The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

ON TRAMP IN NORH WALES THE "SPIKES" AND "DERRICKS" OF HOLY- WELL, ST. ASAPH AND CONWAY AND THEIR OCCUPANTS. (By an Amateour Casual). I well remember the first time I ever heard that curious word "derrick" aieizitioned. It was in Gloucestershire, and I was only just setting out on my long journeys to investigate and learn something of the curious existences led by these norocvds of the "Main Drag"-t.-he Tramps. "Go-in' inter the deniok, kidit" asked a stout. weli-buiit tiiynp, whetto clothing was a true medley, and whose skin was tanned and coarsened by all kinds of weathers. "Derrick;" I repeated interrogatively. "Ay, derrick, spike, grubber, which yer like." Then seeing that 1 dt-ill did not understand lie jerked his thumb towards the workhouse, for it is by these three curious terms that Lhe casual or vagraart ward of a workhouse is known to the teamp. Mudh has recently been written respecting- the tramp pest1 in Wajeo. As one who has Tawsit-iy viateci many oasuail wards both in Eisglaaid Mr<1 Wales it certainiy appears oorrect tii-st ;r,A&y parts of Wales are over-run with tramps, ahieifsy m the writer's opinjon beeauce of the "easy- going spikes" and the kindheartodnesg of the Welsh pooipOe towards tiiese nomads. I loc-all a "roadster" in St:;fT-ordaiv.ine telling me tliat ILe was downright sick of bread and butter and bread and cbococs. "I've been stuiied with this all week," he said; "now if I was to go inter J WCG, I sfiiouki get plenty er meat." He meant tlnat his bagging propensities in Stafford- Sibro were only rewarded with bread and butter or chee»s, whereas m Wales he ooukl have ob- tained meat, and indeed I have seen tramps bring into some of the casual wards in Wales bug- parcels of food together with tea and sugar witih whieili twi eke out the woekh-cfase tare. However, it is my endeavour in this article to iiriefiest the readers of the "Pioneer'* by re- lating eometrihiaig- of ivitat I saw whilst staying in the "Spikes" of HdyweM^ St. As-aph, and Conway all of which are on the l'Dr~g (road) that tho tearnp takes wh<m patronising Nortli Wales. At each of the three plaoee mcuitlcned it is nec- oe,sc,iry for the tramp before he can enter the oasooi ward' to visit at 6 o'clock m the evening the p,I,, S'bation. oj the respective towns. Here his 71 a .a: ^erapaticai, age, height, ocrnplex-ion, dieatLi.ai •„», .etc., are taken down and then he is given a ticket of admission. This ticket is similar to the one below. 64. July 24, 1910. To tihe Master Workhouse, Pfesaae admit John Smith, AGE 49 TRADE labourer, HEIGHT, 5ft. 10 ins., OOivlPLEXlON fresh, TRAVELLING FROM Holywell to ,y Lim, St. Asarh to the Night Asylum, TIME, 6.10. Signed. It is only by this ticket that he can gain a night's shelter. Of oour.e the tramp boasts aHaiicet as mei-iy names as there are Saiiits in the calentdar, but usuaEy he only possesses one trade. If he soUi -hintseM down as a. La bower, you can generally dtepend) he is a regular tramper of the highways and byeways. For a tramp will work ooiiiebi'mes. lis wild hold oil to a job for several days until a few shilli-D.gs are due to him, then draw tfLa b.t of wealthy stop at some low tavern until he's spent it, then "bad with the beer" as lie expresses it once more takes to the road. I have oil inoro tli;&ii. OJIC ocoaejon ooai-e- across tramps on the verges of delirium tremens, a menace to tivemselves, 8-nd certainly a grave danger to unprotected pei'tions. THE CASUAL WARD AT HOLYWELL. But let us look at Holy -veil "Spike." On en- tesing I handed! in my ticket, end undressing, roiled my clothes into a. bundle. Then cajrrying these aaul my possessions, I was conducted to a small cell-like compartment, on tlie fleer of which lay a small bicck of wood, and two rugs. The bloek was my piKow, the wooden floor my bed. and the rugs my covering. After en- deavouilii'g to find tlie softest spot in the Doards I gave it p, a.n welcomed sajppex, which con- histedi of a pint of fair broth with bread. The folloivin.g morning I awoke with pains in the hmbs as if I had suffered the tortures of thc- rock, but a rapid bJt of exercise soon aeciled theoe. Seven o'clock came, and with it break- fast, consisting of about a pint of skihy (gruel) amid biead, then, afterr dresaing I prepared for work. There was only nine of us; of these, 5 were got to brea.k a tanall quantity of stones, a task moist of them performed .im an hour, whilst I and three others went out into the yard and sawed wood until abooit 10 o'clock wnen we were allowed to go. "A rough lay down," Holy- well! Qtsual Ward1 may be, but thetra.mp should have notliing to complain of the treatment. Two days aiterwardb I journeyed to the little Cathedral City of St. Ac.aph and SpGut. a night in the spike there. Høre- the- -guardians' hearts have rejoiced1 lately at tho diminution of the tramp element into St. Asaph. It is accounted for by the good weather and- the hay-making season. These two factors have much to do with the difference in the figures, but there are many tra.mps also "skippering it" (sleeping out). At least, six slept the other night in a hay- ahed not 200 yards from the workhouse. "FREE AND EASY" AT ST. ASAPH. St. Asaph Casual Ward) io a veritable and Easy: One sf.rolls into it" lights his pipe, brews his tea. mixes with his felJows and generally makes himself at home. The sleepnig aecom- m<«Iation oaneists of three rooms, one of which is devoted to female vagrants. When I entered I took up my bed, a large padded quilt, and settled Oil): a laived bench to hold- nine sleepers. Supper ooaislsted of broth with bread, and this consumed and pipes lighted, the conversation of the eight in my room waxed1 voluble. Often it was very vivid, full of expletives, and -the awing of many counties. One related his adven- tures in a certain village, how he had hood- winked a. policeman, then expressed his opinion of that useful body in no measured terms; another gontly oonhdled to his bed-mate, the secrets of the road; .he was to follow on the morrow, how this shop waa good, for a penny, how that house never refused food, how to avoid the man in blue, and where to obtain tea. Two others; cursed loudly as they spoke of certain "spikes" where the porter, had been down on them, whilst in a corner a literary inclined tramp read aloud) extracts from scraps of old newspapers picked up on the road. It was nearly ten o'olook before quietness fell on the placv, but not for long, for axi old owl hoot 1 hoot 1 somewhere near the buikfeng roused the one woman vagrant in an. oining room amd her cries wakened the sleepers. Before the ohatter subsided, however, I fell asleep, and only awakened at the call tor break- fast which- consisted' of gruel ajid broad. After dressing we strolled abo-at and smoked1, laughed at the drl owL then went out to work. Two Slat down aimi broke a small heap of stones, departing at, 9 o'clock. I*.aaid a number of others, far too inaiiy for the job, dug over seve- ral amall plots of ground, aiid at 9.15 were allowed to go. As with Holywell, the treatment at St. Asaph and, the food is good, the porter supervises in a kindly fashion the work, but again the regime is "Too Free and Easy." From &t. Asaph to Gdtaway is a good 6ta.ge for a. tramp who, if he can possibly avoid it, does not care to walk more than 10 or 12 imles each, day. For twelve miles of the walk tho rain came down, drizzling' and soaking, spoiling alto- gether one's ieeOing of appreciation as beauty spot after beauty spot was passed. I came along with a little old tramp who appeared in his abnormally long coat to be all bcdy and no logs. For 22 years he had tramped England and W7aies, winter a.nd sum user. Occasionally, he told me, he got a. job on. some public works, but then. lie womfc on to say, "I eanna stick it long an' wonce I gets on the bcoze, I carina stop until all the money's gome." I suppose if I were to state that in my opinion 70 per cent, of the tramps to be found in England and Wales were directly or indirectly brought to that state through drink, many folks would thinK I was exaggerating, but I can assure my readers that a large number piod the road througii this, cause. This ol-d tramp was a capital "moucher" (bwgnx), his little wizened face with twinkling eyes appeal-rig successf ully to tender hearted cot- tagers. His bag" this dav consisted of at least a. dozen slioes of bread and butter, about half a pound of cold fried1 ham, two cold sausages, a piece of gooseberry pie, and two