The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

I'ESTITAII OF CITT CHURCH CHOIBS.—For the '°Urth consecutive year the Chester Church ^hoirs united in holding a festival—or what Ight be more appropriately termed a special by the combined choirs—in the Cathedral on Wednesday. Despite the ^clemency of the weather there was a large Ongregation. The voices numbered about 300, nd embraced the Cathedral and Nave Choirs, John's, St. Oswald's, St. Michael's St. liter's, St. Paul's, St. Mary's-on-the- §ill, Holy Trinity, and the Diocesan gaining College. Dr. Bridge conducted, d Mr. J. T. Hughes presided at the *5?an. The Precentor and the Rev. Canon e eeden intoned the prayers, the Dean and ~&Hon Feilden read the lessons respectively, the sermon was preached by the Rev. v?non Tetley (Bristol). The anthem was ^ozart's O God, Lord God, when Thou y^pearest," and it was exceedingly effective. fact the whole of the music was rendered th a capital swing and excellent precision, Dr. Bridge is to be complimented on having his forces admirably in hand. The offer- „ ry was devoted towards the expenses of the tvice.

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MAYOR CHOOSING AT CHESTER. « RE-ELECTION OF COL. H. T. BROWN. On Friday at noon, the Town Council of Chester assembled at the Town Hall to elect a Mayor and Sheriff for the ensuing civic year. It was generally known that Col. H. T. Brown had, in compliance with the unanimously ex- pressed wish of both parties in the Council, again consented to occupy the important office of Mayor, and the fact had given satisfaction to all sections of citizens. The unanimity which prevailed con- cerning the election of both Mayor and Sheriff made it extremely improbable that there would be any of those scenes in which some people rejoice so much, and possibly for this reason the attendance of the general public was not so large as possible. All the members of the Council were. present, with the ex- ception of the absentee representative for Boughton, and the citizens present included the Revs. E. C. Lowndes, F. T. Stonex, J. L. Bedford. F. Barnes' J. A. Cheeseman. Colonel J. Sheriff Roberts, Major Bryan Johnson, Dr. Ambler, Messrs. J. W. Huke, J. Hobday, C. Cooper, A. E. Caldecutt, W. Trubshaw, Jolliffe, Churton, jun., F. Turner, R. Walton, H. G. Hope, T. W. Griffiths, George J. Roberts, J. W. Hincks, Alexander Hornby, G. H. Evans, W. W. Tasker, J. Prince, Harvey Lowe, G. F. Clough, Walter Spencer, Pearson, W. V. J. Walley, A. E. Jones, R. J. Williams, W. Chalton, H. W. Lovett, E. H. Thomas, S. A. Clemence, H. Crowder, R. E. Dodd, Whelan, F. Coveney, Barber, Pierce, E. T. Hallmark, G. Barlow, W. Harrison, J. Camm, E. Pitchford, J. E. Haswell, &c., with a number of ladies. THE ELECTION. I Alderman H. T. Brown (the retiring Mayor), who presided, said: The first business on the agenda is the election of Mayor. Has any gentle- man any name to propose? (Applause.) Mr. B. C. Roberts: Mr. Mayor and gentle- men, I understand that at the General Purposes Committee on Wednesday last, at which I am sorry to say I was not present, you, Mr. Mayor, consented to act in the capacity in which I see you now for another year. (Ap- plause.) In doing so, you are increasing the debt of gratitude now due to you from the Council and the city generally, and making still greater their obligation to you. Gentlemen, I think it is superfluous for me to enter into any elaborate explanation of the excellent credentials which our Mayor possesses for the position which he has filled during the past year and for which we hope to elect him to-day. He has throughout the year of his office been an undoubted success, if I may say so. (Applause.) And in performing his duties I think it is safe to say that he is quite unrivalled. (Applause.) It is therefore our duty before all things to-day to thank him for his services during the past year, and in performing his duties in every respect to the satisfaction, 1 think, of the city and to the very great credit of himself. Gentlemen, the Mayor has attended, and been called upon to attend by reason of his office, many functions during the year-some im- portant and some pleasant, some, unfortunately, mournful; he has also organised functions, official and social. In all these his good judgment and his tact have been conspicuous. In thanking the Mayor, gentlemen, for the performance of his duties during the past year, we must not forget-we should not like to forget-the very admirable and amiable assistance which he has received from Mrs. Brown. (Applause.) Our thanks are due to her for her frequent and thoughtful consideration for all sections of the community, and I may, I think, conclude by saying that it is our earnest hope that in the coming year both the Mayor and Mayoress may have health and strength to perform the duties which we are about to impose upon them. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I will, therefore, Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, formally propose that Alderman Henry Thomas Brown be Mayor for the ensuing year. (Applause.) Alderman i John Jones (St. Oswald's): Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen,—Twelve months ago it was my privilege to second a similar nomination to the one which has just been sub- mitted to you by the High Sheriff, Mr. B. C. Roberts. (Applause.) It is with equal pleasure, if not surpassed pleasure, that I rise to second the nomination he has just submitted to you. (Hear, hear.) In Alderman Henry Thomas Brown as Mayor we have had a gentleman who has performed the duties of the office not only to the satisfaction of the members of this Council, but to the unbounded satisfaction, I think, of every citizen of this old and anvient city. (Ap- plause.) I think, gentlemen, that the very best evidence of satisfaction with the way in which the Mayor has performed his duties is found in the fact that we are about, as members of the Council, to unanimously appoint him to the office