The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

DENBIGHSHIRE LICENSING COMPENSATION AUTHORITY. LLANRWST AND DENBIGH LICENSES EXTINGUISHED. SUCCESSFUL APPEAL FROM DENBIGH. The Denbighshire Licensing Compensation Authority met on Friday, at the Magistrates Court Room, Colwyn Bay, and dealt with a number of licenses referred for compensation by the Denbigh and Llanrwst magistrates. Mr L. W Jelf Pettit, deputy chairman of Quarter Sessions, presided, and was accomjianicd on the bench by Colonel Cornwall's West, Col. Sandhach, Messrs J. Wat-kin Lumley, Duncan Miller, G II. Denton, J. Harrison Jones, David Gamble. J. Robert (Pentrevoelas), J. E. Old- lie! J. and Dr. T. E. Jones, with the clerk (Mr W. R. Evans). DENBIGH CASES. Six licenses were ref4erxed from Dc.nbigh, in five of which the owners agreed to their ex- tinction, on compensation. These were the wine vaults, commonly called Chaloner s Vault.3, Hign- street, owned by Messrs AUsopps, Limited, and occupied by A. LJ. Chaloner; the Leopard Inn, High-street owned by Messrs Marston, Thompson, and Co., and occupied by R. Brooke; the Butchers' Armt", Crown-lane, Denbigh, owned by Mr P E. Story, Coppy Brewery, Denbigh, and occupied by R Webster; the Farmers' In.n, Back Bow-lane, owned by the Denbigh Corporation, and occupied by James Harris and tho Cross Key Inn, Church-street, ficiillan, owned by Mr R. n. Evans, and occupied- by Mary Roberts. In all th, "C cases Mr Artemus Jonee, instructed bv Mr J Parry Jones, clerk to the justices, ap- peared for the justices, a.nd Mr A. 0. Evans, Denbigh, for the owners and licensees. In The ciso of the Chaloner's Vauh:, Mr J. M Porter (Messrs J. M. Porter and Elcock, Colwyn Bay), called by Mr Artenms Jones, said he ha-; prepared plana The premises were very cramped, and the structure thoroughly unsatis- factory. In addition to this there were thirteen houses within a radius of 100 yards. With regard to Leopard Inn, there were here again ten houses within a radius of 100 yards Referring to the Butchers' Arms,he said it was situate in a back street known as Crown-lane. The road outside it was only 10ft. 9in. wide. and a chicle standing outside the house Would com- pletely block the road. There were seventeen houses within a distance of 500 feet. There was a "certain awkward about the premises themselves, the structure and accommodation being inferior to those in the other houses near at hand. whilst there was no stable nor access to the back Supt. Hugh Jones said the Jane referred to by Mr Porter was very narrow, and there were no private houses actually in the street. THE FARMERS' INN. Dealing with the Farmers' Inn, Back Row-lane, Mr Porter proceeded to say the house was oppo- site the Chaloner's Vaults, and near the entrance to the market. In close proximity there were the Crown Hotel, Market Vaults, and another hotel. The premises were gloomy, and one awkward feature was that there was a step down seven inches in depth immediately at the front dpor, while the entrance to the yard was ex- ceedingly awkward. There was a slaughter- house in the yard, where they killed animals about three times a week. The stable had ac- commodation for a good many horses, but the yard was rather unsatisfactory, and the entrance very awkward. The entrance was round the angle of the house in Crown-lane, the awkward road mentioned previously. There were hou&os within 50 vaids, one within nO yards, and one within 70. The houbo generally compared un- favourably with the others. Supt. Jones said the house was gloomy, and .rot to b) compared with the others. Replying to Mr Lumley, he said there was no resident population in the street, there being no private houses. CROSS KEYS, HENLLAN. The next house referred to was the Cro Keys, He'illar.. Air Sorter said there were four houses alto gether in the village within a rad us of le-s than a furlong. The house wao in a bad condition structurally, it had a derciiot appeara-nce, and was in a poorer gtate of !epa.:r than the other hou-ses. Tlivre was no water laid on, and what there w i; had to be carried from a stand pipe. The condition and t.ho appearance of the outside was the same. There was no yaid, simply a grass grown plot. Supt. Jones said that. including women and children the population of Henllari was 500. At the Cross1 Ke\ s there was a. stable, but it was in a poor condition, and never used. It could not compare with the other houses. chairman: These live licenses will be extin- guished on compensation A LICENCE RENEWED. The next case Wao that of the Masons' Arms, Denbigh. Mr Art-onus Jones, instructe-d by the