good-sized portions of bread amd cheese. Near Old Colwyn we sought out a friendly shelter m a shed, obtained some hot water from a neighbmiriffl# ootta-ge and "drummed" up (made tea). But it was two very wet objects that crept over Caoway Bridge., and after a visit to the Police Station went up to the workhouse en the Bangor Road. SPRING MATTRESSES AT CONWAY. Once admatted we were taken to an upper room where welcome of welcomes, a fire was burning brightly. The place was already ooou- pied by aemm other vagranta, but we soon j — -s doSed our clothes and set them Out to W. The room was bright and LeAm, and with about a doaen beds with spring a welcome sight to one whose bones had eX*jL<> enced hard boards for several nights, & gcodi rugs oo-niprified the bed clothes, an small quantity of back numbers of illustra papers made up the library. Soon I was stretched comfortably on my well wrapped in the rugs. In the next to me lay a ya mV fellow about 24 years of age :cJ1 that morning had boen released from Oarn^ Prisotn, where lie had served 14 days for beggd His story of his bruef spoil m prison was 1^ to by all, and -many questions were aske<:t;, "It's alrigait, he eaid, "plenty tommy' I only got 2 lbs. ot oakum to pick a_jerg) Finished it at 5 o'clock and the screws (wa were air.gbt" 1 Two rough-looking tramps laughed at i>l^egll citad, and recounted some of their exper-^ ApjuJ-resitly not a few prisons had heid ti' What's a fortnight V" roared ene, JQCk rØ name, apparently onoe a. soldier, "just a sjw and a turnover. How much stone in Oa- ÚlØ von if "7 cwt., and it's easy ter talk," s ex-prisoner, "Gaw.d s trum, only 7 owt. t st-1- 1 couid eraek that, wiv' me teeth. Whate Tom, snail we uave Carnarvon ?'' "Weil, I'm got.n' in somewhere fer^ a said the '10111 addmssedi, look at these a clotkes. I'll tear em up or pinch some dfOOTway, and we mignt get a pair of (boc'iv-) out." Titse.i ioii-j'ved a long discussicn until ally theou two rog-ues ag'ieed to get arrea^ some oimie or other tlie followin^ day 011 ,VjgC0 ing- Bangor, and so get- sent to Camaiwon 1r for a i-eat, and a new riff out. hire As the Ciuid Oon#aole 01 Carnarvonshir10 the otiier day, "he was rather aupriscd tilat < tramps who vistf&ed the couaity weie not g\1 01 more serious oh'enoes." With tw<_v, sudh a^ ihe above, it is surpris1^^ Coinway Casual Ward provides vagrants a go-xl nighi's rest, and' gocd warm fo°" sistang of g-mei and biead. 1¡¡c following IT ing we were all conoiucted down into the s ¡.c1I ce. where a heap of stones to be ¡,:O' to awaited us. There is no particular quajiti hij be broken, but each tramp is expected to d best for 3 hours. THE KNACK OF STONE-BREAKING. Now stone-breaking is an "art" and fí!4uiJ:, cultivating co become an expert hand. 1 I ter with his small hammer wJl make the o ,0 01 stone tly apart as if touoiied wiuh a we-ajxxa. It is no trouble to him, he will .rjV up his hall-ton of stone easily m 6 or 7 J1 But to the amateurs stone-break ing is p'Lir'^ He will gra?p the siiaft of the hammer too US £ ly, and dicai too mighty blows. Little flint fiy up and cut his hands, some-times fa-oe, the stone-dust powders his clothes. r^ busters rise in unusual places on his However hard he may try if he lias not the k his efforta will, like the writer's at Conway, of avail. a¡IJ16 I was remarkably glad whoft 11 o clock c"t. and I was allowed to depart from eon Casual Ward. In cOTiokidiiig1 this article on tramp may interest my readers to know that aL not "regulars" who tramp die roads. A number are genuine working-men out of pioymeu-t. whikt another class are the 1).Tofosl sional "moaichers" who alwavre. manage tO srufficlent money to provide tnem with a bed a common lodging house. Amongst- the gloat army of tramps one in North Wales are some who have cast tn selves in the teoth of the world's fespeota others who have "I)een weighed in the ba-11" ajid found wanting." There cue men of ad c-^ ses. Men who shamble through OXIC-ri Cambridge with downoa;.t heads, aira, d to » at ti e famil.ar walls of their college lest sights shouxl l-oeali their happy days and them; men who will walk miles off their roa/lj avoid their birthplace, and men whose in^e,-tt]ar tho life has so dwarfed, that now they are U better than, ii).beciles.

