee for the Nant- wich. Gas Company. The counsel .engaged weic, Mr. Balfour Browne. KG. for the Urban Dis- trict Council; and Mr. Honoratus Lloyd, R C., and I Mr. Veeey Knox for the Gas. Company. Mr. Honoratus Lloyd said the arbitration was held -to determine the consideration to be paid by the Council to the company for the purchase of the undertaking of the company tsndrr an Act passed last year. The company we*, formed in 1869 with a, capital of £ 6.000. Its capital now consisted of £ 12.000 ordinary sto'k and £ 5,000 preference stock—a total of £ 17,000. besides which there were £ 7,900 of debentures. In 1891 the District Council discussed the question of supply- ing gas themselves in competition with the com- pany, but the latter asrreed to go to arbitration for purchase, and the Council retired. When the Council made up their minds to apply for an order under the Electric Lighting Acts the company decided to oppose the application, and after nego- tiations for purchase arbitration was again sug- gested but the Council declined. The oompany then called in an accountant to advise them as to their financial position in order that they might fight the Urban District Council if they perse- ) vered in their intention to obtain an (YI-ectriel lighting order. A large sum of money was spent on the works instead of being distributed a-s divi- dend. In 1902 they were able to declare a bonus dividend of 100 per cent. At the same time the oompany kssued shares to their shareholders of the nominal vaJuo of £ 6 000. Thus the capital be- came £ 12,000. The shareholders took shares in lieu of the bonus. It was a non-statutory com- pany but when the Council promoted their Bill in 1903 the company promoted one to turn the company into a statutory concern. After negotia- tions this Bill was withdrawn, and the Council's Bill authorising purchase was proceeded with. The receipts for gas alone in 1903 amounted to £ 5,667, and the working expenses L4465. The nett maintainable income was E2 626, and one witness for the company capitalised it at 25 years' purchase and another at 26 2-3rds years' purchase- Then there was a profit on the sale of gas fittings of £ 185. and a claim of £ 7.626 for surplus works. Mr Cash, chartered accountant, gave evicfeiic-e s9 to the accounts, and in cross-examination said the company declared a dividend ot J4 per CAnL in the same year as it distributed the bonus divi- dend of 100 per cent. He thought thia might naturally prove a temptation to the iccal authority to buy the undertaking. Mr. Balfour Browne: And, as you know, this company, in order to make itself safe after this very nice manipulation of 100 per cent-, went to Parliament to get statutory power?—Witness: Yes. but I do not. quite like the expression ''manipulation. If the shareholders had fore- gone dividend for a number of years, and then liked to take it in one sum there was nothing Îm- proper in that 1 t-rrnk it W5 improper and I wn shew the ar- bit-rater. Do you think it is fair whether a com- pany is statutory or not that it should do justice te the consumer of gas?—Certainly, they ought to consider the consumer. Supwing they had been a statutory company, they would not- have got more than 10 per cent?- The whole question would have been g-oi-w into. Mr. Valon. consulting gas engineer, described in detail the company's works, which were. he sa'd, in good order throughout. He had never scon better. With Mr. H. WToodall. he had made a detailed structural valuation, in which the total value worked out at. £ 30,025 Net. only was the plant sufficient to maintain the supply now given, but it could be doubled without any additions beTnsr necessary. His entire valuation amounted to £ 80.444 At this stage the hearing was aojourned.

THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANT. —Some curious information resoecting the barrel-org-an fraternity in Clerkenwell is givnn by Dr Ge^rtre Newman in his report on the publie health of Finsbury. About sixteen or eighteen Italians are constRntlyemployed bvone firm alone in the manuf wture, or repairing of barrel-orcans, earning from £ 2 to £ 3 a week, and turning out about sixtv instruments per annum, which. in addition to many others by other makers, are plaved bv quite an armv of handle-turners. These nomads m ike a considerable amount of money and are only grinding with a hired organ while their ice-creams are cooling, or their asphaJte hardening. The Italian immigrant has many- strings to his bow. and when he returns in the autumn to his own- country, it is with sufficient casn to carry him through the winter. Next spring will see him back again, or he may decide to stop in England for two or three winters, and then retire .on the proceeds. In the winter he will roast potatoes and chestnuts, and work the barrel-organ in summer he will change his occuiriatioii to asphalte laying and ice-cream making. He lives in a slum, and is not at all prepossessing.

