The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

Mr. Reginald Abel Smith, head of the London banking firm of Smith, Payne and Smith, died on Saturday at Windsor, from pneumonia. He came to Windsor about a fortnight ago to see his son, who was ill at Eton College. During Mr. Smith's ill- ness the curfew tower chimes and military bells were stopped. LIVERPOOL AND NORTH WAI.ES. — The regular daily sailings of the Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Company, Ltd will begin on Saturday when the Snowdon will leave the Prince's Landing Stage at 10.45 a.m. for Llandudno and Beaumaris" arriving back at 7 15 p ii. There will be no con- nection for Bangor or Menai Bridge until Friday loth Mav, when the St. Tudno will take up the regular daily sailings at 10 45 a m to Llandudno, Jbeaumarre, Bang-or and Alenii Bridge, due back at v. P-m At Whitsuntide the sailings will be con- siderably increased, as in addition to the St. El vies at 9.15 a.m on Whit Monday, the St. Tudno will wave Liverpool at 10.45 a.m. for Llandudno and Holyhead, which vis certainly one of the most enjoyable of the trips out of Liverpool. At Llan- dudno passengers can transfer to the Snowdon for Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, and Carnarvon, calling at all places on the return journey, and arriving back in Liverpool about 8 p.m. Frequently during the latter part of May and June afternoon excur- sions will be run by the St. El vies and Snowdon. The special terms for season tickets a.nd family contract tickets are most reasonable.

STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE. « The annual meeting of this Committee was held at Chester Castle on Saturday. Colonel Dixon moved the re-appointment of Colonel France-Hayhurst as chairman of the Com- mittee for the ensuing year. Colonel France- Hayhurst, he said, had served in the position with great tact for many years, and they were indebted to him not only for his services on that Committee but for his general services to the county. (Hear, bear.) Mr. H C. Yates seconded, and endorsed all Colonel Dixon had said with reference to Colonel France-Havhurst's chairmanship. The motion was carried unanimously, and Colonel France-Hayhurst returned thanks. Mrs. Congreve wrote thanking the committee for the vote of condolence passed on the death of the late Captain Congreve. The Home Office wrote that the Secretary of State had forwarded to the Local Government Board ceitificates in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 1890. The amount payable as the Exchequer contribution for the financial year 11)01-2 is £2,235 4s. 8d. The various committees were re-elected, the vacancies being filled as follows :—Mr. J. J. Evans on the Finance and Seacombe Police Station com- mittees Mr T. Beeley on the Knutsford Castle Courts and Castle Buildings, and Justices' Clerks' Salaries and Fees committees. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The Chief Constable (Colonel Hamersley) sub- mitted his report on the state of crime for the quarter ending 16th April, 1902. It shewed the total number of persons apprehended and sum- moned was 2,276, of which number 30 were com- mitted for trial, 1,783 summarily convicted, and 463 discharged. Of the number summarily con- victed 1,501 were fined, and of this number 163 were allowed time to pay. One hundred and thirty-five persons were sent to prison in default of payment of fine and costs, nine of such after having been allowed time. In comparison with corresponding quarter, 1901, there was a decrease of 39 apprehended and 99 summoned, the former caused by fewer offences of vagrancy (sleeping out), and the latter by fewer prosecutions under the Education and Highways Acts and County Bye-laws. When compared with the same period of 1897 there was an increase of 47 apprehended and 164 summoned, the former caused by offences of larceny simple, and cases under the Towns Police Clauses Act, and Cruelty to Children Act, and the latter by prosecutions under the county bye-laws. No person under 16 years of age was sent to gaol in default of payment of fine and costs. Three hundred and forty-five males and seventy-two females were proceeded against for drunkenness, being an increase of six females and a decrease of 11 males when compared with the same period of last year, and a decrease of 64 males and five females when compared with the same period of 1897. Twenty-three licensed houses were proceeded against, 17 being con- victed (one licence endorsed) and six dismissed, as against 12 proceeded against, 11 convicted and one dismissed in February quarter, 1901, and 22 proceeded against, 13 convicted (one licence en- dorsed), anu nine dismissed in the same period of 1897. Four hundred and fourteen members of the constabulary were in possession of the St. John Ambulance certificate of efficiency for rendering first aid to the injured, of which num- ber 382 had succeeded in passing the second examination, and of the latter number 343 had passed the third examination. During the year ended 28th February, 1902, the police had ren- dered first aid in 88 cases. Mr. James Tomkinson, in commenting upon the report, called attention to the number of licensees proceeded against, and to the fact that only one licence had been endorsed, and asked if the Chief Constable had any remarks to make thereupon. The Chief Constable replied that he had noth- ing to say upon the subject. Mr. Booth Surely we have nothing to do with what, the magistrates d<)-l t is for them and not for us. Are we within our rights in discussing what magistrates do? The Chairman I think it is out of order. FEMALE DRUNKENNESS. Mr. T. Russell Lee drew attention to the great increase of female drunkenness in North Wirral, and said it seemed to him a significant fact in the face of grocers' licences. He asked if the Chief Constable could give any reason for the increase? The Chief Constable sa:d so far as the district mentioned was concerned there was a great demand for female labour, such as laundresses and charwomen, and the drunkenness occurred among that class of people. It was a populous district. Mr. Russell Lee: That was the explanation given two years ago. The Chief Constable: I cannot give you any fresh information. The Chairman remarked that it was very un- satisfactory to see this large increase of drunken- ness among females. Mr. T. Russell Lee aslted the Chief Constable whether there were more grocers' licences in North Wirral than there o-ught to be? The Chief Constable: I don't think I can answer that question. It i-s not for me to say. I sometimes think that there are in some districts more grocers' licences than desirable. The Rev. C. Wollcy-Dod pointed out that female drunkenness had largely increased in Middlewich. The Chairman said there was a large Irish population in Middlewich, which was always coming and going. POLICE AND CORONATION. The Chief Constable applied for an indulgence of two days' extra leave of absence to be granted to each member of the Constabulary during this Coronation year. He explained that two day s extra leave was granted to the members of the Constabulary on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of her late Majesty. As all classes of society were looking forward to enjoying the Coronation in some way, he thought the Police should have some indulgence to mark it on their memory. Col. Dixon Two consecutive days ? The Chief Constable If the men like to have I two days attached to their annual leave I should let them have the extra leave in that way, or they might have the extra leave distinct if they wished. The Chairman Not necessarily on the days of the Coronation ? The Chief Constable: Oh, no; it would be allowed at such time as suited the county. On the motion of Col. Dixon the extra, leave was granted. BROXTON POLICE STATION. The Chief Constable being of opinion that it was not now necessary for a sergeant to be stationed at Broxton recommended that the strength of that division be reduced by one sergeant, and increased by one constable. This was agreed upon. POLICE PROSECUTIONS. JUSTICES' CLERKS' POSITION. The Chief Constable introduced the subject of the engaging of solicitors to act in police prosecu- tions at assizes and quarter sessions where such prosecutions are not undertaken by justices' clerks themselves. He explained that some time ago a letter was received from the Home Office with reference to the matter of justices' clerks taking cases from their courts to the Assizes or Quarter Sessions. He believed borough magistrates' clerks were not allowed to take cases which were committed for trial. That being the case, in one or two towns justices' clerks were handing over cases to different solicitors, especially in towns such as Northwich and Macclesfield, in turn. That seemed to him a very undesirable course to be pursued for the reason that a very important I case miht and it might be the turn of some junior or inexperienced solicitor to have that case banded to him. He communicated with Mr. Newell, magistrates' clerk at Northwich, and it had been agreed that Mr. A. Fletcher, of North- wich, a solicitor of great experience, should take over the cases for the Leftwich Division. He had also been in correspondence with the Macclesfield magistrates' clerk, who did not seem w'S [thG ChlGl R°°^ble's) views were !g! 'i u however, had a letter in which he tioJs RnwV, hllnsdf, take 0vcr those prosecu- tions. But the principle still remained. There was nobody really decided upon by the county to wifhorl to 1 P?- In t-lese Prosecutions. He w A tne PrinciPle settled. to the fac?'tlTtt(;l(MaCClesfioldl called attention ment which f Was a BlU before Parlia- i as to Pr6vent county magistrates' and Wes^ prosecutions at Quarter Sessions Assizes. temptat^on^o^^rka t^ j ustilces'to 'ad vise 'the'benlfc He ts WVH rrteve™ « long ieit the need of make it compulsory for clerks "to countv enches to occupy the same' positions as clerks to AT?*51' „He moicd the effect that m all cases committed for trial at Quarter Sessions or Assizes in which the police were the prosecutors, and in which justices' clerks did not themselves prosecute, the Chief Oonstable be authorised in consultation with the Clerk of the Peace to engage the services of a solicitor. Mr. 0. H. Booth (Dukinfield) seconded the resolu- tion, and endorsed all Dr. Hodgson had said -\s clerk to magistrates himself he never had acted "in any prosecution. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was carried. Mr. Booth moved a further resolution that the committee approve of the County Justices' Clerks Bill, prohibiting clerks to petty sessional divisions of counties from undertaking prosecu- tions of persons committed for trial by the justices of that petty sessional division. Dr. Hodgson seconded. It was, he said, a most important Bill, and he hoped the Government would give every facility to it. The resolution was agreed to. FINANCES. The report of the Finance Committee on the police accounts for the quarter ended the 31st March last, together with the general accounts; also the annual estimates were adopted on the motion of the Rev. C. Wolley-Dod. The reports of various sub-committees were adopted. MAGISTRATES AND ANTI-VACCINISTS. A letter was considered from the magistrates' clerk of the Altrincham Petty Sessional division, containing a resolution passed by the justices sitting at Sale, on the subject of vaccination. It was shewn that it was necessary to satisfy the justices that vaccination would be prejudicial to the child, and if the justice or stipendiary was not satisfied no higher court could make him satisfied. The Rev C. Wolley-Dod thought it was not for the committee to discuss. Dr. Hodgson said the point was whether the magistrates understood what power they had. So many different things had been said that it would be very desirable if a uniform method of adminis- trating the Act were adopted. He did not think the magistrates understood exactly where the matter lay. Mr. Yates said it was a question which should be brought before the Quarter Sessions, where there was a representative attendance of magistrates. No action was taken.

