The North Wales Times

Agricultural Jlttm AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATION IN WALES. THE committee appointed at a meeting held at Welshpool on the 6th January, and con- sisting of Mr. A. C. Humphreys-Owen, M.P., Mr. Edward Davies (directors of the Cam- brian Railways), Mr. J. Marshall Dugdale (member of the Council of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England, and High She- riff of Montgomeryshire), Colonel Hughes (agent to Sir Watkin Wynn), Mr. W. Forres- ter Addie (Mayor of Welshpool and agent to the Earl of Powis), Professor Parry (Aber- ystwyth College), Mr. C. Venables Llewelyn (Newbridge on Wye), Mr. S. M. Bligh, and Mr. C. S. Denniss (general manager of the Cambrian Railways), have met at Plasdi- nam, and agreed on the following interim report:— 1. In compliance with the order of refer- ence, the committee have considered the possibility of applying in practice the prin- ciple of agricultural co-operation, especially in dairying. On the present occasion they have dealt only with dairying. 2. They have received much valuable in- formation (including copies of reports and accounts of several creameries now in opera- tion in Ireland) from the chairman (the Hon. Horace Plunkett, M.P) and the secretary (Mr. R. A. Anderson, of the Irish Agricul- tural Organisation Society), to whom they desire to express their thanks. 3. They find that the Irish dairy societies, or creameries, are successfully carried on by farmers, who find the necessary capital, on the basis of taking Rl share for each cow whose milk is sent to the creamery, the management being entirely in the hands of the shareholders. It is found that the quan- tity of butter produced is somewhat under 6! oz. per gallon of milk, and that the aver- age price obtained for the butter at the creamery is a fraction over lOd. per lb. It thus requires nearly three gallons of milk to produce lib. of butter, and the price; therefore, v.hich the creamery can afford to pay is about 3jd. per gallon, or less than Id. 2 per quart; but in addition to this, they would return the skim-milk, which is worth lid. per gallon for rearing calves or pigs, thus making the total value of the milk 4jd. 2 or 5d. per gallon, and getting the manure from the animals fed with skim-milk, for use on the farm, as against the amount re ceived for selling the milk entirely off the farm. The committee have no reason to think that Welsh milk would, on the aver- age, give a larger quantity of butter per gallon, and they doubt whether the farmers of the district served by the Cambrian Rail- ways would be content to sell their milk all the year round at the above-mentioned price, or even a little over. 4. If, however, this price were thought not unsatisfactory by the majority of farmers, the next step should be taken to ascertain for any locality whether there are within easy range of a convenient centre a suffici- cient number of dairy cows whose owner would undertake to join in forming an asso- ciation for providing the buildings and plad for a factory. From 500 to 1,000 cows is a number which has been found by Irish ex- perience to give the best results. As the intention of the present report is to convey general information, it is not thought neces- sary to enter into details as to methods of forming and managing an association until the generai question has received more con- sideration from the public. 5. An alternative to the creamery system, under which the milk is brought as raw ma- terial to the manufacturing centre, is that of collecting and grading and marketing the farmers' own butter. This may be carried on in fwolldifferent ways. By the fyrst, the butter is churned and made up as at pre- sent at the farmhouse, and the work of the central institution is limited to receiving, classifying, and disposing of it. The success of this method depends entirely on the skill and care of the individual farmer or dairy- maid. It is indispensable that the butter should be of good quality, and made up in shapes best fitted for packing and travelling and of uniform weight, appearance, colour, and size. If these conditions are fulfilled, the manager who does the selling will, if a sufficient number of competent members join, be able to meet the modern demand for large quantities of even quality thr ugh- out. 6. By the second method, the churning only is done at the farmhouse. The butter is taken out of the churn as soon as the granular stage is reached-i.e., before it gathers into a lump, and is then carried to the central dairy, where it is dried in the delaiteuse (the centrifugal drier), weighed, and then worked up for the market. 7. In each of these two cases the farmer receives the price of his butter, less the amount of expenses of working and manage- ment, 8. The committee will meet again shortly. They will regard it as a favour if any persons interested in the subject, whether members of the conference or not, will send to Mr. Denniss, at the company's office at Oswestry, any criticism or suggestions which may occur to them for consideration at the next meeting of the committee.

