The North Wales Times

RUTHIN. .r-r-r.r TEA PARTY. OnThnrsriny last, the Rhiw Chapel Sunday School had their annual entertainment at 3 o'clock. Tea was laid out in the chapel, Fol- lowing the repast various amusements were taken part in. SHEEP SCAB. At a meeting of the County Council Joint Committee, under the Contageous Diseases Animals Act, it was decided to ask the Board of Agriculture to petition Parliament to obtain powers to compel all sheep to be dipped at some given period. THE PLEASURE FAIR. This annual event took place on Thursday, and was observed by a large number of people. The spacious fieldnear H.M. Prison was wellfilled with I Merry Go. Pounds,' Shooting Galleries, &c., and throughout the day, these provided innocent amusement for the visitors. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. The above society held their weekly meeting on Friday last, the subjects arranged for the night being papers on discoveries of the century.' The chair was occupied by the Pre. sident, Alderman Ezra Roberts, and papers were Tead by Miss Maysmor Gee, and Mr. Henry Roberts. SHEEP WORRYING. On Tuesday morning, five valuable sheep belonging to Mr. J. T. King, of Bodyngharad, were found dead in one of the fields, having evidently been "worried and killed by a dog or dogs during the previous night. Another sheep had also beeu seriously mauled. On the same night, a sheep was killed, and thiee worried at Pool Park, the seat of Mr. Robert Blezard. The police were at once informed af the matter, and on Thursday, Supt. Jones, Sergt. Woollam, and P.C. Pierce (Clawddnewydd), visited the place, and made efforts to trace the dog. The occur- rence has naturally caused a good deal of anxiety to farmers in the neighbourhood. A WELSH ACTION IN LONDON. The case of Peterson v. Lush was tried be- fore His Honour Deputy Judge Horton Smith, Q.C. on Wednesday, in the Westminster County Court. The plaintifl's claim was in respect of grouse shooting on a moor situated partly in Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire, near to Llandrillo. Mr. Leonard S. Lush rented the moor and advertised in The Field,5 for guns,' to which the plaintiff and another London gentleman responded. The advertisement stated the extent of the moor to have been 5,000 acres, but it had been discovered that the acreage was really 1,500 acres. Mr. Gollan, instructed by the plaintiff appeared for him claiming damages for Misrepresentation, and Mr. Trevor Lloyd (instructed by Messrs. Lloyd and Roberts, solicitors, Ruthin) appeared for the defendant. The defence was that al- though there had been an inadvertent mis- statement in the advertisement with regard to the extent of the moor, the bag of grouse, considering the unfavourable season of 1897-8 justified the statement in that respect in the advertisement. After a lengthy hearing judgment was given for the defendant.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held at the Workhouse, Ruthin, on Mon- day. Mr. Henry Williams presided, and there were present, in addition to the District Coun- cillors, Mrs. Lumley, Mrs. Edward Roberts, Mr. T. H. Roberts, Mr. T. P. Roberts, and the Rev. J. F. Reece. PAUPERS AND ATTENDANCE AT PLACES OF WORSHIP. Mr. W. G. Richards, according to notice given by him at a previous meeting, called the attention of the Board to the desirability of getting those who are in receipt of parish re- lief to attend places of worship regularly in their respective neighbourhoods. He said that he had been induced to bring this subject for- ward as a result of the discussion that took place in the House on the question of religious services, because if the Guardians thought it desirable and necessary that the paupers in the house should receive religious ministrations, something should be done to bring the out-door paupers under the influences of religion in their respective localities. He knew the Board could not adopt compulsory measures, but there were other means that could possibly be adopted with equal success. At the present time, it was the custom of paupers in several parishes to assemble together at certain houses, there to spend their time in idle talk, if not something worse. He was very anxious about the children of these paupers, and it was the duty. of the Guardians, in his opinion, to take every step possible to secure these helpless children against the demoralising effect of the surroundings in which they were brought up, and in the interest of these children, he hoped the Board would adopt some effective means of getting the parents to attend places of worship regularly on Sunday. The Chairman said he knew of no pauper in the parish of Llanynys who was in the habit of attending certain houses for the purpose which Mr. Richards ascribed to paupers in other parishes. Mr. John Roberts also remarked that he knew of no one guilty of such conduct in the parish of Nantglyn. Was the influence of the pulpit not strong enough to secure the atten- dance of these people at religious services ? It was so in Nantglyn. Mr. Richards: They must be brought under the spell of the pulpit first of all. Mr. Owen Williams The paupers of Aber- wheeler are very good in this respect, but I am afraid what Mr. Richards has said is quite true. What is the remedy is another matter. The Rev. J. F. Reece said the address de- livered by Mr. Richards liadchanged his opinion entirely on this question. Previously, he thought they as Guardians should not deal with the question at all, but now he was quite of opinion that they as a Board should express themselves very strongly as to the desirability of these people attending places of worship, and especially so tor the sake of their children. The Chairman We have nothing before us. As far as Llanynys and Nantglyn are concerned, we have heard that the complaint does not apply. The danger is to make a mountain out of a molehill without cause. Had we not bet ter get more information on the subject before