clerk to the justices (Mr J. Parry Jones), appeared on behalf of the Bdngh, and Mr Graham, of Shrewsbury (instructed by Mr Anderson, York), on behalf of the owners (Messrs Las-ell and Sharman) and the tenant (Mr T. H. Cotton). in opening, Mr Artemuo Jones .said the house was situate C the outskirts of Denbigh, and was the first licensed houoe apjiroached in coming into Denbigh from Mold. The main g'round of tho* magistrates refusal was one of redundancy. Tho population of Denbigh was 6433, which, of course, included the lunatic asylum, in which there were 1000; and that of Hcnllan was 500. It wau one of three houses in that end of Den- bigh, and the others were within 100 and 185 yards respectively. As far as the premises in question were concerned there ihad been four changes in the tenancy in eleven years. At both the other houses there had been no change for about twenty years. Whe.n the case was before the justiccu it was shown that there was an in- creasing trade since the advent otf the new tenan. Mr J. M. Porter said the house was situated at the lower end of the town on the main road. It was small; in fact, it war, made up of two ordi- nary cot tag's thrown iyfo one. They wore corner premises evidently not built for tho purpose tiged. Itiei .,Ll was a stable yard, which was not visible from the ground floor. The approach to this was by a narrow passage, whilst the en- trance for vehicles was in a back street some dis- tance away. Therj were a three-stall stable and a loft. The yard was surrounded by the yard., of adjoining premises, and the ashpits from nine cottages opened on to the yard. The house was certainly hemmed in. Ho had visited the South' Sea and the Railway Inn, and was aiuured that the latter wa.> a better house than cither of the others. Having regard to the iiemmed-in conditions the interior arrangenwnts were, some- what awkward, but the structure itself was in a fair state of repair. The stable yard would be difficult, to supervise, but the same remark would apply to the South Sea Inn. There were two other entranced from the main road. Mr Graham cross-examined at some length, and elicited the remark that "the Masons' Arms are slightly better than the South Sea Inn." Supt. Jones said the rateable value of the house was £ 22. There were 156 houses in that part of the town. As far as the Railway Inn was con- cerned, there wat) .no comparison between them. Some years ag'o a wall was ordered to be built by the magistrates, at the rear of the Masons' Arms. Before this was put up the yard was open to the cottages around. There had been four changes in the tenancy in eleven years. As far as police iiuj>ervision was concerned the place was very difficult. Cross-examined: It was dosng a fairly good business, which had improved since the advent of the present tenant. It was u-ed largely by cyclists, for whom t.he proprietor supplied meals. Continuing, witness referred to the ashpit doors, through which illicit trading could be done. Mr Lundey: If these ashpit doors were closed, would you have any objection to the renewal of the licence? Witness: I did not object this time, sir. Mr Lumley: If one of thcoe three licenses is to be done away with, do you consider that this, the Masons' Arms, should go?—I do, because it is not .required. I want to know why?—Because it is difficult of pohcs supervision. If the admit doors were closed, you would not object? — Yes, unless some arrangements were mad'? fo the yard door to be open. If the yard door wore open, would you object? —I would not. P.C. Ellis corroborated ae, to the difficulty of police supervision If a surprise visit were to be made, it would require four men to carry it out. The South Sea Inn was better for police suj>ervision. Mr John Robert Pearoon, secretary for Messrs Law-ell and Sharman. said they had had the house since 1896. The present tenant had been in since November, 1905. During his tenancy there had been a good increase in the trade. He waa "tied" to tie firm for barrel beex only. In 1907 he had used 125 barrels, and had sold £ 68 WCmrfixammtd In 1906 the number of barrels u.ved was 108, whilst before the- present tenant came the sales were only about- one-third. Mr T. H. Cotton, the licensee, sa.d that during his tcmwcy he had jp-rxied on a. trade, and his aver-ago last year was £ 11 Mr Lumlov: Have you ever had anv objection from the police re supervision?