EXCITING EXPERIENCE AT .LLANBERIS QUARRY. An extraordinary accident happened on Fri- day afternoon at the Dinorwic Quarries, Llan- beris. A man named Thomas Roberts, of Brynrefail, was working one of the galleries when a huge heap of rubbish and boulders, freed by the rains of previous days, began to move towards him. Before he could escape he was buried under a I fall' of about five jeet. The shout of his companions made known to the whole gallery that the man was buried, the roar of the fail being distinctly heard for a long distance off. Under the direction of Mr. Thomas Jones, the men quickly set to work, and before long had removed a quantity of rubbish. After working for some time one of the men put his ear to the heap, and the work- man buried underneath could be distinctly heard telling his companions to work in the same direction and hey would scon reach him. The rescuers redoubled their energies and soon reached their companion. No sooner, however, had they cleared about his head than a shout of War!' startled the rescuers, who ran away just in time to escape another fall of sodden rubbish, which once more buried the unfortun- ate workman. The men again went to work, and again the man was nearly freed, and boards put up to abop the flow of rubbis h, when another shout, even louder thaii that before, warned the rescuers of danger and compelled them to fly. A huge rock about for tons in weight rolled down the declivity, making direct for the place where the man was buried. Hia terrified com- panions looked on helplessly at wli-t appeared a certain death for their mate. The boulder, however, swerved and rushed past him. Once more the rubbish which followed in the train of the boulder broke the boards and buried the unfortunate man. Once more the men went to work, and finally succeeded in rescuing their mate, who war, still alive, but seriously injured. Under the direction of the chief manager, the Hon. W. W. Vivifill, and Dr. Mills Roberts, he was borne to the hospital, where his injuries were attended to. The man was under the fall for one hour and a quarter, and he is doing well. His injuries are fractures of the legs and arms and j&tenial.

ST. ASAPH. CHURCH DEBATING SOCIETY. The meeting of this society was held last Thursday evening. A very lively and interes- ting debate took place on the subject Are clubs detrimental to homes?' Miss Ostler opened on the affirmative side, and Miss Louis on the negative. Several members took part in the discussien, and the negative s;de was carried by a large majority. LITERARY SOCIETY. The meeting of this society was held last Wednesday evening, the Rev. Jonathan Jones presiding. The subject was 'Wales in 1800,' which was divided into three parts. Mr. W. H. Jeffreys read a paper on the social or political aspect, Mr. O.Hughes (station) on the educational condition of the country at that time, and the Rev. W. M. Jones on the religious state. The three papers had been prepared with a deal of labour, ard were very instruc- tive. CHAIR EISTEDDVOD. Judging from the programme of the St. Asaph Chair Eisteddvod, which is to be held on St. David's Day, there is a prospect of excellent meetings. The entries are numerous in all the sections. There are nine competitors for the chair prize, which competition is confined to persons not having previously won a chair in any eisteddvod, so there is now a better chance for younger bards to attain chair honours. The musical portion, especially the chief choral competition will prove interesting. Five well known choirs have entered for the chief com- petitions. Three meetings have been arranged for the day, the evening one being a gland concert. The presidents are P. Roberts, Esq., J.P., R. W. Wynne, Esq., J.P., and T. Howes Roberts, Esq. The conductor is Huwco Pen- maen, Rhyl, and the musical adjudicator Mr. Wilfrid Jones. The principal artistes for the concert are Miss Jennie Roberts, R.A.M., and Mr. Wilfrid Jones.