coming to any decision regarding it. Mr. Richards s tid there was positive proof for the statements which he had made that day, but he did not like to mention any particular parish. Mr. R. Rogers Jones suggested that the Re- lieving Officer be instructed to convey to the paupers the wishes of the Board on this matter. He quite agreed with Mr. Richards. Soldiers, who, as a rule, were recruited from amongst the lower classes of society, were compelled by the Government to attend a place of worship, at least once every Sunday and why were these paupers, who live close to their own doors, to be left to absent themselves with im- punity from chapels and churches? Mr. Reece then proposed that the Guardians notice with regret that some of the paupers of the Ruthin Union, especially children, are not in the habit of attending places of worship regularly, and in their opinion, it was most desirable that paupers should show a good example in the matter of religious services.' Mr. R. H. Pugh seconded, and the motion was unanimously agreed to. THE QUESTION OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES. The Clerk submitted for adoption the report of the Committee appointed at a previous meet- ing to consider the question of holding religious services in the Workhouse. According to the report, the Nonconformist ministers of Ruthin had agreed to take the Sunday services in their burn regularly, and to visit the sick wards in each week following the Sunday. The report went on to state that the total number of Bap- tists in the House was 7, of which 5 went out on Sunday to the chapel services, leaving 2 un- provided for; Calvinistic Methodist, 26 in the House, 13 attending chapel, leaving 13 unpro- vided for Church of England, 36 in the House, none of which went out on Sunday, and were all thlerefoie unprovided with services; Wes- leyans, 7 in the House, leaving 7 unprovided for Independents, 3, leaving 3 unprovided for. The Presbyterians, the Roman Catholics, and the Salvation Army had one adherent each in the House, but none were provided for. This made a total of 82 paupers in the House, 18 going out to services, and 64 unprovided for. Mr. T. H. Roberts said he had a word to say on this matter before the report of the Com- mittee was put to the meeting for adoption. He found from the newspapers, that the Warden of Ruthin, in his letter to the Board, had given it as his opinion that those who spoke on this question at a previous meeting should have made inquiries before bringing the accusations they did against the clergy and ministers. With regard to the part which he had taken in the discussion, he could only say that he put a plain question on the subject to the Master of the House, and the reply given by him was, that the clergy and ministers did not attend every time they had received a notice from him. Subsequently to that, he (Mr. Roberts) had been over the Porter's book, in order to get the attendance of the ministers, &c from the 1st July to the 13th day of February. In that period there were 32 Sundays, but they attended only 17 Sundays. During the same period, only four weekly services had been held. The Nonconformists had indeed attended very well, but not the Warden of Ruthin and his curate,-and it was to them that he referred the more particularly in his remarks when this subject was first brought to the Board's atten- tion. During the seven months referred to, they only attended three services. Now, it had been proved the largest number of in-door pau- pers belonged to the Church of England, there being no less than 36 out of 84 paupers belong- ing TO the Established Church yet the Warden and his curate only thought proper to attend the Workhouse on three different occasions. He did not, however, complain so much of the action of clergy and ministers with regard to the Sunday services as he did with regard to their apathy in visiting the sick. Only one minister had paid a visit to the sick since the 1st of July. That being the case, he wished to know whether he had done anything wrong in calling the attention of the Council to this mat ter. The Warden evidently cast the blame on the Master of the Workhouse. The Master informed the Board that he was in the habit of sending out invitations to the clergy and minis- ters to attend the house. The Warden again stated that he had not received such invita- tion, and he (Mr. Roberts) wished to know why should the Warden require notice to attend the House, when he was perfectly aware of the ar. rangements in force, and within easy distance of the Workhouse. The Chairman pointed out that iihe Master admitted at the last meeting of the Council that Chancellor Bulkeley Jones had never re- fused to attend the Workhouse, when asked to do so. Even if the Master usually sent out his notices on Saturday nights, as he said he did, that was not, in his (the Chairman's) opinion, the proper way to do. The notice was much too short. too short. Mr. T. H. Roberts granted that that was so, but one could not get over the fact that the but one could not get over the fact that the Warden had entered into an arrangement to visit the Workhouse on week days. The Clerk explained that it was part of the arrangement with the Warden to intimate to the Master whether it would be convenient for him to come or not. Replying to Mr. T. H. Roberts, the Master said that he was not to give the Warden an in- timation to visit the house on week days, but on Sunday mornings only. But he was bound to admit that several weeks passed at the busy season, immediately preceding the Christmas holidays, without the usual notice sent. The Chairman said that the question now was whether the recommendation of the Committee as to the holding of services in future should now be adopted. Mr. T. H. Roberts said that the Master must have neglected to send out thenoticejfor several weeks, prior to the Christmas iholidays,, if, as he said, the Clergy had attended every