The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

DIARY OF COMING ENQAOIEMENfS. Dec. 25—CHRISTMAS DAY. 26—BOXING DAY (BANK HOLIDAY). 26, 4-c. -1"a nto in ime Babes in the Wood at Royalty Theatre. „ 26-Cattte Pair. SO—Quarter Sessions at Castle. +

IRISH REIGN OF TERROR. The sentence of six months' imprison- ment upon Mr. Laurence Ginnell, the Nationalist M.P. for North Westmeath, for contempt of court, may be misrepresented in certain quarters as a sign of Government activity, in stamping out the abominable crime of cattle-driving which is driving many of the peaceable people of Ireland to the verge of despair. The conviction, how- ever, was obtained without the intervention of the Irish Executive, and cannot be claimed as an assertion of the law by Mr. Birrell and his friends. The Government, in fact, have not the courage to tackle their Irish masters. This prosecution took place, because Mr. Ginnell had the audacity to incite the populace to the crime of cattle- driving on property which was under the control of the Chancery Court. That court, with a courage which is sadly lacking in the Irish Executive, is determined to protect the property under its care against the illegal acts of wrong-doers. Mr. Ginnell accord- r5 ingly was summoned for contempt oj court, by interfering with lands under the court's jurisdiction, and Mr. Justice Ross sentenced him in his absence to six months' imprison- ment and to pay the costs. In passing sentence, his lordship made it very clear that the proceedings did not originate with the Executive. He found it proved that the defendant had "incited to cattle-driving and to the boycotting of any man who ventured to do what he had a legal right to do-to take this land for the purpose of feeding his cattle and worse than all, he offered to those who engaged in this illegal act the first and best bit of land. That speech was an incitement to serious crime." Commenting on the disturbed state of the country, the Judge said "I am aware of this form of organised violence. From the time I first called attention to it myself from this bench, it has grown and increased beyond measure and expectation." The people, he said, were incited to invade the property of others in open day, and were taught to pride themselves on breaking the elementary law, on which civilisation depended. The result was "the demoralisa- tion of the people" to an extent never equalled in his memory. If we had men of the stamp of Mr. Justice Ross in command of the government of Ireland, the present tide of crime that disgraces that country would be speedily stemmed. But unfortun- ately we have in his place Mr. Birrell, who pooh-poohed the gravity of the outbreak of crime last July by saying that the lawless- ness "was a very small and limited question as compared with other questions," and that "when one remembers the discontent in the minds of the people, those deeds should not cause any great measure of astonishment." At the same time he spoke of cattle-driving as "technically injuring cattle." To day, however, the Irish Secre- tary has been forced to confess that the situation present^ very grave features which require prompt and speedy and courageous action." But the Irish Executive, while driven to the tardy conclusion that crime is rife throughout a large area of the island, stubbornly decline to take any action calculated to stop the outrages. Mr. Ginnell's prosecution is only the isolated action of the Court of Chancery, and for that action the Irish Executive can take no credit. The Executive apparently are paralysed, while the cowardly intimidators and boycotters do their ghastly work unscathed, and decent folks are deprived of the protection of the law. All the comfort they get is to hear their ministerial repre- sentative talk of "courageous action," which however, ends in talk, and meanwhile the reign of terror spreads and intensifies.

