The North Wales Times

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sir M. White Ridley, answering Mr. Darling said he had ascertained that there were one or two cases of landlords who were taking steps to turn tenants out of houses on the route of the Queen's procession to St. Paul's and back. He had no power to take action, but if such a practice became at all general he had no doubt that representations would be made in the proper quarter in time to change the route. Subsequently Mr. Marks gave notice that co day he would ask leave to introduce a bill giving magistrates power to stay evictions of certain tenants in London until after the date of the Jubilee procession. Mr, Curzon stated, in answer to Mr. Gretton that the Government had received no confirma- of the report that a British subject had been murdered in Cuba by Spanish soldiers, hi the British Consul has been asked for ,4"iation on the subject. jl, G, Balfour informed Mr. Dillon that he had -ifect'a, nice ting announced to be held in county May" lust Sunday to be prohibited be- cause it.app.wd that its object was to advocate Yf'. & t Xrng a', ;nidation. Mr. A. J. Baifour, in answer to Mr. Robert- son, said he had thought the debate on the question of the 1inancial relations between this country and Ireland would not last over Mon- day night, but if there was a general wish that it should go over to the following day he should not put any obstacle in the way, -,0. bIT M. Hicks-i>eacn told Mr. Bartley that he was not in a position to say whether the Bud- get would be introduced before Easter. Mr. Brynmor Jones asked the Under Foreign secretary whether, under the terms of the notice of the blockade of Crete, British or American ships carrying cargoes belonging to British and American subjects, consigned to an agent at a Cretan port for delivery to a Cretan merchant in the interior of the island, would be liable to be visited by a British or Russian warship and prevented from delivering their cargoes, and whether a state of war existed between Great Britain on the one hand and Greece or Turkey on the other. Mr. Curzon replied that ships as described in the question were liable to visited and searched by the ships of the Great Powers, and to be prevented from delivering their cargoes if, in the opinion of the Admirals, such delivery wouH be calculated to encourage further dis- order in the island. No state of war existed between Great Britain and either Greece or Turkey. The blockade of Crete was under- stood by the Government to he in the nature of a measure of police, enforced—with the consent of the Sovereign Power—by the Ad- miral who had control of the coast, with the object of preventing further fighting in the island. Replying to Mr. Flynn, Mr. Cnrzon said the British Ambassador at Constantinople had been instructed to lose no opportunity of urging the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Crete. -It was clear thnt such a step would be greatly facilitated by the withdrawal of the Greek forces from the island, which, according to the terms of the Supplementary Note addressed to the Porte on March 5, was to be a preliminary condition of the progressive reduction of the Ottoman forces. Mr. Curzon informed Mr. Bryce that the news of the disturbance at Tokat had been officially confirmed by the Vice Consul at y Sivas, who reported that the disturbance las- ted eight hours, that about leo Armenians were killed, and that general pillage was going on in the town. Urgent representations had been made to the Porte by Sir P. Currie, to the effect that if steps were not immediately taken for the removal of the authorities at Tokat and the punishment of those guilty ef the murders it would be clear that they had been allowed by the Palace, that it would be his duty to report in that sense to his Govern- ment, and that the effect the renewal of such crimes would have upon the action of Europe under presen t circumstances might be imagined. Orders had been issued by the Porte for the arrest of the officials at Tokat, and a Special Commission had been sent to summarily try the authors of the disorders and all persens directly or indirectly implicated. By 269 votes to 114 the twelve o'clock rule was suspended, in order that the debate on the third reading of the Voluntary Schools Bill jnight proceed, if necessary, after midnight Asquith moved the rejection of the bill. Mr. %ey had now reached the last stage in lie said sofa measure which was destined the progress in the history of the House to be a lamlnw fn the manner in which it was of Cornmons. and in the methods bv originally drawn 't,ed and recommended which it had been preset. ,ve innovation on to the House it created a gr* -ation wllicl, if their habitual practice, an ibbov lnt, would it were allowed to become a pre le"u" lent of "fundamentally alfeer—and, in the jtlà alter iel the worse— tfaS *•- 'iti^ under which t'^ legislative 05 I'arliament had hitherto b^-uniformly car- fed on. He affirmed that the Ml started from ;t,n invidious and unfounded discrimination oe- tween the needs-and claims of mftereu. e ^es of schools. It let loose large sums of public money to be scrambled for by clerical man- agers without any effective security for locai or Parliamentary control. It provided no safe- «uard for the appropriation of tne dole to tne improvement of education, for bettering tne status of teachers, or for redressing or mitiga- ting the injustice suffered ]Jby Nonconlormisu Barents and it had been initiated and conduc- ted through the House by methods and m a spirit wholly alien to our hitherto unvarying traditions. The Solicitor General maintained that the bill was an endeavour to improve the efficiency of Voluntary schools, and in that way is dia something for the Nonconformist parent who had to send his boy to a Church school. T ie Government, being desirous oi maintaining tlie settlement of 1870 by preventing Voluntary schools from being suomergea were perfectly justified in introducing m tne first place a bill for promoting the efficiency or those schools, re rving for separate consideration the pro- i,a,.QacUrtiis school board dis- tJlc:rL' VI ÖJ1U1U' .uV'\J'J.jI.J" tri 3. As to the claim for local control, he bel(i that as the money came from the Exchequer the control ought to be that of the central Department; and as to the contention | that the Government ought to have ootamed j more securities for the maintenance of vo^™" tarv subscriptions, he replied that, while the Government were most anxious to provide tor that matter, any rigid provision would be ira- prateable a 8peech, closed the delate for the Opposition anr\ MY. Balfour hiving replied, a division was taken hen the motion for the third reading was earned by ,331 votes to 131.