time he had sent them a notice. Mr. Owen Williams said that the Master ad. mitted having only sent the notice on very rare occasions, and it was therefore not the fault of the clergy and ministers. Mr. T. H. Roberts: That being so, I think the Board should now express an opinion as to whether, in their opinion, I have done right in bringing this question under your notice. The Chairman: The question now is as to whether the report is to be adopted or not Mr. Richards: Before you go to that, Mr. Chairman, I think the question now put to us by Mr. Roberts is a very fair one, viz., that we should express an opinion on his conduct in bringing this matter forward. Mr. John Roberts, Nantglyn The very fact that this Committee has been appointed, and has submitted a report on the subject, is a sufficient proof that Mr. T. H. Roberts did what was right in the matter. Mr. Owen Williams proposed that the report of the Committee be adopted. Mr. R. Rogers Jones asked whether an im- provement had taken place in the holding of the services since this matter had been firso discussed. The Master Yes services are now held on Sundays and week days. Mr. Rogers Jones: This again proves that Mr. T. H. Roberts' action has resulted in good. Mr. Evan Davies proposed, and Mr. Rogers Jones seconded, that the Board approve of the action of Mr. T. H. Roberts. The Chairman I have nothing against that, but I feel at the same time that words were used here, that should not have been used. Mr. J. F. Reece was also of opinion tha.t the Board should pass a vote of thanks to Mr. T. H. Roberts. To draw attention in this matter was evidently not conducive to his popularity, but a member of public bodies should be pre- oared to do an unpopular act when duty called (hear, hear). The Chairman: I again say that I do not ob- ject, but I am sorry to say that words which we could not justify were used a month ago. Mr. T. H. Roberts: What I said was true, and I will stand by it. The report was adopted, and the motion thanking Mr. T. H. Roberts also carried. THE FINANCES OF THE UNION. The Clerk submitted the estimates for the half-year ending Michaelmas next, and in doing so, said that the sum of £3,836 was required, as against 92,697 in the corresponding period in 1889. This showed an increase of over EI,100, which was accounted for by the increase in the following items :—In the County Rate, there was an increase of £294. For that they esti- mated last year an increase in the Union Call of f240 Increase in Out-relief and Superannua- tion of the two retired relieving officers, Mr. Fox and Mr. Griffiths, £ 250 and difference in balance in hand of 9176, making a total of 9960. The Chairman said he wished the Guardians, who advocated the increase of out-door relief, to bear in mind that there had been an increase of E300 in out-relief. The Clerk explained that that was not so. There was only an increase of f,150 in the out- relief, and the other E150 was made out of the increase in the superannuation of Mr, Fox and Mr. Griffiths. Mr. T. H. Roberts reminded the Council that many paupers had recently been buried, and were, previous to their death, in receipt of very large sums from the Union. The Clerk said he had no doubt that the re- lief in the Ruthin district had increased, and that was only to be expected, when a young man succeeded as relieving officer an old and experienced officer, in the person of Mr. Griffiths. The Chairman said that the out relief could not possibly have increased very much during the short time that the new relieving officer had been in office. The Clerk said that there could be no ques- tion about this, when there were a good many paupers on the list now that had been kept off it for many years by Mr. Thomas Griffiths, the" late relieving officer. Proceeding, he said that the sum of £3,896 required, represented a rate of lOJd. in the 91 of the rateable value, and Is. 2Jd. on the assessable value. Under the old system, a rate of only lOkd. would be required; now, it would be on the assessable value of Is. 2id. The Chairman pointed out that there was an increase of X300 in the County Rate, from what had been estimated. Mr. T. H. Roberts: The reason for that is, that the Liberal party is in power (laughter). The Clerk said the increase in the County Rate was to be accounted for by the sums allo- cated towards Technical, Intermediate, and Agricultural Education in the county. This meant a halfpenny rate, and many halfpenny rates would of course increase the bulk re- quired. Under the old system, the rate would be lOd. in the C, calculating on the rateable value, which was equivalent to Is. 21d. on the assessable value. When he ventured to submit these figures last year, Mr. Pennant disagreed with him on this question, but he sfill said that this was so. They received from the Treasury under the Agricultural Rating Act, 1:465 per half year, or a sum equivalent to lid. on the rateable value, and lid. on the assessable value. If Mr. Pennant questioned the accuracy of these figures, he should like to hear from him. Mr. T. H. Roberts said the passing of the Agricultural Rating Act must have benefited the farmers. Mr. Owen Williams How can it benefit us, when we have to pay 3d. more? The Clerk said that every man who paid upon a house or building would now have to pay Is. 2d., instead oi lOJd., as under the old system. Towards this he got, If d. The farmer, of course, might get a little advantage from the Act, but not so the townspeople and those who paid upon buildings. Mr. Reece said the farmers were gaining, no doubt, by the Act, but householders did not. The Act had really done him harm. Mr. Owen Williams said that immediately this Act came into force, the abatements were withdrawn on many estates. Mr. T. H. Roberts: It had been withdrawn on the Kinmel estate for many years previous. Mr. John Roberts: I hope we are not drift- ing into politics, gentlemen (laughter). This concluded the business.