DISSENTERS CRITICISED. THE CHANCELLOR ON EDUCATION. Chancellor Espin (Vicar-General of the Province of York) began a three-days' annual visitation on Tuesday, at St. Nicholas's Church, Liverpool, and admitted 60 wardens and others to their office. In his charge the Chancellor, alluding to the Education Bill, said it was certainly of extreme importance to the Church, and he trusted that in its main features it would pass successfully through the Legislature. Alluding to the "extraordinarily severe, I might say the excited attitude" of the Dissenters to the Bill, the Chancellor said he would be one of the last to bear hardly on the conscience of any man, and the Church had too much reason to acknowledge with thanks the good work done by many Dissenting denominations in the country, which the Church herself oouid not altogether grapple with, to find fault unneces- I sarily with that attitude, but it did seem to him unreasonable for Dissenters to object to Church schools being helped out of the rates, when three- fourths of those rates, certainly in Liverpool, if Roman Catholics were included, were paid by Churchmen and Catholics in support of Voluntary schools for oonsoience sake. What reason had the Dissenters, who paid only the remaining one- fourth of such rates, to object to help from the rates those who paid the other three-fourths? Three million chi'dren were being educated in the Voluntary sohools of the country, and if these schools were to be made what they ought to be. they must be helped further from the rates and taxes. Ho could not understand a man's con- science being hurt by paying out of the rates to objects for the support of which he also paid, to some extent, in the shape of taxes, without a mur- mur. It seemed to him that the Dissenters' ob- jection to the Bill was a religious and political one; but there had been too much of that sort of thing in the past, to the neglect of real educar tion, which ought to be the object of all. THE CHURCH ARMY. The Duke of Marlborough presided at Gros- yonor House, on Tuesday, over a meeting held in honour of the twenty-first birthday of the Church Army, and in his opening remarks said that during the past few years the subscriptions had annually amounted to £ 124,000, and the society was continually finding more supporters. In the past two years they had assisted no less than 30,000 people, and their work of giving the outcast and destitute a second chance in life had his warmest sympathy.

DENBIGH COUNTY COUNCIL. «. ANNUAL MEETING AT WREXHAM. On Friday the annual meeting of the Council was held at Wrexham. Mr. Joseph Jones, Old Colwyn, moved the re- election of Mr. O. Isgoed Jones, Llanwrst, as chairman. He said that Mr. Isgoed Jones, during his year of office, had done his duty and had proved a popular chairman.—Mr. C. K. Benson, Wrex- ham, seconded.—The resolution was agreed to unanimously.—The Chairman said it was true he had been a member of the Council since its in- ception, and he had tried to do ail he could for-the advantage of the county, but he felt it was an honour he did not deserve. He thought the work they had done would equal that done by any other council in the principality. This ye&r would be a very important one for the country, and he was sure the county would not be behind the other counties m welcoming the crowning of the King. He thanked the members for their confidence in him. Mr. E. Hooson, Rhosllanerchrugog, was re- eleetc-d vice-chairman. Dr. Richard Evans, Wrexham, moved—"That this Council is of opinion that the state of the public health of the county cannot be considered satisfactory until the Council takes more active steps to see that the Public Health Acts are more rigidly enforced, and recommends that a small committee be appointed to investigate the subject and to report to the Council." The mover stated that the County Council was the highest tribunal to which they could appeal. They did not even have the births and deaths in the county placed before them. He thought they ought to be in a portion to support the medical officers more.- Dr. Lloyd, Denbigh, seconded.—Mr. J. W. Lum- ley, Ruthin, opposed, as it was an attempt to get m the thin end of the wedge to create a new de- partment. The county was saddled with enough expense at present, and he was strongly opposed to the appointment of a county medical officer, be- cause that was whitt it would-come to. It was owing to the failure of the district councils to carry out their duties that any such resolution as this was moved.—Colonel Cornwallis-West warmly approved of the proposal, and said that the Council were perfectly justified in spending money if it was in looking after the health of the people and "Ending to the sanitary condition of the county I?ot.'9n was carried by a large majority. The decision of the Main Roads Committee of the Wrexham district to hire a steam roller led to a long dicussion.Mr. W. E. Samuel, Wrexham, said that the committee by one vote had decided to try the experiment for six months, and the cost would be JB745. The Denbigh District Council decided by three votes not to experiment with a steam roller. Some of the councillors thought it was a large sum to spend on an experiment, and an amendment was moved that the question should be referred back to the committee. This amend- ment, however, was defeated by six votes, and for the first time a steam roller will be used on the Denbigh county roads. It was reported that great damage had been done by the recent flpods at Glyn Ceriog, and that E430 had already been spent on Glyn roads, and it was decided to spend a further sum of £ 1,000, to prevent a recurrence of the damage. It was also reported that owing to the flooded state of the river Deo the retaining wall by the river had been damaged, and it would cost B137 to repair the damage and prevent a similar occur- rence.—This money was ordered to be spent. Strong opposition was raised to the recommenda- tion of the Salaries Committee that the salary of Mr. Ellis W. Jones, the surveyor for tho Wrexham district, be increased from JE260 to J3500 per an- num.—By five votes the increase was granted. The Clcrk read a letter from the Board of Agri- culture, expressing their thanks for the action taken in connection with the veterinary inspection of markets, which the Board regarded as very satisfactory. A sub-committee was appointed to examine the plans, etc., in connection with the proposed electric tramways from Wrexham to Rhos, it. being felt that it was an important matter for the general public. It was arranged to make a further loan of £1.500, making altogether £ 4,500, to the Tanat Valley Lig-ht Railway. Provision was made for a grant of £ 300 for 0 agricultural education purposes within the county in respect of the current year, such sum to be ad- ministered by the Joint Agricultural Committee of the Council and the Bangor University College. A grant of P,100 was made towards providing scholar- ships to enable young men from Denbighshire to attend special courses at the University College Farm, Lledwiean. Mr. Simon Jones, the vice-chairman of the Finance Committee, submitted the budget. The estimate included a rate of id. for intermeaiate education and d. for technical education pur- poses. The committee recommended a general rate of 6d. in the JB, and for intermediate, tech- nical and agricultural education purposes Ild. This was an increase of Id. in the £ over last year, and was due to a variety of causes. The police pay had been increased, and so had the justices' salaries. Then the interest on the loan of £ 6,500 for the Asylum and the money advanced to the Tanat Side Railway had to be met. £ 1.500 had to be spent on the Glyn roads, and there were other increases. The total incrense in the estimated ex- penditure was £ 2.900.—The report of the Finance Committee was adopted. Committee was adopted. Some discussion took place on the subject of the Government, Education Bill.—Mr. Christmas Jones (Cefn) moved that the Council nrotest against elementary education being placed directlv or indirectly under its control. The Bill, he said, was one to be condemned in the strongest, possible terms. Strenuous opposition should be offered to it, as it was, in the opinion of all true educa- tionists, a retrograde movement.—Mr. Humphreys (Llanwrst) seconded the proposition, and Mr. I Howel Gee (Denbieh) supported. The latter gentleman remarked that the amount of good contained in the Bill was so infinitesimal that the less they had to do with it the better. He sug- gested that Wales and Monmouthshire should be drfiniv^'v eliminated from the provisions of the gested that Wales and Monmouthshire should be (1,finii."lv eliminated from the provisions of the Bill.—The resolution was adopted.