for another year. (Applause.) I feel certain that the unanimous wish of the Council will meet with the unbounded satisfaction of the citizens at large. Without detaining the Council further, I beg to associate myself veiy heartily with everything that has been so ably and so fittingly said by the High Sheriff, and most sincerely and heartily second the nomination. (Applause.) THE MAYOR'S REPLY. THE AMALGAMATION QUESTION. The Mayor then made the customary declara- tion, and the news of his election was immediately announced to the city by a merry peal of the Cathedral bells. On rising to make his acknowledgment, his Worship was greeted with general acclamation. He said: Gentle- men of the Council and fellow-citizens, my first duty is to return my most grateful thanks to the High Sheriff and ,Mr. Alderman Jones for the very kind words which they have used towards me in proposing to you that I shall be elected to the office of Mayor for another year; and my thanks are doubly due for the very kind words which the High Sheriff has used towards my wife. It has been a great assistance to me that my wife has been so deeply interested in the duties devolving upon her as Mayoress, and has furthered all the little efforts I have been able to make in carrying out the duties of the position. (Hear, hear.) When it was first suggested to me that I should allofr my name to be submitted to you to-day, I must confess that I had very grave difficulties in assenting to that proposition. In the first place I think that under ordinary circumstances it is per- haps hardly wise to depart from the rule that the Mayor should be elected for one year only, but my scruples were overcome with some little difficulty, because I am in a position, as a professional man, which renders it somewhat difficult to combine the duties of my profession with the public duties of the Mayoralty. During the past year I have endeavoured, as far as possible, that my pro- fessional duties should not interfere in any way with the official duties of the Mayoralty, and I sincerely hope that during the coming year, during which you have elected me as your Mayor, so far as the official duties are con- cerned they will never suffer from the other calls upon my time. But there are around the official duties of the Mayoralty a fringe of smaller duties which occupy a very large pro- portion of the time of the Mayor. I must ask the public—I do so with much regret—to be good enough to consider that in the second year of office to a professional man it is rather a serious matter to have his time much en- croached upon by duties of that kind. (Hear, hear.) I am quite certain with regard to the official duties both within this council and also as Chief Magistrate of the city, that I shall continue to have the help which I experienced during the past year both from the gentlemen of the Council and also from my colleagues on the Bench. I do not ask for that, because I have received it during the past year so kindly that I am quite sure, without asking it, that it will be extended to me during the ensuing year. Will you allow me for a few moments to recall to your minds some of the interesting facts that have occurred during the past year, and also to some that we may look forward to in the future. The past year was, no doubt, a very interesting and exciting year. In all the exciting scenes of the departure of the troops from here to the seat of war we had all the excitement of that war. In addition to that we were honoured by a visit from Her Majesty the Queen which will ever remain, I think, a very interesting and historical event in the annals of the city. We have also had lately the celebration of the coming of age and the return from South Africa of our noble neigh- bour, the Duke of Westminster. (Applause.) Those are all circumstances that are of great interest to us in Chester, and to a certain extent historical to our city, But in addition to that we have had a great many sorrows in connection with the war. We have had a great many sorrows within this Council j we have lost within the short period of twelve months many most valuable lives—valuable in a great many positions in the city, and most valuable in this Council. I will not mention names, because they are all remembered among us, but we cannot help, upon an occasion of this kind but feel the great loss which Chester sustained by the places that are left vacant by the gentlemen to whom I refer. In municipal matters we have not at all been idle during the past twelve months. We have made a great stride and advance towards the purification of our river by the scheme which I may say is now about to be carried out for the purification of the effluent of our drainage into the river. That is, I think, a very wise step, and a very important step, because it is the keynote to the purifica- tion of the whole of one of the most beautiful rivers in the kingdom. Having placed our house in order we will then be in a position to use our influence both by persuasion and in other ways with other authorities that are in- terested in the river, to restore that beautiful river to the purity which ought never to have been destroyed. Then we are also taking a very important step by acquiring the tramways. As you are aware, we are about to purchase the tramways, and to obtain powers from Parliament to work those tram- ways with the greatest advantage, not only to ourselves, but also, I am glad to think, of our neighbours. Not only are we going to do that, I hope, successfully, prudently, and profitably to the city, but, I think we are, in doing so, adding another link to that chain which is binding us more firmly year by year to the neighbourhood and surroundings of Chester. By that I mean that our outskirts are becoming so populous and so dependent upon Chester that I look forward to the time, which I do not think will be very far off, when we shall have a greater Chester—when the surroundings of Chester will be incorporated