BOARD OF G^TARDI A.NS. THE BEER QUESTION AGAIN. FRIDAY.-Present: Messrs Edwin Morgan (chairman), John Williams (vice-chairman), Ellis Williams, Gwilym Parry, Joseph Ro- berts, Denbigh; Thomas Lloyd, Morris Jones, Llansannan J. D. Jones, St. George; A. Foulkes, John Vaughan, Abergele Wm. Jones, Llannefydd; Joseph Lloyd, John Williams, Cefn Thomas Lloyd, Henllan; Robert Morris, W. Conway Bell, Rhuddlan T. Howes Roberts, Miss Bennett, St. Asaph: Messrs. Thomas Morgan, Cwm; Thomas Ellis, Meliden John Williams, Pydew, Dyserth Messrs. W. Wynne, Jacob Jones, P. Mostyn Williams, Mrs. Jane Roberts, Mrs. Mary Jones, Rhyl; Rev. J. Adams, Tremeirchion, and Mr. Charles Grimsley, clerk. THE HOUSE. The Master reported the number of pau- pers in the House last Board-day to be 121; admitted since, 11; discharged, 4; remain- ing in the House this day, 128-an increase of 11 on the corresponding date last year. Vagrants relieved during the past fort- night, 55; during the corresponding period last year, 91-a decrease of 36. INDISPOSED OFFICIALS. It was further reported that the matron and nurse were ill, several Guardians expres- sing sorrow that such was the case. The Chairman asked if they were able to get on with the work in the House in the absence of the matron and the nurse. The Master said they were doing the best they could, but it was very hard work. REMOVAL OF PAUPERS TO THE ASYLUM. During the reading of the master's report it transpired that an imbecile pauper had been sent to the Denbigh Asylum. Mr. Abel Foulkes asked if it was neces- sary to remove the patient from the House. The Asylum officials were complaining that that establishment was sadly overcrowded. The Chairman The question is, was he violent. The Master said they might take it for granted that such cases were not removed without mature cons*de atio they never took steps of this sort unless they were bound to. In the present case the patient had caused him considerableanxiety during the past three weeks, and they bad no staff there to deal with violent cases. The patient had been seen by the medical officer and a magistrate, before his removal was decided upon. Mr. Foulkes expressed his entire satisfac- tion with the master's reply. ADDITIONAL COMFORTS FOR INVALID PAUPERS. The Master stated that easy chairs had been bought by Mr. Roberts, Rhyl, from Messrs. Rhydwen Jones and Davies, of that town, for use in the sick ward. They had been purchased out of the balance of the money subscribed by a few friends for the purchase of an invalid carriage some time ago. Miss Bennett had also sent in a wicker invalid chair for the sick ward. On the motion of the Chairman a vote of thanks was heartily passed to these kind friends for their generosity. WHAT BECAME OF THE 'CHRISTMAS BEER.' Mr. Jacob Jones said that before the master left the room he had a certain mat- ter tto bring before the Board. A gentle- man just before Christmas had sent in a barrel of beer for the use of the inmates. The Board passed a resolution to decline the beer, and the only way to give effect to that resolution would be to send the cask back. But he had heard a rumour that not only had the beer not been sent back, but that the barrel had been actually tapped. However, he did not believe rumours, and did net believe that Mr Jones was the man to disregard the resolution of the Board. There- fore he brought the matter forward that day to give Mr. Jones an opportunity of ex- plaining. He asked if the barrel had been tapped. The Master replied that he did not un- derstand when he was appointed master of the House that the officials were to be denied beer, or any food they might care to purchase themselves. For fifty years a pint of beer per day had been allowed to tbi5 officers in the House but a few years back they asked for money allowance in lieu of beer, and that request was granted by the Guardians. He did not know that there were any teetotallers- there, but this he knew that there were no more temperate body of officers fanywhere. With regard to the beer referred to by Mr. Jacob Jones, it was not a barrel that Mr. Ellis had sent, but a small nine gallon cask. When it was de- cided not to accept the beer, he wrote to Mr. Ellis saying he would buy it and asking that a bill be sent to him for it. And he was drinking it himself. Mr. Joseph Lloyd: Pity you do not ask someone else to join you (laughter). The Master; I believe the beer is doing me good. Mr. John Roberts, Geinas Do I under- stand that Mr. Ellis presented the beer to the master ? The Master: I asked for a bill, and am prepared to pay it when qpnt. Mr. Ellis has not sent it yet, but I hope he will. Mr. Jacob Jones said the master's reply was quite beside the question. He did not i deny beer to any of the officers, What he complained about was that the resolution of the Board had been disregarded. If Mr. Jones wanted beer he could have got it in some other way. The Board had decided that this beer should be returned. The Master remarked that he wished to be quite clear if that was the purport of the resolution. He did not understand it so, but he might be wrong. The Clerk read the resolution which was to the effect that the beer sent by Mr. Ellis for distribution among the paupeet be de- clined. The Chairman Declined for distribution among the paupers. It has not been dis- tributed among the paupers has it ? The Master (emphatically): No, sir. I was charged by a Guardian last Board-day with having done so, but I challenged that friend to prove his assertion. Mr. Joseph Lloyd: Don't the inmates get brandy sauce with their plum pudding at Christmas ? The Master said that brandy sauce was not allowed,*but he bad granted it, since he had been master there every year. Mr. Joseph Lloyd: What is the use of making so much fuss about beer when the inmates get brandy 1 (laughter). Mr. Wm. Wynne: I propose we proceed to the next business. The Chairman Are you satisfied with the explanation of the master ? Mr. Jacob Jones did not consider that the master had replied to his question. While he was speaking on this question, they would perhaps permit him to read a para- graph touching the beer question at another Union. 