-NoncS whatever. Havo they draw n your notice to anythin0 N SMr Owen Roberts, 25, Maes-y-Coed dealer in oil, gave evidence as to the Mason's Arms being required in the district. •, Mr Graham, addressing the Bench, said it seemed there were two questions m ^at'on to this house. The first was whether there was redundancy. Assuming that there was, had -he proper house been chosen? The usual method was to supply statistics. In this paiticu.ar end of the town there were at all events 155 which, on the usual computation, would make the population 600 or 650. In addition there were the farmers, cyclists, etc. This compared very favourably with other parts of the country where there was one house to every 100 or 120 people. He preferred to base his claim upon the particular fact that the justices in that case had for some reason or other made a mistake. The house which ought to go was undoubtedly the South Sea Inn. It was the duty of his friend to give evidence of differentiation. Referring to Mr Porter's evidence he pointed out that in cross- examination he had admitted that the Mason s Arms was a better house structurally than the South Sea Inn. His friend's evidence of differ- entiation was entirely in his favour. As regards the police's evidence, they had not said a. word as to the accommodation of the house structurally or as regarded facilities. The Chairman: My note is against you there. Mr Graham said he agreed that there was evidence on the part of the police as to the diffi- culty of police supervision. The house could not be referred on a point of supervision, only on a point of redundancy. The question really re- solved itself into the point that there were ashpits. Surely these matters should not be looked at through a microscope. Was there any house in the country in which some flaw in the fabric could not be pointed out? He saw no real difficulty for police supervision. If the door, which the police wanted open, had been left open instead of locked it would have been used against them. If there was small objection as regarded ashpits, they would only be two pleased to put that right. The broad and main issue was, had the justices taken the right house? The Mason's Arms had better accommodation than the South Sea, and ought to be preserved, the latter being the one which should go. The Bench retired to consider their decision in private, and were away for about fifteen minutes. On their return the Chairman said: The court have come to the conclusion to renew this licence. LLANRWST CASES. THE GLAN CONWAY INN. The first of the Llanrwst cases referred was that of the Glan Conway Inn, Bridge-street. Mr R. A. Griffith (instructed by Mr C. T. AHard, clerk to the justices) appeared for the justices, and Mr Trevor Lloyd (instructed by Messrs Chamberlain and Johnson, Llandudno and Llanrwst) for Messrs Ind, Coope and Co., the owners, and Thomas Chambers, licencee. Supt. F. Woollam, called by Mr Griffith, saia the licencee was a commercial traveller, and was away from home a good deal. The family lived at the Brewery, which was used as a bottling stores by the firm Mr Chambers represented. There was only one entrance to the Glan Con- way Inn. The drinking accommodation included a large bar, behind that a parlour and another small room sometimes used for drinking purposes, but oftener by the licencee and his family. There was a very small backyard. Any customer wishing to go to the back would have to pass the kitchen door, when the cooking, etc., was going on. There was a window in the kitchen facing the urinal. There was no other way to the back except that mentioned. There were some good bedrooms not properly furnished. The premises structurally were not adapted for licensed pre- mises. There were no stables. There were two houses in close proximity. the Penybont Inn and George and Dragon Hotel, both much superior as licensed premises, especially the Penybont Inn, which had large stabling, a good yard, large rooms, and accom- modation for horses. The farmers used the Penybont chiefly. The George and Dragon was not a very large place, but sufficiently large for the business done. There was a posting business attached to it which made it important. There were eight houses within a radius of 100 yards. The population of the urban district of Llanrwst was 2645. There were sixteen fully licensed houses, two taprooms attached to the licences of two hotels, and two bottling stores, the Brewery and Charlton's. This made practically 20 licensed premises. At this stage Mr Trevor'Lloyd intimated that he was instructed lie need not oppose the non- renewal of the licence. The Chairman: The court agree that the licence should be extinguished on compensation. CAMBRIAN VAt'LTS. Mr R. A. Griffith appeared for the justices in this case, and Mr Trevor