Mr. T. CHIDLEY Begs to announce the OPENING of his Newly-constructed STUDIO which has been specially built to meet all requirements for the production of the HIGHEST CLASS OF PHOTOGRAPHY. No. 2, STATION ROAD, COLWYN BAY. Tel 856x5 Cbe Wtlsb Coast Pioiutr." LARGEST CIRCULATION ON THE COAST. THE SALE OF THE Welsh Coast Pioneer Amounts to an average which, if tested, will show an Excess of Several Thousand Copies Weekly over any other Penny Paper. Branch Offices LLANDUDKO MOSTYN STREET LLANKWST VVAILING STREET RHYL KINMEL STREET ABERGELE CAXTON HOUSE LONDON REPRESENTATIVE: Mil J. E. TRIGG, 47, FLEET-STREET. w Tides at Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Rhyl. Morn. Height. Even. Height, h. m. ft. in. h. m. ft. in. 28 Thursday 2 49 17 3 3 13 15 5 29 Friday 3 38 16 4 4 5 14 6 30 Satardav 4 34 15 1 5 11 13 4 31 Sunday" 5 49 14 1 6 30 13 2 At Abergele and Rhyl the tides are later about sevezi and ten minutes respectively. I

COLWYN BAY AND ABERGELE SCHOOLS. ¥' in formation bearing in a very important manner upon the future of the Abergele County S-chool and the Colwyn Bay Higher Grade or Higher ELementary School was divulged at a special meeting of the Colwvn Bay and District Education Authority, yes- terday. How Colwyn Bay educationists some years ago refused to have anything to do with the intermediate school scheme and how those of Abergele undertook the work Is aai old story. Subsequently, of course, the Colwyn Bay authorities r-ealised their mistake and what is now known as the Higher Grade School was the result. Though cajrrying out much the same syllabus as other secondary schools in the county, the Higher Grade has never been given its due status, because the Abergele School preceded it, and it is not permissible to have two regular secondary schools in the same school district. In latter years this has been a source of increasing dis- content amongst the Colwvn B-ay school man- agers, and it is no secret that efforts have been made to convert the school into an in- termediate school, under the Welsh Act, not- withstanding the natural opposition of the Abergeio School governors, who realised that once that were done their own school must necessarily take a subordinate position. From the statement made to the local authority yesterday, it would appear that the hopes of Colwyn Bay in this direction are at length *n be realised. The Colwyn Bay School has oeen for some years specially permitted by the Board of Education to provide much the earn/3 education for the saroo class of chil- dren as are accommodated at the Abergele School, the only apparent difference bemg in the smaller fees de-marded from the Col- wyn Bay children. Now, however, the Board wrote that "it must be distinctly understood that the sanction terminates on July 31st, 1910, and that no scholar who is over Io on August 1st, 1910, may be retained on tie books of the school for the school y ,-vr then commencing." Possibly, anticipating this step, the Joint Education Committee of the county have for some years been considering ft scheme with the object of meeting the needs of both districts, and they have now practically decided to place the Colwyn Bay School on level terms with all the other in- termediate schools of the county, apparently placing that of Abergele in a subordinate position. While the needs of a populous and growing town like Colwyn Bay must inevit- ably hawe brought some such result about we cannot Wit sympathise with the governors of the Abergele School, whose enterprise and courage deserved to bear better fruit.