'At the Eton Board of Guardians sitting at Slough, Dr. Buce presented his last report. He had been in the service of the Board for forty years, and was, because of his advanced age of 82 years, resigning his office. In his report the doctor stated that for the last 22 years he had abstained from ordering, except in a very moderate way, the use of intoxicating drinks. No beer, gin, rum, or whiskey was given to the sick, while brandy and wine were not used but to the average value of Ss. per annum, for many years past. During that time he found the inmates in better health, and lived longer than when the cost of intoxi- cants was something like X150 annually. The master's report shewed that during the Christmas festivities, nine only out of 174 inmates desired to have beer rather than an increased allowance of tobacco, tea, and sugar. Both the master and matron were total abstainers.' Mr. J. D. Jones seconded the motion to proceed to the next business, and that was agreed to. CONFERENCE OF POOR LAW GUARDIANS. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Central Poor Law Board, intimating that the next conference would be held in London on the 9th and 10th of March, and that Boards of Guardians subscribing the sum of 10s. towards the expenses of the Con- ference, would be entitled to be represen- ted. Members of Boards that did not sub- scribe could attend the Conference on pay- ment of 2s. 6d. each day. Mr. Joseph Lloyd said their Board had been represented at these Conferences be- fore, but never at the cost of the ratepayers. If any (subscriptions had been paid they must have been borne by the Guardians who attended the Conference personally. A question was raised as to whether any of the St. Asaph Guardians would be likely to attend, and it was elicited that at present there was no likelihood of the Board being represented. Mr. A. Foulkes proposed that a subscrip- tion of 10s. be paid. The Vice-chairman seconded. Mr. Ellis Williams What for ? There is no one going from the Union. Mr. Joseph Lloyd: I move that we pro- ceed to the next business. On a division, two only voted for the mo- tion, and it was therefore declared lost. THE BOARD AND THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. In reply to a letter from the clerk of the Board, the Rev. B. Waugh, president of the National Society for the prevention of cruel- ty to children, stating that the Local Go- vernment Board allowed Boards of Guard- ians to subscribe to the funds of the society, and giving a list of several Boards that did so subscribe. Mr. Llewelyn Jones, Rhyl, wrote sugges- ting that the St. Asaph Board should sub- cribe tio per annum to the society. It would be a saving in the long run to do so. The society's object was to make people take care of their children, and in doing that they would take better care of them- selves, and would therefore not be so liable to become chargeable to the Union. Mr. Howes Roberts said he was in favour of subscribing something to this society. But the suggestion of J10 a year killed him (laughter). He proposed that they subscribe a guinea a year. Mr. Roberts, Geinas: A guinea would be rather little. Mr. Howes Roberts said he would make it two guineas. Mr. Joseph Lloyd protested against sub- scribing at all, as it was wrong in principle. There were plenty of people who would voluntarily subscribe to the society, but it would be wrong for them in the face of the present depression to apply any part of the ratepayers' money to the purpose. He moved that they proceed to the next busi- ness. Mr. Thomas Morgan seconded. Mrs. Mary Jones seconded Mr. Howes Ro- berts' proposal to subscribe two guineas, which was carried by 16 votes to 15. APPRECIATION OF SYMPATHY. A letter was read from Mr. H. Parry, Bettws,acknowledging receipt of the Board's letter of sympathy with him in his illness, and thanking theZGuardians for their expres- sion of condolence. He was glad to say he was getting better. The Chairman said that no doubt all of them felt pleased to learn that Mr. Parry was recovering. GRANTS UNDER THE NEW RATING ACT. A communication was read from the Local Government Board, with regard to the grant to the Union under the Agricultural Rating Act. The Clerk said that his figures did not quite agree with those of the Local Govern- ment Board, and it was resolved to leave the matter in Mr. Grimsley's hands. I CALLS IN ARREAR. The Clerk reported that the follow" parishes were In arrears with their calls Bettws yn Illioi, X33 Cefn, £ 25 *t li £3<1: Rhuddlan, £81 iSt. Asaob st George, £ 16 Waen, £ 17. j.