Lloyd (instructed by Messrs Chamberlain and Johnson) for the licencee (Mr Rowland Hughes) and the owners (Messrs Marston, Thompson and Co.). In opening Mr Griffith said the premises were situated at the corner of Watling and Denbigh- street. The licencee was also a farmer. The salient facts were that there were two houses on the other side of the road, immediately opposite —the Swan and the Red Lion. The backyard of the Cambrian was very small, and was over- looked by windows of an adjoining house. Access to the back was gained through a dark, narrow passage through which two adjoining tenants had a right of way. He relied upon redundancy as his main cause for objection. The population, as stated before, was 2645, with twenty licensed premises, which left one to every 120 or 130 per- sons. This was sufficient evidence of redundancy. Supt. Woollam said the licencee was a farmer. and was away all day. During his absence his wife was in charge of the premises. The drink- ing accommodation was a large bar; in the bar there was a small room partitioned off, and this was very dark. The building structurally was very narrow, and any noise taking place was heard on the footpath outsido. There w ere three entrances, one to the bar at the corner, another at the front, and another in the passage leading from the street to the backyard. This passage the tenants of adjoining shops had the use of to gain access 'to the back of their pre- mises. In addition to the bar there wa.s a small parlour. The yard was very small and narrow. The back was overlooked by windows of adjoin- ing property. Referring to the right of way the superintendent id the tenants were entitled to go right through the yard past the back door of the inn to their own yard. Mr Lloyd: Does that go through the trade premises?—It does not touch the trade premises. Continuing, the Superintendent sij-id there was no stabling. The house .was generally used by the labouring classes, and much used by navvies just now. It was also much frequented by women, especially by women from Scotland-street. Comparing this house with the other two he thought the others much better adapted as licensed premises structurally, and also because they had stabling and large yards. In conclusion, the Superintendent said there had been a case against the licencee. Mr Lloyd: The case was dismissed, the justices saying that the man left the court without a stain upon his character. Superintendent: I thought it fair to let the justices know there was trouble in the house. Mr Lloyd: That's the sum total of it. There is nothing you can use against the house. By low women do you mean poor women? The Superintendent said there had been con- victions amongst women chiefly for being drunk and disorderly.. In his opinion the women used the Cambrian Vaults more than the other houses; he had seen them there more frequently himself. Mr Lloyd You will agree that this is a well conducted house?- \Y ell, I've no serious com- plaint to make, or I should have made it. I have had to caution the licencee myself on one occasion for having drunken navvies in the place, and for not attempting to get them off. This is the only time I have known it to happen in Llanrwst. Cross-examined, the Superintendent said the rooms were alright. There were plenty of bed- rooms, the accommodation being good, but they were not very frequently used. They might get a few people to sleep there once a month. He did not know that the licencee supplied dinners, but knew that he had a large number of farmers in on fair days. The pig fair was held in Station- road, but he did not know that the Council had ordered it to be removed. The house did a fair trade. It was not bigger than the Swan. P.C. J. Jones corroborated the evidence as to the Red Lion and Swan being better adapted as licensed premises. He said women, of "the lowest class in Scotland-street used the Cam- brian," and lie had been called in on various occasions to check them. Mr Lloyd: You have been called by the licencee?—Yes, sir. Mr Robert Williams, Gwydyr House, said that from his knowledge of the town the house was not required. Mr Lloyd: Do you think any are required?