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. I Mr. G. Balfour, answering Mr, Dillon, said the Crown had the right under the common law to prohibit any meeting called for an illegal object where it was believed that its prohibi- tion would promote the public peace. These elements entered into the instance of a meeting prohibited at Knox on Sunday last. Replying to Captain Donelan, Mr. G. Balfoui said there was no intention of reviving the Coercion Act in Ireland. In answer to Sir E. A. Bartlett, Mr. A. J. Balfour said he was afraid he could not promise that the enormous undertaking of codifying and simplifying the laws of England should be commenced 1 as a memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee.' In reply to a question put by Mr. Massey Mainwaring, Mr. Balfour read the terms of the bequest made by Lady Wallace to the nation. It stated that the gift to the nation included the pictures, porcelain, bronzes, artistic furni- ture armour, miniatures, snuff-boxes, and works of art which were placed on the ground and first floors and in the galleries at Hertford House, on the express condition that the Government for the time being should agree to give a site in a central part of London and build thereon a special museum for the collec tion, which should always be kept together, un- mixed with other objects of art, and should be styled 'The Wallace Collection.' Mr. Marks brought in a bill, which was read the first time, to enable magistrates to restrain the eviction of certain tenants in London until after the date of the Jubilee procession. Mr. Dillon asked what precautions the Government had taken to ensure that the Christian peasantry of Crete should not be sub- jected to famine by the blockade, and on what grounds the Government justified that article of the proclamation which forbade the landing of provisions for the interior of the island, while no restriction was placed on the landing of provisions and stores for the use of those cities where the Mahometan population and the t Turkish troops were congregated. I Mr. Curzon said no reply had yet been received from the British Admiral to the com- munication made to him on the subject, but the Government gathered from other reports the Government gathered from other reports that the question of provisions for the popula- tion or the island was engaging the earnest attention of the Admirals. Mr. Flynu asked whether a. mMM<-I1 4' n"1 1 r'" .f''71'1.AiJ'" AV.I.. tJ.i' | contemperaneouet Withdrawal of Greek and Turkish troops from Crete was under considera- tion by the Powers; and if not, would the re- presentative of the Government urge upon the other Powers, in the interests of peace, the propriety of this step being taken. Mr. Curzon sa d the Powers had already summoned the Greek Government to withdraw their troops from Crete, but the demand had not so far been complied with, Undc/r these circumstances the Governments of the Great Powers were not likely to entertain any pro- posals for the contemporaneous withdrawal of Greek and Turkish troops. The question of the withdrawal of the Turkish troops was under separate consideration, and the Government had urged that it should take place with as little delay as possible. Mr. Flynn asked, in reference to the recent massacre of Armenians at Tokat and the pillag3 @f that town, whether effective steps would be taken by the Great Powers to apply to Turkey the same coercive measures now contemplated in regard to Greece. Mr. Curzon confessed that he could not dis- cover any parallel between the two situations- In the case of Tokat the Powers had addressed demands to the Turkish Government which had been complied with but in the case of Crete the^Greek Government had retused to comply with the demands of the Powers/^ Hence the blockade. In answer to Mr. MacNeill, Mr. Curzon said the number of Armenians massacred at Tokat was 100 There was no question of 700, or of a larger number. The House went into Committee of Supply, and on a vote of A:10,631,218 towards defraying charges for the Civil Service and Pevenue De. partments fo r the year ending March 31,1898, Sir A. Roilit raised the subject of the order for the proposed Sick Children's Asylum District and Board projected by the President of the Local Government Board with reference so pauper children in London, and moved the reduction of the vote by £ 100. After a statement by Mr. Chaplin the amend- ment was withdrawn. Mr. Flynn moved to reduce the Home Office vote by £ 1,000,and Mr. M. Davitt condemned the action of the police with regard to the alleged dynamite conspiracy last year. Sir M. White Ridley asserted, upon his re- sponsibility as a Minister, that, from informa- tion derived through the agency at his command, his belief was that there was a conspiracy to commit a crime that would have caused' the greatest consternation in this kingdom. } On a division the motion for the reduction was rejected by 107 votes to 50. A debate afterwards took place ujon Cretan aftairs.