T RADICAL RURAL LEGISLATION. On previous occasions we have called atten- tion to the legislative efforts of the present Government, and have emphaeised the lack of discrimination in the matter of the requirements of country districts as contrasted with the needs of congested areas. A striking case in point is the Probation of Offenders Act of last session, which comes into force on the lfct of January next. The Act repeals the Probation of First Offenders Act, 1887, and ecction 16 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1379, and confers more comprehensive powers on the justices than were contained in tho repealed statute. It provides, inter alia, for the appointment of probation officers during the month of January in each year, the province of such officers being to befriend the offender with a view to his reformation and to bring the culprit before the court, should he prove undeserving of the leniency extended to him. The duties of the probation officers are set out at some length in the Home Secretary's Rules, recently issued, and provision is made for the appointment of female officers for boys and gin's of school age, as well as of women and girJe over 16. The duty of notifying every appointment to the Clerk of the Pea-c-c and Chief Constable is imposed on the Justices' Clerk. Periodical reports are to be furnished to the court by the officers ap- pointed, also an annual report in the month of January on a prescribed form, which last- named report the Justices' Clerk is to forward during the month of February to the Secretary of State. We have omitted reference to several minor provisions, but the foregoing suffices to shew the elaborate nature of the Act and rules and their inapplicability to petty sessional divisions in country districts. It cannot 00 maintained for one moment that country Justioet; have failed to appreciate the value of the Probation Act of 1887, or neglected to utilise its provisions, when it was desirable to do eo, and yet, on enquiry, we find that in six petty sessional divisions in our immediate vicinity there are only two recognizances under the Act of 1887 now in force and that one of these will expire on the 11th January. f

Dr. Macnamara's remarks on the House of Lords are perhaps typical of the attitude of many members of the Radical party, if they would speak out. Answering a suffragette, Dr. Macnamara, while condemning the Lords for acting as the final court of appcaJ on the land question, in which he baYS they are interested owners of tho soil, adds these significant words:—"The best friend the House of Lords has to-day is the Socialist and Independent Labour party, whooe extravagances are causing foany otherwise estimable people to thank God for the House of Lords as a barrier between them and the crude, ill-thought-out feather- headed nostrums of many of those who seek to teach the people from under the banner of the Social Democratic Federation and the Inde- pendent Labour party." 4

The Rev. F. S. M. Bennett, preaching on Sunday in his church, referred to the distress now existing in Chester, and in Christ Church parish, this Christmas. He baid he could not have believed that there was such real poverty as he knew did exist, or a city where there was so much caooal labour. Apparently, on an average, about every six weeks a man lost hie employment. This was a very sad reflection to have at Christmas. We do not wish to make any political capital out of such a distressing state of affairs, but it is pardonable to say that thie fact goc6 to justify the contention that until tbo importation of aliens and of foreign work is pre- vented and our taxation altered, to stop the foreigner sending goods free into this country, such sad statements will, we fear, continue to be made. This alteration rests with the voters.

In a special article to-day a correspondent discusses the seasonable subject of the Cheshire cheese trade in London, a subject on which a variety of opinions has been expressed at dairy shows during the past few years. There seems no reason to doubt that, while the present state of the Cheshire cheese trade in the metropolis is not so satisfactory ae it ought to be, very creditable efforts have been made under the auspices of the local associations to reintroduce this quondam familiar delicacy to the London public. Thanks to Lord Kenyon, the Whitchurch Dairy Farmers' Association were able to give the industry a tremendous advertisement, by in- ducing the King to accept a prizo cheese, which his Majesty pronounced excellent. For many years past men like Mr. Tollemache, Mr. Barbour, and well-known Cheshire landlords have done a friendly turn to the industry, by trying to get the matter brought before the right claas of customers. Both at the Cheshire Dairy Show and at the London Dairy Show the increasing popularity of the Cheshire product was evident, but much remains to be done, before our county cheese gains its proper place in the London market. If every Cheshire farmer, or for the matter of that every patriotic Cheshire man and woman, were to make it a point of honour to atlk for Cheshire cheese at every re6taurant and hotel vieited in London, the effect would be remarks,ble. This might cost the visitor a little inconvenienoc, but he would be acting as a missionary of trade. Big business concerns have been advertised success- fully in this way, by sending people out to ask for a particular commodity. Beyond this, how- ever, some organised effort is required, to con- vinoe, in the first place, the London tradesmen of the real superiority of the Cheshire article over its Canadian competitor, and then to let it have a fair chance on the market. Already our correspondent has been a good missionary, as is shewn by the extensive nature of his enquiries. +

Mr. Charles Linaker, in his trenchant criticism of education affairs, suggests that Dr. Hodgson should resign his chairmanship of the County Education Committee, inter ailia, because of hift bias. There is, however, another reason why the Doctor should not ojocupy his commanding position in regard to elementary education in Cheshire. The statement has been made more than onoe of late that Dr. Hodgson does not con- tribute to the county education rate. At the recent election meeting at Inoo he denied this state- ment. Non-county boroughs like Crewe are excluded from the county for elementary educa- tion rating purposes, although power was given them to join the county, if eo disposed. Crewe, where Dr. Hodgson acquires his quali- fication, has not felt disposed to join with the county for elementary education, preferring to 'I manage its own. Dr. Hodgson, for all we know to the contrary, may have property which is rated to the oounty, but this much is certain that he does not contribute a penny towards the cost of county elementary education through his Crewe property, nor do the Crowe ratepayers whom he represents. The education Act of 1902 expressly prohibits councillors like Dr. Hodgson, who do not represent the county charged with the elementary education rate, from voting in the County Council on elementary education questions, although it has been held un- fortunately that they are allowed to speak on these matters. Such members, we believe, have only a doubtful right to vote on elementary educa- tion in the Education Committee itself. Seeing that the people of Crewe, whom Dr. Hodgson represents in the County Council, have elected to manage their own affairs in matters of ele- mentary education, it is the height of incon- sistency that Dr. Hodgson should not only insist upon speaking and voting on such matters o the county, but should actually sit in the chair at the County Education Committee. The ratepayers: of Crewe, therefore, are in this position, that they: conduct their own elementary education business j without outside interference, and in addition interfere in the elementary education affairs of the oounty, in which they have not one penny interest. The position is rendered BtiJI more intolerable when it is reflected that Dr. Hodgson acts as the leader of that very aggres- sive party who take every opportunity of im- posing extravagant fads upon the county.