— I don't say I agree with doing away with all public-houses. I don't know anything against this house more than any other. L The name of Rev. Robert Rowlands was called, but it was intimated that he was not present. Albert Hughes, architect, gave evidence to having prepared the plans. THE DEFENCE. Rowland Hughes said he had been tenant of the house for nine years. The rent was E35, and the property was rated at £ 35. The house was "tied" to the owners for beer only. There was never any complaint against him to his know- ledge except the case referred to. He had been in the Swan, and could say it was a good deal smaller house than his own. The Clerk: The Swan is returned at L20. Continuing, the Tenant said that farmers and dealers stayed with him, and only on Tuesday last there were eight in his house. It was seldom they were a night without anyone. The accom- modation he had was one double-kcdded and two single bedded rooms. He was a farmer as well as a publican and was away in the daytime, but cailie back at night to the business, his wife Jcoking after it in his absence. In 1905 he sold 94 bartels of beer; 1906, 79i barrels; and in 1907, 94g. Irt 1905 h:s &aJo of spirits was 87 gal lone; 1906, 132 gallons; 1907, 176i gallons. This did not include the bottled ale, etc., of which he sold a lot. The business at the house kept his family, and had done so for the laet nine years. The women mentioned went to other houses as well as his. If they behaved them- selves whilst with hini, he saw no reason why they should not .be served. Cross-examined-' lIe had a farm before he came to the Cambrian, and that was why he did not give it up. Moreover, he took great plea- sure in fartij ng. The business had never been large enough to merit his constant attention. He was there aiways on fair and market days. Ho fad two daughter* aged 16 and 12 years yelcc- tivelv, and the older i,-ziirted in the busine. Farmers did a great deal of business in his houte- If they had to take a horfe to t.he stable at the Swan, they had to talie it through the front door of the hou-se (laughter). He knew there was rwne kind of stabiing at the Swan, but there was no accommodation for vehicles. The i>eople who need his house were- not all from Back Wath.ng'- street and Scotland-street. Mr John Jenkins, boot dealer, the well-known Denbighshire- county cricketer, said he had known the house for 25 or 30 years. It did a middle class business, and was properly conduc- ted by "a fair man of business." It wae much frequented by farmers, but, of oourte, the Satur- day trade would be the roughest. The Council had decided that the pig fair should be held in WatJing-street, so that they would be busier still there. Cross-examined: He did not say the three houooe were wanted; it was not for him to judge. He did not want "hem, that was all he knew. He did not know whether two houses would be enough for that part of the town, but if there were too many he would certainly say this was r,ot the right one to take away. Further questioned, he said the Swan had oniy two rooms, and they had to go through one to get to the other. Mr Lumley: Are there any means of getting a, ca.rt into the S wrn yard ?-Certain] v not. 'I hey would have to take a horse through the from door and oast the bar doer. As far as accom- modation went, added w-itne«t, the only differene-e was that -he Swan had a stable, but it was a smaller house, while the Cambrian was more adapted to-- the business. He had not seen a horse go into the Swan for ten years. Tnomas Lloyd, machinist a.nd owner of thrash- ing machinery corroborated as to the business done, especially with farmers. He himself did a big business witlh t-lio Jat-ber, and aiways used the Cambrian as a meeting place. In addressing the court, Mr Lloyd said the owners were very anxious that the house should pot go for comj>eni;ation. He .submitted that this was not the house which should go. The evidence of the police showed that they did not know- how to make out a case. After cross-examination Supt. Woollam had admitted the house to be better than the Swan. As far as size went this house A a,, lixger than the Swan, but had iio stable. The Cambrian was well conducted, and perfectly well kept, and he. nubmitted if any house was to go it should be the Swan. The justices retired, and were away for fifteen minutes. On their return the Chairman said: "This licence will be renewed." COACH AND HORSES. THE BENCH AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. Mr R. A. Griffith (inducted by Mr T. C. Allard) appeared for the justices in the case affect- ing the Coach and Horses, Llanrwst, and Mr J. E. Humphreys, Llanrwst, for the owners, tenants, and ground landlord. Mr Griffith, in opening, said the magistrates objected to the licence on the grounds of re- dundancy and the difficulty of police supervision. The licencee was Mr David Jones, and the owners Messrs Soames and Co., Wrexham. The pre- mises were situated at the corner of W atling- street, and had three entrances—in