The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

THE CHURCHES. The Rev. J. E. Elder pastor of the English Baptist Churdh, Oswestry, has received a unani- mous call to the pastorale of Chepstow Baptist Church. The Bishop of St. Asap-h has offered the living of Glyndyfrdwy, vacant by the preferment of the Rev. T. Vauglhan to Northop, to the Rev. Trevor Hughes, curate-in-chuxge at Lianrhaiadr, who has accepted it. NEW BISHOP OF STEPNEY. The Right Rev. Henry Luke Paget, D.D., Suffragan Bishop of Ipswich, has been appointed Bishop Suffragan of Stepney in succession to the Right Rev.. Cosmo Gordon Lang, D.D., Arch- bishop-designate of York. ORDINATION SERVICE AT BANGOR. At tho Cathedral, Bangor, on Sunday, Ule following were ordained by the Bishop of Bangor • — DEACONS. David Jones, B.A., St. David's L.nipete?, licensed to St, Mary's, Bangor, By Loiters Dimissocy from the Bishop of St. Asaph Richard Owen Lloyd, B.A., St. David's Colic. Lampeter. PRIESTS. John Bangor Junes, L.D., St. David's College, L,rnpcter. Daniel Arihur Thomas, B.A., College, 0::fcri, and St. Michael's College, Llandjr. Willi r.m GrifBt.i Jones, Church Hostel, Panjror. I By letters Dimissory from the Bishop of St. Asaph — I Edward James Fisher, B.A., St David's College, Larapet Pr. Donald Maeaulay, B.A., St. John's College, Cambridge Jenkin Jones, B.A., St. David's College, Lampeter, and Kc-ble College, Oxford. LICEN>ED TO CURACY. I The Rev. David Jones, B.A., St. Mary's, Bangor.

Commercial Sale Rooms (Late McMahon & Co.), 117, MOSTYN ST., LLANDUDNO. PIER END. Xmas & New Year Gifts AT CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN WHOLESALE PRICES Your last chance of securing really high-class Goods for Presents at astound' ing low prices. Don't delay inspecting the modern Stock of Solid Silver and Plated Articles, Diamond and Gem Jewellery. Gold & Silver Articles, Leather Fancy Goods, &c., &c. The Bargains will surprise even you COME TO-DAY. Procrastination is the thief of Time. THE ADDRESS IS— 117, Mostyn St., Uandudno MOTOR COATS. We have a Large Selection of STOBMPROOE and absolutely RAINPROOF FRIEZES. Suitable for MOTOBING, of which we aro SOLE AGENTS AUTUMN_§~WINTER COSTUMES. Pailcrns sail on application. ALEXANDER BEE, LADIES' TAILOR, 10, PEPPER ST., CHESTER. _n_ TS7E BEG TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT IN FUTURE, OWING TO PRESSURE UPON OUR COLUMNS, ALL LISTS OF WEDDING PRESENTS WILL EE CHARGED FOR AT ADVERTISE* MENT RATES. __n-