SPECIAL POLICE COURT. A YOUNG OFFENDER. On Monday, before Dr. Jenkins (in the chair) Messrs. J. W. Lumley, and W. T. Rodw. John Edwards, a lad of twelve years of age, Mwrog Street, Ruthin, was charged with stealing seven pounds of sausage, the property of Mrs. Jane Barrow, Tan-y castell, on March the 9th. The first witness called was Mary Jones, a servant in the employ of prosecutrix, who said she knew the prisoner. She saw him at Tan-y- castell last Thursday evening, between eight and nine o'clock, in company with his mother. The latter asked witness whether she had any Yorkshire ducks or black puddings. She re- plied, No, but they will be ready in about an hour. We have only sausages now, but they have only just been made.' Mrs. Edwards said she could not afford to buy those, and then went away, taking the boy with her. During. the time che boy wa3 in the shop, he did not say or do anything. Witness was at that time put ting the sausage into a dish in the window. Mrs. Edwards and her boy could see them, and were within reach of them. It would not be possible to get at the sausage from outside the shop. When prisoner and his mother went out, witness closed the shop door, and went into the house. Hearing the shop door open, she re- turned, and saw a boy's hand taking some of the sausage. The prisoner was the boy who took them. She ran after him, but did not catch him. She had no doubt as to the identity of the boy. After losing sight of the boy, she went back to the house and informed Mrs. Barrow of what had taken place. By the Bench: About five minutes elapsed from the time the boy and his mother were in the shop, to the time when she saw the former taking the sausage. The prosecutrix was called, and identified the sausage as her property. She had no doubt about it. The quantity of sausage she missed would be about seven or nine pounds. She gave information to the police. Sergt. Woollam stated that the sausage pro- duced were shown to him by P.C. Bithell at the house of the boy's mother, late on Thurs- day night, and the prosecutrix afterwards iden- tified them as her property. The following afternoon, the prisoner was brought to the office by P.C. Bithell, and witness asked him what he was doing at Tan y castell the pre- vious evening. He replied that he was not there. Witness told him two or three persons had seen him there. In reply to further ques- tions he said he was up the town about 6 30 and then went home to bed. He was then charged with stealing the sausage, and said, No, I didn't take them I wasn't there at all.' When he was going to be locked up, he began to cry and said, I will tell you all about it; I didn't take them my mother took them, and I stood by the old lock-up watching.' The prisoner elected to be dealt with sum marily and pleaded not guilty. In answer to the Bench, Sergt Woollam said the lad had never been convicted before, but he had had several complaints against him. The Chairman reprimanding the lad for his conduct, said he hoped he would not continue in his evil ways. If he had been older, he would have been sent to prison, but he would instead have to undergo twelve strokes of the birch rod. -AND AN OLD ONE Elizabeth Edwards, mother of the previous defendant, was also charged with receiving the sausage knowing the same to have been stolen. P.C. Bithell said, on Thursday night he accompanied ISergt. Woollam to prisoner's house, in Mwrog Street. He went to the back premises, and the Sergt. went to the front door He saw prisoner come to the door, and throw out the bundle of sausages now produced. They were tied up in a cloth. Witness took up the sausage, and taking them into the house, gave them to Sergt. Woollam, who went away. Witness remained in the house for about 20 minutes. Sergt. Woollam deposed to receiving informa- tion that some sausage had been stolen from Mrs. Barrow's. From inquiries made, he went to prisoner's house accompanied by P.C. Bithell, whom he sent round to the back door. It was after 11 o'clock, and everyone was in bed. Upon knocking, prisoner's husband came to the bedroom window, and asked who was there. He then came down and opened.the door. He found the prisoner lying on a mattress by the kitchen fire. Witness told her he wished to speak to her, and she then went into the back kitchen to dress herself. As he thought her rather long in returning, he asked her what she was doing, but did not get a reply. Going into the back kitchen he met P.C. Bithel coming in with the sausage. Witness asked the prisoner how she accounted for them, and she denied all knowledge of them. Witness said, 'You have just thrown them out this minute into the constable's arms,' but she denied it. There was no one else in the room besides themselves. P.C. Bithell stated in his presence that prisoner threw the sausage out, and he caught them. Prisoner said, I did not steal them, and I won't tell you who did I won't get anybody else into trouble.' She re- peated that several times. As prisoner had several young children, he did not arrest her. He went the following day to apprehend her, but was unable to find her all day. Shortly after eleven that night, he was standing by Llanfwrog church, when he heard two people whispering together. He walked towards them, and they then turned back. He foand a gar- den gate open, and going inside, he found pri- soner hiding under a hedge. Upon arresting her she