The North Wales Times

WELSH MARKETS. DENBIGH, January 24th.-The attendance was not a large one on Wednesday, and the prices were about the same as those paid last week. Quotations Wheat, 9s; barley, 8s to 8s 6d; oats, 5s to 5s 6d per hobbet. Fresh butter, Is 3d to Id 4d per Ib: small tubs. Is lid to Is 2d.; large tubs, Is. to Is. Oid. per lb. Eggs, 12 to 13 for a Is. Fowls, 3s 6d to 4s 6d per oouple; and ducks, Os. Potatoes, 7s to 8s per hobbet. Oatmeal, 2d per lb. Beef, 5d to 9d per lb; mutton, 7d. to 8d. per lb. LLANGEFNI, January 25th.-Oats, 13s. 6d. to 14s. Od. per quarter; potatoes, 3s. 6d. to 0a. Od. per cwt.; fresh butter, Is. 3d. per lb.; wool, 7d. to 8d. per lb.; fowls, from 2s. 4d. to 2s. 9d. per couple!; ducks, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 9d. per couple. Eggs, 14 for a Is. Young pigs, 11s. to 15s. each; and fat pigs, 3¡d. per Th. RUTHIN January 22nd .—The prices were as follows: —Wheat, from 9s to 9s 6d per hobbet; barley, 7s 6d to 9s 6d; oats, 5s 3d to 6s per hobbet. Fresh butter, from la 3d to Is 4d per tô; fowls, 3s Od to 4s Od per couple. Ducks, Os to Os Od per couple. Eggs, 11 to 12 for a Is.

CATTLE MARKETS, AND FAIRS. BIRXENHIMAD. -Agricultural Produce. -January 23. -HaT, old, £2 10s to £ 3 per ton; ditto, clover, 23 5s to B4; straw, wheat, 21109; ditto, oat, R.1 5s to £1 10B; turnips, £1 6s; and manure, 2s to 4s per ton. LONDON.Agricultural Produce. -January 23rd.- Fair supplies, and a fair trade at the following prices: —Good to prime hay, 70s to 87s 6d; inferior to fair iitto, 55s to 65s; good to prime clover, 75s to 100s; Inferior, 60s to fair ditto, 60s to 703; mixture and sainfoin, 60s to 85s; and straw. 24s to 36s per load. LIVERPOOL. Whole,ale Vegetable. -January 24th.— Potatoes: Lymn greys, from 3s 2d to 38 6d main crops, 3a 9d to 4s 6d; Bruce, 3s 4d to 3s 10d'; and champions, 3s 4d to 3s 6d per cwt. Turnips, swedes, Is 6d to Is 8d per cwt; carrots, 3a 6d to 4s Od per cwt. Onions, English, 5s 6d to 6a Od; ditto, foreign, 4s to 411 6d per cwt. LIVERPOOL.St. John's Market.—January 24th.— Beef 6d to 8d per lb; mutton, 6d to 8d; veal, 7d to 9d; fresh pork, 7d to 9d per lb; fresh butter, Is 2d to Is 4d per ft salt ditto, Is to Is 2d per lb; and eggs, 10s 4d per 120. S4.LIORD, January 23rd.-The trade for beef was rather quiet at Salford cattle market on Tuesday, at about last week's rates, viz 6d to 6i.d per lb. Good Cheviot sheep made as far as 8Jd; Scotch wethers, 7d to 7id small Lincoln hogs, about 8d per lb. Calves sold at from 5d to Sid per lb. Pigi made 7s to 8s per score lbs. BIRMINGHAM, January 25th.—Moderate supplies of beast and sheep, but trade quiet. Best Herefords, 7d per lb; shorthorns, 6d; bulls and cows, 4id to 6d; wethers, 8d to Sid; ewes and rams, 5d to 6d per Th, Bacon pigs, 7s lOd to 8s per score lbs; porkets, 8s 6d to 9s 3d; and sows, 58 9d per score. LONDON, January 25th.-The trade en Thursday was net brisk, and prices were, if anything, in favour of buyers. 71st to 8st Down wethers, 5s 8d to 5s lOd per 8 lbs; 9st ditto, 5s 4d to 5s 8d: 10st half-breds, 5a 2d to 5s 4d; lOst Down eweR, 3a lOd to 4s; list half-bred ditto, 3a 6d to 3s 8d per 8 lbs. DUBLIN, January 25th.—Prime heifer and ox beef, 56s to 608 per cwt; and second quality. 50* to 52s 6d Prime wether mutton, 6id to rbd per lb; ewe, 5d to 6%d; coarse sheep, 5d to 5id per lb. Veal, choice, 7d to 8d per lb; inferior ditto. 5d to 6d per lb. Hoggets, heavy sorts, 458 to 62s each and medium, 323 to 44s. House lambs, 30s to 36 s each.