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the St. Asa-ph (Flint- shire) Rural District Council was held on Friday, Mr. John Roberts, Geinas, in the Chair. The other members pivmt were Mr. Robert Morris (Vice Chairman), Messrs. W. Conwy Bell, John Williams, Pysenh Thomas Ellis, Meliden; Thomas Morgan, Cwm; Edwin Mor- gan, Rev. J, Adams, Tremeirchion; Miss Ben- nett, Mr. Howes Roberts, St. Asaph; Mr. Charles Grimsley (Clerk), Dr. J. Lloyd Ro- berts (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. George Bell (Sanitary Surveyor), and Mr. John Lloyd (Highway Surveyor). THE GLANFFYDDION FOOTPATH. Mr. Edwin Morgan said that a Committee of that Council, with a Committee of the Rhudd- lan Parish Council, visited the Glanffyddion footpath. Personally, he looked upon the tak- ing over of this footpath as a very serious mat- ter for the Council. If they repaired this one, they would have to repair every footpath in the district, and that would prove as serious a matter almost as maintaining the road. Unless they were legally bound so repair the footpath he would kick against it. There was no evi- dence to show that they were bound to repair it. The old Highway Board had never done anything to the footpath. Some cinders had been placed upon it, but he understood that that had been done by the tenant of the field. The bridge over Glanffyddion brook had been repaired at their expense, and that was only reasonable, for they could not expect a tenant to replace a bridge that had been washed away by the floods. With regard to the utility of the path, he had been informed by a member of the Rhuddlan Parish Council, that it afforded no advantage in time or distance to people walking to Rhyl. It was just as near to go by the high road, only it was more pleasant in summer to go through the fields. Mr. R. Morris thought they had no right to go into the field to metal the path. Mr. Howes Roberts, as one who had fre- quently walked over the path, considered it a shorter way to Rhyl than by the road. Mr. Conwy Bell said that the path had been maintained by the District Council as far as Mr. Morris' field. As to the field path, he did not think the Parish Council asked them to take take that over, but simply the path on the roadside leading to the field, and a crossing over an old road near Cwybr Fawr. Mr. Edwin Morgan That has been done. Mr. Bell did not know who Mr. Edwin Mor- gan's informant was as to the relative distances by the roads and fields, but as a matter of fact, it was shorter by half-a-mile to go to Rhyl by the fields than it was by the road. The ap- proaches to the path were the bone of conten- tion. Mr. Edwin Morgan did not contend that. What he objected to was the field path, not the roadside path. Mr. R. Morris said that it had been decided to take the road over as well as the path, if the landlord first put it in a fair condition. The Chairman Is it right to put the Coun- cil to the expense of repairing this path, and to risk being called upon to repair every footpath in the district for the sake of a saving of a quarter of a mile's walk ? Mr. Conwy Bell: This footpath is different to the generality of petty footpaths in the country. It is what I might call a main foot- path to an important town. Mr. Morris thcught the field footpath was in a very similar state to the other footpaths at this time of the year, and when there was so much rain. The Vicarage Lane, and Llaccia Road, he admitted had been in a very bad state. But regarding the field path, he thought they as a Council had done their duty in calling upon the landlords to clean out GlanfTyddion stream, to prevent its overflowing. That work had now been done by Capt. Conwy and Mr. Griffith, Garn. Mr. Morgan Yes, and a very good job of it has been done. It was decided to inform the Rhuddlan Parish Council that this Council had done all in its power to the path, and the Clerk was requested to point out to them the section of the Act of Parliament, under which parishes, if they so choose, can repair field footpaths themselves. AN ANCIENT ROAD AT BODFARY IN AN IMPASSABLE STATE. The Clerk read a letter from the Bodfary Parish Council, enclosing a resolution asking the District Council to repair th-e footpath from Lletty'r Eos to Fron Haul, in that par ish and also the lane leading from the Mold Road near Blue Bell to Lletty'r Eos and Tanygaer. Mr. Roberts (the Bodfary Parish Clerk) ap- peared to support the application. The Surveyor, replying to Mr. Conwy Bell, said nothing had been done to the footpath from Lletty'r Eos by the old Highway Board. Mr. Bell said that in that case the footpath was on the same basis as the one they had just decided on at Rhuddlan. Mr. Roberts (the Parish Clerk) stated that the footpath in question was a great conveni- ence to the Railway Station. It was an old road, but was now covered with gorse and brambles, and was almost impassable. It would not cost much to render it passable for