LOCAL NEWS. A The Right Hon. Herbert Gladstone and the Earl of Crewe each had an audience of His Majesty on Saturday at Buckingham Palace. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, C.B., on Saturday re-opened a bazaar at Furness Vale Council Schools in aid of the erection of a new church, and the formation of a new parish out of portions of the parishes of Taxal and Disley. Mr. Ellis Griffith, M.P., is spending the Christmas holidays at Lausanne, in Switzerland, where Mrs. Griffith is wintering for the sake of her health and that of her little daughter, who is also delicate. Lord Shrewsbury's daughter, Lady Viola Talbot, was married on Thursday to Mr. Reginald Gore, R.N., H.M.S. Attentive, at the Oratory, Bromp- ton. Father Sebastian Bowden officiated. The young pair left for the Continent after the ceremony. In addition to the proposal to raise a memorial to commemorate the splendid work which Lord Chesham performed for the Imperial Yeomanry, there is a scheme on foot to arrange a Royal Bucks Hussars' memorial to honour his memory. Lord Chesham was Honorary Colonel of this Regiment. The Welsh national testimonial to Mr. D. Emlyn Evans, the Welsh composer, who is well- known in Chester on account of his association as adjudicator with local eisteddfodau, will take place at Llandrindod Wells next Friday. Sir Marchant and Lady Williams and a number of bards and others are expected to be present, A marriage has been arranged between Augustus M. Owen A. Anwyl-Passingham, Middlesex Regiment, youngest son of the late Major Anwyl- Passingham and Mrs. Anwyl-Passingham, of Bala and LI wyngwril, North Wales, and Margaret, fourth daughter of Mr. Radclyffe, of Hyde, Ware- ham, and Foxdenton Hall, Lancashire. The Duke and Duchess of Westminster are entertaining a large party of relatives- at Eaton for the Christmas holidays. Shooting took place yesterday at Pulford, and we under- stand that on Friday the Balderton and Bretton drives will be shot over, also that there will be a meet of the Cheshire Hounds near Eaton during the holidays. A marriage of Cheshire interest was solemnised at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, by the Rev. F. Bryans, on Thursday, when Mr. Walter Guy Antrobus, sixth son of Colonel J. Coutt4 Antrobus, of Eaton Hall, Congleton, was the bridegroom, and Miss Kathleen Frances Broad wood, second daughter of Colonel Arthur Broadwood, C.V.O., was the bride. The South Dorset Conservative and Unionist Association met on Saturday, and formally adopted Sir Elliott Lees as the prospective candidate for the division. Sir Elliott is a Dorsetshire land- owner, has been M.F.H. of the South Dorset Hunt, and commanded the Dorsetshire Imperial Yeomanry in the South African war. He sat in the House of Commons at one time for Oldham, and afterwards for Birkenhead. The Earl of Enniskillen, who was 62 on Satur- day, succeeded his father as fourth earl one-and- twenty years ago. It was Viscount Cole, son and heir to the Earl of Enniskillen, who by way of keeping himself in condition a few years ago took a full daily watch at stoking on board the Carisbrooke Castle, on her vogage from Capetown to Southampton, and was none the worse, says the "Evening Standard," for his interesting if grimy experience. Captain Coningsby Disraeli, who since the last general election has been paying special attention to his work in the Royal Bucks Hussars, has now passed the cavalry pioneers class at the School of Military engineering at Chatham. Captain Disraeli has already gone through the Musketry and Army Service Corps School, has passed the army examination in tactics, has been attached to the Household Cavalry, and has served with the regulars in manoeuvres under Sir Ian Hamilton. MR. YERBURGH'S ENGAGEMENTS.