within the city itself. (Hear, hear.) Then we have also, I hope-I speak under correction from Alder- man Churton, who is the chairman of the com- mittee-to look forward to the time when next season the baths will be completed and fit for use. It has been a very long-delayed improvement to the city; but possibly there has been no harm in the delay, and we shall now have as perfect a system of baths as is necessary for the convenience of the citizens. I confidently look forward to that improvement during the year. I must not detain you longer but to again express my most sincere thanks to the High Sheriff and to Mr. Alderman Jones for the kind words they have used towards me, and also for the kindness and confidence which you have all reposed in me by a second time electing me to the position of Chief Magistrate of the city. I beg to thank you all most heartily. (Applause.) The Mayor, in conclusion, invited the citizens to accompany him in attending divine service at the Cathedral on Sunday morning. THE NEW SHERIFF. Mr. J. F. Lowe proposed that Mr. Edgar Dutton should be elected to the ancient and honourable office of Sheriff. (Applause.) Mr. Dutton had been a member of the Council for some years; he was a member of the School Attendance Committee, which alone deserved some consideration at their hands; and he was also an independent and fearless councillor, and he (Mr. Lowe) wished they were all as fearless. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr. Edgar Dutton as Sheriff for the ensuing year.- (Applause.) Mr. G. Reynolds, in seconding, said Mr. Edgar Dutton was so well known to them that it was not necessary for him to expatiate on his many qualifications for that office. Whatever Mr. Dutton took in hand he did with all his mind. About 700 years ago a sheriff of Chester was slain in the performance of his duty, a fate which he sincerely hoped would not happen to their friend. Whatever the duties of the office might be, he was sure Mr. Dutton would dis- charge them with characteristic energy. Mr. Dutton was an old member of the Council, he was a freeman of the city., he belonged to an old family in the city, and he took consider- able interest in the City Guilds, and he (Mr. Reynolds) was sure he was a very fit and proper person to have honour conferred upon him. (Applause.) The proposition was warmly carried, and Mr. Dutton, amid applause, then assumed the robes and insignia of office, afterwards making the usual declaration. In returning thanks for the honour they had conferred upon him, he re- marked that he was a freeman of the city by birth and servitude, and he was chairman of the City Guilds, one of t ue oldest societies in the country at the present day. They paid in connection with the City Guilds about X900 to the old men and for the education of some of the children of freemen, and that he thought was a great saving to the rates of the city. It was very pleasing to see the great improvements that were taking place in the old city to-day, and particularly the sanitary improvements in their courts and alleys for the benefit of the health of the poor. (Hear, hear.) He thanked Mr. Lowe for the way in which he had proposed him, and also for their long friendship, and he thanked Mr. Reynolds for the very kind words he had spoken on his behalf. He also congratulated the Mayor on his election for the second time to the office of chief magistrate, and he was sure the Council could not have made a better choice among the whole of the Council. (Applause.) THANKS TO THE RETIRING SHERIFF. Dr. Roberts proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Sheriff, Mr. Lamb, who had discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Council and the citizens generally. Mr. Vernon seconded and the proposition was warmly carried. Mr. Lamb, in returning thanks, offered the Mayor his hearty and sincere congratulations on his re-election, and wished him a pleasant and happy year. He also associated himself with the High Sheriff's remarks with reference to the Mayoress, and hoped she would have an enjoyable year too. If he had conducted the duties and responsibilities of Sheriff for the past year to the satisfaction of the town and of the Council, he felt consoled, and he tendered to the Council his sincere and hearty thanks for their vote of thanks. (Applause.) THE DEPUTY MAYOR. The Mayor appointed Dr. Stolterfoth as his deputy. The various committees were appointed, and the Mayor was re-elected a director of the Chester Race Company. THE DUKE'S RETURN. The Mayor suggested that a copy of the address of welcome presented to the Duke of Westminster be entered on the Council's minutes, and also the reply of the Duke.—The suggestion was adopted. THE ADVANTAGES OF MOTOR CARS. Alderman Churton having regard to the interesting letter that appeared in the Courant" on the subject of motor cars being used in Chester, and with- out expressing any opinion on the sub- ject, asked if the Council would take care, in the Act of Parliament they were seeking, to obtain powers to run motor cars either alone or supplementary to tram cars. Thtre might be some parts of the city where it would not be desirable to put down tram lines, and where they should have power to run motor cars. The Town Clerk said in the rough first draft of the Bill which would presently come before the Council it was proposed that power be taken to run omnibuses, and of course there would be no difficulty in adding to that power to ran motor cars, if so desired. Alderman Churton moved that it be an instruction to the committee that they sought to have that power added in a clause to the Bill. Mr. Holmes, in seconding, said he had ex- pressed the opinion for a long time that motor cars would be the mode of travelling which they should introduce. Mr. Lamb: Motor buses and that sort of thing are all very well, but why should we buy the trams P Alderman Churton: It is only to get the power. I express no opinion. The proposition was carried.