WELSH FAIRS AND CATTLE MARKETS. January 29. Wrexham, Llanbrynmair, Newtown, and Lampeter. —— 30. Caerwys, Newtown, Maesteg, and Crym- mych. —— 31. Dinas Mawddwy. Llanerfyl, Bwlchgwyn, Maesteg, and Builth. February 1. Llanfair Caereinlon, and Gelli. —— 2. Holywell, and Talgarth. .—— 3. Dinorwic.

TANYFRON ROAD. We are sorry that the report of the dis- cussion which took place at the last meeting of the Rural Council with reference to this road, is Liot quite correct. The facts are as follows —The Parish Council of Llandegla sent a letter to the Rural Council, reques- ting them to discontinue (and not 'continue' as in the report), repairing the road at the expense of the district. At the same meet- ing, a petition was read from a number of I large farmers, praying that the Rural Coun- cil should pay no heed to the request of the Parish Council, and that the road should remain under their jurisdiction, and there- fore be repaired at the expense of the dis- trict. The Rural Council endorsed this view, and the letter of the Parish Council was laid on the table.

MR. ASQUITH ON < EDUCATION. Mr. Asquith, it is unnecessary to re- mark, is himself a distinguished scholar, and anything that he says on the subject of education is regarded with interest and respect. Of course, he was very much at home at Toynbee Hall, which he helped to estab- lish, and he offered to the students some advice which they know how to appreciate, although some of it may seem a littie strange to those who are aware that the great majority of these students are of the working class, and who do not know what enthusiasm is to be found among them for higher education. Mr. Asquith spoke of the efiorts which have been made during the past 30 years, to democratise culture, and to cultivate democracy.' One of the most successful of the means adopted is Toynbee Hall, and to the work of which he referred, and another pioneer institution is the Regent Street Polytechnic-tha fore- runner of all the metropolitan polytechnics —for which London is indebted to Mr. Quintin Hogg. The Right Hon. gentle- man repeated the caveat which he has pre- viously entered against an attempt to get up too many subjects, aud impressed upon his audience the necessity for learning thoroughly all that they essayed to learn. This counsel is particularly important in the case of those students whose education is left very much to themselves, and Mr. Asquith did well to caution his hearers not to be contented with half knowledge. On the other hand, he advised them to refrain. from the habit of over cataloguing and classifying a particular subject-matter, quoting some amusing examples of the practice to which he referred. One can scarcely .imagine that the students of Toynbee Hall err very much in this di. rection, for the habit is essentially one to which candidates in professional and uni- versity examinations are prone. Truth to tell, they cannot help themselves, for the examiners are sure to ask for information under certain heads, and the candidate must either be prepared with his catalogue or classification, or else submit to be ploughed. A third course has been tried of which an illustration has been afforded in Verdant Green,' but there is scarcely a case on record of such a plan being success- ful, and Mr. Asquith would not recommend it. It was, be went on to say, a sign of real progress in education, when one got to know what one need not remember. Here we come again to the exegencies of modern examinations, for it is the chief business of that much-abused person the 'crammer' to show the student that there are certain things which be need not remember. Finally, Mr. Asquith drew a dreadful picture of a man with abundance of know- ledge of no practical value, observing that some minds-even some great scholars— for a man might be a great scholar, and yet be imperfectly educated-were like a pantechnicon stuffed to the roof with every kind of furniture, and yet without one single habitable room.' Men of this des- cription, it is to be hoped, are somewhat rare, but if they exist in any large number, they serve to supply an explanation of the remark which Socrates made to Phsedrus, that the grasshoppers were once scholars, these animals being supposed by their nature, to live without food, and to support themselves by the dews from heaven.