OLD-AGE PENS-O S. FRIENDLY SOCIETY SCHEME. Mr. John Stephen, "Orange Blossom" Lodge of the British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners' Friendly Society, Aberdeen, sends us the follow- ing scheme, which he has prepared;.— Super- "slr16? rtrof ase; premmm>20 y^s of Scale of tables: Halfpenny for every 10s or part thereof of weelicly wages; the State to pay people. 010 SUm contributed by the 20s., 30s., 40s 0°5Os ages (male or fernaje), IDs., 208., 30" 40s., 50s., 60s., 70s., 80s.; weekly cont-ri- butions by the p 3d., 4d. 2 of wcPlfi '.he average per head lid or 6s fjntnbufions by the people t'eTTrWtiarl K"' a yearly' 1110 population Of the ^te,d..Kingd°m, 40,000,000. Say the half of eontrih t- nuCOn,tributes 20,000,000, the yearly the v.ariv 1rS ^Vle' pe°PJe are £ 6,500,000, and ThW ™ L' f buf,ons by the State £ 6,500,000. year £ 13 mtfnm6 thVotaI contributions for'one ISS3' °r for "65,000,000, WOuld be as follow:-20 years con- of ° i^ or a P°ns;on at the age of 60 j-ears 40, io? ft5 3°. 's- 35. &. 9d" Cnntrih t °l JoimnS> years of age or under. contribiiUfp°r« w°SC ages are over 40 years must mmt nfth' f ? °-tn.e .Ve;ir from the commence- i ^un^- If- after 10 years' contributing, any perwn is totally disabled for any work, to receive a pension of 5s. per week, irrespective of Regarding the present, contributors whose 'es are years or over at the commencement o. tins fund must contribute five years, and there- after they wilt receive a pension of 5s. per week. The contributions to be paid at the Post-office every quarter or half-year. Each* contributor to have a receipt-book in the same way as a bank- from the eomnioiicenien^of StaT' 4"> Reserve c.ause.— Persons joining at the a^e of ™arS °I Y £ der' lf' after contributing 10 Sr 15 S^usi win r Cease' through unavoidable cau.es, will receive a pension at the age of 60 years equai to the time contributed.