- Mr. Yerburgh spent a busy time last week. On Monday, as will be remembered, he presided at Mr. Bullen's lecture on the Navy at the Music Hall, Chester; on Tuesday he spoke at the Navy League meeting at the Town Hall; on Wednes- day at a similar gathering at Burnley on Thurs- day at a National Service League meeting at Preston; and on Friday at a Navy League meet- ing at Darwen. In addition to the branch of the Navy League formed at Chester last week, branches have been started at Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, Burnley and Darwen within the last three weeks, and a branch of the National Service League at Preston. This is no small record of work for a busy public man. Lord Delai-riere left Mombasa for England on Tuesday. Lady Newton left London on Tuesday after- noon for Lyme Park, Disley. Baron W. H. von Schroder left London on Wednesday for The Rookery, Worleston. Lord Hugh Grosvenor left London on Mon- day for Combermero Abbey, on a visit to Katharine Duchess of Westminster. The Secretary of the Chester General Infirmary begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of £ 500, a legacy under the will of the late Mr. J. Gooddio Holmes. A marriage will take place on Tuesday, the 21st of January, at Christ Church, Higher Be-bington, between Henry Brancker, second son of Richard Braneker, of Heswall, Cheshire, and Winifred Caroline, third daughter of Geo. Henry Eaton, of Corsey Hey, Bebington, Cheshire. While Lord Vernon was motoring on Tues- day afternoon near Poynton Hall, his Cheshire se.wt, a few miles from MaccleefieJd, his oar, in turning a oorncr, dashed into a hedge. Lord Vernon was badly shaken, but escaped further injury, and after receiving attention at a local surgery was driven home in his carriage. "MESSIAH" MUSIC AT ST. PAUL'S.— There was a crowded congregation at St. Paul's Church on Sunday evening, when the whole of Parti, of Handels "Messiah" was rendered at the close of the service'. An augmented choir was under the conductorship of Mr. W. H. Churton, and although the work they had undertaken was of an ambitious nature, it was evident that it was well within their powers. Careful study and practice enabled them to triumph over most of the diffi- culties which present themselves in the choruses. The tendency towards a too continued loudness, which is often a fault in the performance of "Messiah" choruses, was happily relieved by an occasional gradation of expression and where this was attempted it was beautifully done. At other times the congregation were most pleased by a natural lapse into tenderness, perhaps the best of all expressions in sacred music. The solos were ably interpreted by Mr. W. E. Sneison (tenor), Mr. J. H. Diteliburn (bass), Madame Agnes Croxton (soprano) and Miss Edith Randies (contralto), and the organ was efficiently presided over hv Mr. 1L Thomas. [ Lady Acton, wife of Lord Acton, has gireni birth to a son and heir at Bordighera, wher4 she is staying with her fatter and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Henry Lyon, of Appletoa Hall, Cheshire. Both mother and son are dow ing well. Lord and Lady Acton's previous chi dren were girls, now aged respectively two years and one year. Negotiations have just been completed for the purchase by Mr. J. Herbert Roberts, M.P. (Denbighshire West), of the firm of Messrs. David Roberts, Son, and Co., Ltd., timber merchants, of Boo tie and Liverpool, of Dawpool, the charmingly-situated residence at Thurstaston of the late Mr. Thomas H. Ismay. The price paid for the estate is stated to be £ 45,000. The estate contains 380 acres, and provides a fair amount of shooting. Mr. Richard Gerard WellesJey Williams BoikeAey, Baron Hill, Baaunoaris, attains hia majority on the 21st July next, and the overslf will be celebrated by general and qx .cial re- joicings throughout the extensive Baron lfiU estates in Anglesey, where his father, the pre- sent Sir Richard Williams Bulkeley, Bart., and Lady Magdalen Bmkefey are doservecfiy .PGi. Jar, as indeed is Mr. Riohard himself. TRAM RETURNS.—The re* irns for the pasti week of the Corporation Tramv ays shew that on the Saltney section 41,060 passengers had been carried, and had paid £165. 7s. lei. in receipts. Compared with the corresponding week last yecrt, these figures shew a decrease of 1,019 passenger^ and 21. 