Opinion in America is against our making foodstuffs contraband of war. Sir Redvers Buller is one of the few men who have been at both Eton and Harrow. The water of the Modder River has been ana. lysed, and pronounced to be of excellent quality

TAXATION AND REPRESENTATION. THE 'CONVERSION' OF THE ST. ASAPH DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE need not waste either space or time to prove that it is always desirable that the man who supplies the money should have a hand in the management of its distribu- tion. In other words, the ratepayer should also be the rate manager. This is an ac- cepted principle amongst all sections of Liberals, and with some exceptions, the Tories admit the same thing. The principal exception amopgst the Tories, and especially amongst Churchmen, is their contention that the National or Church Schools should be supported out of the rates, but that the ratepayers should have no voice in the management of such schools. In Wales, the Bishop of St. Asaph is the principal apostle of this in. consistent creed. He will have no trace of the ratepayer, as such in the Board of Management of the Church Schools. By the way, it is a significant fact that in many places what were years ago called 'National' Schools, are now openly called I Church' Schools. The Bishop of Lich- field, speaking at Shrewsbury on Saturday last, said, They as Churchmen would have to insist on the care and management of their own schools, and see that they were not deprived of those places which their forefathers had erected for the purpose of religious and secular instruction through- out the leugth and breadth of the land. They must maintain their large preponde- rance, and exercise their rights as Church- men to appoint Church teachers to give re- ligious instructions according to the formu- laries of the Church of England, in those schools which had been bequeathed to them and still were theirs.' It will be noticed that this bishop speaks of the schools as if they were the private property of the Church of England, but it must be remem- bered that all those schools are assisted, and some of them almost wholly maintained out of the rates and taxes of the country, not only so far as the grants are concerned, but also with the special five shillings grant which a Tory government has given to these schools. Still, according to the Bishop of Lichfield, those schools are to be strictly preserved for the Church of Eng- land, and church teachers only are to be appointed: This is brave speaking on the part of the reverend prelate, but there is another side to the question, even from the church managers' point of view. It is an unde- niable fact that the granting of the five shillings assistance' has resulted in a diminution of the previously dwindling voluntary contributions. So much is this the case, that in Manchester and various other places, the managers of the Church Schools have been compelled to consider whether, !after all, it is not better to give the ratepayers certain rights in the manage- ment of the schools. A scheme has been drawn out, which is known as the I Man- chester scheme' which, although ridiculous in it3 inadequacy from the Nonconformist and ratepayer point of view, is still a virtual admission of the principle that taxation and representation should go to- gether even in the management of the so- called Church Schools. What has the stalwart Bishop of St. Asaph to say to this? He also has had to climb down. The National Schools in Wales are even yet, in spite of the assis- tance given them by the Government, in a pitiable plight, and it is evident that the fact that they are receiving their five shillings extra grant has been taken as an excuse by their supporters to decrease or stop their subscriptions. This is net wild theorising, it is the fact as disclosed at a meeting of the St. Asaph Diocesan Board of Education, held at St. Asaph last Fri- day, and over which the Bishop of St. Asaph presided. At this meeting, the following resolution was passed The financial position of denominational schools being in spite oj the aid grant, most serious, and being likely to become more so, this body, without expressing any opinion on the particular merits of the Manchester scheme or any other of the schemes sent forward, feels that some such course as that suggested in these schemes will have to be adopted.' The italics are ours. Truly, the words, in spite of the aid grant' are significant. It is the giving away of the whole case. Liberals and Nonconformists have said all along, that the dole given by the Government to its. clerical supporters, would only result in a decrease of the sub- scriptions, rather than an increase in efficiency. This is evidently the case. In spite of the1 aid grant of five shillings per head on the average attendance, the financial' position of the