said, The boy did not steal them.' Prisoner was brought up the following day, and remanded in custody. P.C. Bithell was re-called, and in answer to Mr. Lumley, said there was nobody else in the back kitchen or the yard at the time he got the sausage. Prisoner elected to be dealt with summarily, and in reply to the charge said, It is I that have done it, the boy has never seen them until to-day.' Sergt. Woollam said there were nine convic- tions against prisoner, chiefly for assaults, and for being drunk and disorderly, the last one being in October of last year. Prisoner pleaded with the Bench to deal leniently with her, and she would never come there again. Addressing the prisoner, the chairman said, she was guilty of encouraging her boy to be a thief, and that was an exceedingly wicked thing. S'he was liable to three months imprisonment, which for her offence he considered was not nearly enough. She was not only guilty of stealing, but had encouraged her boy also to be a thief. She would be sent to prison for six weeks, and would have to go through whatever hard labour might be given her there. He trusted that during those six weeks she would seriously consider her position. He felt very sorry for her. Prisoner was then removed. MAKING HER BED. Jane Roberts, married woman, Ruthin, was charged with stealing two counterpanes, the property of Mr. Thomas, draper, Ruthin, on March the 7th. David William Owen, an apprentice with Mr. Thomas, draper, said he was not acquainted with prisoner, but he had seen her before out- side the shop. There were a number of articles exposed for sale outside the shop. Last Tues- day night, about seven o'clock, he saw prisoner outside the shop, looking about her. He did not see her do anything else, when he first noticed her. The second time he came out, he saw her taking the two quilts produced, and put them under her shawl. They were valued at Is lljd each. He went into the shop and told Mr. Thomas, and they went down the street together after the woman. She was not going in the direction of her home. They over- took her opposite the entrance to the Cross Keys, and Mr. Thomas said to her, I You have some quilts under your shawl.' Prisoner did not say anything, but gave up the quilts. By the Bench Only a minute or two elapsed between the first time he saw her, and the time he saw her taking the quilts. William Thomas, draper, said from informa. tion received from the previous witness, he ac companied the latter down Well Street, and overtook the prisoner, and told her she had some quilts belonging to him. She hesitated for a moment, and then gave up the quilts produced to him. Asked for the name she gave it as Jane Evans. Sergt. Woollam deposed that prisoner was brought to his office about 7 p.m. on Saturday night by P.C. Bithell. Upon the warrant being read out, she said, she found the things on the street. She did not intend to steal them, but had had some drink, and went past the shop with them. Mr. Thomas, re-called, said he did not think that prisoner was in drink when he spoke to her. Prisoner eleoted to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. Sergt. Woollam said there were no previous convictions, and she had never been before the Court before. The Chairman said prisoner'soffence deserved a good deal heavier punishment than would be inflicted. It was a very serious business for her, but she must go to goal for 21 days with hard labour. He hoped prisoner would mend her ways. 'IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND.' -AND THREE YEARS. William Roberts, a lad of twelve, living in Mwrog Street, Ruthin, was charged with stealing a penny, the property of another boy named Frank Williams, that morning. A little lad named Frank Williams, a son of Mr. Williams, butcher, said he was in the show- field that morning with his brother, Thomas John Williams, about 9 o'clock. He had a three penny piece with him, which he changed in the field, in case he should lose it. He changed it at Bethell's shop. He knew the prisoner, and saw him in the show-field that morning. He knocked the money out of wit ness's hand, and took a penny, running away with it up Llanfwrog. His brother than went and told Sergt. Woollam about the affair. Defendant stated that witness gave him the penny to go on the swings with. Thomas John Williams, brother of the Pre" vious witness, stated they were in the sho* field together that morning about 9 o'clock He did not know at first that his brother had any money. He afterwards showed him two pence. His brother was going to give him f penny, and when he was doing so prisoner pr' knocked his hand, picked up a penny, and raB away towards Llanfwrog. His brother diduot gave a pjnny to anyone.. By the Bench He did not see prisoner knoc» his brother's hand, but he saw him pick up money. Sergt. Woollam gave evidence as to the lad witness making a complaint to him. Whence saw the prisoner he had a penny in his ha.D' and he told witness that the lad Frank gave it to him. Williams however, denied this' The lad pleaded guilty, and the Chairing reprimanded him strongly for his bad conduO'1 He thought it would be best to try and him from the misery which would attend sort of life. He would, therefore, be detained fit the Workhouse until such time as he could removed to a Reformatory. He would kept there for three years, and he hoped during that time, he would mead his ways.