HOOLE FIRE BRIGADE.—On Tuesday evening an alarm of fire at Thornton was raised in Hoole, and the brigade promptly turned out for service. The District Council has just comv pleted an arrangement with Mr. W. H. Hallmark to horse the fire engine, and the experiment on Tuesday night was highly satisfactory. A telephonic message was sent to Mr. Hallmark at 7.35, and in the space of nine and a half minutes the team was at the fire station. A full complement of men mustered under Surgeon-Lieutenant Butt and Lieutenant Atkin, and drove as far as Trafford. On arrival there the brigade discovered that they had been the victims of a hoax perpetrated by their officers, who had tried this practica 1 experiment for the purpose of testing the promptitude of the turn-out. Beyond doubt HORNIMAN'S PURE TEA is of wonderful value, refined flavour, delioious to the palate and invigorating to the system. Sold by Chester: Spencer, 36, Bridge street; Co- operative Society; Moss, 68, Brook-street; Prit- chard, Christleton-road; Cryer, 96A, Foregate-st.; Jones & Davies, bakers, Hoole. Lee, chemist, Neston. Swindells, baker, Little Sutton. Langford, gracer, Tarvin. Birkenhead Dutton, chemist; ay wood, chemist; Packwood, grocer. Rhuddlan: Roberts, grocer. New Ferry: Fawcett, chemist. Upper Brighton: Somerville, Garratt, chemist. Bromborough Pool: Co-op. Society. Mynydd Isa: Co-op. Society. Frodsham: Baker. Tarporley Dunning. Tattenhall: Bateman. Hoylake: Smith, grooer. Mold Junction: Co-op. Society. Flint: Williams, grocer. Connah's Quay: Smith, grooer.

CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. 0 QUARTERLY MEETING. A quarterly meeting of the Cheshire County Council was held on Thursday at Chester Castle, the chairman (Colonel Dixon) presiding over a small attendance. THE LATE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. A letter was received from the Secretary of State acknowledging the resolution passed at the last meeting conveying a message of sympathy in the bereavement sustained by her Majesty the Queen by the death of H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh. JOINT FISHERY COMMITTEE. Alderman John Thompson moved the re- election as representatives of the Council on the Joint Fishery Committee for the district of the river Dee of Messrs. W. Congreve, John Thompson, J. J. Evans, George Wall, and the Rev. C. Wolley-Dod, and the election of the Hon. Henry Holbrook, a former member of the com- mittee who represented the Fishery Board on the Western Fisheries, in place of Mr. S. H. Sand- bach, who had made no attendances at the meet- ings of the committee during the year. This proposition was agreed to. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. Mr. Thornycroft, in moving the adoption of the Technical Instruction Committee s minutes, remarked that the order made at the last Council meeting was passed owing to a misunderstanding. He understood there were two issues before the Council, one that the step was thought inadvisable and the other that the Council thought the committee had exceeded their powers. The committee did not wish to act in the slightest spirit of opposition to the Council. They considered the matter most carefully, and came to the conclusion it was a step which they really ought to take. Mr. Roger Bate seconded the motion, and it was carried. ABATEMENT OF SWINE FEVER. The Chief Constable, in his report to the Executive Committee under the Diseases of Animals Act, stated there was a considerable decrease in the number of outbreaks of swine fever in the petty sessional divisions of Broxton, Chester Castle, Eddisbury and Wirral. Mr. C. B. Davies, in moving the adoption of the minutes, said the. order of the Board of Trade as to swine fever had been revoked, and that the Chief Constable (Colonel Hamersley) informed him in consequence that the Cheshire order was revoked automatically. He therefore hoped that they were now within sight of the end of the harrassing restrictions under which farmers had been labouring. Mr. George Cooke seconded, and the motion was carried. POLLUTION OF THE MERSEY. MANCHESTER SEWAGE THE CAUSE. Mr. T. W. Killick, in moving the adoption of the minutes of the Rivers Mersey and Irwell Watershed Joint Committee, said it had fre- quently been stated that the Mersey within the Cheshire boundaries was in a very foul condition. One reason for this, he pointed out, was the bad state of the Manchester sewerage. It was within the knowledge of the Council that the Joint Com- mittee had taken strong measures to compel the Manchester Corporation to do their duty. He was glad to call the attention of the Council to the fact that two resolutions had been passed by the Manchester Corporation, one adopting the scheme recommended by the Local Government Board for sewage disposal and purification, and the other deciding to make application to the Local Government Board for sanction to borrow a large sum of money in order to carry out the scheme for Manchester. He thought it was a matter for congratulation that the great authori- ties in the watershed of the Mersey and Irwell had really tackled this question of river pollution. He assumed that the Manchester Corporation, having made up its mind upon a particular plan of sewage treatment, would carry that plan out. He thought the recent instance of the Man- chester Corporation justified them in relying upon their energy and practical commonsense and public spirit to carry this work to a successful solution. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Barlow and carried. OPERATION OF THE INEBRIATES ACT. The minutes of the General Purposes Com- mittee shewed that a letter had been received from the organising secretary of the Chester Diocesan Branch of the Church of England Tem- perance Society as to the Council putting into operation the Inebriates Act, 1898. A letter was also received from the warden of the Royal Victoria Home, Brentry, near Bristol (an institu- tion intended for the reception of male and female inebriates of all classes and creeds pro- vided they are committed under the Inebriates Act), as to the terms upon which they were willing to receive patients into the Home under that Act. The terms and conditions were fixed on a distinctly favourable basis, and a condition of a contract with any authority was that the period of agreement was to be five or more years, during which the Council were not to procure accommodation at other reformatories for persons convicted under the Act unless such persons could not be admitted into the reforma- tories of the Homes.