pedes- trian traffic. The Parish Council did not expect it to be made available for vehicular purposes. To do that it would mean a very large expendi- ture in consequence of a landslip that had occurred at one place on the road. Mr. Conwy Bell asked if the landlords could not be called upon to cut the hedges, to relieve the road and render it passable ? I The Chairman remarked that there were no landlords to ask. This was an old road—hun- dreds of years old. The Clerk The Parish Council can repair it. The Chaiiman But they have no money. The Clerk: They can raise it from the same source as we do. Mr. John Williams (Pydew): Who used to repair it ? Mr. Thomas Morgan Nobody. Mr. C. W. Bell moved that they proceed to the next business. This road was exactly on the same ground as other roads they had de- cided not to repair. Rev. J. Adams seconded, and in doing so, said that parishes all round should repair their own footpaths. The motion was agreed to. CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.' The other application of the Bodfary Parish Council was next considered—that the District Council repair the road from Blue Bell to Lletty'r Eos and Tanygaer. Mr. Edwin Morgan: Did the Highway Board repair this lane? The Chairman thought the old road surveyors used to repair it. He knew that when he held that office, he did something to it. Mr. Thomas Morgan How long has the road been in this bad state? The Chairman Ever since I have been in Bodfary. Mr. T. Morgan: Dear me. What is the mat- ter now ? The Parish Clerk There was no District Council in those days (laughter). On the motion of Mr. Williams, Pydew, it was decided to proceed to the next business. FENCING A DANGEROUS SPOT AT DYSERTH. The Sub-committee appointed to inquire into the question of fencing the dangerous spot on the roadside by the river at Penisa, Dyserth, recommended that the tender of Messrs. Ro- berts Brothers for ieucing the place off be accepted. Mr. Conwy Bell said that several tenders had been under consideration, but the Com- mittee thought chafe that of Messrs. Roberts Bros. would be the best one to accept. Their price was 91.3 12s., and the Committee recom- mended its, acceptance, if Messrs. Roberts would substitute wrought iron pillars instead of cast iron, and section irons instead of prongs for fastening the fence. Mr. Williams proposed, Mr. Thomas Ellis seconded, and it was carried, that the recom- mendation of the Committee be confirmed. THE COLLEGE ROAD, TREMEIRCHION. The application of the Rev. E. Reeve, St' Beuno's College, as to the repair of the new road by the college, was further considered. Mr. Reeve said the road was made in 1873, and that there was an understanding that ic should be taken over by the highway authority. Mr. Edwin Morgan thought the road was in a very good state. It was almost like a drive. The Surveyor said that a portion of the road was in a very bad state. Up from the entrance gate to the gasworks of the college the road was very bad for about a hundred yards. The road was seldom used by any but the college people, but it was a public road. The Rev. J. Adams thought it would be in- consistent on the part of the Council to repair this road, after refusing the application of the Bodfary Parish Council. Mr. Bell: They can, if it is a public road, and in good condition, compel us to take it over. The Clerk: Yes, by an order of the magis- trates. It was resolved that Mr. Reeve be informed that this was not a road adopted as a highway repairable by the public. TERMS OF OFFICERS' APPOINTMENTS VARIED.—THE THREE iTEARS SYSTEM' ADOPTED. A communication was considered from the Local Government Board relative to the ap- pointments of Medical Officer of Health, and Inspector of Nuisances and Surveyor, and sug- gesting that the appointments be made for a term of years, rather than from year to year. Mr. Edwin Morgan said that in view of the approaching end of the term of office for the present Council, it would be better to leave the matter over for the new Council to deal with. Dr. Roberts and Mr. Geo. Bell, the officers affected, said they considered that it would be more satisfactory in every way for the appoint- ments to be for a term of years. The Rev. J. Adams proposed that the officers be appointed for a term of three years. Mr. R. Morris seconded. This was agreed to, and the Clerk instructed to make the next meeting a special one, to make the appointments. RUTHIN UNION AND ELECTORAL PROCEDURE. Resolutions were received from the Ruthin Rural District Council asking the Council to join in petition to the Local Government Board suggesting thafc in the future Rural Dis- trict Councillors should be elected in the same way as Parish Councillors, and that the latter continue in office for three years instead of for one as at present. The Chairman said Ruthin Union was at one time looked upon as a Model Union, but was quite out of date now. Mr. Howes Roberts considered that the