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. The details of the entries at the Colwvn Bay National Eisteddfod, which appear else- where, are on the whole of a very gratifying character. The entries are not only more numerous than at the successful London Fes- tival, last year, but they represent a far larger area. In the musical section, the com- petitors number 623, quite apart from the choral competitions, as compared with 350 at the London Eisteddfod, whilst in the art and science sections the entries reach the remark- able total of 671. l'-om that point of view the success of the Colwyn Bay Festival seems therefore assured. Perhaps the only really disappointing feature of the list is the fact that for the chief choral contest there are but three choirs, only one of which hails from Wales. It is questionable whether in *11 the long history of the Eisteddfod Welsh organisations have been before in a minority in the chief musical contest. How it should -have happened in this instance is not quite clear, though it is quite probable that an excusable error on the part of the Musical Committee accounts for it, at any rate to loOæ-e measure. In a legitimate desire to ele- vate the competition, they have fixed too high a. standard for the choirs, with the result that they have frightened them away. It should never be forgotten that Welsh choirs are sel- dom made up of singers from the same town or village. Even the choirs from the popu- lated Rbordda Valley centres draw largely from scattered areas and this entails expense on trains and time, which is a verv im- portant factor in choir management. The more difficult the test set for the choirs, the more numerous must be the practices and the larger the expenditure and maintenance. A prize of £ lo0 is speedily swallowed up in expenses thus incurred. Midland choirs are nnder a decided advantage in this respect, for as a rule they are drawn from one large town, where travelling and other facilities are available, which are denied to most Welsh centres, and very frequently they have re- serves of money which few, if any, Welsh societies have. The mistake made is a sim- ple one, which any committee uninured to the work might readily make, and to avoid a repetition of it, it would be well that the choice of test pieces in the more important musical and literary competitions were left entirely in the hands of a permanently ap- pointed body of experts.

Lancashire and the New Japanese Tariff. The recently issued Memorandum of the Tariff Commission on the new Japanese tariff shows that Lancashire will be badly hit. What are known as grey goods, comprising grey shirtings, pure shirtings, and grey printers, all of which are made in Japan, can no longer be imported, as the imported article will be quite unable to competc in price. In white goods, with the additional protection the manufactures of the Tokio Calico Weav- ing Company and other projected concerns must drive out the imported article, and with the aid of the profits to be derived from the Japanese home trade, the Japanese concerns, by working for export at or near cost, will be able to realise their long expressed inten- tion of developing an export trade in these goods with India. As regards oottoif yarns, this portion of Lancashire's traA* with Japan has been unable to bold its own ex- cept spasmodically even under the present tariff. Twenty-five years ago a very large trade was done consisting entirely of 16's and 24's to 42 2-fold. This trade was gradually absorbed by the Japanese mills, and was re- placed in the import trade from Lancashire by 60 2-fold, and 80 2-fo-,d, and some 100 2-fold and 120 2-fold Egyptian fine count yams. The Japanese mills now make 60 2-fold and 80 2-fold in sufficient quantity to supply the demand, and in normal times all that is left for Lancashire to supply is re- presented by a, few 100 2-fold, and 120 2-fold (the consumption of which is very small), and, say, 1500 to 2000 bales a year of a special Lancashire spinning of exceptional strength of 20's-24's, which the Japanese twist into a 3-fold vara, and use as sewing cotton. Jap- anese statesmen tell us that it is hopeless to expect any concessions from them so long as we pursue a "Free Trade" policy.

Mr Keir Hardi and Lunacy. The career of Mr Keir Haidie is a con- tinuing testimony to the tolerant spirit of the British people. Perhaps too tolerant, but that is another question. On Sunday 1a.st he fairly out-Hardie'd Hardie. Yet, sines that is his trade, we suppos.e we must not be tllier- surprised. We do not propose to repeat all that he said to the Independent Labour demonstrators at Chester-le-Street; for it is Always questionable whether euch recital docs not tend, by giving advertisement to that for which nothing but advertisement was sought, to do ultimately more harm than good. Confining ourselves to the one statement of Mr Keir Hardie that "he re- garded the existence of a King as a proof of lunacy among the people," we have only to say that Mr Keir Hardie himself could scar- cely claim that in this utteranoe he was voicing the views of any considerable portion of those who have the misfortune to be rated as his feUow-coimtrymen. What the British Throne me an a to the British people has been made plain to all the world in the past few weeks; and the British people are by no means disused to write themselves down lunatics at the bidding of Mr Keir Hardie. They are much mere inclined to regard the Parliamentary existence of Mr Hardie as a proof of lunacy among certain portions of the electorate. After all, we all know Mr Hardie's trouble. He is in the unfortunate position of having to "go one better" than Mr Lloyd George. That accounts for much.

Towyn Church Schools. 'll!.e hard case of the Towyn Church Schools deserves the sympathy of all who are con- oerned for the maintenance of definite reli- gious instruction in elementary schools. The more the facta are examined the worse be- comes the attitude of the Board of Educa- tion, which has removed from the grant li..qt & Church School which is evidently much valued by Church parents. The letter put forth by the Vicar disposes of the suggestion that any coercion has been applied to secure attendance, and makes clear that it was not the supposed "ind. Terence" of tho managers to the demands of the Board that led to tho refusal to recognise the school. It is simply another case of bureaucratic tyranny such as wie are unhappily familiar with in Wales, but the Towyn managers are going forward with their school in spite of the action of the Board. A new classroom is being built, two excellent teachers have been secured, there a.re sixty-six children on the books, and it Is expected that after the holidays this number will be increased to eighty.