MONDAY, MARCH 29TH. HOUSE OF LORDS. The Royal assent was given by Commission to the Consolidated Fund (No. 1) *13x13, the Army Annual Bill, and other measures. Lord Denbigh moved the second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill, which, he said, provided for notification to the local authori- ties in cases not at present within the scope of the law. The class it was especially desired to reach was the 'professionals' who made a living by taking in children. Lord Belper said the Government offered no opposition to the second reading, and any modification which was thought necessary could •* 1-te made in Committee. The second reading was agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr, Chamberlain, in reply to Mr. P. Stan- hope," said that as he would have been able to ful 1 v'cornm unicate his views and instructions to Sir A. Milner by word of mouth, it would not be necessary to give him written instruc- tions but no verbal instructions would be siven him inconsistent with the statements that he (Mr Chamberlain) had made in the House with regard to the policy of the Government in South Africa. In answer to Sir E. A. Bartlett, Mr. Cham- berlain said he had received through the High Commissioner a telegram from the British A<*eht at Pretoria stating that the Johannes- burg Star' had been suppressed for three months, on the ground of being dangerous to public peace. A furtner telegram stateo toat J the proprietors of the newspaper would bring the action of the Government of the ooaoh African Republic under the review of the High Court of Judicature. The Government were in communication with the Government of the South African Republic with regard to the sup- ou it. < /i i-z. T» £ »pprr.Tif»r last Tlv pression oi uie 'HUll, 1U .L/ -1 the suppression of these newspapers the Out- landers had been deprived of their two princi- pal organs in the press. Mr. P. Stanhope asked Mr. Chamberlain, having regard to the telegram addressed to him on Friday last by Mr. Anderson, president of the so called South African League, it he ha.d been apprised of the unrepresentative character of the league in« question, and whether he was aware that telegrams couched in ultra-patriotic language were persistently communicated to the London press from South African sources for the purpose of furthering speculative operations on the Stock Exchange. Mr Chamberlain said he believed the League represented the view of a large number of the inhabitants of South Africa. The answer to the second part of the question was tne negative. The telegrams in question were sent in °repiy to statements made by a witness before t M Select Commits, and it was neces- aarv to give the witness an opportunity oi ansVeriag them. Answering on behalf of Mr. Ritchie. a ques- tion put by Mr. Woods, Lord G. Hamilton said the information possessed by the President of the Board of Trade led him to believe that the negotiations between Lord Penrhyn and his quarrymen were not closed, and he trusted they might have a successful issue. Throughout the dispute he had lost no opportunity of endea- vouring to promote negotiations, but no further action on his part at present seemed re- quired. Mr. MacNeill asked the First Lord of the Treisury whether, in view of the recent inci- dents in Armenia, Constantinople, and Crete, the Government would in future recommend Her Majesty to withhold her permission to the acceptance of foreign orders and medals. He added that his question had particular applica- tion to orders presented by the Porte. Mr. Balfour said the rule to which Mr. MacNeill referred was very precise, but in fringements never came before' the Executive, nor had the Government any power to inter- vene. In answer to Mr. Channing, Mr. Curzon read a long telegram from the British Admiral at Canea giving details of the operations of the Cretans agrainst the guardhouse near Malaxa. The Turkish force in the guardhouse were starving, and the insurgents refused permission for supplies of food and forage to pass. An ultimatum was sent by the Admirals to the insurgent chiefs, stating that food must be allowed in, or that force must be used to attain that object. On the 25th inst., the blockhouse was captured by the insurgents. Fire was opened by the fleet, and lasted for six minutes. On fire ceasing the insurgents had apparently looted the blockhouse and burned it. On the 27th the Admiral telugrapheVythat owing to the repeated attacks of the insurgents the Admirals had decided that it would be necessary to treat the insurgents as enemies, and to demand more troops from their respective Governments before long, in order to afford efficient protec- tion to the town under their charge. Colonel Vassos was reported to have received the Admirals warning, and to have replied by ordering the capture of the blockhouse. On the 28th the Admiral telegraphed that the in- surgents were following up their success against the blockhouse by developing an attack upon a strong earthwork fort held by Turks at the back of Suda Point, and that the general situa- tion upon the island was that Colonel Vassos had declared open war against the Great Powers. Mr. Blalce called attention to the report of the Royal Comra ssion on the Financial Rela- tions between Great Britain and Ireland, and moved a resolution declaring that the report and proceedings of the Commission established the existence of an undue burden of taxation ) on Ireland, which constituted a great grievance to all classes of the Irish community, and made it the duty of the Government to propose at an early day remedial legislation. Mr. John Redmond seconded the motion. Mr. Whittaker moved an amendment to the effect thai so long as the Exchequers of Great Britain and Ireland remained consolidated an portions of the United Kingdom must be regar- ded as forming one country for fiscal purposes, and if any gennine and tangible grievance did exist it could only be satisfactorily removed by so adjusting the present fiscal system as to render it just and equitable to all persons in whatever part of the United Kingdom they might reside Colonel Warning seconded the amendment. Sir M. Hicks-Beach, on behalf of the Govern- ment, said that when the House had to deal with wras not a matter of history, but feiie present position of affairs, and the. question whether there was any substantial grievance. ¡ If Home Rule was granted to Ireland, he main- tained that it would entail financial ruin upon that country. He defended the appointment I' of the new financial Relations Commission. According to the argument of the Irishmen, Ireland, under Home Rule, would refuse to pay her share in the Government of the Empire. He wished the leader joy who prepared the next Home Rule bill. The present Govern- ment would do nothing to meet this demand,* which v )uld tend to exasperate the financial system j^etween Great Britain and Ireland. In the 1ief of the Government the arrange- mer:, T' _f;, in 1853 was a far more equitable arran, .^<int as between individuals and classes and countries than any system based upon taxes or taxable capacity, which was a matter of the wildest speculation. Any system based on distribution according to specific fractions was absolutely negatived by the Act of Unibn. Upon the arrangements sanctioned by the Im- perial Parliament and the Act of Union the Government took their stand.