I A YEAR'S TRADE AND C O M MERGE. It may be recalled that a year ago tho Christ- mas celebrations followed a year of unexampled prosperity. But there were already signs of re- action, and the year which is now closing has witnessed a great falling off both in our home and oversea trade. As was to DO expected trade de- pression was accompanied by a great increase of unemployment. At the best of timca- there is a considerable percentage of unemployed workers, and the number fluctuates with the different sea- sons of the year. In 1907, when trade was good, the percentage in the trade unions which make returns was about four-and-a-half, but during 1903 the numbers steadily rose until in the past two "Ci three months they havo exceeded nine per cent. Unfortunately, the returns only cover a fraction of the trade unions, and at present no complete figures are available, but there is ample evidence that in all the industrial centres there is widespread unemployment and distress. Thi.s heavy shadow upon the social and industrial life of tho nation has been deepened by serious conflicts between labour and capital, which have further dislocated the trade of the country, and in certain districta greatly aggravated the prevailing distress. The district which suffered most from these disputes was the North-East Coast, but Lancashire also sustained a heavy loss, as the result of the six weeks' lock-out in the cotton industry. There is, happily, some reason to hope that good will come out of evil, for as the result of the recent disputes efforts are be- ing made in the cotton and other trades con- corned to arrange for the automatic adjustment of wages. The breakdown of trade began in the autumn of 1907 with a money panic in the United States, and travelling east and west the reaction speedily affected all the commercial nations. As is gen- erally the case, our import trade first ahowc-A a decline, there being a shrinka.ge of just over ten millions in the opening quarter of 1908, as com- paroo with the corresponding period of 1907. In January and February British exports were fair- ly well maintained, but in March there was a drop of 1.8 millions, making up a total decrease for the quarter of 2.6 millions. Our re-export trade in British and Colonial goods was much more affected, showing a decrease in the three months of over six millions. In the scconcf quarter of the year there was a heavy reduction in every branch of our oversea trade, imports falling by nearly twenty millions, exports by nearly fourteen millions, and re-exports by six millions. It may be noted, however, that in the last month of the quarter the decrease in imports was much less marked, and re-exports showed some recovery, but British export3 were four millions down. The aggregate reduction for the month in the three branches of trada was, however, only seven millions, as oomparod with 16 millions in each of the previous months of the quarter. This relative improvement sug- gested that trade was beginning to mend, but, unfortunately, so far from this hope being realised, the figures for the remaining months of the year, with one exception, have gone from I bad to worse. In July and August importa j were down by twelve millions, British exports by nearly fourten millions, and re-exports by a million and a half. The September return was unexpectedly favourable, imports showing an actual increase of 2.6 millions, while the decrease in exports was much less than in preceding months. But in October there were again heavy decreases, the fall in imports amounting to nearly seven millions and in exports to over five mil- lions. The November figures were even more unfavourable, there being a decline of seven and a quarter millions in imports and six and three- quarter millions in exports. For purposes of com- parison we sfet out the totals for the eleven months, January-November, of the yean 1906, 13C7 and 1908:— Oversea Trade, Jan.-Nov., in Millions. 1906. 1907. 1908. Imports 553.4 689.9 536.4 Exports 344.2 393.4 347.8 Re-exports 77.4 85.2 71.5 Aggregate 975.0 1066.5 966.7 It will be seen from the foregoing table that imports show a decline of 53.5 millions on 1907 and of 17 millions upon 1906. Exporta are forty- five millions down as compared with 1907, but are slightly in advance of 1906, while re-exports compare unfavourably with both 1906 and 1907. An analysis of the figures shows that the value of raw materials imported in 1908 was 38 mil- lions less than in 1907, and that there was a) decrease of nearly twelve millions in manufac- tured imports. But against this decrease of twelve millions, there was a shrinkage in British exports of manufactured goods of 42 millions as compared with 1907, and of five-and-a-half mil- lions as compared with 1906. Practically, there- fore, so far as values are concerned, the great advance of 1907 has been entirely lost, and the totals show some decline even upon 1906. The decline has affected all our great industries. Cotton heads the list with a drop of over thir- teen millions, iron and steel come next with a decrease of nearly nine millions, and machinery, woollens, other textiles, chemicals, cutlery, hard- ware, etc., have all been on the down grade. And though no figures are available, the great increase in unemployment tends to show, as we have already said, that the decline in orders has not been confined to our oversea customers, but has been no less marked in our home trade. With regard to the future, hopeful opinions have been recently expressed by the financial jour- nals, but against these must be set the continued heavy decrease in imports of raw materials, whiob appears to indicate that our principal manufacturing industries are still in a depressed condition. It is scarcely necessary to say that the com- parative figures we have given relate to values and not to quantities, and as the decline in trade has been accompanied by a fall prices, it fol- lows that the reduction in quantities has been les3 than the reduction in values. A financial expert, basing his calculation upon the returns of cargo vessels which have entered and cleared at British ports, estimates the reduction in quanti- ties at 2.9 per cent. of imports and 2 per oent. of exports, as against decreases of 6.3 per cent. and 10.3 per cent. respectively in values. The question of principal interest to our British producers is whether during the present period of trade contraction they have suffered more than their foreign competitors. On this point it is necessary to suspend judgment, first because some nations were affected earlier than others, and second because complete figures are not yet available. Wo are able to give, however, the comparative totals down to September for the four principal aitions Nine Months' In-.ports for Domestic use only. In Millions. 1907. 1903. Decrease. United Kingdom 409 9 378.1 2-1 8 Germany 320.7 3C0.6 20.1 United States 230.8 166.3 64.5 Franco 182.6 179.1 3.5 Nino Months' Exports: In Millions. 1907. 1908. Decrease. United Kingdom 519.3 285.7 33.5 Germany 249.4 245.9 3.5 United States 272.8 252.6 20.2 France 165.3 155.3 10.0 Subject to the reservation we have already made, the figures suggest that the purchasing I' power of the United States was very much re- stricted by the money panic, and that in the general slump which followed, the manufactur- ing industries of the United Kingdom were more a it tc ted than those of any of our competitors. Tariff Reformers naturally use the figures as an argument in favour of a change in our fiscal system, but on the other hand Free Traders point to our supremacy as a manufacturing nation, and contend that the country which profited most by the trade boon must expect to suffer tho mo.st from the reaction which has followed. Wo need only add that between 1900 and 1907 the value of our exports of manufactured articles rose from £ 5 10s lid to JE7 15s Id per head of the popula- tion. In the United States there was an in- crease in the same period from £ l 53 2d to £1 los Id, and in Germany from £ 2 12s Id to B5 15s 10d The 1908 figures arc not, of course, yet available, but they will probably reduce the proportion per head both of British and German trade to about L6 To Cd a ad £ 3 14s OJ re- spectively.

A Colwi'fi Bay Improvement. The railway embankment which intervenes be- t'.vfen Colwyn Bay and the seashore is perhaps a necessary evil. Singularly enough, however, little if anything has been done to hide the nakedness of this barrier, which stands to-day as it did a couple of decades ago, when a distin- guished. visitor remarked: "But for that mon- strous railway you would have here the site of one of the greatest seaside resorts in the king- dom." An excellent suggestion for improving the landscape in this part of the town wa.s made- at Friday's meeting of the Colwyn Bay Horticul- tural Society. The seaward side of the railway embankment forms a long, monotonous, green back ground to the promenade, and the sug- gestion is to relieve this dull monotony by plant- ing trees and shrubs. The Horticultural Society are prepared to co-operate with the Urban Dis- trict Council to try and bring this about, and we have no doubt the Railway Company will be prepared to adopt the suggestion if they find it feasible. The idea is an admirable one, and it shows that the Horticultural Society can do much useful work by giving thought to matters which perhaps do not come within their imme- diate sphere of action. » » • f A New Institution for Rhyl. Some time ago a committee was appointed by the executive of the London and North-Western Railway Servants' Hospital Fund to visit a/ number of North Wales towns with the object of selecting a suitable centre for the establishment of a convalescent home, and at Crewe on Satur- day it was decided by an overwhelming majority of delegates that Rhyl should be the locale of the new institution. It is proposed to convert certain buildings facing tho promenade into a' convalescent home, providing accommodation for twenty-four beds. The institution, which will probably be opened next April, will not affeca any existing institutions in the town, because no patients other than the company's employees will be admitted. The fact that Rhyl has been chosen is a strong testimony to the salubrity of the town, which, by the success which has fol- lowed the establishment there of other institu- tions of a similar nature, has justified its popu- larity as a health resort. 0 5 a The Chanaellor. Mr Lloyd George is the subject of the cartoon in the current issue of the "Throne and Country," which says:—Mr Lloyd George's promotion has been almost as rapid as that of his great per- sonal friend, Mr Winston Churchill, who suc- ceeded him as President of tho Board of Trade. At the General Election Mr Lloyd George waa only known to the man in the street as a Wc-Ishi M.P. who had vigorously opposed the Boer War. But with his promotion to Cabinet rank it at once became plain that almost for the first time the head of the Board of Trade was a thoroughly capable man of business. Latterly he has be- come an object of peculiar animosity to the Suff- ragettes, who, with true feminine logic, break up hie meetings when he has oome prepared to speak on their behalf.