RHYL. — PETTY SESSIONS. Tuesday.—Before Dr. Girdlestone (in chair), Messrs. J. Y. Strachan, John Foulkes, «*• H. Ellis, and Capt. Keatinge. ST. PATRICK'S CELEBRATION. Extension of hours were granted to Mr. Martin O'Connor, of the Royal Victoria Hotel' Prestatyn, for a Conservative Club dinner, ant to Mrs. Matthews, of the Railway Refreshmeljt Rooms, for Thursday night. March 16th, 00 the occasion of the St. Patrick dinner. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Mary Hewitt, Morfa Bach, for being drunk and disorderly in High Street, on the 25th February, as proved by P.C. Tale, was fiBe 2s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. costs. Sarah Hoole, Back Bodfor Street, for similar offence, was fined 2s. and 7s. costs. TRANSFER. The license of the George Hotel, Rhyl, Was, transferred from Mr. Hall to Mr. Arthur, JatS I of New Brighton, and that of the Windsor Vaults transferred from Mr. Clarke to Mt. Joseph Shepherd. Mr. W. H. Hughes, late a police officer at Prestatyn, also obtained temporary authority to sell at the Birmingham Arms, Rhyl, receably occupied by Mr. Robinson. SCHOOL CASES. Thomas Jonas, 11, Brickfield Terrace, RhJ'' William Williams, 46, Victoria Road; Robell Harris, and William Roberts were fiaed for sending fiere children to schbol.

RHYL AND PRESTATYN TRAMWAY SCHEME. THE DISTRICT COUNCIL AND SUND.A; TRAFFIC. DIVERGENT VIEWS. At an adjourned meeting of the Rhyl District Council, on Tuesday, Mr. J. H. presiding, it was reported that unqualified sup' port had been given to the promoters of the Rhyl and Prestatyn Light Railway at the it" quiry on March 8. Mr. Joseph Williams I should like to know whether this railway is to be worked on 8ul1' days. It was explained that the question of Sundff I traffic had not been mentioned to the Comrois* sioners that it was hardly a matter affecting the Council, although an opinion could be e'" pressed upon it. Mr. Williams: I should like to express 311 opinion. The Clerk You might make a represent tion to the Board of Trade. It is not too is done at once. Mr. Williams Then I move that we mako such a representation—that we do not encottf' age Sunday work at all. Personally, I shoflW have no objection to the ruuming of, say, °a0{ car each way morning and evening, but bey00 that I think they should not go, and I the ratepayers generally would be with US 1 protesting against any more traffic than that U on the Sunday. The company should be put o the same footing exactly as the London North-Western Company, who only run morning and evening trains. The Chairman: They are under no tion. Mr. Williams That may be; but at the silme time, even if it is not within our right to make restrictions, I think we ought to express our opinion. Mr. E. P. Jones I second that. It would rather hard that we should have no comrnuol' cation at all on the Sunday, but beyond that 1 do not think it would be to the benefit of the town to go. It would be a bad thing for both Rhyl and Prestatyn and everywhere else. Jf Mr. Whitley: I support the resolution. we fail, we fail, but we shall have done out duty. Mr. W. Elwy Williams: I should like to support the proposal, but I think we should take the most effectual way of carrying out point. Captain Keatinge: There is a great deal .of sentiment and. some amount of cant in all this' We take it up in the cause of religion, bo* which is the better action in the cause of trtle religion—to put it within the power of a living two miles away from here to divine worship, which this tramway would dop or to deprive him of that privilege? If there is to be any consistency in all this, why do y°° not Btop the brakes and carriages? Will any one get up and propose that no carriage and 0° brake shall be allowed to run on the Sunday in Rhyl ? Mr. W. Elwy Williams: I will. Captain Keatinge: What would the rate' payers say ? Mr. Elwy Williams: Just what the ratepayers of Harrogate say. There is nothing of this sort there. Captain Keatinge You will never develop the district by this petticoat form of ment; it is all bosh (oh). Mr, Maltby having spoken, Captain Keatinge questioned whether all was in order, as there was no reference to Sul" day trains on the agenda. The Chairman: The question of the ligbt railway is before us. Mr. Joseph Williams said all he wished to do was to oppose the Sunday rains. r The Chairman lam. not going to vote for this, but I think it is in order. Mr. Mostyn Williams It is rather nate that Mr. Joseph Williams was not present at the inquiry, because the matter might been introduced then, and perhaps c&rried successfully. But the position of affairs is this- that the Council have given an unqualified sent to the light railway. Mr. Elwy Williams: I am very sorry for that.. Mr. Mostyn Williams said he was rather afray that it was too late now to take a high but a friendly remonstrance or solicitatio-O might do good. Mr. W. Elwy Williams: This is a friendly remonstrance. Is is not a pity that those Wbo were at the inquiry did not attend to this? « The motion, to the effect that the Board <>* Trade be requested to grant the order with tM stipulation that only one train each way be run morning and evening on the Sunday, was then put, and the Chairman announced that there were seven votes for it and seven against. a then called for the names to be recorded, the following voted tor :—Messrs. W. E. liams, P. Mostyn Williams, David GriffitbS, Thomas Whitley,E. P. Jones, Joseph and Robert Jones —seven. Against Pritchard, Captain Keatinge, the Dr. Girdlestone, Messrs. J. A. Williams, Tilbl' Greenhalgh, an d A. Maltby—eight. It therefore, that the motion hadheen defeated by a majority of one.