WEDNESDAY MA-L,-L",Cil, 31ST. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The debate on Mr. Blake's resolution with re- ference to the financial relations between Great1 Britain and Ireland was continued intheHoBse of Con-iinona. The resolution affirmed that the report and proceedings of the Royal Commission on the Financial Relations of Great Britain amd- Ireland established the existence of an undue- burden of taxation on Ireland, which constituted a great grievance to all classes of the Iris-h, community, and made it the duty of the Govei-m. ment to propose at an early day remedial legis- lation. To-this Mr. Whittaker Md moved-an- amendment- declaring that so ng as the- Exchequers of Great Bdtiain, ajltl Ireland reo main consolidated all the United- Kingdom isaust be- regarded" as forming country for- fiscal purposes, and that if ai v genuine and-tangible grievance-existed it could only be satisfactorily removad by so adjusth\, the present fiscal system as-to render it just and equitable to, all persons in whatever pan, of the United-Kingdom they might reside. Mr. Araold-Forster, continuing the speeeh- he commenced on Tuesday, night,, contended that the general- ease against Great Britain. a& a claim offjrighi entirely failed, but he believed' there was- a claim- of another kind. Mr. Leeily said the great cardinal faer of a?i- inequality of. taxation as Between Ireland and England, which had been brosght out by the Commission had sunk into the minds of all classes, and be warned the Government that they wold be making a mistake if they treated it as a matter of no sigmineanee. Mr. -31 Morley said he understood that the position that an und-ae, burden was laid upon Ireland, and he supposad tbait their action in proposing a new ComnnssloB was an admission that a prima facie case had been established, but that it stood in need of further corroboration, substantia- t,ion and rectification. It had been contended that the question was inseparable from Home RnlCj but it had nothing to do with Home Rule. He also deaied the statement that. the Commission appointed to consider the financial relations of Great Britain and Ireland was a Commission packed' in favour of Home Rule. The appointment of a new Commission he re- garded as a most needless and futile proceeding. Mr. Goschen submitted that the clear issue before the Hoase was whether the Opposition were prepared to say that a sum of two and a half millions ought to be transferred from Ire- land to the shoulders of the British taxpayer. If Ireland had been unjustly treated every die,, tate of honour would require that the griev- ance should be met, but the Government absolutely traversed the motion before the House. They did not admit the case as put before them by the Royal Commission. The cardinal issue to be put before the new Com- mission was whether the sums paid in respect of local purposes in Ireland ought to be treated as a set-off or not. After some further debate the House divided on Mr. Blake's motion, which was defeated by 217 votes to 157. The Speaker was proceeding to put Mr. Whittaker s amendment, but objection was taken by Mr. T. M. Healy, and at it was after half-past five, the time when opposed business must cease, the motion stood over.