Watling-street, Back Watling-street, and a back door. The accommodation was a bar parlour, "snug," a kitchcn, and back yard. The house was in a very poor district, and the little business done was to the very lowest class. Within 200 yards there were twelve licensed houses. Last year none of the rooms upstairs were furnished. During the last- four years there had been three changes in the tenants. The difficulty of super- vision was very great, and the evidence of re- dundancy overwhelming. Supt. Woollam said the trade done was small, and chiefly with people from Back Watling-street or Scotland-street. The house was tied to Messrs Soames and Co. Wrexham. It was difficult of supervision owing to the fact that there were entrances at each side, and one at the pine end. In addition the house was not required. There was a stable in the back yard which was in fairly good condition, but there was another in a very bad state of repair, requiring rcflooring and a new door. Cross-examined: It might be possible to stable eight horses by placing them together. He had complained about the supervision at the licensing meeting in 1907, and the justices directed that the back door should be closed. He had no occasion to think that that door was now open and trade done through it. It was a commodious house, roomy, with commodious drinking facili- ties. There were four large rooms, which, if furnished, had only been furnisli/d recently. There was a distance of 105 yards to the Cam- brian Vaults, which was the nearest house. He would not admit that with the exception of the Square this was the busiest street in town. If this house were closed the farmers would go to the Cambrian and Red Lion. Mr Humphreys: Would you be surprised if I told you that we have counted 493 persons living in the immediate vicinity? If you take away this house the 493 persons will have no public- house within their reach. P.C. John Jones said he inspected the house about three times a week. The business done was very poor, for whenever he visited the place he had not seen more than two or three customers at a time, and those he did find in were of the ,c poorer classes from Back Watling-street and the immediate neighbourhood. He had seen two or three farmers there occasionally. There were 65 small houses in Back Watling-street, one row of twelve being double houses, with only a kitchen and bedroom. Then there were two rows of eight each exactly the same. There were three licensed houses within a little over a hundred vards. As far as he had seen from the trade done the house was not required. Replying to Mr LumJoy, Witness said there was a good number of shops in Watling-street up to the public-house, but from there to the school- room private houses composed the street. David Jones, the tenant, said that during the davtime he was at work at Lewis' timber yard. He had been able to live on the proceeds of the house during a time when he was out of work. He returned to his old employment to better him- self, and he was now able to live comfortably. The trade had been improving since he had been in the house. He was a tenant under Messrs Soames and Co., Wrexham, brewers of the famous Welsh ales. He had paid them £ 270 for beer in twentv-one months. His other sales were— bottled ale and stout, £ 158 5s 2d; Chareton's bottled ales, stouts, and spirits, £ 18 10s; Fcarn s (distillers, Liverpool) spirits £ 139 Os 8d; H. Frman's wines, JS5 10s; Mr Conneli s (Belfast) spirits, £ 67 10s; minerals, L27 6s; total, £ 684 Is lOd. He was only tied to Soames for beer. The classes who frequented his house were poor but respectable. On market and fair days he did a big trade, and there was a great call for pen and ink by farmers. He could put in two bedrooms eight people, also stable eigiit horses. He had two other rooms let to a gentleman. Mr Lumley: You have heard the police say there is very little business done at your house. Do vou say there is more than in the Cambrian ? —I "don't. I have not visited the Cambrian. Mr Lumley: According to the figures you have Mr Lumley: According to the figures you have given, your house turns over about £ 8 10s a week. You say this is correct?—Yes. Mr Lumley You say the police are wron I don't tell my business to everyone. I keep it to mvsclf. i tr M Lumlev Is there much outside trade? Yes, there is a great deal going out. ,j Mr Lumley: I notice there is as much trade in spirits as beer?—Yes, I do it. Mr Lumlev: I should like to clear up the point as to the- business done in this house. Mr Roberts: You have taken these figures from the invoices ?