—It was resolved that the Clerk be authorised to secure five beds in the Royal Victoria Homes at Brentry, at an annual sum of £100, on the conditions named. LAND FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. It appeared from the minutes of the Military Lands Act Committee that the Clerk was in- structed to write to the commanding officers of all the Volunteer Battalions of the Cheshire Regiment and explain the powers of the County Council under the Military Lands Acts 1892 and 1900, with reference to the purchase of land for military purposes, and enquire whether, having regard to such powers, they desired either separ- ately or collectively, to make any proposals to the County Council, as, if iio, the same would receive the careful consideration of the committee, who would report to the County Council thereon. The Chairman informed the Council that the Volunteer colonels throughout the county had accordingly been written to and informed of the powers the Council possessed under the Act, and asked for their requirements. When the replies had been received the committee would meet again and consider what to do in order to meet their requirements. COUNTY FINANCES. The minutes of the Finance Committee shewed that the accountant had prepared the revised estimates on account of the year ending 31st March next, with certain additions, including the cost of providing beds under the Inebriates Act. Dr. Atkinson, in moving the confirmation of the minutes, laid before the Council the revised estimates and receipts and expenses for the current financial year, shewing that the amount required to be raised during the second six months equalled a rate of 2d. in the B, the adoption of which he moved. He said it would be in the recollection of the County Council that at the May Council meeting it was hoped that upon the reconsideration of the estimates, which would take place at the end of the half-year, there would be some room for a reduction in the county rate then estimated, and that the Council would be able to order for the second six months of the year a less rate in the £ but they regretted that this could not be. The Finance Committee had very carefully considered the matter, and, although the balance to credit at present was perhaps abnormally high, it had been brought about mainly owing to the fact that the Government had paid over to the county, for licences and estate duties, more than was ex- pected, and thus the balance to-day was higher than perhaps it had ever been before; and the public should know that the cause of this was not from any extraordinary amount received by the levy of rates. The amount of the county rate agreed upon at the last May rrleeting was at the rate of 5d. in the £ for the year, being 2 £ d. in the £ for each half year, and the committee feared that they must abide by this because, although they had received during the past six months the large sums from the Government on account of the Government duties, such monies were a very uncertain quantity, and might be less for the six months of the financial year which they had now entered upon. Another reason that had influenced the committee to retain the county rate at the amount estimated was because there had been a further increase on account of the estimated cost of the maintenance of main roads, attributed by the Main Roads Committee to the larger mileage they had now to keep in repair and maintain. Under the circumstances the committee thought it better on this occasion to recommend the Council to levy the county rate as estimated in May last and leave it to the new financial year to see whether any substantial re- duction could be made. Of course, the ratepayers got the benefit of the additional receipts from the Government as they came in, because they were taken into account in reduction of expenditure, and reduced the amount of rate required. The credit balance at the present time was £ 83,000, and they had bills and accounts which provided also for expenditure to be met before the meeting of the County Council in February next, amount- ing to £ 78,807 4s. Id. The credit balance this time last year was 276,805, and the amount of the quarterly bills then submitted £ 61,518 19s. lid. With regard to the cost of the erection of the new buildings at Upton Asylum, they had spent £92,450 14s. 5d., and had taken up loans to the amount of P,93,737, thus leaving the com- mittee with a small sum for discharging inci- dentals. The proceedings for providing additional accommodation at Parkside Asylum were now taking form, the committee had had several meet- ings, and had deoided upon what the undertaking should comprise; and it is now proposed to pro- vide for additional beds for 206 patients and epileptic wards for 50 patients, a nurses' home or rest, and other expenditure for covering the cost of fire-proof stair exit, heating apparatus, im- provements to farm, and architects' commission, and clerk of the works, etc., making an estimated total cost of £ 73,348 14s.; and the County Council to-day were asked for a grant of 275,000 in order to cover this. This expenditure would of course be provided by loans, which would be taken up from time to time as the work proceeded, and added to the capital debt of the county. The county debt now stood at the sum of £ 134,39L Mr. John Thompson seconded the resolution, and it was carried. ENLARGEMENT OF PARKSIDE ASYLUM. Colonel J. Coutts Antrobus informed the Council that the Commissioners in Lunacy had, with slight modifications, approved the plans for the enlargement of the Parkside Asylum, and that the county architect had estimated that a sum of L75,000 would be required for carrying out the same. He moved that a grant be made out of the county fund of a sum not exceeding £75,000 for the purpose of carrying out such plans. Mr. F. Greg, in seconding, said he understood the accommodation at Upton Asylum was be- coming rapidly absorbed. Mr. John Thompson: The Council will be glad to learn that although the accommodation at Upton Asylum is being absorbed, it is not being absorbed at the rate it was some time ago. (Hear, hear.) This I confirm by the report of the Lunacy Commissioners, who think we have got to the summit of the wave, and we may now look forward to a time when the increase of lunacy will not be so great as it has been. Dr. Hodgson having spoken in favour of the proposition, it was carried.