Rhyl's Bracing- Air. Mr J. Wyard, late postmaster of Llaai- dudno, has just been presented with a silver inkstand, by the Chllrcltpoople of Llandudno. Dr. Da.H:-on's remark that he hoped Mr Wyard I woald follow the example of another ex-post- master and reside permanently at Llan- dudno reminds us that no less than three ex- postmasfcers of Rhyl have settled in that town. This is fine testimony to the life-giving pro- perties of Rhyl's bracing air.

WELSH CHURCH COM- MISSION. REPORT EXPECTED IN NOVEMBER. The Weteh Gbarch CcarsroisMcari, at its meet- ing on Tuewiay, decided to adjourn ovea- the Long Vacation. It was anvurtged that the. separate me I which some of the Com desire to ap- pend to the report fhould be aorst in on or boo. J fore October let. » Further sitting of the Cbrnmtsskm will be hetid to ocsnsider these, but it is now expected tha* the Oamermssictfiers' rsport, with the whole of the evidence taken before it, wiM be ready for pre entataon by Noveaaber 1st.

NO POLITICAL J.P.'S. The Lord Chancellor announced in the House of Lords oa Mczwiay that he will act on the re- cammendatou of the commission that aaaifc on the m3.i.t{jrii31 bench should not be given a reward for political service. Ho agreed iili.at the proper comcx was to Igard poirticai in- fluence altogether, and to appoint J.P.'a who would occiMiuund public confidence. In the meantime he thought it better to aomi±BfU!e the appointments mr, t urgently needed and a few outstanding ccsos ifn which the nwmixbaitiom had been already approved. He hoped to be abio to -4ie proposals and to offer suggestions to the Lords" Lieutenant before the expintian of the hedioBarya.

WELSH RIFLE ASSOCIA- TION. MEETING AT CONWAY. The fifth rifle meeting- to be held hy this Association will take plaoe ait Canrway, cm. Tues- day, Wednesday, Thmrsdlay and Friday, the 30th and 31st August and the 1st amid and of Sep- tember. It will be rewsem bered that the meet- ing est year hod to be abandoned owing- to feck of fl1. Tlhe Association is no better off frnraiv- ciaUy now than it was then, but the offioem ime4 that, in the interest of rifle shooting in Wales, every effort must be made to prevent the pass- ing of another year without the hokMng- of the coni-pctitions.

Oner 400 different specimens of wiild flowens have been ooilected this yew by the pupils of the Wig-ton (Oumberland) ("rW ftitmsnair School, and two M have tied for the first prize by fathering 248 varieties an the aourop, of one week.

PERSONAL. The Countess- of Dundo.rrill httw rotamed to Gwryeih Capfc'e from Porfcman Sqtu&re, W. Lord Herbert Vane Tempest is a party at Pia." I&L Loryf and Lady Penxiiyn ware present at the Guards' Reg-atta, Ma klen,head, last- week. Mr W. G. C. Gladstone retu-med to Ha warden Castle last week on the completion of lias tour in the EaHt.. Mr Daviid Davres' otter hounds have been hunting in the Ojfwen and the Abar. The Master and Mrs Duvies acocmpaaied them. —— Mr and the Hon. Mrs George Bfezard and; the Mtireses TUeza.rd have return,ed to Cloverley, Shropshire, from Herbert Houoq, London. — 4> ■ The Earl of Powis has jc-ft town, but the Qou»te3S of Powis remains on at 45, Berkdry- square. Sir Percy gy Ekit.s, Ba.rt., of the firm of M'üÐr8 Sdward Bates and Son, fiv-erpcal, bat; joiixyd tihe Bcatnd of Diixiotors of the Cunaid Steamsihip Oorrtpaiiyj Limited. Tlie eugageaneiit i", aniaotunoed of Mr Oristopincir RoundeU and Lady Maradie Vivian, wadow of the Jate Mij(X Heitry Vivian and a aaater of tÍJe Eo-rl of Lcmtrim. The bride-elcct has only one littho girl, s i^udroy Vivian. <3>- The Duke and Duohees of WestrakiisteT will entertain a large hoaie party at Eatcsi Halt for tbe poio weelc whidh bsgrnu en Arigwst 8tfi. The Duchess hag left Grcsvenor House £ cr Ne«w- laudti Manor, tfoe home of Ikst parents, CoJorxel and Mrs Cornwaitiis \Ve6t. O — On Moiiday, at tie invi-iEitica of their presi- dent, Larly HturJcch, the ii'.ieiitbrj" of tho Wrox- ham, Women's Uiik-nisfc Aceociation journeyed to Oswestry, wivenoe t,'I, ey- nm.tfe>J in proceaskm to Rrogyiityn, Land HarJeclia seat, Here t2iey were cNJ2rta.irlOd to tea, a-nd an enjoyable day wea spent.