—Yes, sir. The Clerk: Have you the invoices with you?— No, sir; they would be too much trouble. Mr Roberts: Do you know what barrels you sell a week?—About H, but it is increasing since I have been there. Mr Lumley: How many barrels per week do you say you consume there?—One and a half- I might say l. Mr Lumley About what do you pay per barrel? —Forty-eight shillings. The witness was reading his figures from a small pocket book Counsel: When did you buy that book ?—About a fortnight ago. Counsel: For the purpose of preparing for this case?—Yes, I heard I had to do it. Counsel: You don't keep any sort of trade books at home?—No. You keep the invoices?—Yes, I have them at home. Why did you not bring some of them? You tell us that in the course of 21 months you have sold spirits amounting in value to more than JE220. Where did you store them ?-In the house, I keep a room specially for it. In what sort of vessels ?-Stone jars. P.C. Jones visits the house?-Not so often. About three times a week?—It might be—some weeks. Where are you in the. day?—Working. Where?—In the timber yard. How far from the house?—About 20 yards. If the trade is so large what need is there for you to go to this timber yard?—I feel better working. Do you say the profits are large enough to keep you and your family?—Oh, yes. Mr Humphreys submitted that the case was one which should not be sent for compensation. The house was undoubtedly required at the spot in which it was situated. There was a class of people residing around it which might be called poor, but it was a large colony. The three houses cited in this case were not like the others -all grouped up--but the one in question stood by itself entirely, at the further end of the street, which was the second business street in the town. The best cattle brought to the fair were sold in that street, and the farmers made great use of the house during the day. If they took away the licence they would have to send farmers right away from their beasts to the top of Denbigh- street to the Cambrian or Red Lion. This was .the only house owned by the private firm in question in Llanrwst. The firm brewed their own beer. It was not run by capitalists, who made their beer of chemicals, but put good stuff in their beer (laughter). They had a 46 years' lease to run on the property, and it would be a very serious matter if they lost it. The licencee had come from Gwytherin, and had for two years been, able to make his living. N&turallv, during the hours the police visited the place there would be a poor show of business, because the poorer classes who frequented it would be at work when the police called. The court retired for nine minutes. On re- turning the Chairman said the licence would be extinguished on compensation. He added that the court wished to impress very strongly upon owners and licencees that they expected to have original documents put in as evidence in such cases. A good deal of trouble was caused when figures were not put in properly. Only original documents would in future be accepted. He might say that a good many of the justices were not satisfied with the book in the last case. Turning to Mr Humphreys, the Chairman asked Have you any objection to the book being left with the court until the next meeting: isome of the justices feel rather strongly about it. Mr Humphreys: Certainly, sir. You may have the invoices if you wish. The supplemental meeting to apportion the compensation in the cases of the licences refused will be held at Colwyn Bay on July 31st. I

WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODISTS' CYMANFA.' CLOSE OF THE LIVERPOOL MEETINGS. The Gymanfa of the Welsh CaLic.ist-io Metho dists of Live, pool and district commenced on Friday e,-eiiirig and closed on Monday evening. Freaching took place in 26 places of worship of the denomini.rt.-o;], and as usu.a1 on occasions of this kind ti.c preachers included some of the most eloquent an-J cholarly exponents of pul- pit oratory to be found in the Principality. The chief gatheung was held on Monday morning in the Sun Hall, Kensington, WHICH was well occupied by 8-veral thousand people. The meeting was presided over by the Rev; Richard Ilimphreys, mod.era:or of the Live.pool eisli Presbytery, wiu said that was their llilst annual Seia-t" Fawr. In presenting the annual report, he said it pract.cajly compiled the hi- tory of their presuytery during me past year fie referred w til-L) rE,- -of ific Jk". Owen Owens of tho pastorate cf Anhelo-roaxi Church, where he had laboured so succvssiuUi for a lengthened period, IIICY hati to oep^re the ]()&9, thi-ju h oeath of Messis John hao- s (Widnes), VVr Arnold Th-tjnas (Rocii f«rr.»), William' J ones (parktield), D. W Owen■ ton Park), and Edward Rowlands (Newsh.im Park)- Though there were many features in tne report- to cause them to be thankful, he thoug.n thev o-ug^not to close thci-r eyes to its unia- ve-urable aspcct.