DOLGELLEY. ANNUAL TEA MEETING. Last Wednesday, the members of the Wes- leyan Band of Hope held their annual tea meet- ing. The children attended in strong numbers. In the evening, the annual break up meeting took place, the children, and others contribu- ting songs, recitations, &c. WESLEYAN LITERARY SOCIETY. The weekly meeting of this society was held last Friday evening, the Rev. S. Parry Jones presiding. A profitable discussion on Wes- leyan Methodism in Merioneth' took place, the Chairman. Messrs W. Williams, MaesyfFvnnon, Lewis Lloyd, and others, taking part. OBITUARY. We regret to have to announce the death of Mr. Griffith Owen, senr., which took place at an advanced age, at Lawn Cottage, the latter end of last week. Deceased was the father of both Messrs. Hugh and Griffith Owen, leather merchants. The interment took place last Monday at Llanelltyd, _=.= WHO WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN" ? Speculation is rife as to who will be elected chairman of the Urban Council at their next meeting. The retiring Chairman has again been returned, and probably will be a scron" candidate. Other names are freely mentioned for the coveted honour. Canvassing is going on, with what result it is as yet impossible to predict. C. M. LITERARY SOCIETY. The closing of the session was marked by the members meeting for a knife and fork tea on Thursday evening* last, followed by a concert. A large number of members and invited friends were in attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The following ladies attended at the different tables :—Mrs, E. W. Evans and Miss Evans, Frondirion: Miss Griffith, Piasnewydd; Misses Hughes, the Old Post Office; Miss Pritchard, Queen's Row; Misses Owen, Minafon Miss M. E. Ellis, Miss Blodwen Williams, Miss Williams, Pen- maenpool; Misses Roberts and Jones (DrJ Williams' School), Miss Annie Jones, Upper- field Street; Miss Morris, U. S. A. (lata of Dolgeliev), &c. The tables having being cleared, the Rev. Evan Roberts presided over the subsequent meeting. Musical contributions were given by Misses Maggie Pritchard, M. E. Jones, Morris, Hessrs H. 0. Williams, R. A. Jones, J. Pugh Jones. Daring the proceedings, a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies for the sumptuous repast provided was passed, on the motion of the Rev. E. Jones Edwards, Arbhog seconded by Mr. E. W, Evans Frondirion. A similar vote was ae- corded to the retiring officers of the society, moved by Mr. Hugh Roberts and seconded by Mr. O. D. Roberts. Before the close, the election by ballot of officers for the next session took place, with- the folio-wing rertlt :,President, the Rev. R. Morris, M. A. (the newly elected pastor of Bethel and English Churches). Vice-presidents, Messrs. E. W. Evans, Frondirion, and O. O. Roberts, Board School, Treasurer, Miss Hughes, Old Post Office. Secretary, Mr. D. Caradog Evans. DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL BNTERTAINMEN T. An exceedingly successful entertainment in aid of the Fire Brigade Fund was held in the Publis Rooms on Tuesday evening last. Mr. O. Slsmey Wysne presided., The musical part of the programme was throughout well ren- dered, Misses Pritchard and Pierce, Messrs. J. H. Edwards, Trevor Jones, and Dewi Meirion appearing. The presence of the Orchestral Society, ander the conduetorship of Mr. Henry R. Jones added largely to its success, while Mr. Furlong brought the house down- with his musical sketch. The performance of the amusing farce, 'Family Jars' followed, the different characters being well sustained by Messrs Harvey Jones, Ernest Griffiths-, Jelf