L. &. N. W. MANAGEMENT. SIR FREDERICK HARRISON'S CHANCE. NEW GENERAL MANAGER. The Press Association learns that Sir Frederick Harrison will shortly retire from the position of General Manager of the London and North- western Railway Company, and will accept a seat on the Board, and that his successor will be the present chief goods manager, Mr Freak Ree.

At a mosang of the Finance Committee of the Merioneth County Council Mr Edward Rowlands, Pennal, Machynlleth, w&s appointed out of IT candidates superintendent of local taxation under the Finance Act, 1906, I

PERSONAL. The Marquis of Anglesey left London on Mon- day for Beau Desert. Earl and Countess Carrington are spending the Christmas vacation at Daws Hill, High Wyoombe. The Duke of Westminster haa contributed £ 500 to the Bishops' Fund for Unemployed. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., has built, furnished, and presented a new Unionist Club to Ruabon. Sir Henry Norman, M.P., and Lady Norman have loft for Havre, to drive by motor to Mar- seilles, and proceed thence to Algiers for a motor tour in Algeria and Tunis. Mr Lloyd George, M.P., is leaving for th South of France on Boxing Day. Mrs Lloyd George, accompanied by Mrs Llewelyn Williams, wife of the member for the Carmarthen Boroughs, distributed the prizes at two Council Schools at Cardiff on Monday. The death took place at Ellesmere Cottage Hospital, following upon an operation for appen- dicitis, of the Rev. John Owen Pugh, curate of Ellesmere. Mr Pugh was the eldest son of the late Rev. David Pugh, rector of Ysceifiog. Holy- well, and was one of six brothers in or training for the priesthood. Mrs Lloyd George distributed the prizes to the scholars at the Severn-road and Splotlands Ele- mentary Girls' Schools, Cardiff, yesterday, giving away 636 prizes in all. Mrs Lloyd George was presented with a water-colour painting of the Severn-road Schools in a silver frame, and with a trinket casket with a Welsh inscription. Mrs Lloyd George, who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Lewis Morgan), was es- pecially pleased with the singing of Welsh songs by the girls. FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE. The marriage ofiss Louisa Hughes, daugh- ter of Rev. R. P. and Mrs Hughes, Llanfaethlu Rectory, with the Rov. Hugh Williams, Llan- degfan, will take place at Llanfaethlu Parish Church on Tuesday, January 12th, 1909.

MR LLOYD GEORGE AT LIVERPOOL. VIGOROUS ATTACK ON THE LORDS. WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. Mr Lloyd George, srea-k-Ing at a great meeting in the Sun Hall, Liverpool, on Monday evening, organised by the National Reform Union, said tho defeat of tilie Licensing Bill showed that the House of Lords was a purely partisan Assembly, and Liberalism could not exist as an alternative power in the State until this state of things was altered. The present condition of things, under which a popular demand for reform was denied year after year, oouid not continue for ever. They were not going to stand any longer the usurpation of Ki,:g Lansdowne and his roal oonsort in the Commons. Unless he was much mistaken they would shatter the throne of this, the most uninteresting of all Pretenders. Referring to old-agte pensions, he said he was heartily glad that it had fallen to his lot not only to carry the bill, but to find the money, and he could do so without taxing anybody s bread. He meant to raise the taxes in a way that would not interfere with any productive in- dustry in too country. Mr Wyndham, in his recent speech in Liverpool, had presented the issues upon which the Lords were willing to stake their existence, and they were issues upon which the country would be called upon to de- cide, and they could not tell how soon. The issues were free institutions and Free Trade against privilege and Protection and taxes on bread, nipit, aai-d timber. At present we had the greatest international trade in the world, the greacest shipping busi- ness in the world, the g'reatest surplus wealth of all the nations, the ehoapest living, houses, food, and clothes of any country in the world, and, oomparod with old countries, the highest wages, shortest hours of labour, and be-A conditions of any of them. Mr Wyndiham and the Tory party wanted the country to risk all this supe- riority and supremacy for an experiment which we had tried before, and given up because it was a failure. Mr Lloyd George proceded to ex- amine some of Mr Wyndham's arguments in detail, with the object, ItS he said, of showing the stupidity of those who wished to recast the whole1 basis of The fiscal1 system upon which our commerce had been built. In conclusion, the right hon. gentloman made a strong plea for a reform of the land system which would bring the land within the grasp of the people. Referring to the Disestablishment- Question, Mr Uoyd George said that for forty years and ten successive general elections Wales had sent preponderating majorities to Parliament to de- mand religious equality, Constitutionally, quiet- t ly, and keeping themselves within the law, and yet they were aJways denied Justice. How long would this continue? If a BiH was sent to the House of Lords—as it would be-and sent by an overwhelming majority of the representatives of the people, what would ensue? He was told it would be flung out. It depended entirely upon what would be said at Lansdowne House. The wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Wales about their own religious and spiritual affairs would be settled in the drawing- room of Lansdowne House. Did anyone ima. gine that the WeWh Nonconformist peasantry would go on paying a tenth part of the produce of their own hard toil towards maintaining an ecclesiastical institution whose supremacy thev repudiated, or would go on paying educational pates for sdhools where Nonconformity wu treated as a disqualification for teachership ? Of course, they wewd not If tfhe people found they could not pet redress fay Constitutional means, tfcey would be driven to make those institutions intolerable, and they oould do it by keeping within the kne-