A NEW DUST DESTRUCTOR. 9 INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. There was a large gathering on Friday after- noon, in a marquee erected at the Shot Tower Wharf, Waterloo Bridge, London, when Mr. Walter Emden, L.C.C., Chairman of the Strand Board of Works, presided at the inauguration of the dust destructor which had been set up to meet the needs of a district which, re- membering that it has to deal with all the waste of Covent Garden Market, it need hardly be said are considerable.—Mr. Emden, in the course of his remarks, explained how under the old method the refuse had to be carried away down the Thames in barges. Now, by the use of the Horsfall destructor, they not only dealt with the material in a more hygienic manner, but they got a residuum of from a quarter to one-third of the refuse put into the destructor which was of a nature that could be converted in- to mortar, concrete, or builders' sand. Examples of the manufactures from the by-products were displayed at the inaugural proceedings and greatly interested those who were present. Mr. Littler, Q.C., who said he spoke as an old vestryman, and one who had played his part in the administration of London, congratulated the Strand Board on the step it had taken. Fulham, too, would soon be in the position of having one of these destructors, which would do away with all the annoyance and inconveni- ence of the old system. It should be explained that the destructor consists of six cells or furnaces, and that the feeding arrangement is such that no handling of the refuse is necessary, the contents of the vans being tipped directly into the furnaces. The forced draught is obtained by patent adjustable silent steam blowers, and to intercept any particle of dust on leaving the main flue, a patent dust catcher is provided. A single overhead railway is carried round the furnaces for clinkering, and there is a hoist to convey the trucks to the level of the wharf. The cost of the destructor has been £10,200, as shewn in the report signed by Mr. A. Ventris and Mr. F. Robinson, surveyor and solicitor respectively to the Board. —(The "Globe.")

DEATH OF THE REV. W. VENABLES WILLIAMS. 4 The Rev. W. Venables Williams, M.A. for thirty-three years vicair of Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, which embraced the popular resort of Colwyn Bay, died yesterday morning, in the seventy- fourth year of his age. Not only was the deceased one of the foremost public men in the district of Colwyn Bay, but he was one of the most rmarkable clergymen in Wales. He re- membered Colwyn Bay when it had not a single house, with the exception of the Pwllycrochan Hotel, and during his long residence in the dis- trict he took a leading part in its development. For many years he was chairman of the Colwyn Bay Local Board, and for a quarter of a century he occupied a like position in relation to the Conway Board of Guardians. He was also the senior magistrate for the division. He had a wonderful grasp of magisterial matters, and of affairs connected with local government, his knowledge of poor-law administration being altogether unique. He was straightforward and outspoken to a fault. The deceased gentleman, who came from one of the county families of Denbighshire, took a keen interest also in antiquarian research, and published a history of Llandrillo, the church of which is probably one of the most picturesque in the Principality. He was thrice married, and leaves one son, Dr. Montague V. Williams, of Colwyn Bay. The funeral took place on Monday in the picturesque churchyard of Llandrillo-yn-Rhos. The large and representative concourse of people that paid their last tribute of respect included members of all the public bodies with which he had been so prominently associated. There was a large attendance of clergymen, and the last rites were performed by four who had served under the late vicar as curates. These were the Revs. John Griffiths, vicar, Old Colwyn; Joseph Williams, rector of Llanychain Stanley Davies, vicar of Wrexham; and R. J. Oliver, curate, Llandrillo. The grave lay side by side with that of the late Mr. John Porter, affectionately known as the Father of Colwyn Bay, who was for thirty years the vicar's warden. The chief mourners included Mrs. Venables-Williams, widow, and Dr. Montagu Venables-Williams, son. The service was of an impressive character.