CHESTER. ANXUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Chester Rural Dis- trict Council was held on Saturday, Mr. E. Dean presiding.-Mr. R. T. Richardson was re-elected chairman, and Mr. E. Dean vice-chairman for the ensuing year.—The retiring members of the Sanitary Committee, viz., Messrs. Rowe Morris, ilinshull, G. Cox, B. C. Roberts, E. Dean and A. AT' f1, J^er.e rp_aPPointed, with the addition of Mr. John Taylor in substitution for Mr. T. Butler, who it was pointed out, had failed to attend any meetings of the committee during the year. Mr. w J. Loe was also added to this committee. Messrs B. C. Roberts and E. Dean were re- appointed representatives of the Council on the ISewtoli Parochial Committee. The whole of the members of the Council were appointed on the I inance Committee.—The Clerk (Mr. W. Turnock) submitted the following estimates of expenditure for the ensuing year, together with the actual amount expended under the various heads la.st year:—Manual labour: Actual expenditure, £ 706 12s. 6d.; estimate for the coming year, £ 710. Team labour: Actual expenditure, L301 8s. estimate, £ 300. Materials: Actual ex- penditure, £ 1,399 7s. 2d. estimate, £ 1,400. bills: Actual expenditure. £ 50 Os. lid. estimate, JE50. Salaries: Actual expenditure, £ 139 2s. Id. estimate, £139. Im- provements: Expenditure, E175 12s. 8d.; esti- 10 r £ nncip?1 interest: Expendi- ture, £ 40 12s. 9d. estimate, £ 40. Sanitary de- Ppa0r rnt^ 9al^.le,s~expenditure, £ 231; estimate, jpcfe o Establishment charges: Expenditure, os. 4d.; estimate, £ 57. Notifications: Ex- penditure, B5 5s.; estimate, £ 5. No legal, hospital or election charges were anticipated this year. The gro«s total of expenditure during1 last year was £ 3,159 3s. lid., and his estimated expenditure last year was £ 3,233. The estimated expenditure for the coming year was £ 3,052. There was a balance due to the treasurer at the 31st March of £ 430 9s. 3d., the explanation of which was that the Council had advanced on the sewerage schemes out of the current account £ 888 Is. 3d., and on private street works JB500, making a gross total of Bl,288 Is. 3d. If the Council had had that money in the hands of the treasurer it would have left them a nett balance in hand of £ 957 12s. A rate of sixpenoe in the 8APresen,t assessable value would produce tii w res?lut'01} was passed authorising a call of 3d. m the £ for each half-year.

TARPORLEY. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The annual meeting of the Tarporley Urban iiistriet Counoil was held on Thursday.—On the motion of Mr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Dunning, the Rev. Mr. Hughes was appointed chairman pro.tern.—Mr. Davi moved, and Mr. Nicholas seconded, the re-appointment of Mr. R. Symma as chairman of the Council.—As an amendment Mr. Pickering proposed the appointment of Mr. Gordon, and remarked that he had no animosity against Mr. Symms, the retiring chairman. They only wanted a Tarporley chairman if they oould get one.—There voted for the amendment Mesere. Pickering, Spendlove, Gastrell, Wilson and Dun- ning, and for the original motion Messrs. Davies, Nicholas and Siddorn.—Mr. Gordon thanked the Council for the unexpected honour conferred upon him.—On the motion of Mr. Gastrell, seconded by Mr. Wilson, Mr. Symms was appointed vice- chairman.—Mr. Symms said to shew there was no ill-feeling he would, unlike Mr. Pickering laet year, acoept the Clerk mibmittod an estimate of the expenditure for the ensuing year: Repair of highways—Tarporley JJ187 16s., Uikin- ton £ 237 12s., Ruehton £ 166 5g., Eaton £ 168 15s., total L792 8e.; main roads £ 783 186., Waterworks, lighting, hospital, etc., 2,556. total EE,162 6s., less estimated to be received from water rates d oS°l:nt? °°,mcnl £ 706 5s. led., leaving £ 1,127 0a.-2d. to be provided for by a general ds&- trict rate. Inasmuch as there was a. fair working balance in hand he thought a 2s. 4d. rote, pro- duomg £ 1,030 JS. 10d., might be levied.—Mr. Symms said the rates throughout the country had a tendency to rise, and thought Tarporley would be making a great mistake if that tendency were followed, particularly with a sewerage rate in prospect. Mr. Gastrell had a^ked him to help Tarporley; he would do eo by proposing a 2s. rate, which he considered ample.—Tne Rev. Mr. Hughes and the Chairman supported a 2s. rate, and Mr. Gastrell seconded Mr. Symms's motion, which was carried unanimously.—It was unani- mously decided, on the motion of Mr. Bymme, seconded by Mr. Gastrell, not to put on the rate any expense which might be incurred in the local celebration of the King's Coronation.

MOLD URBAN. The statutory meeting of the Mold Urban District Council was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Pathetic references were made to the loss sustained by the town and Council by the lamented death of Mr. G. H. Simon, the late clerk to the Council, and a vote of condolence was passed with the widow in her bereavement. The retiring Chairman (Mr. Robert Morris) gave an interesting resume of the work of the Council during his year of office. and proposed that Mr. Samuel Beresford be elected chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. This was seconded by Mr. J. E. Davies and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Josiah T. Morgans it was resolved that no vice-chairman be appointed. On the motion of Mr. Thomas Parry it was re- solved that the best thanks cf the Council be tendered to Mr. Morris for the fidelity with which he had discharged his duties both in and out of the Council. Upon the election of committees being proceeded with, it was resolved to form a new committee under the title of "The Railway Facilities Committee." The Council adopted the recommendation of the Building, Sanitary and Farm Committee that, subject to certain alterations suggested by the medical officer of health, plans of alterations and additions to the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel at Pentre, Mold, be approved. The best thanks of the Council were accorded to the traffic superintendent of the Great Western Railway Company for his letter intimating that Mold had been included in the com- pany's touring programme. It was re- solved to advertise the vacant clerkship, the salary and conditions of service to remain un- altered, and the form of the advertisement to be settled by the Finance Committee. An amend- ment by Mr. J. B. Marston that the present salary of £ 50 be regarded as including con- veyancing and police court work found no seconder.