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AND ITS DANGERS. (By M.B., F.R.C.S.) ———— Now that Christmas is at hand, atteation may be suitably drawn to some of the. dangers which come with this anntual period of festivity. It is true that it seems a little ungracious, when good- will and gaiety are in the air, to dilate upon the physical consequences that follow an ill-regulated holiday, but unfortunately we do not always take our pleasures prudently, and at this time of the year many well-meaning folk endanger their health by want of thought. Christmas Day itself is often spent with but little care fox the mor- row, and it is not children alone who suffer from undue indulgence in the good fare provided. Has it ever occurred to you what a small amount of exercise we take upon the day of the year during which we indulge our bodies most? The unpleasant headache and unfitness of Boxing morning is often due more to want of exercise than to immoderate eating. Make a point this year, if tho weather is at all suitable, of taking a good sharp walk, with your guests and family, on Christmas afternoon. An hour or two in the open air will have a bracing effect, and you will be the better able to spend a pleasant evening, without the disagreeable consequences of a day wholly spent under sedentary conditions and in a heated atmosphere. Should you spend the day away from home, be careful to be warmly clad ere you pass from a hot close room to the cold and possibly damp December air; especially see that the children are thoroughly protected against cold, as much harm may come from the journey home late on Christmas night. The peevishness next morning may be due more to that than to a deranged stomach. It is not at the Yuletide alone that this applies, for how frequently one sees little children, even babies, taken to the theatre or music hall, to be brought home late and cold. Atij| the best there is a good deal of risk in ex- posing little children, already perhaps half asleep, to a sudden change in temperature, but the dan- ger may be minimised by warm woollen wraps, and, if the weather is rainy, by protection against damp. It is hardly necessary at this time of day, when so much is written on such subjects, to warn my readers from over indulgence either in food or drink, but it is worth remembering that the festive season may be just as enjoyable, just as merry, without making our minds dull and our livers sluggish with heavy meals. Let the child- ren have their share of all good things, but do not give them a free hand, do not leave jiuts, raisins, figs, etc., witiiin reach, for surreptitiously they will more than they can digest. But if in spite of precautions the little ones awake next day with stomachs and tempers all awry, keep them quietly at home, restrict their food, and give them one quarter of a grain of calomel every hour until they have had six doses. Calomel, either in tablets or powders, can be had from any chemist. Not only at Christmas but all tnAjugh the win- iter season the most prevalent ill and the most in- sidious danger is the common cold. And the danger is all the greater because this particular ailment is often neglected as of small account. But if you saw a spark in a haystack you would be alarmed, so if ycfti find a cold attacking you at tli2 time of year when all health and strength is required to resist the varying and trying weather do not despise it. When you begin to experience the well-known early sensations that predict a cold, N i-r, t«e tick- ling in the nose, the chilliness in the back and the muzziness in the head, get home as early as you can and attack it at once. Eat a good supper, for the old adage "feed a cold and starve a fever" is sound and good advice; then prepare a bath as hot as possible. Go straight from the bath to I bed. sleeping between blankets. After you are in bed have brought you a. glass of hot—no, not whisky-milk, milk as hot as you ca.n touch it; if there be any treacle or honoy in the house stir a tablespoonful of either into-it; also have by you five grains of Dover's Powder, which you can get from a chemist. Drop the powder on your tongue, then drink the milk. Roll over into the blankets and you will soon be asleep. Next morning you will feel much better, and if you have bacn early enough your cold cured. This "Milk Pcssett" as our grand- mothers called it-is much more efficacious than hot whisky which, whilst making you feel better for a time, leaves you more liable to cold next day. Milk is a nourishing stimulating food, whilst whisky is only a. stimulant which should not be applied to the ailing body. A cold well established has to take it.s course, but that course can be shortened by treating actively instead of neglecting it until it has des- cended to the chest. If you can spare a day, or it chances to be Sunday, spend it in a nicely warmed but ventilated room. You will be sur- prised how much good a day spent in an equable temperature does for a cold. Take abundance of nourishing food, wear ample warm clothing, avoid damp, do not bo out at night, smoke little or not at all, and take no alcohol. When the dis- charge from the nose begins to get thick and sticky and to look yellowish and unpleasant, it ia a very useful thing to use a lotion to wash away the secretion two or three times a day. One teaspoonful of common salt, one teaspoonful of bi- carbonate of soda, two teaspoonful of borate, and one teaspoonful of white sugar, well pounded and mixed together, makes an excellent powder from which to make a lotion. Take a teaspoonful of such a powder and dissolve it in half a pint of hot water. When cool enough, pour some into the palm of the hand and snuff it up both nostrils two or three times. This will bring away the ac- cumulated secretion, soothe the inflamed nose, and help to shorten the cold. All such treatment will do much to prevent a cold developing into a winter cough, which is in- deed difficult to shake off. Winter coughs are mainly of two kinds, the one due to a neglected cold and the other-which returns every year- due to chronic bronchitis. For the first the pre- ventive treatment given above is the best of all, but should this fail or not be undertaken until too late, something further is required. Carefully observe all the rules about avoiding cold, etc. Have the chest front and back well rubbed every night with camphorated oil, and get the following medicine from the chemist:— Carbonate of ammonia. 2 grains. Tincture of squills. 15 drops. Compound tincture of camphor 10 drops. Wine of Ipecacuanha 10 drops. Spirits of chloroform 10 drops. Water to 1 ounce. Take two tablespoonsful three times a day. For children one half or one quarter the quantity ac- cording to age. If possible, two or three days in a warm room are of great bonefit, and will often clear up a cough that has been troublesome for weeks. If, afterwards you foal the need of some tonic, get a bottle of Fellows' Syrup of Hypo- phosphites and take a teaspoonsul three times a day. Of the cold due to chronic bronchitis little can be said. It may be due to one of several under- lying causes, and needs the opinion of a doctor near at hand. Those who are fortunately able to do so, derive great benefit from spending the win- ter in a warm climate. Those who cannot and have to work for their living should spend much time and thought upon their clothing, meals, and occupations, and as far as poesible avoid exposure to night air and East winds.