THE CHANCELLOR'S PORTRAIT. The Gbano''i'io<r of the Exchequer ie gi-, œ.ttÏng3 in London to Mr Laoeiard Huglitij, R.C.A., of Dj'eerih Gar->u!e. for a 'iairge oil-pairs' iag portrait ad taianself. Mr Himglhes has earned a high reputation for hri, r)3.ingi; of several vvoi-known WeSsh pasbl-io men.

-a MR TOMPKINSON'S WILL. The will of the- Right Hjn. Jemc6 TcanpLin- sccb M.P., of WeliLiTtgtcn H.-uIi, Crater, who died on April1 lOtih, as the rertu t caf be.:r.tg tboowii from his horee iin the Pe,r'jis;rnc!nteay Steep-C- abaae, has been proyed at Oiester. The gross value of his estate is s<vx>rn a.t £ 115,156. Tes- tator, having- madb provdiibn for his oiilaeir sons and daraigihiera, devises hds ineal eetate to his son, Charles WiJiiim Tcinpkinson.

— 4D — ■■ LADY MIDLETON'S "AT HOME." Viscount and Viscountess M kB-fen were "at bonjie" a.t 34, Potrt>a«l-pjace, w-hrm nia-ny frionids attended to meet the Colonial eksnentaiy scthool too-ohers now vif-iting London. The Hon. Sibyl and the Hon.. AdEeen Brcd- njck, one in the other in grey, asisbed LoTct and Lady M idi*tcn in looking- after the gmests, and so did the Hen. Moyr-a Dro-dt.aek, in wihite muslin.

THE DUKlFs DAUGHTER CHRISTENED. The Ehike and Duchess of Weofcrans-er giave a iamineon party on ^Mondiiy at Gtrcevencr House nfifeea- the christening of their little dajutgitaier, wthicfii was performed at St. Mswk's, North Arjdi'iej-street) by the of London. The baby 'W'8I, oa'i'ed Mary Constanoe, and bar aran-t, Prinoees Tlets, vversrinig a black hat- voitai a diuess aasd cloak of grey ciiiffom, haawfcd the .infant to the Biiebep. The C,unie,-s of Shaftesbury was the other godraofher, and was ropaxyented by Cc--urrt.o;s Beeaiefoaimp, who wore eaquasite lace on a grey chifTr-n grrwrt end Coi. Lloyd iStood proxy for Lcurd Ai'thaiir Grosvcfnfcxr. Little Lady Ursula Gro-wenor was also present. The Dunbes-, of Weofimnsfcrj wore a long rope- of pearie and a solitarire diamond., with an ecru dnees, and a long d<3k cJoeely powdlarod with stúeJ beads; he- white hat, lined with bSack, had white lanoer plumes. (JoumteB3 Gnosvejjor, in cream mnon and laoe, oaarue with Mir George Wyndham amd their son, and Mrs Ccprowalias West and Mrp Gøor-ge West were alix) prew rrt- Katherine Duobcrs of Westimn- atea- brought Lerly Heen Grosv-enor, in mauve TEMsVn, and Adeiine Duchess of BetMord wore biwek Kaolin ancj velvet. A few otheru present at the coreopmr or the Itmnlaecn wore tOO Do-wag^r Lady Lanime-tm, the Hon. Peroy and Mrs Wyradu;err\ the Hon, Vaotoria Grosvesxar, the Hon. Mrs AJigernon Grosveouor. Lady Beatrice Pote-Caaiew, wiiih Lady Oonstance Butter, offid- Earl Beaucihanip.