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at the Workhouse, Ruthin, on Mon- day. Mr. Owen Williams presided, and there were present --Messrs. John Garner, John Roberts (Nantglyn), Robert White, Evan Davies, E. Powell Jones, R. B. Pugh, R. Rogers Jones, John Evans, W. G. Richards, Hugh Jones, R. Davies Jones, Thomas Jones (Plas Coch), E. Williams Jones, with the Clerk (Mr. R. Humphreys Roberts), the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. T. O. Jones), and the two Inspectors (Mr. E. Evans and W. Jones). THE POLLUTION OF THE RIVER DEE AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. The Clerk having read a letter from the County Council on the question of the pollution of the river Dee and its tributaries, the Medical Officer reported as follows on the subject:— Accompanied by Inspector Jones, I visited the various sources of pollution of the river Dee as pointed out by Dr. Bruce Low in his report in 1895. The most aggravated cases have been removed, others more or less abated, and some now in the course of being removed. The nature of the country through which the river passes is such as Dr. Bruce Low states :—High mountains rise on either side of the stream, and what dwellings there are, are mostly situated down in the valley close to the river-that proves the great difficulty of absolutely preventing drainage from the different Swellings from entering the stream, with- out either removing the dwellings or di- verting the course of the stream even if this was possible, the water would not then be free from pollution, as the surface workings of miles of highway are certain to enter the stream, besides the pollution caused by a great number of cattle that are continually grazing along the banks. Llan- degla.—The cesspit privies in the village which are situated in gardens sloping to the stream remain unaltered. I have sug- gested that these should be converted into the Pail-closet system. Llanarmon.-The pollution caused by entrance of drainage from pigstyes, and of slop water into the mill race has not been remedied also the privies which are situated on the steep bank of the stream remain unaltered. I have suggested that the drain should be di- verted into the field, instead of entering the mill race directly, and that the privies should be converted into the Pail-closet system. The pollution caused by the drain- age from the Camddwr farm has not yet been removed. The buildings of this farm are situated on the banks of the stream. I understand that improvements are about to be made to remedy this source of pollu- tion. If these sources of pollution must be removed the only remedy is to carry out the above suggestions. Since the last meet- ing of the Council, five cases of scarlet fever occurred at Park, Llanarmon. I visited this place with Inspector Jones, and came to the conclusion that the infection in these cases was probably conveyed from Liverpool. All the usual precautions are being taken to prevent the disease spread- ing.' A brief discussion took place on the subject of the pollution of the river Dee and it was decided, on- the suggestion of the Clerk that he should reply to the letter of the County Council pointing out what the District Council had already done in the matter, and with regard to the nuisances that had not been abated, that it was the intention of the Coun- cil to abate them as far as possible; but, at the same time, that the Council did not see its way to compel owners, &c., to carry out unreason- able works, whilst the stream was allowed to be polluted at other places, between the water- shed in the Ruthin district and Chester. THE COUNCIL AND THE TIED HOUSE QUESTION. The Clerk, having read the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council with refer- ence to the tied house question, said he failed to see that the magistrates had anything what- ever to do with the matter. In the first in- stance Mr. E. Powell Jones: Nor have we anything to do with it either (laughter). 'The Clerk, proceeding, said the police were in the first instance under the control of the Chief Constable, and then the Standing Joint Committee. The Chief Constable was answer- able to the Joint Committee for the conduct of the police. He did not know whether the Council, by passing the resolution referred to, suggested that the police did not do their duty, or that the persons in authority did not do their duty, and that it was the suggestion of the Council that they did not enforce the Act of Parliament already in existence. Be that as it may, the magistrates had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Mr. W. G. Richards said he thought, when the resolution was passed, that the magistrates had something to do with the matter. He based his resolution on this impression. The Clerk I was not here, or I would have advised you otherwise. The first proposal was by Mr. Garner. That was not seconded, and Mr. Richards' proposal calling upon the magis- trates to instruct the police to enforce the Act was carried. The Chairman What is the Act of Parlia- ment in reference to this matter ? The Clerk That is what I should like to know. What are the clauses in the Act of Parliament that they are called upon to exer- cise. Mr. Garner's suggestion was one requir- ing a great deal of explanation, because the matter is not at present under the control of the county magistrates. I