Clarke, J( J. Pritchard, R. Lewis, Graham Howe, and C. E. Wordsworth. Mr. J. Words- worth efficiently discharged the duties of stage manager and prompter. Miss- Bfodwes Wil- Mams, Messrs M. W. Griffith, and D; J. Wil- liams shared the duties of accompanists. The following of the programme r— I. March Wasbiu,,P-to, .i Orchestral Society., j Song 'Alonte on the raft, Miss-Pritchard. Mr. J. H. EdwardSi D',&,e t "In the dusk of the-twilight,.5' i Misses Pritchard and Pieres;, Song Dtiffing apirt,' Miss Alice Willan Y Feilten Mr. J. Trevor Jones.. Ssrng Llew Meirion. Fantasia 'The Wolves,' Ihe Orchestral Society. Synopsis.—The horses are brought from the stable -tar king, The Sleigh Bells—Sud- denly the wolves are heard in the distance —The race for life-Tile heroine's horses dash into the courtyard—The-servants shut the gates—Saved! (Hy:nn- of thanks)— Grand Finale. PART II: Musical SksMii. | M'r. Furlong. Duett, with Cornet Accompaniment "Called to Arms,' Messrs. J'fenes,. Edwards, and Wo-relsworth, PART lifl The amusing farce :— '-FAMILY JABS: j- (The firefr -,a e performed- in DoJgelley). Characters :— I Mr. Porcelain (Merchant) Mr. H. Jones. | Benedict (his son) iailr E. Griffiths. Delf (Foreman to Mr. Porcelain)- Mr. Clarke.. Diggory (his son) Mr. Fitchard. Joe (a porter) Mr. R, Lewis. Emily (raarrie-el to Benedict) Mr. G. Rowe. Liddy Laragesi (married, to Diggory) Mr. C. E. Wordsworth. Stage & prompter Mr. Wordsworth. Finale 'God save the Queenn.' SPECIAL PETTY SESSIONS. HAY STEALING ON SUNDAY. SMAM1 CAPTURE BY THE POLICE. At a special pretty session on Monday last, befora Dr. Edward Jones, Messrs R. Wynne Williams, and J Meyrick Jones, P. C. Breese chasged Margaret Joses, an elderly single | woman occupying a small and remote mountain farm called Fotty Bach, above Arthog, with. larceny. Numerous complaints alleging hay stealing in this district having from time to time been made to the police, some excitement prevailed when it became known that a capture had been effected. Supt. Jones prosecuted, the Chief Constable (Major Best) being also present, and Mr, ft. Guthrie Jones defended. Mr. D. Evans, Nantygwyrddail, occupier of I an adjoining farm, proved that recently, to his knowledge hay had been stolen from an out- build ing'in his occupation. He had not given permission to anyone to enter. P.C. Breese said that in pursuance of com- P.C. Breese said that in pursuance of com- plaints alleging hay stealing in this district, he proceeded in the direction on Saturday evening last, and secreted himself in an out- building on the side of the hill in the occupa- tion of the last witness. He had the door secured, and waited there same hours. About I 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, he could hear 1 footsteps approaching the buildisg, -iiul an < attempt was made to open the door. Immed- iately afterwards he could hear someone effec- ting an entrance by means of loosening stones and smashing a hole in a wall of the building. A woman, whom he recognised as the accused entered and lit a candle. She filled a sack with some of the hay, and while attempting exit through another door which was bolted from within, he arrested her. After cautioning her in the usual way, he charged her with the offence. She replied, 'I hope you will over- look it.' He brought her in custody to the police station. Mr. Guthrie Jones having pleaded oa behalf of the accused, The Bench said it was a serious thing to rob neighbours in this way, but they had decided to take a lenient view of the case, and she would be fined 10s. and costs, or 14 days im- prisonment in default.