SALE OF SHORTHORN C.\TTLE.- Messrs..T. Thorn- ton and Co. announce that they will sell by auction on Friday, May 0, an extensive herd of shorthorn cattle, the property of Mr. P. H. Chesters, x an wich. Many of the animals are of well-known pedigrees, chiefly of the old Bates blood. The cows are of great scale and good quality, with large weIl- shaped udders. ADVICE TO MOTHKRS !—Are yon broken in your reat by a sick child suffering with the paiiis of cutting teeth P 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 eoffcens the gums alJay all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoaa. whether arising from teethinfir or other C3"'everywhere at Is. ljd. PC* DOttid,

I :3- r ?".(m lLv"f34TAko j. ), 0> { 'forenjos/ Softens. U JXL Soothes. LUX To soothe the sensitive skin, use Is unique in its composition. WHAT FOLKS SAY: LUX LUX "LUX lathCrS readlly> is C0Bvea'eat to use, sad wakes ovr A real luxury for your Bath water, which is very bard, as soft as rata water." Is unique in its preparation. "LUX imparts a softness and a pleasant feeling to the LLX LUX hands." I Ask for, and see that you j, Is unique in its results. The softening quality of LUX is remarkable, nisking hard LUX water equal to rain water." LUX ,„„— » To lighten labour, use Won't shrink woollens. LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED. PORT SUNLIGHT, CHESHIRE. LUX

THE EMPIRE BUILDER. -—♦ DESCRIBED BY A FRIEND. The forthcoming number of the Empire Review," contains an interesting article by Dr. Hans, Sauer on "Cecil Rhodes as a man and a friend." Dr. Sauer, who was for 20 years intimately acquainted with the deceased, says that to Mr. lihodes's South African friends it has always been a matter of surprise that he should have been so misunderstood by his own countrymen. In him existed the true spirit of the patriot, and the greatest libel ever passed upon him was the accusation of ulterior motives in his policy of Imperial aggrandisement. He never tired of pointing out that the world was filling, and that no time should be lost in securing for the Anglo-Saxon the good vacant patches that yet remained, the leit motif" of all his vast ideas being the betterment of the conditions of life of his j people. The writer states that he has never met Mr. Rhodes's equal as a man of business, and that if money-getting had been his object in life he cdllld as easily have made fifty as tive millions. Money never weighed with him as against the cl. ims of friendship. "Yery few people," says Dr. Sauer, "know ne could have possessed practic.Jiy the whole of the Witwatersrand goldfields. In 188G ho had this opportunity of securing unlimited wealth but he left all to nurse a friend who was ill at Kimberley." His personal expenditure was almost nominal, and probably no man who had ever lived in South Africa gave away so much and so unosten- tatiously. The article concludes with a description of Mr. Rhodes's celebrated indaha with the Matabele in the Matoppos, Dr. Sauer being one of the three other white men present at what, he says, will ever remain a silent monument to Mr. Rhodes's glorious memory. A Buluwayo telegram says that the agitation in favour of Dr. Jameson succeeding the late Mr. Rhodes in the direction of various Rhodesian enterprises continues.

POLITICS IN FLINTSHIRE. RADICALS AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. Mr. F. J. Gamlin, of Rhyl, writes to the Press as follows: As a member of one of the Welsh County Counoils {Flintshire), I desire to place on record my obligations to those members of Parliament who supported the Government in voting against the Bill brought in by Mr. Frank Edwards, M.P., and my protest against the arguments adduced by some of the supporters of the Bill. It was stated in the House that nearly the whole of the County Councils of Wales were in favour of the Bill, and had passed resolutions to that effect. The Bill may or may not be a good one for Wales (at present I refrain from expressing an opinion), but my point is that its details have not been considered by the members of the county counoils. What happened in Flint- shire was tnat towards the end of the last quarterly meeting (last month) Mr. Herbert Lewis, M.P. (an alderman of the Flintshire County Council) proposed that the County Council of Flintshire should support the Bill, and he pointed out that it was necessary to pais the resolution that day, as the Bill was iJemg brought into the House at an early date, and therefore there was urgency in the matter. I asked for information concerning its details, and Mr. Herbert Lewis was good enough to explain some of its provisions; but it was quite impossible to form a judgment on its merits without full investigation and consideration; nevertheless, the resolution was passed. Mr. Lloyd George, M.P., is reported to have said that he contended that the county councils of Wales oonduoted their work without thought to political issues, and that not a single Welsh county council had taken advantage of its party majority to elect the whole of its aldermen from the Liberal party.' Lest this statement should go unchallenged, and consequently be regarded as a true statement of the facts, I wish to em- phatically deny it. I could refer to several of the Welsh county councils, but wish to confine my remarks to Flintshire. So far from this Council conducting its work 'without a thought to political issues,' its constitution is essentially political. Since its creation in 1889 (now 13 years ago), out of the 14 aldermen there has never been more than one Conservative. For the first been more than one Conservative. For the first six years of its existence its 'party majority' elected 'the whole of its aldermen from the Liberal party.' Out of the twelve members elected by the County Council for seats on the Standing Joint Committee every year thero has never been a single Conservative elected. During the whole period of its existence, the Flintshire County Council has always elected a Radical ohairman (except one year). During the period aforesaid there have been two vacancies for the county coroner. On each occasion it was useless for a Conservative candidate to apply, and no one of that party took the trouble to do so, as it was a foregone conclusion, and both vacancies were filled by Radical applicants. The office of the clerk of the peace also recently became vacant, and was filled by the appointment of a gentleman of the Radical party (formerly one of the Radical county councillors). So much for the truth of the statement of Mr. Lloyd George that the county councils oon- duct their work 'without a thought to political issues.' The Welsh Radical county councillors a.re not the guileless innocents their ohampion represents them to be. In this county the county council machinery is managed by a Radioal 'Caucus,' who 'cut and dry' all oom- mittees and appointments previous to the oouncfl meetings, where the cf the caucus ¡¡,r merely confirmed."