NORTH WALES WILLS. Mr Maurice Thomas Morris, of Bron Menai, Carnarvon, retired draper, formerly carrying on business at the Nelson Emporium, for many years a member of the Town Council, and aJso an alderman and a magistrate for the borough, a member of the Harbour Trust, and for nearly 40 yeara greatly interested in the National Eis- teddfod, left £ 4929 gross, of which £ 4554 is net peraomlty,

Miss Marie Trevelyan is about to issue a book on Welsh folk-lore, whieh will have a preface by Dr. E. S. Hartlan4-j

MUSICAL NOTES. By Peter Edwards, Mus. Bac. ("Pedr Alaw"). RHYL CHORAL SOCIETY. On Thursday eviening last, at the Pavilion, this Society gave a performance of the "Messiah," under the conductoraikip of Mr Richard Bromley —a gentleman who, I understand, has for several years acted in that capacity; and, judging by the cheering of the audience, his efforts were highly appreciated. Early this year this choir giave a performance of "King Oiaf," and next spring it purposes singing Coleridge Taylor's chief work, "Hiawatha." The other excellent work is Sir Hubert Parry's "Blest pair of Syrens." Parry's work is one of tihe most popu- lar in England, and I sincerely hope the Rhyl Choir's presentation of it and "Hiawatha" will be an event which will not be overlooked by any music lovers in these districts. • ft • I should have liked to hear the "Messiah" throughout on the present occasion, but Railway- Companies are sometimes peculiar in their treat- ment of the publio. Prestatyn was favoured by a late train. Why not Abergele and Colwyn Bay ? I was one of the unfortunate ones who had to leave the Pavilion after listening to about one-half the work—a matter which places me at a disadvantage in trying to criticise the per- formance as a whole. Regarding the overture, Pastoral Symphony and accompaniment generally, the small orches- tra did its best, and that was most commend- able but it would require an orchestra that would fill the Pavilion stage to do full justice to Mozart's accompaniments to the "Messiah." I noticed also in the solos that only a few of the strings were playing, so tnat the effect was sometimes thin. Wihat about the chorus? I confess I was agreeably surprised. There was in most in- stances a good attack and the voices generally ware good and combined well. "And the GJory of the Lord" was well sang, also "Glory to God," and "He trusted in God." In the chorus "All we like sheep," there is, to my mind, always the danger of singing the first section in too bold a spirit. A quieter rendering on this occasion would doubtless have been more in keeping with the spirit of the text. The chorus "For unto us a child is born" was rather subdued, except of course, at the words "Wonderful," "Counsel- lor," etc., where the choir amply made up for its earlier tameness. One cannot get very many voices to pick from in a town of the size of Rhyl, so that Mr Brom- ley is to be congratulated upon the selection made, and upon the choir's performance gene- rally. It is to be hoped the appeal for addi- tional voices will be responded to. Ladies and gentlemen will thus not only derive pleasure for themselves, but will help in giving it to others. Also efforts should be mado to get the L. and N.-W. Rly. Company to run a late train to each of t'he three directions when the spring concert is given, so that music lovers in Flintshire and Denbighshire may have the pleasure of hearing the works throughout. < What of the soloists in the "Messiah?" Were I to write of them in terms of highest praise, I should do what I do not conscientiously believe. That they are alii good singers is readily granted; but only in one of the solos which I hoard was there a touch of greatness—I allude to Mr David Ellis' rendering of "Comfort ye my people," followed by "Every valley shall be exalkd." In this Rccit and Aria, the vocalist excelled and raised in me very high expectations, which wore not realised afterwards. Of course, I heard very little of t!he tenor solo part afterwards: only the recit, "AD they that see Ilim" and the aria "But thou didst not leave His soul in hell." Mr James Coleman's most effective rendering, during my stay, was of the recit "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, followed by the aria "The people that walked in darkness." It was excellent. MioS Gertrude Bloomfield possesses a sopra-no voice of glrczlt purity, but there was nothing striking in her presentation of the four recita- tives immediately proceeding the chorus "Glory to God." She rcsc to the occasion, however, m the latter portion of the aria "Rejoice greatly" —which gave promise of good things later, in the beautiful arias, "How beautiful aro the feet" and "I know that, my Redeemer liveth." Miss Nuttall has a contralto voice of great richness, especially in the lower part, though her high notes did not appeal to me. Her singing generally was aclisphy of richness of tone, rather than of light and shade—except in the aria "He shall feed His flock," which was well sung througlwut. The preooding recit was sung in too formal a manner, viz., "Then shall rhe ayes of the blind be opened." I specially allude to that portion of the words: "Then shall the lame man leap as a (hart." In tho important i solo: "He was despised," she did not fully satisfy me. no rendition of this music will, un- less "b helps to fix the minà upon the Saviour. con pelling one to realise that He is indeed a Man of Sorrow, despised, rejected. What a task it is for- a singer to do this but it must be done, otherwise the singing fails in its real object. That Miss Nuttall ^11 become*a first rate singer, I do not doubt. Ifn the great school of experience much ca-n be learnt; and I believe we shall in a few years hear of this lady as a prominent Handelian singer. The band was under the able leadership of Mi Horace Haselden. » COLWYN BAY NEW YEAR'S DAY EISTEDDFOD. At this important Eisteddfod Mr Furness Wil- liams, the Welsh tenor, will sing. He has just returned from Italy—where he has been ^studying opera. His London teacher—Mr Ed- ward lle-s-told. me that Mr Williams would, before long, be among the foremost Welsh vocalists. lie spoke enthusiastically of him, and was sanguine this pupil would do him great credit. Mr lies' other pupil, of whom he ex- pected much, is Miss Laura Evans, and in her his expectations are no doubt already realised. I am also informed that Mis3 Louie James, R.A.M., will sing at this Eisteddfod. There is surely a musical treat in store for music lovers here I Competitors are requested to note that the com- mittee has extended the date of entering to Mon- day, the 28th inst., although the prospects aie really excellent. J • » » • DR. PARRY'S MUSIC. When Dr. Joseph Parry died, it was a loss to gallant little Wales which she felt most keenly, and will continue to feel for a long time to come. Indeed, I am inclined to think we shall presently appreciate his music more than we do just now. For some time there has been an endeavour to educate us up to the point of appreciating the un-melcjdio in music. Some even dub Richard Strauss, a prophet; some almost worship him- the Marooni of the musical world. There is, however, a strong feeling among musicians that we cannot do better than strive after beautiful, melodic music such as was produced by Bee- thoven, Haydn, Mozart, Handel, etc. In a lecture delivered before the Musical Association, Mr Dunhill said that the composer who failed to reoognise the potent power of melody, or proved himself incapable of making a direct appeal by means of its employment, had mistaken his vocation and misunderstood the elementary functions of music. If this is so, the musio of Dr. Joseph Parry, Wales' greatest composer, "living or derJd," as a correspondent writes to me—will be listened to with pleasure for many years to come. Undoubtedly he was a first-rate melodist, and, according to Mr Dun- hill's definition, must have been a true musician. What I wish, however, to call special attention to is the fate which has overtaken two of his principal works. The plates of the opera "Blodwen" were all burnt in the fire which broke out in the "Western Mail" Offices. Then, as regards his chief work, "Saul of Tarsus," the firm which published it is now extinct. The copies and copyright were sold to Messrs Leonard and Co., but they inform the Colwyn Bay National Eisteddfod Committee that they have no band-parts, an" although several enquiries have been made, they cannot be found. Leonard and Co. cannot see their way to incur the ex- pense of a new set—costing about thirty pounds. It is, of course, evident that unless the first set of parte" is found, or a new one is made, the work cannot be performed during the National Eisteddfod of 1910. It is gratifying to learn that the committee thereof is prepared to contribute five guineas towards the thirty pounds. Mr John Williams, Carnarvon-the newly-appointed Eisteddfod choir oonductor and Mr David Trehearne, Rhyl-a. prominent member of the committee—are prepared to con- tribute. It affords me great pleasure to call the atten- tion of "Pioneer" readers to this matter, and it will give me still greater pleasure to learn that it shall reoeive their practical sympathy! Even in Colwyn Bay, there are gentlemen and gentlewomen who could easily make up the balance of about thirty pounds required, and I sincerely hope they will do so without delay. This is the season for expressing and showing there is "Good-will toward men. Dr. Parry's memoty ig so dear that a few pounds moBt not be allowed to stand in the way of his great work being presented at the Eisteddfod of 1910! < MUSICAL CRITICISM. If this is to be of real value, it must be honest. There is no doubt the local press of this country is doing great harm to music by praising perform- ances good, bad and indifferent. What is the possible effect of such praise upon the compara- tively inexperienced artiste? It will probably make him or her so self-satisfied that the desire to excel will be stifled. Choir members will probably suffer in the same way; but there is a greater danger; it will gnte listeners a false idea of what is really good or bad. It will, in short, be one means of spoiling their chance of acquiring good taste. If the opinion of the "Pioneer" upon musical renderings is to be worth anything, it must be just. Thus, I have no doubt the public will in time come to set value upon the criticisms ap- pearing in its columns.