'o. PRESENTATION. ON Friday, the 26th last., a public meeting was held at the Gwyddelwern Board School, to cele- brate the 25th year, or, as one of the speakers aptly termed it, 'The Silver Wedding of the Hon. C. H. Wynn, of Rüg, with the Gwyddel- wern School Board,' of which he has been a member and Chairman from its formation to the present time, The celebration took the form of a tea party to all the school children and the members of the Committee; and in the evening, a public entertainment was given by the school children, and a party from Cy-fal, representing that part of the Gwyddelwern parish. A very interesting programme was drawn by Mr. Phillips, the Schoolmaster. Punctual at 6.30 p.m., the chair was taken by the Hon. C. H. Wynn, and the Rev. W. Wil- liams Lloyd, C.M. Minister, acted as conductor. After a few introductory remarks by Mr. Lloyd, the entertainment was commenced with a song, 'Plant Ysgol Gwyddelwern bv the School children. Recitation and solo, Byegone days' and the 'Grammar lesson,' by the In- fants. Song, £ The footsteps on the stairs,' by the Cynfal party. Song,Our dollies,' by four little infant girls. Recitation, Gir,ls should help their mother,' by four girls, oxi g, I A dcioivch ch/m 'rwyfo ar pr afon, by School child- 'Fit, ren. Song, 'Men of rier. y the Cynfal party. At this point, the special feature of the enter- tainment was entered upon, viz;- the presenta- tion of an address in plain manuscript, with original signatures co the Hon. O. H. Wynn, as a memento in commemoration of a quarter of a i century's service to the Gwyddelwern School Board, by the. parishioners of Gwyddelwern. The Rev. W. Williams-Lloyd spoke in lauda- ble terms of the honourable Chairman's ability, not only as a member of the School Board, but- also as a, member of the County Council. He- said that he had ample proof of his abilities on both bodies, and' he considered him a thorough business man. In a few pithy sentences, the Rev. II. Ceriiyw Williams, Cor wen-, expressed the pleasure he felt in being present at the meeting, and said that the parishioners of Gwyddelwern honoured themselves in honouring their worthy chairman. He regretted that the time would not a-llow him to enter into the great strides made on behalf of education in Wales- during the past 25 years; but however, he was-pleased to say that the- educational advantages of Waies could now compare favourably with those of any other country. The Rev. T. Williams, Vicar, did not know exactly how to address the audience, as the' proceedings were carried out partly in English,, and partly in Welsh. He was pleased to say that- Mr. Wynn was of Welsh descent, with Wel'sh blood in his veins; and though he could; not speak the Welsh language, yet he fairly understood what was said in Ms hearing in Welsh. He hoped Mr. Wynn would be spared to celebrate his jubilee as Chairman of the Gwyddelwern School Board, and to serve his country with his intrinsic capacities. Mr. Thomas Hughes, Grove House, gave an interesting history of education in Gwyddel- wern, remarking that the' first school "remem- bered in the parish was that held at Llwyn Melyn, by Mr. Humphrey Jones, of Melin-y- Wig-c,n,e of the travelling schoolmasters em- ployed by the Rev. Thomas Charles, ot Bala, to teach the children to read the Welsh Bible. A school was kept for two or three years in the C.M. chapel; and for a period later, a, boarding school wa-s kept at Tan-y-fron, the schoolmaster being Mr. Davies, who lived at Glanaber. Amongst others who had a training at this school was their friend Mr. Williams, Gwerclas. In the course of time, a schoolroom was built by the parishioners: and after the passinsr of Mr. Forster's Bill, in 1870, advantage was taken by the parishioners of establishina- a School Board in 1872; and their worthy chairman that night was one of the first members elected, and had ever since occupied the chairmanship of the Board. The meeting that evening was simply and purely an expression of' the respect, and es- teem held by the inhabitants of..Gwyddelwern towards the noble owner of E'ag. The conductor called upon Mr. Joseph Davies, of Wern-dd- to present the Hon. C. H. Wvnn with the address. Mr. Davies is a well-known leading man in the parish, and takes warm in- terest in educational and parochial matters. In a few appropriate words, he did his part re- markably well, though, of course, if lie had to perform the same duty, and' to deliver a Welsh speech, he eould do better. The Hon. C. H. Wynn, in accepting the ad- dress, remarked that he never expected such a token of appreciation of his poor services; and he would be proud to look back on this evening as an eventful day in his life. It was a painful matter for him to recollect that he was the only member of the first Board-that was now living; and several others, who. had become members at a more recent period, were'now numbered amongst the dead. Not only the members had passed away, but also four clerks of the Board had died during the last 25-years. Passing-from, this, the chairman gave a minute, concise, and interesting account of the transactions of the Board since its formation. He was very pleased to bear testimony to the present flourishing condition of the school, under the able manage ment of their head teacher, Mr. Fhillips. To. the children, he would .point out the im- portance of their being well ground in elemen- tary education; as -upon the use made by them- oftheinstrnction imparted to them at the ele- mentary 1 ehools'lay-their future ssccess in more adviia^T 1 M'IIOOIS.. Regarding the religious in- •' stru 'ti >-i of the children attending the schools-, he said the Bible was to be read, the Lord's Prayer and the Commandments committed to memory,and repeated daily; and he feared in saying that this should meet the approbation of all the parishioners, as they were all Chris- tians (cheers). The evening being far spent, it was deemed wise to curtail the programme, and some- ni the most interesting items had to be omitted until another time. However, the children rendered the following —Song and- recitation,, 'Cock- sparrow's skipping,' by the-infants. 'Fan drili,' dressed in Japaneese dresses. Welsh girls in character, by school girls. The Cynfal party sang very effectively the Gipsies, song' and 1 Soft floating on the evening air.' At the conclusion of the entertainment, the chairman said he would like to thank them all for the kiadness and good feeling shown towards him; and- he would mark the event by presen- ting the school with a harmonium. This an- nouncement was received with loud cheers. Although the weather was boisterous outside, the evening was most enjoyably spent; and it is to be hoped that the remainder of the interes- ting programme will be gone through at an early date.

:=: There are about 2,000 persons in Fiance who are set down as Anarchists, and are under the constant watch of the police of the various European countries. If the number of people daily entering the Citv of London were to be dispatched from any given station by train together, 1,977 trains, each conveying 600 persons, would be required for the purpose. Moreover, if all these trains were arranged in a straight line, they would cover 221 miles of railway. t

THURSDAY, MARCH 18TH. HOUSE OF LORDS. Attention was called to a complainb made by two Irish judges that the usual military guard at the judges' lodgings had been refused. Lord Lansdowne said the practice of using military guards for that purpose was one which axisted only in Ireland, and was thought ne- cessary when that country was in a more dis- turbed state. That necessity no longer exis Led, and the whole matter was now under con- sideration. Whatever was done, no additional expense wou] d fall on the sheriffs. In answer to a further question, his Lordship said he understood the inquiry would deal with the duties of sheriffs generally.