RAILWAY RETURN TICKETS. INCREASED PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY. At the present time railway return tickets, ac- cording to a variety of oircum-stances, are avail- able for two days, seven days, one month, and two months, a diversity of periods of time which causes considerable "confusion in the minds of the travelling public. The London and North- Railway Company, having long' recog- nised this, and have wranged to make all return for distances exeoed- ing, twenty miles available for six months, and that the extent on of +':ae will ccme into operation with tickets issued hm and after July 1 next. The period for which romrn ordinary tickets are available on the Midland Railway will undergo a complete revision, commencing en July 1, and the system be altogether simplified:. Re- turn tickets for d' up to and including twenty miles will be available for two days, and from Saturday to Mosiday. For distances ex- oeeding rrwenty miles all tiokois will be available for six months. Tourist tickets will also be avail- able for sÝ..x' months in tbole cases where two months has boen the limit hitherto. The Great Northern Railway Ormpary announce that from the 1st of July ordinary tickete issued for distances over twenty miles will be avaJ-.bie for return at any time within six months. For distances le-" than twenty miles they will be available as at 'present, namely:—Not exoeediiig twelve mle", fur two days, or from Saturday to Monday; fcr dis- tances over twelve and not exce-eding twenty miles, eight days.

COMMONS AND UNEMPLOYED. On Friday, in the House of Commons, Mr. Keir Hardie moved an amendment to the Addresp re- gret-ting that, in view of the great lack of em- ployment, his Majesty's advisers had not seen fit to recommend the creation of a Department and Minister of Labour, empowered to deal effectively with the labour question. After dis- cussion, the ameind-nxnt was rejected by a Govern- ment majority of W. and the debate on the Address having been closured, it was eventually adopted, and the House rose.

Some big o figures. I The population of the British Empire is 396 millions, 26 per cent. of the total population of the world. There is no corner of the King's vast dominions where I Colman's Mustaid is not in constant daily use. Colmaffi Mustard i § L. | Allan Line. TO Canada,United Statesf River Plate, & india. SAILINGS FROM LIVERPOOL. Feb. 25,PKETORIAN Halifax & St. John. N.B. Feb. 25.ROSAEIAN .Monte Video and Buenos Ayres Feb. 27.. CAETHAOTNIAN ..Halifax A. Philadelphia Mar. 3.PARISIAN Halifax, N.S. Mar. 5.SARDINIAN Halifax, N.S. OCEAN RATES :—To Canada, Saloon from £ 11; Second Cabin, £ 7 JOs. Third Class, £ 5 10s. To India, 10s. and £ 27 10s. For full particulars apply to "ALLANS," 103, Leadenhall-street, London, E.C., and 19, James- street, Liverpool; or CHARLBS WRIGHT, 26, Water- gate-street, Chester. J DICKSONS MARDILY CIPOWN rFOREST9 FRIUIT)., II AMD ALL OTHER TREES & PLANTS EVERGREENS, ROSES, &c. Stock? quite oneqa&Ued for jt j • QUALITY,' «YAR1ETY,' & • EXTEST.' Priced Catalogues Post Free. 1 V. KxmBERiES 900 ACRES. I CHESTER The Universal -DDis& -xlp THE ONLY DISINFECTANT Fit for Household (Tse. B FRaaRANT, NON-POISONOUS, B I I DOES NOT STAIN. m, ■ "SJMITAS"* used at most HOSPITALS, H 1 by rocri BOARDS OF HEALTH. j?. FLUID, SOAP POWDER, POWDER, FUMIGA TORS, SOAPS. FLOOR POUSH, EMBROCATION. SULPHUR CANDLES, Ac., de. THE L J SANITAS" CO., ltd., BetUBal GreeB, LOKDOW. _J