ADVICE TO MOTHERS !—Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pains of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP, which has been used over 50 years by millions of mothers for their children while teething, with perfect success. It is pleasant to taste, produces natural, quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allay all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Sold by Chemists everywhere at Is. lid. per bottle. How WAR HAS AFFECTED TEA. The following extracts are from a letter sent to us by Messrs. Brooke, Bond and Co., tea merchants, on How War has Affected Tea We cannot now do without tea. It has become a national beverage, and, as such, those events which are likely to increase or diminish its supply, affect its quality, or cheapen or render dearer its cost, are of interest to everyone. The present year will be remembered by tea drinkers generally. The action of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in March, in increasing the duty from 4d. to 6d. per lb. was extensively commented upon, for it had the immediate effect of increasing the iprice of all teas 2d. per lb. This, it was thought at the time, would be readily paid. The consumer, however, who has to-day to pay about 20 per cent. more for table commodities than he did a year ago, and finds that a sovereign now will only buy what 16s. bought then, has to draw a line somewhere, so he pays the old price for his tea, sometimes, and takes an inferior article. The out- break of war in China would have caused con- sternation among tea drinkers years ago, when we were dependent upon the Celestial Empire for our tea supplies. The British grown teas of India and Ceylon have almost entirely displaced China teas in this country, so that tea drinkers have viewed with equanimity the crisis in the Far East. One result of the war with China has been that the Indian tea trade with America, Australia, and Russia has increased considerably. In fact, both India and Ceylon seem to have regarded it as ia favourable time for ousting China teas wherever possible. North America they look upon as a fine field for their enter- prise. The remarkable productiveness of the tea gardens of India only proves what can be done by well-directed energy and capital. While during the last 15 years the area under cultivation has increased 82 per cent., the quan- tity of tea produced has increased by no less than 161 per cent. This naturally has had a marked effect upon prices. The man in the street now gets his tea at little more than first cost, plus the duty." THE MESSAGE OF PEACE is always appreciated and respected by all true men, for many cf us hope the time is not far distant when it may be univer- sally adopted by all nations. When this comes to pass, happiness and prosperity will be the rule and not the exception. In the meantime, Holloway's Pills and Ointment have largely helped to make foreign nations understand that Englishmen delight in alleviating pain and suffering. These wonderful remedies have been blessed in many lands for the relief they have afforded and the cures effected. They are specially adapted for all complaints affecting the liver, stomach and kidneys, and at this season no family should be without a supply.

9 Ä\¡Vay@ Lungs were affected and she was weak until she took Scott's Emulsion. JULIA ELLEN ARNOLD. (From a Photograph.) 4, Herbert Street, Cardiff, January 22nd, 1900. Dear Sirs,—I have much pleasure in informing you that my little girl, age three years, has derived great benefit from Scott's Emulsion. Some nine months ago I was advised by a friend to try your preparation, and did so. and I can honestly say it has saved my little girl's life, as she was most delicate from birth, and seemed to be wasting away. But thanks to Scott's Emulsion she is a bright healthy child, and I would not be without your preparation in my house on any account. I may add that my Uttle girl. JuWJ. was suffering from lung disease. Yours respectfully, (Signed) J. A. ARNOLD. It is a pleasure to be able to publish the letters which people write telling of their experience with Scott's Emulsion. We do not attempt to resort to extraordinary cases telling of some patient who was unceremoniously snatched from a hungry grave; nor do we maintain that Scott's Emulsion will cure every disease under the sun. The public undoubtedly knows that nothing has ever been discovered as a substitute for cod-liver oil in the treat- ment of local affections of throat and lungs, and all the diseases where there is an insidious wasting of flesh and strength. What we conclusively prove, day after day, is that Scott's Emulsion is not only the most palatable form in which cod-liver oil can be taken, but it also actually produces the most beneficial results. Take the case of the little girl whose photograph is here reproduced, for example. There are many children that are delicate from birth, and thousands of children do not thrive in growth. While it is uni- versally admitted that cod-liver oil contains properties necessary to restore these children to health it is not generally known that the mere giving of cod-liver oil does not necessarily mean that the system can derive from it its beneficial properties. Everything depends upon the form in which you take cod-liver oil. There is no doubt whatever about this. You may as well give a child raw butter, instead of cream or milk, as to administer plain cod-liver oil. In Scott's Emulsion the purest medicinal Norway cod-liver oil is prepa'ed in a pala- table form that completely disguises the oil's taste. Moreover. Scott's Emulsion does not burden the digestive system with making an emul- sion of the oil. This work is already done, so that the system can readily absorb the properties it needs with- out expending its own strength in the process. The result is that none of the oil goes to waste and digestion is not disturbed in its efforts, to set it readv for absorotion. In combination with this TRADE MARK. oil we offer in Scott's Emulsion the hypo- phosphites of lime and soda, and glycerine, and the formula from which Scott's Emul- sion is made is highly approved of by the medical profession. There is no emulsion like Scott's Emulsion, and there is no other form of cod-liver oil which is so effectual in the system. If you have not tried the genuine Scott's Emulsion you cannot form an adequate idea of the possibilities of this standard remedy. You can always distinguish the genuine by our trade mark which is on the wrapper of every bottle, and if you desire a sample in order to test the palatability and the form of Scott's Emulsion, you can obtain it by mentioning the name of this paper and sending threepence in stamps to cover post- age, to Scott and Bowne, Limited, 95, Great Saffron Hill, London, E.C.