3s. lid. in receipts. On the Boughtoa section 13,446 passengers have used the cars and have paid the sum of 951. 16s. 4.id. for the use aa1 them. Compared with the corresponding weet last year there is an increase of £ 4. 11s. 5d. and 881 passengers. MILK PRODUCFRS' ASSOCIATION.-A Special meeting of the Council of the Cheshire Milk Producers' Association, was held at C" "8 on Friday last, Mr. Henry Tollemache presiding, to consider a communication from the Royal Agricultural Society of England, inviting tkl association to appoint a representative on the National Agricultural Committee on Tuberculosis, which has just been formed. It was unanimously decided to appoint Mr. James Sadler, the Secretary, to represent the Association on this important committee, which meets in London on January 3rd, 1908. Mr. Sadler has given notice that he will submit proposals from the dairy farmers' point of view, in reference to the proposed new legislation to deal with the mi k supply. HAYRICK AS BEDROOM.—At an occasio: d county police court held on Tuesday at Mr. Churton's office, before Mr. J. W. Croydon, twr labourers of no fixed abode, named James Davit-i and James Conway, were charged with "lee p i n out in a building in the occupation of Richard Ithell, of Upton Hall, Upton, on the Farrw. morning. The evidence shewed that the di?,- fondants were found asleep in a hayrick at 3 a.m^ bv a constable. When aroused from theif slumber defendants were found to be under thtf influence of drink, and in Davies's possession was found a box of matches.-P.S. Jackson saio that was the way farm fires were oaueed.—ThO magistrate took a kniei.. view of tho case and discharged the men. CHESTER PANTOMIME.—The chief amuse- ment for t!:e Christmas season in Chester will ba the grand pantomime "Babes in the Wood, which opens on Boxing Day with a matinee ati two o'clock. The lyrics of this nursery play arè by Mr. J. Gar Kiddie, and have been set M pretty music. The management of the theatif have engaged the following artists:—Miss Ciesw! Kingsley, Miss Anena Walton, Miss Nora PreD" dergast, Mies Katie La Blanche, Miss Gertrude Halle, Baby Lillebelle, La Belle Sylvia, Mess; Harry Alberry, T. D. Tandy, Sammy Foster, Conan and Doyle, Leonard Charlee, the Lohreni Quartette, the Hammersley Ballet Troupe at Lady Dancers, and the Wambas. In addition there will be a ballet and full chorus. Perforrco ances will be given every evening until furtheaf notice, and matinees on Boxing Day, Fridayb Saturday this week, and each Wednesday andp Saturday during the pantomime season. THE INFIRMARY BALL.—The Mayor df Chester begs to acknowledge with thanks th# receipt of the following donations to the Infirmary Ball fund Miss Hobday, 91. Is.; Mrs. HonoratuS Lloyd, £ 1. Is. Mrs. B. U. Roberts, 21, is. Mrs. Chas. J. Hobbs, £1. la. Mrs. J. Stuart Goold, £1. Is.; Mrs. Robertson, PI. Is.; Mrs. Aldersey, £1. Is.; Mrs. Chas. E. Hope, £1. Is. Mrs. F. W. Hayes, £1. Is.; Mrs. Okell, £1. Is. Hon. Mrs. Cecil Parker, £1. Is. Mrs. H. F. Brown, £1. Is. ) Mrs. France Hayhurst, £ 2. 2s. Mrs. Jas. G. Frost, 21. Is. Mrs. W. D. Joliffe, 4;1. Is. Mrs. Anthony Dodd, £1. Is. Mrs. Darby, £ J. h.; Miss Darsie, £ 1. le. Mrs. C. M. Nicholson, m. Is.; Mrs. Jas. Taylor, 91. Is.; Mrs. A. 0. Preston, £ 1. Is. Miss Sneyd Kynnersley, jEl. 1,4.1 Mrs. E. B. Swetenham, jEl. Is. Mr. Ambrose Roberts, El. Is. Mrs. G. Chur- ton, 21. Is.; Mrs. Elliott, £1. 1B. Mra. Douglas Dobie, £ 1. Is.; Mrs. Tyrer, £ 1. la.; Mrs. H. J. Birch, £ 1. Is. Mis8 Kelaal, £ 1. ls.'f Mrs. Rogerson, 4;1. Is. Mrs. Welsby, JB1. Is. i Mrs. C. P. Douglas, £1. Is. Mrs. G. W. Hayes. :Cl. Is.; Mrs. Francis Barnston, Cl. Is Mrs. F. Skipwith, £ 1. Is. Mrs. Peter Jones, JE1. Is. J Mrs. Blagden, £ 1. Is. Mrs. E. Powell, £ 1. Is. I Mrs. R. Shand, £ 1. la. THE LATE COLONEL LANGFORD. BROOKE.