INTERESTING PRESENTA- TION AT LLANDUDNO JUNCTION. A social gathering was held at Pensarn Schools, Llandudno Junction, on Monday evening, at which a presentation was made to Miss Higgins, River View, in recognition of the valuable ser- vices rendered by her in connection with Church work in the parish, more especially as organist of Holy Trinity Church. The schoolroom, which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion, was crowded with a representative gathering. The presentation took the form of a handsomei mahogany ladies' writing case bearing a silver plate suitably inscribed, and fitted up with brass inkstand, letter rack, and timepiece, together with a beautifully illuminated address in massive green and gold frame, the text of which was as follows "To Miss Laura M. Higgins. "We, the members of the congregation wor- shipping at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno Junction, and friends, hereby desire to express our high appreciation of the valuable and faith- ful services rendered by you to the Church in this parish. For upwards of sixteen years you have not only given your services gratuitously as jrganist, but have been one of the most energetic Church workers, and have also been a most faith- ful Sunday School teacher. As a slight token of the high regard in which you are held by the congregation generally, and in recognition of your estimable services, we beg your acceptance jf this address, together with a writing table, etc. "Signed on bonalf of the subscribers,—Win. Davies, Rector; E. Jones, Chairman; William, Williams, Treasurer; and D. Clwyd Griffith, Hon. .-secretary." Rev. E. James, who presided, said they had met together to do honour to whom honour waa duo, and they asked Miss Higgins to accept the testimonial as a slight token of their high appre- ciation of the valuable services rendered to tho Church at Llandudno Junction. The movement had met with the ready response of the parish- ioners generally, which afforded ample proof of the high esteem in which Miss Higgins was held throughout the parish (applause). Mr D. Clwyd Griffith then read the address. Tho Rector (Rev. Wm. Daviee), in making the presentation on behalf of the subscribers, said that Miss Higgins had been, of the greatest help in all Church work. She had dono much in carrying on the services at the school before the Church was built, and had taken tho whole of the musical portion of the work upon herself for many years, and was now the esteemed or- ganist of the new Church. It afforded him much pleasure in asking Miss IT acceptance of the gifts, and he trusted that she would live long ';o enjoy them, and to continue her good work in ,ho parish (applause). Mr John Littler, speaking on behalf of the churchwardens, said Miss Higgins was well worthy of the testimonial. She had been most devoted to her duties as organist of the Church t the Junction. Had the parish been a wealthier •me Miss Higgins would have probably received double recognition for much less work. The good •ervico accomplished by Miss Hjggins had been rendered not with any anticipation of reward, but had been a labour of love throughout. Mr Mackinlay Davies, on behalf of the choir, said Miss Higgins had always been a most con- scientious Church worker. He was pleased to take part that evening in doing honour to one who was so worthy (applause). Rev. Griffith Williams, rector of Glanconwav, said that as representing a neighbouring parish, he was pleased to be present to bear testimony to the most estimable work accomplished by Miss Higgins, on behalf of the Church at Llandudno •Junction (applause). Councillor A. G. Rogers, as an old parishioner, said that he had known Mr Higgins and his family for close upon 23 years, and could testify said that he had known Mr Higgins and his family for close upon 23 years, and could testify that Miss Higgins had at all times bø8D one of the leading Church workers in the parish (ap- plause). Miss Higgins (who appeared to be deeply affec- ted) was received with loud and hearty applause. She oxprcssed thanks for the valuable gifts, and for the very kind remarks. She hoped that some day she might have the pleasure of playing the organ in a handsome now stone Church at Llan- ion dudno .Junction (applause). Mr Higgins (who was also greeted with hearty applause) said that on behalf of his family he de- sired to thank the committee for promoting such a handsome testimonial to his daughter. He felt sure that the event would encourage her to still further efforts on behalf of the Church she "loved so well. He also desired to thank the ladies who had provided refreshments for the gathering (applause). Upon the proposition of Mr Rogers, seconded by Mr Hulse, a hearty vote of thanks was ac- corded the Rector for making the presentation, and the Rev. E. James for presiding. Light refreshments were provided in the inter- val, which were superintended by the following: Mrs Clwyd Griffith, Mrs Finney, Mrs McClay, Misses M. E. Ncvitt, Ethel Moore, Barnes, and II. Kvans. During the evening an excellent programme of music was rendered by the following: Misses Edith Rogers, Gwennie Keene, Arfona Davies, Messrs A. G. Rogers, W. Mackinlay Davies, J. R. Hughes, and H. W. Pritchard. A most enjoyable evening terminated with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem

EDUCATION IN WALES. FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF. At the invitation of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Aldeaman Lewis Morgan a conference ar- ranged by a committee representative of the Welsh education authorities is to be held at Car- diff on Thursday, January 21. The object of the conference is "to consider the desirability of asking his Majesty's Govern- ment to introduce a Bill during the next session of Parliament to make provision for the ap- pointment of a Minister responsible to Parlia- ment for Welsh affairs, and for the establish- ment of a NationaJ Council of Education for the Principality." The following have been invited to be pre- sent :-Representatives from all the education authorities in Wales (including Monmouthshire); Welsh peers; Welsh Bish-ops-Anglican and Ro- man Catholic; Welsh representatives in the House of Commons; the Presidents and Modera- tors of the Welsh denominations; the Deputy- CKhancellor of the Welsh University; the Princi- pals of the three Welsh University Colleges; and tihe chairman of the Central Welsh Board. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, in a letter con- vening the conference, writes:—"It is hoped tihat the conference will be well attended and thoroughly representative in character, inasmuch as Wales can only expect to succeed in securing such distinctive powers as all parties and sects agree will be to the advantage of the whole Principality."

THE BEST COOK IN ENGLAND. "The wife," the one woman in the world that cannot be spared, is, at this' season of the year, on the look-out for little hints and sug- gestions that shall help her through with the winter's house-keeping. Most opportune, then, is the appearance at this time, of a quite new edition of the famous little currant cookery-book, which has been for some years past so invaluable an aid to the housewife. Your Grocer is fully supplied with this new edition, and will gladly give you a free copy if you ask him. Here is a sample recipe:— TEA SCONES. Hatf-a-pound self-raising flour, lot. castor sugar, 1 egg, 2oz. butter, 2oz. currants, and sufficient milk to make a soft dough. METHOD.—Rub the butter into the floor, add the sugar and currants, and mix with the egg (well beaten) and milk. Knead well, and roll j out rather thickly. Stamp out into rounds with a paste-cutter, and place on to a greased baking- tin, brush over with egg, and bake in a fairly hot oven for about 15 minutes.