VACCINATION IN FLINTSHIRE. CHIEF CONSTABLE ON HIS RIGHTS. At the meeting of the Holyweil Board of Guardians a fortnight ago a discussion took pl&ce upon a heavy bill for vaccination and re- vaccinations received from the Mold district medical officer, and a member who had looked through the list of names of those vaccinated remarked that he was surprised to find in it the names of many persons who could afford to pay for vaccination, instead of going to the public vaccinator, and being vaccinated at the expense of the rates. At last Friday's meeting of the Board a letter was received from the Chief Constable of Flintshire (Major Webber) stating that "some nervous individual" had sent him a newspaper cutting on the matter, indicating that he and his family were among those to whom the strictures of some of the members of the Board were meant to apply. Major Webber proceeded to say that in paying rates they were supposed to pay for value received, and added: I pay I towards free public vaccination, not simply pauper vaccination, and as we are of the public, I and mine are entitled to be vaccinated at the cost of the rate to which I have paid for years, and from which I have hitherto derived no personal benefit. My contention, therefore, is that every ratepayer has a right to receive such value as can be obtained from all those causes of expendi- ture to which he contributes. In stating thus, what I believe to be the right and logical way to view the action of those who, for very grave reasons, consider themselves perfectly justified in taking advantage of the benefit to be derived from the services o' the medical officer of health, I do so simply to meet the honest objections of those whose opinions, however much at variance from mine. I can thoroughly respect; but I am in no way moved by the incautious and probably unintentionally offensive remarks of a few. "-The Chairman (Mr. Prince) remarked that they oould not get behind the logical conclusion drawn by Major w ebber, who was perfectly right in what he said.—Mr. Petr:e said he had nothing to retract from what he had said at the last meeting on tne matter. If all the inhabitants of this union get re-vaccinated at the public exoen^e it would cost this union £ 11.650.—Mr Johnson Jones thought Major Webber should be told that Mold was the only district which had taken ad- vantage of this.

STEALING AT IfOOTON RACES. AN IMPUDENT THEFT. Before Mr. J. Elliot and Colonel Stitt, at the Birkennead County Police Court. on Thursday, Charles Edward Mitchell, alias Brierley, of 131, Meadow-street. Moss Side, Manchester, was charged with having stolen 12s., the moneys of George Caldwell, of Ivy Cottage, Thorpes-road, Crosby, by means of a trick, at Hooton Park Races, on the 18th April. Mr. F. S. Moore ap- peared for prisoner. George Caldwell stated that he was at the races on the date in question in the 2s. 6d. ring. He made a bet with a bookmaker named Clarke. and at the end of the races was entitled to draw 12s. As he was looking for Clarke, prisoner came up to. him and asked^ him who he was looking for. Ho told him. and then prisoner asked him how much he was to receive. Witness referred to the blek of his ticket and told him 12s. Prisoner snatched the ticket out of his hand and went to find the bookmaker. Witness saw prisoner receive 10s. in gold and 2s. in silver. He in- formed Clarke that the ticket was his. and pri- soner then handed 5s. or 6-.4.-be could not say exactly how much. Prisoner put the rest in his pocket, and witness told him that was not his money. Prisoner turned round and swore at him, and knocked the money which he had already given him out of his hand. Witness pickcd up some, but could not find any more. Prisoner turned away and witness got hold of his arm and threatened to give him in charge-if he did not return the rest of the monev. Prisoner only drew back his fist to strike witness, but Inspector Bramhall came along just then and witness gave him in charge- Inspector Bramhall said that at about fire o clock he saw the last witness and prisoner with about a dozen people round them. As he ap- proached he saw that Caldwell had prisoner by r^'<!jarrn' a'1(^ ^earcl prisoner threatening Caldwell, who gave him in charge. Witness took him to the police station, and on the way there* him to the police station, and on the way there* he was very stormy and excited, and would not even listen to the charge. Shortly afterwards Chrko came to the station and witness asked him if he had paid Drisoner 12s. on a ticket, and he replied that he had. He said he did not emoioy prisoner. Prisoner was undoubtedly under" th« influence of drink. Prisoner stated in defence that he had TInt takeD the money with any felonious intent. He had thought he was enticed to 6s. out of the 12s for finding Clarke for Caldwell. He would not have thought he was entitled to so much had not been under the influence of drink. He had no necessity for the 6s.. seeinsr thnt he had mors than i,4 in his possession at the time. There were several previous convictions against pnsoner, and he was fined E5, or sent to prison for one month with hard labour.