denominational schools is most serious and likely to become more so.' This, be it understood, is not our version of the situation. It is the authorised version' of the St. Asaph Dio- cesan Board of Education, with the Bishop of St. Asaph at its head. The attempt of the Government to assist' voluntary schools at the expense of the Board Schools, has evidently failed in its object, and the Bishop of St. Asaph and his committee have to admit the fact. The same body also admits that some such course as that suggested in the Manchester and similar schemes will have to be adopted.' In other words, the Church School managers find out that they cannot get sufficient money without giving the money-producers some share in the government of the schools. We do not wish any harm to befall any of the educational institutions of the country. National Schools, no doubt, do good, and if they were supported by the managers or their representatives, we should not have a word to say, but when the taxpayers pays the piper he should be allowed to call the tune. Let all schools that are rate-aided be governed by those who have to find the money. —^

SLINGS AND ARROWS. [BY A YEOMAN OF THE GUARD 1. In local circles, the event of the week, no doubt, has been the election of a magis- trates' clerk for the Ruthin county bench. Under Ordinary circumstances, this event would concern but very few persons, and would scarcely cause any interest beyond the successful and unsuccessful candidates for the post. But the conduct of the Ruthin magistrates has lent the event a notoriety quite out of proportion to its inherent importance, and I shall not be far wrong when I say that the whole country is interested in the election. It has been the almost universal belief of both Liberals and Tories that the Ruthin Bench were swayed by political considera- tion in their choice of their clerk, on the two previous occasions. The majority of the Ruthin Bench is composed of Tories par excellence; gentlemen, who, however estimable they may be in every other res- pect, are Tories first and foremost. Their zeat on behalf of Toryism outruns their discretion, and what they mean to do for the good of the cause,' very often has the contrary effect. • m • • It is hardly necessary to recapitulate the events of the past, and I will do it as briefly as possible. When the late Mr. Adams died, a vacancy was created in (amongst others) the office of clerk to the Ruthin Magistrates, Applications were invited, and two candidates came forward, Mr. Edward Roberts, of Ruthin, and Mr. Wm. Fanning, of Amlwch. Mr. Roberts was well-known in the Vale of Clwyd, and throughout North Wales, as one of its soundest lawyers, a man of ability, integ- rity and worth. No one knew him better as a solicitor, than the members of the bench, for whose clerkship he was a candidate. Mr. Roberts was (and is) a Liberal and a Nonconformist. Mr. Fanning was not known in the, Vale of Clwyd, although I I have nothing to say against his ability. He i. a Churchman and a Tory. Mr. Fanning was appointed. In about six months, Mr. Fanning re- signed his office, because, he could not con- form to the terms of his appointment, viz., that be should live in or near Ruthin. An- other advertisement was issued, and again there were only two candidates, Mr. Roberts being one. Again Mr. Edward Roberts' opponent was elected, and under these cir- cumstances, the country was justified in assuming that Mr. Roberts' well-known Nonconformity and Liberalism had milita- ted heavily against his candidature. m 9 '.t', Before even taking office, the successful candidate resigned, for reasons which have been discussed in these columns, and to which I need not now refer. In the mean time the conduct of the Ruthin Magistrates, and their treatment of one of the mosi respected inhabitants of the town had aroused a storm of indignation in the country. It has evidently been too strong for even the Tories on the Ruthin Bench of Magistrates. Last Monday, although they had before them three candidates, one of them being a Tory and a Churchman, they elected Mr. Roberts! They have done the right thing at last, but only because they have felt that a country is mightier than a lord'—even a Lord Lieutenant. w w A clergyman presides over this famous bench, and it tempts one to think that that is the reason why Mr. Edward Roberts was appointed only on the third time of asking.' The 4 banns' between Mr. Roberts and the bench were forbidden twice, and it was only after their proclamation three times that the marriage' was allowed to take place. This mixture of ecclesiasticism and law fs, to say the least of it, funny, but whether the I union' is made by 'law' or by 'church,' or by both, I hope the parties 'will live happy ever afterwards,' according to the penny novelettes. • m • • w It is within the recollection of my readers that