THE PREMIER AT THE GUILDHALL. « IMPORTANT SPEECH. DEFENCE OF THE WAR OFFICE. Speaking at the Guildhall banquet on Friday, Lord Salisbury referred to the events of the past year and said that great things had been done which reflected honour upon the people of this country. The war had gone far enough to shew that the British race had not lost its courage. What we had accomplished must alter the position we had previously held in the view of Continental critics. The achievement of sending between 200,000 and 300,000 men in such a short space of time and with such perfection of equip- ment six thousand miles was a wonderful one, and it might counterbalance in his hearers' minds many of those nebulous attacks to which the un- happy War Office had been exposed during the past twelve months. He appealed to those who were inclined to form a hasty opinion from what they read as to the War Office to bear in mind that they were only judging one side. It was I quite right that whatever was said should be care- fully examined; but they should remember that professionals were much more at liberty to speak than politicians, and therefore they would do in- justice to conclude, until the matter had been I threshed out, that anything that had taken place mainly or entirely rested with the latter. Con- tinuing, the Premier said they had had demon- strated during the past year the hearty sympathy which existed between the Colonies and the mother country. One of the circumstances which had gratified him most had been the hearty sym- pathy and friendly feeling which subsisted between them and the United States. They had heard with extreme satisfaction of what recently took place in that country, and they believed that the cause which had won was the cause of civilisation and commercial honour. Coming to China, the Premier said he could not speak with entire free- dom in regard to that question, because they were one of a party of allies who in this matter were acting in concert. He must however, refer, because it had become a matter of public com- ment, to the Anglo-German Agreement. It was an Agreement of no great peculiarity, because it represented the feelings of all or most of the Powers who were their allies. But it laid down these two important points-that we desire4 to maintain the integrity of China and what was called the "open door." It was a matter of great advantage that the Powers should have expressed themselves in favour of those fundamental principles. If those two things were achieved he did not know that the issue of the China problem was one that need concern them very anxiously. They had only to watch and assist the process by which China must return to that regular government which would be favourable to her prosperity, and to discourage and frustrate the dangerous idea that this was a moment for invading the in- tegrity of China or for attempting to approach the stupendous task of governing that country instead of leaving it to be governed by the Chinese. Referring finally to the hopes engen- dered by the Hague Conference, the Premier said they could not be certain that any Govern- ment, which might have the appearance and reality of specifio intention, might not yield its powers to the less educated and less enlightened classes. The moral was that we must remain on our guard, however burdensome and painful it might be tor some period to come, and render it as certain as human calculation could make it that we were not exposed to the danger of any sudden interruption of that peace on which our prosperity depended.

The election expenses of Mr. Hy. J. Tolle- mache, M.P. for the Eddisbury Division of Cheshire, are published. The total is £96 3s. 6d.

CHESTER MAN'S BRAVERY. ♦ ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S RECOGNI- TION. A pleasing function took place at Chester City Police Court on Saturday, when the newly- elected Mayor (Alderman H. T. Brown) presented to Mr. Thomas Rafferty, compositor, of this city, and a member of St. Francis' Club. the honorary testimonial of the Royal Humane Society inscribed on vellum for his conspicuous gallantry in rescuing a child from the river Dee. The Chief Constable, ia requesting the Mayor to present the testimonial, mentioned it was a curious coincidence that he performed a similar duty exactly twelve months that day. The circumstances under which Mr. Rafferty performed his brave deed were these:—On the 13th of August last the high tide in the Dee completely covered the flagged promenade which fronts the old Priory ruins in the Groves. A young boy, named Edward Humphreys, residing at 4, Edwards'- court, Duke-street, while paddling on this pro- menade,latepped off the footpath into the water, which is of great depth at that point. The tide, which was going out rapidly, would have carried him away but for the timely appearance of Mr. Rafferty who, without divesting himself of any of his clothing, plunged into the river and brought the boy to the side. The Mayor, in handing the testimonial to Mr. Rafferty, remarked there was no more pleasing duty devolving upon him than to present testimonials on behalf of the Royal Humane Society for gallantry to those who very often endangered their own lives in rescu- ing the lives of their fellow beings. Rafferty had justly earned the acknowledgment of his services by the society, and he had no doubt that it would be a matter of great satisfaction to him to know he had been the means of saving human life. He had great pleasure in handing him the vellum, and to express bis admiration of his gallant conduct, which should be an example to others.

Colonel Cholmondeley, of the City Imperial Volunteers, returned to his Shropshire home, Edstaston House, near Wem, on Saturday evening. The hour of his arrival was kept secret, as it was Colonel Cholmondeley's wish that there should be no demonstration. As soon as he was recognised on his arrival at Wem station, a small crowd gathered around him and cheered heartily. Colonel Cholmondeley drove away immediately.

r Rowland's ODONTO a. pure, fragrant non-gritty tooth powder: WHITENS THE TEETH. prevents decay and sweetens the breath. Sold by Stores, Chemists, and A. Rowland & Sons, Hatton Garden, London.