—Much regret was expressed on Tuesday morning in the Knutsford district on the announcement that Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Lewis B. Langford-Brooke, the Squire of Mere, had died at his residence, Mera Hall. The Colonel, who was 65 years of age, had been ailing for sotne time, and latterly had been confined to the house. He was the eldest son of Mr. Henry William White, of Monar, County Ross, and Lentran, Inverness, who died in ]875. The Colonel, who assumed the name of Langford., Brooke by royal licence in 1874, was educated .»» Eton, and joining the Army became Captain ifl the 60th Rifles, and subsequently Major and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd Battalion, the Cameronian Highlanders. Colonel Langforch Brooke, who was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Elginshire, married in 1877 Elizabeth, daughte* of Mr. Ferdinand Hanbury Williams, of Cold brooke Park, Monmouthshire. Succe*t!<'n<^ his aunt, the Hon. Mrs. Keane, in the ownership ol the Mere estate in 1894, he proved himself one of the best type of Cheshire landlords, and was greatly esteemed by his tenantry, in whoor wel- fare he showed keen interest. He was a membes of the Tarporley Hunt club, and had been President of the Mid-Cheshire Farmers' Show. The funeral took place at Tabley on Friday, a was attended by representatives of all the neiglf bouring county families. The farm tenants met at the Hall, and walked in procession a mile and a half to the church, and the coffin was borne on » wheeled bier, which was drawn by eight of tht estate workmen. The principal mourners were Mrs. Langford-Brooke, Major Throckmorton, Mr. Montagu White, Miss White, the Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Mr. and Mrs. Waldyve Martin, Mr. J. H. Martin, Mr. Dick-Cunyugham, Me, Hunter, Mr. Cecil Hunter, Mr. T. Algernon Earle, Mr. J. Earle, and Mr. Tom Egerton. The cortegfl was met by Sir Harry Mainwaring, Bart., Col. H. C. Legh, the Hon. J. E. Cross, Sir Frank and Lady Forbes-Adam, Mr. Ronald Forbes-Adam* Colonel Dixon, Mr. George Davies, Mr. J.Ussher, Mr. George Egerton Warburton, Mr. Thomalt Tatton, and Colonel H. A. Birley. The inter- ment was witnessed by a large gathering of cottagers and others, by whom the Colonel had been highly regarded. DEATH OF MR. GOMER WELSH.—W«j regret to record the death of Mr. Gomer Weishi which occurred at his residence, Kekborrovf House, Dehtmere, on Sunday. The deceased haxj been ailing for some time, and his death wa4 not altogether unexpected. He was a very well- known Cestrian. For over 30 years ho had carried on the business of a builder and con* tractor in the city, his premises being in Selleii« street. Mr. Welsh carried out numerous con- tracts in the district, perhaps his most prominent work being the alteration and renovation ofi Bishop Lloyd's Palace and the adjoining prof perty for the late Mr. Charles Brown, and aIOOJ(- wards the late Mr. Frank Brown. The deceasecf was a prominent Nonconformist local preaoheci, For many years he was identified with the City* road Presbyterian Church, being one of ital supporters. He devoted much of hie time to lajj preaching, and was a familiar figure in tW country churches. Though a staunch Froo Churchman, Mr. Welsh took no part in ttifel" Passive Resistance farce. Some six or oeveo years ago he moved from Tarvin-road, where Vd had long resided, to live in a pleasantly-situated residence at Delamere. Here he associated hinv self with the local chapel. Deceased was an; ardent supporter of the temperance cause, being! actively connected with the Chester CShristjap! Temperance Society. He was also interested iy? raseue work, and was connected with the Cit-jr- Mission, serving on the committee. He was 67 years of age, and leaves a widow, three daughteqjf and two sons, all grown up. His sons are weft known in the city, one being Dr. J. Welsh, o £ Tarvin-road, and the other an art master, whty was formerly at the Grosvenor Museum, and latterly in the service of the Fiintsrire County Council. The funeral will take p'acc to-uiorrOVZ (Thursday) at the Chester Cemetery, the firw portion of the servioe being at the Bseftbjrte&aa Church* at 2