a few weeks ago, Capt. Cole delivered a famous homily on politics and appoint- ments. Where was he last Monday ? Could he not by any means bring himself to vote for a Nonconformist and a Liberal ? Could he take no part in the proceedings which terminated in the election of Mr. Roberts 1 Was he afraid of Mr. Lumley? Great credit is due to Mr. Rigby, who, although a Tory, has kept himself aloof from the influences that were brought to bear against the candidature of Mr. E. Roberts. He supported and voted for the gentleman whom he considered best quali- fied for the office each time he was pre- sent. He has had the courage of his con- victions, and all honour to him for that. There were other gentlemen on, the bench, who believed in Mr. Roberts quite as much as Mr. Rigby did, but their party ties did not permit them to act as fearlessly and independently as Mr. Rigby has done. M « M Xt There is no gracefulness in the 'giving in' of the Tories of Ruthin on this ques. tion. The Conservative Club passed a resolution in favour of another applicant —and he was not a townsman! After this who will believe the Tories when they say that they do not interfere in local matters. Further than this, a caucus meeting of the Tory magistrates had been held-in Ruthin, I believe-when a course of action was de- termined upon. Captain Cole, prodablv, at- tended this, but he did not attend the" open tand statutory meeting of the magistrates on Monday. Verily, there are wheels within wheels. The Reverend Chancellor Jones held out his hand prominently in favour of Mr. Roberts. It must not be forgotten that the voting on this occasion was open. On former occasions, it was by ballot. Really, the magisterial machine is awfully and wonderfully made!

DENBIGH. The Assizes.-The next Assizes for this County will be held on the 6th of March. Mr. Justice Channell will arrive at Ruthin ion Monday afternoon, the 5th, and the busi- ness will be taken on the following day. Borough Police Court. — Friday (to. day), before the Mayor and Mr. John Davies, John Roberts, Gogor, Llansannan, as fined 5a. and 12s. costs, for being drunk and dis- orderly in Vale Street.—Thomas Roberts, carter, was fined Is. and 7s. 6d. costs for a breach of the lighting bye-laws. Mayor's Generosity.-In connection with the Mayor's generosity to the Volunteers who left the town en route for the seat of war, we may also state, that his Worship has caused to be distributed a large quantity of meat to the poor at Henllan. The meat was supplied by Mr. Henry Jones, Crebane. The New Woma)rr. W. O. Jones, of Aber, will deliver a Ijpcture on this subject at the Drill Hall on Monday evening next. Mr. Jones' reputation as a lecturer is well established, and on such an interesting subject as the above he has no doubt, a treat in store for those who will be present. The chair will be taken at 7.30, by the Mayor. The visit of Mr. W. H. Jude.-On Tuesday evening, this celebrate composer, organist, vocalist and descriptive orator will visit the town, and give his popular entertainment at the Drill Hall. Denbighites have, there- fore, a rare treat in store for them. Mr. Jude is one of the foremost entertainers of the day, and his first visit to Denbigh should command a large audience. The proceeds of the entertainment will be devoted towards the funds of the English Presbyter- ian Chapel. Lecture. On Friday evening, at the Baptist Chapel, Henllan Street, the Rev. Thomas Morgan, of Cardiff, delivered his address on Will Bryan,' one of the chief characters in the well-known Welsh novel Rhys Lewis.' The Mayor, who occupied the chair, delivered a very appropriate ad- dress. The lecture proved a highly inter- esting one, and was great appreciated, by those present, especially those who had previously read the novel. The proceedings were brought to a close with the usual thanks. The Asylum Annual Balls. On Friday evening last, the Patients' Annual Ball was given at the Asylum, when a large number of invited guests assembled. The ballroom had been very tastefully decorated for the occasion, and everything that could be done was done to further the happiness and com- fort of both patients and guests. Supper was served in one of the day rooms, both guests and patients mixing together, and helping one another. The music was sup- plied by the excellent band of the institu- tion, conducted by Mr. C. M. Humphreys. Dancing-which was commenced at 7.30 p.m.—was keptj upltill twelve. On Tuesday evening, the Officers and Attendants Annual Ball was held in the same room. There was again a large company, the majority of whom danced, to the strains of Mr. A. Bellamy's Quadrille Band, from eight o'clock till one in the morning. On both occasions Mrs. Denman's culinary pre- parations gave every satisfaction, and the officers and staff of the Asylum did all they could to make everybody comfortable.