M.P.s GO HOME FOB CHRISTMAS. PARLIAMENT PROROGUED TIL13 FEBRUARY 18. THE KING'S SPEECH. With ancient ceremonial Parliament waa aH Monday prorogued till Tuesday, February 16th., 1909. Both Houses met at two o'clock in the after., noon. There was a small attendance of Com- moners. Several Under Secretaries were scattered along the Treasury Bench, but Mr John Burns, smooth-groomed and radiant, was the only Cabinet Minister who appealed on the 'scene. Ten questions were tdown on the paper for an oral answer. But few M.P.'s turned up to put them. While Mr Byles waa propounding a conundrum about a Colonial matter, three resounding knocks were heard on the door. A few seconds later, Black Rod, in his gorgeous! uniform, entered the brass-fringed doors beneath the clock and bowed his way up the floor. He came to demand the "immediate attendance" of the Commons to hear the Royal Message in the House of Lords. Gathering up his robes the Speaker left his canopied chair, the Clerk, the Serjeant-at-Arms»- aqd the members forming a procession, which swept through the corridors to the Bar of the Gilded Chamber. PEERS IN THEIR ROBES. On a bench in front of the Throne—undraped for the first time since the King opened Parlia.- ment in January—sat five Lords Commissionersk in three-cornered hats and robes of scarlet and ermine. In the name of his Majesty they car- ried out the prorogation ceremony. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor* Lord Selby (formerly Mr Speaker Gully), Lord Wolverhampton (Sir Henry Fowler), Lord Den- man, and Lord Althorp. Several noblemen had taken their seats on the red benches, but the House presented a somewhat deserted appearance. Alone on the front Ministerial bench sat Lord Carrington, while behinjd him were Lord Armito stead, Lord Macdonneli, and Lord Blyth. Lord Atkinson, Lord Desborough (who sported a gorgeous buttonhole), Lord Ardilaun, Lord Foley, Lord Iveagh, and Lord Dunboyne were the only Unionist peers present, but in a row. below the gangway several ladies, in winter: furs, looked on with deep interest, a sweet littlQ girl of some ten summers sitting in their midst. Up in the Strangers' Gallery, usually reserved for men, was a bunch of neatly-uniformed nurses. "LE ROY LE VEULT" In sonorous tones the Clerk of Parliament, be- I wigged and gowned, read the Royal Commission and the various measures to which the Royal Assent had been given. This is signified in tho Norman French of our ancient usage: "Le Roy; le veult." Then the Lord Chancellor read the King's Speech, and formally announced the proroga- tion until February 16th. The ceremony wafSi over. Through an avenue of intercsteid spedators the Commons, with the Speaker at their head,; returned across tho Central Hall to their own House. Here, standing at the Clerk's table, the Speaker, in a superb, rolling voice, read thej Speech again. I The members filed past the Chair, shook hands with the First Commoner, and, with happy smiles and Christmas greetings, took their do- parture. The first to grip the Speaker's hand was Mf Burns, and the last- Mr Caldwell, the Deputy*" Chairman of Committees. THE KING'S SPEECH. The King's Speech, which was a particularly I long one, dealt with foreign and home events, and bills of the past session. Relations with foreign Powers continued to be friendly, and during the past year several important agreo- I ments with foreign Governments had been oon- eluded, wliich, by eliminating causes of conten- tion, must tend to the consolidation of peace. His Majesty regretted the work of evilly-dis- posed persons in India, but hoped the measure# pressed forward by the Government! would be received in the spirit o £ mutual trust and goodwill in which they were proposed. Regarding the licensing ari-I education problems, regret was exprcssedE that, notwithstanding the time and labour given to their consideration, no settlement had been obtained.

40 YESTSESNESS. Headachaj Bud Colour, and Low Spirits* FORDE'S Bile Deans for a Bad Liver. "I suffered from bilious headaches more or lesa from boyhood," says Mr William Clark, ofl 66, Russel-strect, St. Neots, Hunts, "and I am now over 50. A very severe pain used to settle over my left eye, and this was accompanied by sickness and an indescribable headache. Faint- ness, giddiness, loss of strength and appetite fol- lowed, and I was invariably compelled to keep to my bed for several days. Attacks of this kind, would occur perhaps every fortnight-some- times oftener. While tho attack lasted I could not bear the sight of food. Eating was quite out of the question, as I was unable to keep any. thing down. 'My eyes became dull and blurred; and I felt thoroughly exhausted. I had a doctor several times, but received no benefit from his treatment, nor from the many medicines and pilla I took. Three years ago now I bought a box of Chas. Forde's Bile Beans, which I took according to instructions. A continued course of Ch as. lords's Bile Beans resulted in an absolute cure., Since then I have never suffered from sickness or headache of any kind." The medicine that cured Mr Clarke was "GfliS" FOBDE'S" Bile Beans, the original world-famed family medicine, Is lid or 2s 9d per box. Tho public are warned against worthless sub- stitutes. Refuse any which have not "Charles 1 11 Homes printed on the label. This label is the only guarantee that you are getting the same remedy as cured Mr Olarke.

NORTH WALES STOCK, AND SHARE LIST. Reported by Messrs Warmsley, Jones and Co, 29, Easti gate Row (North), Chester. Consols 8-3 Bank Rate 22 per ceni, 4 Wrexham and Preset East Deubigh. Price, shire Water Co. Consolidated Stock 165-178 4! per cent. Cons. Pref. Stock 113-115 » Ordinary Stock 120—123 Hawarden and District Water Co. jsio Shares, fully paid 7H Nat Prov. Bank J a of England, Ltd f:75 Shares, £ 10 10s paid.. 39-41 » £ 63 Shares, £ 12 paid 45J—46 North and South Wales Bank, Ltd. L40 Shares, 910 paid 34J—34|i Parr's Bank, Ltd. £100 Shares, X20 paid 87 —87 3-8 Lloyd's Bank, Ltd. 250 Shares, 28 paid 32t-3! Bank of Liver- pool, Ltd. £ 10C Shares, iC12 10a paid 38j 381 Walker, Parker, and Co., Ltd. 210 Ordinary Sharea 3 -3J n .1 41 per cent. Debentures ,83 Victoria Pier and Pavilion Co., Oolwj-n Bay, Ltd. £ 1 Ordinary Shares l<y—12/4 Haliyn Drain- age Co. £10 Shares, fully paid Holywell Hal- kyn Mining and Tunnel Co., Ltd. M Shares, fully paid 9/—12/. Haikyn Min. tag Co., Ltd. £1 Shares, trily paid 20/0 East Halkyn Mining Co., Ltd. £1 „ lolly paid 6-1 iouth Haikyn Mining Co-, i d. £1.. fufly poid 1216-1714 « m M 12/- u 6/—10* New North Halkyn Mines Ltd. £1 Ord. Shares, fully paid 251-WIS North Hendre Mining Co., Ltd. B2 10s Shares, fully paid 2|—2( Pantymwyn Mining Co., Ltd. 1 Shares, fuUy paid 7-0-1 Talacre Mining Ca, Ltd. £1 Ord. Shares, fully paid „ „ £ 1 Pref. Shares, fully paid United Minera Co., Ltd n Ord. Shares, fully paid .v^a 1 1' -n rman Min- ing Co., Ltd. <1 Ord., fully paid PROL. V"