know there is a commission sitting, and is dealing with this matter, and a proposal to bring in more strict regulations with regard to tied houses and pub- lic houses generally. At the present moment, however, it was useless to pass any resolution of this kind, as the magistrates have no power to interfere with, or deal with tied houses as such. All they have to say is, whether the houses are conducted properly or not. Mr. Garner said what he intended to bring about was the enforcement of more restric- tions. The Clerk There are no fresh restrictions to be enforced. The magistrates are bound to carry out the Act of Parliament as it stands. The Chairman said the magistrates had some- thing to say as to the way the houses were conducted. As to whether the houses are tied or not, they have nothing to say. Mr. Richards said he took for granted that the magistrates had jurisdiction in this matter, and it was on this that he based his resolution. The Chairman said he would be very glad if the magistrates had authority in this matter. These tied houses no doubt-not all of them, but a great many—were a thorough nuisance to the general public. Mr. White We have nothing to do with the matter, and we can do nothing but let it drop. Mr. E. Powell Jones We have nothing to do with it. The Clerk said that, unless the Council were prepared to say that, the Chief Constable and the Joint Committee had not done their duty, they had nothing to do with the matter. Mr. Richards said there were many people in the country suffering from the effects of drink- ing bad beer. The Clerk: The remedy is not with the magistrates, but with the Inspector under the Foods and Drug's Adulteration Act. Mr. Robert White thought the Board should apologise to the Chief Constable for the re- marks made at the last meeting of the Council on this matter The Clerk said he had not acted on the re- solution then passed, as he could not see how they could have interfered in the matter. Mr. John Evans pointed out that beer was now being made out of sugar and Indian corn, and expressed a hope that Parliament would bring in a bill compelling the brewers to brew in future from hops and barley. The Clerk Can you prove that the brewing of beer in the way you state is best for the health of the people? (laughter). The subject then dropped. FFORDD DDWR, LLANFAIR. Mr. John Garner called attention to the serious state of the above road, situated at Graigfechan, in the parish of Llanfair, and urged that something should be done to make it passable. There were, he said, a family from Southport now living occasionally in the neighbourhood, and were spending a good deal of money for the benetit of the place, and the Council shou.d encourage these people, and others, to come and remain in the place. If the road were repaired, it would be a great convenience to the locality. Mr. R. H. Pugh thought it would be waste of money to interfere with this road. Mr. Garner, after further discussion, pro- posed that the Surveyor should make a thorough inspection of the road, and report to the next meeting. Mr. John Roberts, Nantglyn. pointed out that Mr. Garner and Mr. Pugh, the two repre- sentatives of the parish, did not agree as to the desirability of repairing the road. Owing to this difference of opinion he would propose that the subject be, for the present, adjourned. Mr. R. Davies Jones seconded, and this was agreed to. THE FERTILIZERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT. The Clerk submitted to the Council a slip of the advertisement issued by the County Coun- cil, drawing the attention of the public, more especially farmers, to the opportunities now offered them to have their feeding stuffø analyseil at a small cost by the county analyst. Mr. Henry Williams said this was a very im- portant matter for the farmers, and that the County Council had done a proper 'thing in bringing it before the community. CYCLING ON SUNDAY. Mr. Evan Davies gave notice of motion with reference to cycling on Sunday, explaining that he did not think the District Council could do anything more in the matter than making a representation to a superior authority. THE NANTYNE WATER SCHEME. Mr. Thomas Jones, Plas Coch, called atten- tion to the above scheme, and suggested that the Clerk should supply all available informa- tion with regard to the same, in order that the same be placed before the parishioners of the district concerned. The Clerk said this was not necessary. Mr. Thomas Jones said it had been stated in the Council that the construction of this scheme would mean a rate of 5s. in the £ on the whole of the parishes interested. That was most mis. leading. In the first place, it should be dis- tinctly understood that the expense would only fall upon those consuming the water. The ratable value of Llanychan, Llangynhafal, and Llandyrnog, according to the rate signed last May was £ 8,297 7s. 9d. A rate of only 6d. in the £ would bring in jE207 a year, and this would be quite sufficient to pay the capital and interest upon the money borrowed, the same to be repaid in 30 years. The Clerk again stating it was premature co supply the information asked for by Mr. Jones, the subject dropped. FINANCIAL. The Clerk, in submitting his estimate for the coming half-year, said that the sum required was jE920, as against £1,194 the corresponding period of last year, thus showing a decrease of 1274.