PRESENTATION TO A RETIRED OFFICER. At the Officers' and Attendants' Annual Ball, in the Asylum last Tuesday evening, a very interesting presentation was made, the recipient being Mr. Richard Jones, who has just retired on superannuation, after nearly forty years service las Head Attendant at the institution. Mr. Jones' colleagues on the Asylum staff had willingly subscribed for the purpose of presenting Mr. Jones with a watch and a gold chain, and most excellent articles were supplied for the oc- casion by Mr. Wilhelm Keepfer, which gave entire satisfaction to all concerned in the movement. Dr. Cox, the medical superintendent of the Asylum, addressing Mr. Jones and the company, said that he was sorry that he had to stop the dancing for a few minutes, but they would not be detained long. He had been asked by the Asylum officers and staff to present the watch and chain he held in his hands to Mr.'Richard Jones (loud cheers). The articles were tokens of their respect to Mr. Jones, and would, he hoped, serve as mementoes of their connection with Mr. Richard Jones, who had just retired from service at the Asylum, where he had been a most excellent officer for the long period —counting all his time together-of forty years. He wished particularly, on behalf of himself, his fellow-officers, and all the members of the Asylum staff, past and pre- sent, who had subscribed handsomely to- wards this testimonial, to offer their hearty congratulations to Mr. Richard Jones, upon his superannuation, and they could only hope that he would live long to enjoy his pension. At this juncture there was a spontaneous outburst of singing For he is a jolly good fellow,' on the part of Mr. Richard Jones' late colleagues, which was repeated over and over again. Dr. Cox proceeding, read the inscription on the watch, which was aslfollows:—'Pre- sented to Richard Jones, Head Attendant, on his retirement, by the officers and staff of the N.W. Asylum, January 23rd, 1900.' Dr. Cox said that he had pleasure in hand- ing also, to Mr. Jones, a guarantee with the watch, as to its reliable working for at least the next twenty years—(laughter)— and he could only hope that the watch would be as reliable a servant to Mr. Jones, as he (Mr. Jones) had been to the North Wales Lunatic Asylum. There were again loud cheers, and another go' at I For he is a jolly good fellow,' with three cheers for Mr. Jones—heartily given —and an extra cheer for Mrs. Jones. Mr. Richard Jones, speaking with evident feeling, said that he could only thank Dr. Cox, the other officers of. the Asylum, and the staff, for their great kindness. From his heart, he wished to thank them all. They knew that he was not a great speaker, and he could only add again that he thank- ed them all. Mr. Jones was then surrounded by his late colleagues on the Asylum staff, and the incident closed with hearty hand-shakings and congratulations all round. -————«.