-4- TUESDAY, MARCH 30TH. HOUSE OF. LORDS. The Duke of Devonshire moved the second reading of the Vcdnntary Schools Bill. It was, he said, admitted that the bill did not do more than redeem the pledge that the Government had given. It did not profess to be anything in the nature of a complete reform of the edu- cational system, but it did deal with one of the most urgent parts of the education question. With regard to the associations to be formed, the Government believed that, however much they might vary in constitution and composi- tion, the main interest actuating them would be the efficiency of the schools they represen ted. The Government had declined: amend- ments regarding those associations, because they thought the bill as it stood was a better guarantee than could be provided by any de- tailed instructions inserted in the body of the measure. So long as the Act of 1870 stood, the standard of elementary education must vary according to the circumstances-of the localities, for that reason the Government declined to accept amendments which would have impesed upon th3 Department the rig-id- rule that the grant should never be applied to the reduction of subscriptions where, in the opinion of the Department, the resources of the locality were so that it was not in their power to make more than a very limited conti ibutian to the support of these schools in which the religious instruction was such as was-desired. Lord Spencer said the bill-had e-omo, to that House in an unprecedented manner,, because not a word or letter was altered from the v ay in which it was framed when introduced in the other House. The-Opposition protestedagainst the second readin, g not because they wished for a moment to &tarve or destroy Voluntary Schools, but because the grant was not accom- panied by certain guarantes. with regard o, the representation, of localities ar paraats in the management. The Archbislop of Duke of Argyll, Lord Herseckell, and khe-Bishop of Manchester continued the debate., The House divided, when there for the second reading 109, against 15, giving a majori- tyof 94. _m- HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sir H. Carapbell-B&Miernian, asked the First Lord of the Treasury which Minister of the iCrown was iresponsille, in the absence from the country of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister, for the answers given in the House of Commons to questions upon foreign affairs. Mr. Balfour replied that in first instance the Under Secretary was responsible. In the secomd place the Government, of which Mr. Curzos was a member, was responsible for his action, and it was for all other actions of those, who composed it. Sir H. Campbell-Banaerraan asked whether Mr. Balfour was aware of any occasion within this century when the Prime Minister and the | Foreign Secretary were together out of the country, and whether he was not aware that on such important matters as those with which they were dealing it was usual for the House | of Commons to have its information on the direct responsible authority of a Cabinet Minis- | ter. i Sir C. Dilke asked if it) was not the ease that I when the Prime Minister and Foreigu Secretary1 I were absent during the negotiations for the Trea- ty of Berlin, the Home Secretary, the present Lord Cr ss, acted as Secretary of State for I Foreign Affairs. Mr. Balfour believed it was true that Lord Cross did on that occasion sign the despatches, as one Secretary of State might always do in the absence of another. Mr. Labouchere asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was a fact that the late Emperor of Russia had at his death large sums of money at the Bank of England, and that the estate duty was not paid on these moneys, and whether, in the case of Sovereigns having moneys in this country, on death, no estate duty was paid on them. Sir M. Hicks-Beach replied that the matter had been fully explained to the Public Accounts Committee, and if any further question were put he hoped it would be pub when hispredeces- or returned, because what happened was don.; in his time. Mr. Balfour stated, in answer to Mr. Morley, that he hoped the resolution authorising the bill dealing with poor school board districts would be the first order next Monday. Mr. Dillon asked the Under Foreign Secre- tary what precautions the Government had taken to ensure that the Christian peasantry of Crete should not be subjected to famine by the blockade, and on what grounds the Govern- ment justified the third article of the proc'ama- tion, which forbade the landing of provisions for the interior of the island, while no restric- tion was placed on the landing of stores for the I use of those cities, where the Mahometan popu lation and the Turkish troops were congrega- ted. 1 Sir E. A, Bartlett asked whether the Cretan insurgents, the so-called Christians,' had rob- bed the Mussulman population of their land and food, and whether the great majority of the Mussulman population in Crete were at present exiles in the coast towns, in a state of semi-starvation Mr. Curzon said it was true that Mussulmans ir0?3 interior had bean obliged to leave their villages and were in occupation of ports on the coast, and it was true, also, that in some cases starvation unfortunately prevailed amongst them. in reply to Mr. Lnjion s question he said the Admirals were fully alive to the possible necessities, as regarded provisions, of the peaceful inhabitants of Crete, and subject to the difficulties inherent in the situation, the Admirals had arranged to distribute certain food supplies where most required. In answer to Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Curzon said the Admirals were acting in accordance with authority given to them by their respec- tive Governments to take the measures which they might think expedient for restioring order in Crete. The blockade naturally involved the prohibition of the landing of arms and muni- tions of war if in the opinion of the Admirals they were likely to be employed for aggressive purposes or to prolong the fighting or dis- order. In answer to Mi". J. H. Roberts, Mr. Curzon said that on the 25t& inst. the Russian Ambas- sador as Constantinople communicated to his colleagues a telegram from the Russian Ambas- sador in urging, on behalf of the com bined Admirals, that a European Governor General should be appointed, with full powers and the necessary funds, and that the Porte should be asked gradually to withdraw their troops as the Admirals judged necessary. Those recommendations had the entire support of the Government, who had lost no opportunity of urging their importance. They were at the present moment under the consideration of the Powers. On the motion @f Mr, Balfou?, tire order for resunaingfkhe adjourned debate on financial rela- tions (England and Ireland) was given prefer- ence over the notice of motion and other orders of the day. The discussion on Mr. Blake's mslion, 1íO the effect that the report and proceedings of the Royal Commission on She Financial Relations of Great Britain and Ireland established tlle existance of an undue burden of taxation; on Ireland, which constituted a great grievance to all classes of the Irish community and: made- it the duty of the Government to pr an early day remedial legislation, and Mr. WMt- taker's amendment declaring that so loag^as the Exchequers of Great Britain and Ireland re- mained osnsolidaded all portions of the United Kingdom- must be regarded as forming* one, country for fiscal purposes* was resumed by Sir E. Clarke, who said he believed the resulfe of the examination that had already taken established beyond dispute or controversy that Ireland at present moment suffered under an undue burden of taxation. He criticised the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday night, and urg slrt there wasc no- need for any further inquiry, by a. New Raywli Commission. The debate was again adjoasaed. >