pre- sent system of electing Rural District Coun- cillors was far better than that for electing Parish Councillors. At the first St. Asaph Parish Meeting the Chairman noticed that one man voted for 22 candidates, whereas 15 only was the number required. The resolutions were laid on the table. A PITFALL FOR DISTRICT COUNCILLORS. A letter was read from the Waen Parish Council calling attention to the very dangerous ditch on the roadside near Bryn Ibbot. The Rev. J. Adams said he could bear out what was said in the letter. The place was very dangerous, and traps had frequently fallen into i. t. It was about ten feet wide, and a yard deep. Mr. W. Conwy Bell assured them that it was at least five feet deep in one place. He had been in and ought to know (laughter). The road was also very narrow at the place. It was decided that a Committee should visit the place with the Surveyor, and Messrs. Edwin Morgan, T. Morgan, and T. Howes Roberts were appointed. A DANGEROUS QUARRY AT RHUALLT. LIABILITIES OF RURAL DISTRICT CHAIRMEN. The Council considered the question of fen- cing the Parish Quarry at Rhuallt. Mr. Edwin Morgan pointed out that it was held that an unfenced quarry was a nuisance, and that the District Council were liable if any accident happened. Unless they were care- ful they would find that the Chairman might be indicted for manslaughter should an accident happen. A coroner's jury in one part of En- gland had returned a verdict of manslaughter against the Chairman of a District Council. The Clerk said that that finding had been quashed on appeal. He considered personally that it was the duty of the Council to fence the quarry, as they had caused the place to become dangerous by quarrying stones for parish pur- poses. Mr. Bell considered that the owner of the property adjacent was equally liable with the Council, for there was a portion that undoubt- edly belonged to him. Rev. J. Adams said if any eattle fell over the quarry they would first have to trespass on the Council's land. Mr. Howes Roberts suggested that a claim for trespass could be made against the owner in that case. It was decided to appoint a small committee to inspect the quarry, and report thereon.

MONEY-LENDING AMONG WELSH FARMERS. AN IMPUDENT ACTION. ON Friday, the 6th inst., at Chester County Court, before His Honour Judge Sir Hora- tio Lloyd, Maurice Price, described as a financier, of Chester, sued Hugh and Mary Parry, man and wife, of Trevor, near Llan- gefni, Anglesea, for £8 10s., balance of money lent and interest. Mr. W. H. Churton appeared for the de- defendants. It appeared that in June last, Parry re- plied to a newspaper advertisement offering money on easy terms to farmers,and purpor- ting to be inserted by Pryce Jones, at one time a county court bailiff at Bangor. Ad- dresses were given at Bangor, Carnarvon, and Llangefni. As a result, a Jew named Samuel Servian, living at Everton, Liver- pool, and representing the plaintiff, went over to Trevor, the defendants paying his expenses. Tho defendants wanted to bor- row £30, and they signed a promissory note for £38 10s., receiving a cheque for £ 29 15s, Two days after 'cashing the cheque, Mr. Pritchard, solicitor, Holyhead, on behalf of the defendants, wrote that they had been misled, and returned the money, with 5s. to cover-any interest that might be claimed. Servian, in cross-examination by Mr. Churton, 'admitted that Jones, in whose name the advertisement appeared, had died two or three months previously. Did you write and represent yourself as Mr. Jones 1 No, my initial3 appeared after the name. Do you call that 'straightforward' deal- ings, taking the position of a man who has been dead two months ? I used the name because it was running in the advertisement all the while, and we did not care to change it. Mr. Jones was; our agent. His Honour said the witness had repre- sented that the deceased had authorised him to write the letter. The witness I did not know that. Mr. Churton Perhaps jour own euphon- ious name would not have sounded so at- tractive to the Welsh people as Jones (laughter). Do you know the rate of interest was 50 per cent ? The witness: The man saw wha-t he was signing, and I read it over. Do you call that' a very low rate of inter- est and 'special terms to farmers ? Well, judge for yourself. I can call It what like, and you can call it what you like (laughter). For the defence, Mr. Churton contended that the transaction was an absolute fraud. that the transaction was an absolute fraud. His Honour said when the principal was repaid the interest-ceased. He non-suited the I plaintiff, with costs, characterising the ac- tion as a most impudent one.

A French statistician has calculated that the I human eye travels over 2,000 yards in reading and ordinary sized novel. The average human {' being is supposed to get through 2,500 miles of reading in a lifetime.

In the time of ilIonry VIII., the Royal Navy only numbered fourteen vessels.