COUNTY POLICE COURT. WEDNESDAY.—Before Mr. W. D. W. Griffith (presiding), Col. T. A. Wynne Edwards, and Mr. W. G. Rigby. SHEEP SCAB. Mr. Robinson, Tywysog, Henllan, was sijmmoned by P.C. Evans, Henllan, for not reporting 12 sheep that were affected with the disease, on the 16th of this month. Mr. A. O. Evans appeared for the defen- dant, and pleaded guilty. Mr. Robinson being a tenant of Mr. W. D. W. Griffith, he vacated the chair during the hearing of the case. P.C. Evans stated that at 11 a.m., on the 16th of thia month, be went to Tywysog and examined four of the sheep, and found that they were effected with scab. He (wit- ness) went for Mr. J. H. Wynne, the veter- inary surgeon, and he said that 12 out of the 296 were affected. The Banch fined the defendant 3d. per head, and 7s. 6d. costs. TRANSFERS. A new license for the White Horse, Llan- dyrnog, was granted to Edward Hughes, son of the late tenant. A transfer of the license of the Trefnant Inn, was granted from Mrs. Hornsby to Edward Cox, her son-in law. BREACH OF THE LIGHTING BYE- LAWS. The following defendants were summoned for breaches of the lighting bye-laws on Wednesday, the 17th of this month, on the road leading from Denbigh to Groes, by P.C. Williams, Nantglyn. Robert Jones, Bylchau, pleaded not guilty. P.C. Williams said that on the day in question, he was on the Groes Road, when he met the defendant at 8.30 p.m., with a horse and trap. He asked him for his lights, and he replied that he had stopped in town later than he expected. He (de- fendant) was about two miles from his home at the time. The Chairman What was the lighting up time ? Witness: 5.21 p.m. The Chairman How are you so certain about the time ? Witness: I looked at my watch. I also got the right time at the Post Office. The Chairman Did he light the lamp when you accosted him ? Witness He had no lamp to light. He was fined Is. and 8s. 6d. costs. Mrs. Williams, Pentre Isa, Groes, pleaded not guilty. „ P.C.Williams said tnat aDom; nve minutes after the last defendant had passed, he saw Mrs. Jones in a trap without lights. Defendant: It was about 4,25 when I passed the Church clock. Fined Is. and 8s. 6d. costs. Mr. Bennett Jones, Hafod Cefn Plas Onn, pleaded not guilty. P.C. Williams said that at 5.40, he met defendant on the same road without lights. Defendant: The policeman was too sharp, he ought to wait a bit. He is doing nothing but watching for people at night. Fined Is. and 8s. 6d. costs. Hugh Jones, Nant yr Hengoed, pleaded guilty. Defendant said he had a lamp in his trap. He thought he should have reached home before lighting time. There were not two almanacks of the same opinion as to the lighting up time, -and there are not two clocks in Denbigh that had the same time. According to the Liverpool Echo and the clock, the lighting time ;was 5.28 on the night in question. Fined Is. and 7s. 6d. costs. Mrs. Evans, Groes, pleaded guilty. Her brother appeared for her, the time in this case being also at 4.45. Fined Is. and 7s 6d. costs. Mrs. Thomas Williams, Ty Mawr, Groes, for whom her husband appeared, pleaded not guilty. P.C. Williams said that at 5:55 p.m. on the same day, and at the same place, he met Mrs. Williams, and asked her for her lights, and she said they were at home. Mr. Williams said that if his wife had done anything wrong, he was quite willing to go to Ruthin instead of her, and not allow them to be taking money out of some- body's pockets. Fined Is and 9s. 6d. costs. Isaac Jones, Ty Mawr, Groes, pleaded not guilty. P.C. Williams said that on the same day at 6.5 p.m, he met defendant with a cart without lights. Fined Is. and 8s. 6d. costs. William Roberts, Coed Errill, pleaded guilty. P.C. Williams said he was on the same road at 5.45 p.m. Defendant was at the bottom of Groes hill at the time. He had a lamp but no light. Fined Is. and 8s. 6d. costs.