1\fr. Cockerton, Local Government auditor, has informed the London School Board that it has no authority in Jaw to srpend the rates in providing and maintaining spccial schools for the instruction of pupil

NESTOR QUOIT CLUB. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. The annual gathering and prize distribution in oonnection with Nest on Quoit Cub took plaoe at the National Schools last week. About 103 sat down to tea. The president of the club. the Rev. Canon Turner (vicar), occupied the chair, and there were also present Mrs. Turner, the Rc-v. E. W. Bowell, Miss Boweli, Mr. Joseph Con way (president of the Northern Quoitiny League, and hon. secretary of the olub), Mr. John Cottreil (assistant secretary), etc. An enjoyable smoking concert followed, and during an interval Mrs. Turuer presented the prizes to the successful com- petitors. The prize list was as follows :—1, marble clock, Joseph Clarke; 2, china tea set, Walter Oxton; 3, set carvers, Evelyn Grundy; 4, set car- ver s, C. C&ssell; 5, set carvers, Ernest Grundy; t, box cigars, John Tozer; 7, briar pipe, W. Ash- brook. Boys: 1, cruet, F. Medcalf; 2, sclecfced, Thos. Mealor. The Chairman, after referring to the pleasant, character of the gathering, said there was, how- ever, a note of sadness in it, for 1t was the lubt time that Mr. Conway would be with them in the oapacity of honorary see rot try. He should per- sonally regret the loss exceedingly. During the twelve years Mr. Conway had been associated with the club, he had done much to make it the flourishing institution it now was. He (the presi- dent) had been associated with Mr. Conway in the work for nine years, and could bear testimony to the valuable nature of the work he had done for the club. Looking back over the nine years, he could point to many a difficulty whioh had been surmounted. Money had been freely raised by Mr. Conway, and given by him personally, and in case of emergency he had never hesitated to ask the friends of the oiub to come to ilio rescue. (Applause.) The handsome pavilion, which was now the property of the club and froo from debt, was a case in point, and they were also largely indebted to his efforts for the handsome lists of prizes. Though he was resigning tho zt secretaryship. Mr. Conway would stiil remain a member of the club, and would serve tipoil tl-Ae committee, so that they might still look to him for hcip and advice in the future. (Applause.) When he learned that Mr. Conway intended to resign, he asked him to re-consider the matter, and even went so far as to ask him to "stand by the sli Ip" as long as he (the speaker) was conneoted with it. As soon as the approaching resignation became known, a subscription was at once set GD. foot among the members, and as a result they had purchased a silver teapot, which ho now had the pleasure of presenting to Mr. Conway on their behalf. In formally handing Mr. Conway the tea- pot, the Chairman read the inscription engraved upon it, as follows:—Presented to Mr. Joseph Conway by the members of the Neston Quoit Club, 21st April, 1902, on his resignation of 1(4 office of hon. secretary, held by him from I8S0 tc 1902." Mr. Conway, who was received with rounds of applause, thanked the meeting in sincere terms for the testimonial, and remarked that he feit acutely the act of severing his twelve years' con- nection with the office. When he took up the work he had felt that, as a native of the place, be should like. to do something for those among whom his life was being spent, and his connection w;-Lli the quoit club had been one of the happiest ex- periences of his life. (Applause.) Mr. Conway afterwards referred to the cordial assistance he had received in carrying out the secretarial duties, and the libera! support which had all along been accorded by ladies and gentlemen of the district, without which it would have been impossible to carry on the work of the club as it had been, and concluded by wishing the quoit club every future prosperity. (Loud applause.) At a later stage the Chairman announced that Mr. John Cottrell, the assistant hon. secretary, had been appointed to the position of honorary secretary, the intimation being received with much applause. During the evening the Rev. E. W. Bowell g £ \e a pianoforte solo, Master Allfin Birch a mando- line solo, Masters Swift and Oxton an instrumental duet, and songs were sung by Messrs. II. B. Swift, J. Roberts. A. Jones, E. Kenny, and Mr. Thcnp- son, the Rev. Bowell acting as accompanist.

The Rev. Hartopp' Holt was driving two young sisters, named Jefferson, near Scarborough on Thursday when the horse became unmanageable and the trap fell down a, steep bank. Maude Jefferson, aged 21, was killed, and the younger sister is in a very dangerous condition. Mr. Holt was also iniured.

iMAZmTTEEl Tfii iSlJB B S KJ' Luscioutiy smooth HP €#iSIJl to thc ¥ loHQGQLATE I r:1( hed. h t-c, tgilclie!!i a higher point rf ref l -y.