* The number of their com- municants was 8356, an increase ot 141 on the previous veer. There were in a.l tae churoaes 2511 children, out oi whom only 102 had been received into full communion last year. It was aa matter for regret that their buaday Schools did not present a mere prorp-erous appearance. Ho believed their machinery TO more perfect to-dav than ever it was, and that the institu- tions" were generally ontxoil-ed by committees who eon la' not b& improved upon m point ot ability and experience.. 1 )■< schools themselves, and in the cnurcnes t»«v were connected with. There was a decease in the total membership of the .-schools ol LJ 'Or- pool and district ot 1S3. Mo-re miportaiu still was the decrease in the. average attendance oj 53 and of 11 in the mission schools- 1 he wnok matter demanded the serious attention ot the teac.ho-s Excellent wi rk was being done in connection with tho temperance cau.-e, and tne ladies' societies added much to the vigour and success of the work. In the Imancia state- ment thev wCuld observe a substantial in- ortWe in certain e'irccuons, a.nd a decrease in others. They would regret the decrease m the contributions to the Bible Society the IIeme Missions, and the hospitals. But they had col- lected. quite voluntarily, over £ 6000 to the ministry alone during the twelve montus, ajid that fact spoke eloquently f< r ltse-f. The Rev. T. Cha.rleo Williams, MA., in speaking of tho statistics, said thcy were often asked in Wales, "How are things gaing on m Liverpool?" It was io Liverpool they sent their best sons, and it was ot great- importance to the Connexion that matters should be pros- perous ia this city. Compared with other Pre15- bvteries in the Connexion, the Liverpool Pro-J- bytory stood tenth en the list in point of mem- bership and 14th as icKarued Sunday Schools. In the total collections they were first in three important items, and they had' held that positn n for a long time. In their contributions to^ter-'ign missions, Liverpool stood first; ^ccond in tneir contributions to tho loan fund; and sixth and 13th respectively with regard to the nnrnstry and oh ape 1 debts- Comparing Calvmist.c Metho- dism in Liverpool to-day with what it was 20 vears aogo, he found that their membership to.. day waG 8356 as against 6693 then. They must wo'rk^iard to keep up their Sunday School, in which the.-o was a decrease- It was their great inheritance, and it liail been correctly -aid that the Sunday Schooi was really the L i.i\ersity ol Wale-s. The meeting subsequently discussed tie ques- tion. "The Gospel, a cdll to Holiness" (I. Peter 1-15-16). the speakers being the Revs. J. J. Roberts, Carnarvon; J. II. Wthiams, Llangefni; Dr. J. Cynddylan Jones, Cardiff; H. Barrow Williams, Llandudno; Evan Phill.ps, Einlvn; Joseph Jon kino, Dolgelley; and J. Pules ton Jones, M.A., Pwllheli.

THE BRYMBO SCHOOLS CONTROVERSY. DECISION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT A letter, daiod June 4rh, has been sent, from the Welsh Department of the Board of Educa- tion to the Denbighshire Eo'ucation Authority respecting the Brymbo Schools, giving the Board's decision in the ieport of the public inquiry recently held. The decision ot the Board is "11,at the Council So ho: 1 at Brymbo should p ovide oil for 400 children, and that a voluntary school at Brymbo (of the type proposed by the piomo-ters) for 400 children is nece-isarv. For the purpose of the latter school the Beard aro prepared to recog- nise, temporarily, as from January 6th last, the premises belonging to tho v. rexham Paro- chial Charities, in which a school has boen car- ried Oil since, that date, and to consider the claim for grant on an average attendance of nor more than 400 ischolars in such temporary school. "With reference to the other question? raised by the p o-jxusaks c-f the promoters of the last- mentioned sc.1).b, viz., as to whether a school 'in which religioua instructions will be given in school hours in conformity with the doctrines of the Established Church, can be oar- riod om in the school buildings belonging to the h' III Wrexham Parochial Charities,' the Board hopes to te in a posit.ionxto communicate their deci- sion in regatd to it at an early date,"

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