LETTER FROM THE WAR. Private J. Pritchard, R.W.F. (of Denbigh), wrote a letter on Christmas Day, from Chieveley Camp, to his late employer, from which we make the following extracts:— Dear Friend Mr. Parry, I am now taking pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter, which I re- ceived on the 17th December, and thank- ing you for the good news that you put in it about Mr. Gibbs making a collection for the reserve men of Denhigh, that were called up for this campaign. I dare say that you have seen the account of the battle of Colenso fought on Friday, 15th of December, wben we lost over 1,000 killed, wounded, and missing. Since I wrote to you. last, we have had a very warm time of it. We were at a place called Frere be- fore we came here, the place where the Boers had blown the armoured train down, and also had blown up the railway bridge, when the Dublin Fusiliers, and Durban Light Infantry lost 15 men with their captain. I went down the line one night, and had a look at the armoured train, and the graves of the men that got killed, and it looked a sight, the three trucks that got blown off are at the side of the railway line at present, and the grave is close by. The grave is very nice and neat, being done up by the Border Regiment, with cartridge cases, and there is written on the cases, 'In memory of our comrades who fell in the armoured train, Nov. 15th, 1899, and also a cross bearing the words, 'True till death.' Everybody that went up to see it, took a little piece of the train in mem- moriam. We marched out from Frere on the 12th December, and got in this camp early the same morning, and as soon as we got in, the Boers were sighted by our naval guns away about three miles from this camp, so we had to hold ourselves in readi- ness for them. General Buller was here shortly after us, and on the 15th December he advanced up towards Colenso, where we met the Boers holding a strong position on the other side of the River Tugela, and we started operations very early. The Boers were sending bullets at us just the same as if it was raining. I never saw such things in all my life. I never heard such bom- barding in my life from the artillery, and our naval guns. We were under fire for 8 solid hours, with a blazing sun over us. There was not an interval of a second be- tween any shots, it was just the same as if it was thundering and raining. Our regi- ment was lucky that day, we were out on the extreme right of the firing line, so we did not do much that day, as there was only two companies of ours that got into action, but still there were thousands of Boers around us, but we could not get at them, as the river prevented us. The regi- ments that lost mostly that day were the Irish Fusiliers, Dublin Fusiliers, Scotch Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers, Devons, and also the artillery. The artillery lost 10 of their guns as soon as they got in action, be- sides several of their horses. The Colonial troops lost very heavily as well, the whole of the killed, wounded, and missing, num- bering 1,147, and the Boers killed and wounded about 2,000, They say about here that there hasn't been such a slaughter any- where like it before, nor there wont be again, as they say it was one of the hardest battles they have fought yet; but we hope we shall have another go at them before we leave here, as they are in a very strong position here, and it wants taking. They say if we can get through here, it will be all over with the Boers. You can't get the Boers to come out in the open country, as they are all up in the mountains and rocks about here, and they are a very artful lot of people. It isn't very pleasant with us now. We have a big task in front of us yet, and it has to be done. Mr. Pritchard adds that he and the other Denbigh soldiers are very thankful to Mr. Gibbs and those who worked with him, for the kindness shown to them.

DENBIGH AND THE WAR. VOLUNTEERS FOR THE TRANSVAAL. A SEND OFF.' Denbigh's enthusiasm in things military is never very great. The inhabitants are, generally speaking, men of peace, and the pomp and glory' of militarism has but little hold upon them. They also believe that there is' time for everything,' and therefore, many of them did not think nine o'clock on Monday morning a proper time to muster in force to give a send off to those from the town, who have volunteered for service in South Africa. It was generally understood that the volunteers would have left for Wrexham, on Saturday, and had such been the case, we do not doubt, but that a much larger crowd would have assembled to say good bye' to the town's military heroes,than was actually the case. On Saturday afternoon, however, a small placard was issued signed by the Mayor, intimating that the men would leave on Monday morning, and that they would be addressed from the Cross in High Street, by the Mayor. The placard also suggested the display of bunting or other forms of demonstrating the town's good wishes to- wards her military contingent. The notice being so short, it was impossible to eomply with His Worship's wishes, except in a very limited degree, and the consequence was that the display of bunting was meagre, and hundreds of those who would have at- tended out of respect to the Mayor, as well as good will for the volunteers, were absent. It was not lack of good will so much as un- toward circumstances which caused the send off to be less impossing hearty though it was, than some thought it should have been. Shortly before nine in the morning, a small crowd collected near the Drill Hall, and braved the cold wind and the drifting rain, in order to see the men off. The Bat- talion Band, under the leadership of Mr. C. M. Humphreys were soon in attendance, the members of the band being the first arrivals. They were followed soon after by Captain Watkin Davies, and Lieut.-Col. Wynne Edwards. The service company included Sergt. T. Roberts, Lance-Corporal R. Williams, Privates T. Shill, E. J. Edgar, and Robert Williams, with P. Jones, waiting man for service company, and a reserve company of Privates J. C. Davies, R, S. Jones, F. Pritchard, J. H. Emmanuel, and H. M. S. Hughes. Soon after nine o'clock, the band struck up The absent-minded beggar,' and the journey was commenced. By the Cross