PRESENTATION TO SIR PRICHARD-JONES. At a reception and entertainment held at the Trooadero Eestararajwt, London,' Sir John Priefo- and-Jone^ wae presented by the directorate of Messrs Dickina ami Jonea, Limited, of whacii he is a ieading member, with a handBorae silver eadver and a massive ei-Yer t-ca and, ootfee aer- vice, and by the staff of the sacne firm, numly,f- intg ckee upon 400, with a. finely chaoed silver jardiniere, a pair of silver caindeiabra, and an iPhiminafced addreas referring in Hgihly oaJogtstic terms to his long on with the buaness in Regefli-etreet. On behalf of the directorate tihe vnts made by OoJcued Henry F. Diiokins. the chairman of the Board, who paid his oaH'eagtie (,%r J. Priohard-Jones) the ihig-hesfc poosiKe com- pliment as a man not. only of the keenest buaL new capacity, but one posTer-sirtg thoee qualiifiea- ttons of mind aod heart which were neoessairy for bringing together and oonsok-diaifciirig a large Dumber of men and women for the acoomplaab- menit of a great general purpose. On behalf of the ptaff, Mr J. W. Land referred in similar terms to Sir Johai'u relations to the firm's employees. After the presentation Si-r J. Pniohard-Jone« entertained the direotors and staff, mimbering some 500 persons, with a mustoai progranmae, ion which Mi-ti Kaiherrne Jones (Criokhowei^, Mr Ivor Waltei"?> Mr David Brazell, Miss K. Cor- delia. Plhrys (pmiJiion), &rd Mr Charles Pond took part. Misa Llewela Davies (Brooon) was at the pianoforte.

THE BEACH AT COLWYN BAY. Azure see and azure eky BoYJding- into one, Soft minds sigh, as white sails ply, Gltlmmering in the sun. While as wocirig breezes blow. And the yunruys beam, To and fro the row-boats go, Dipping oar-blades pfleawn. Children paddling, bare legged, free, In the giiv'ry waveg; Srkili itn glee, as tenderly Warm the Wue tide laves. Ftfufct' ring flags, in gentle gales, Wave from sandy Ion, Spades and paib, and bijou, saik, Sailing into port. CSiiidren building castles, too, Buiy little heaviel Do-x friends, too, have much to do On the golden sands. Breath of seaweed on the bree-ze, Briny, cr&sr> and sweet, Tiorne on seas to mrbdy Jeas, Whenm- the storm winds beat. Farther; scent of new-mown hay, Twimnwf woodbine, too, Clovers y. on grassy way, Perftwttod breeaej woo. In the bibie-grey dir-taneo—wood, Hoath'ry hills e, Doubt? who could, God ie go-Dd? Nature proves Hi-s lore. FLORENCE TRISTRAM.

MUSICAL NOTES. By Peter Edwards, Mus. Bac. (Pedr Alaw), Rhyl. LLITHFAJEN COMPETITIVE CONCERT. Ilii-a ooilCeri held oin Saturday evening, -was a great success, stingers ooniing fioin IJolgelly, Cajjel (Jur ig, Talysam, and! oiiher places to com- poto for the prizes. Perhajjs the particulars given below will be of interest to Uiex-ompeti- tors. ™ In the open duet competition the following sang No. 1., Soprano and Bass, Piece "Ar La^i Afonydd Babel."—An excellent bass voice, rich, synipaithetk), but words often indistiaact. Soprano not, sucih a good voice, although a pleasant one. The bleruf of voices suffered. A good attempt at expression, but the duet was scarcely up to the standard advisabie for a competition of this kind. No. 2, sang- "Plant y Cedyrn."—Ain excellent com bination 0J tenor a.nd bass. They sang with taste and muoh effect. No. 3, sang-, "Y LJaertfcferoh a'r Bugail." — Here we had a soprano v-oioe of much purity innd artisti-c ability pitted ag-asnat a b%is of great power and richness. At times tlie powerful tones of the ba-ss ciiiziawd those of luei compan- ion, so that the ba^ar-ce giifft-red, somewliat. In some j>a-ri« also the bleexl was not quite satis- factory. They, however, gave a. good rendering of the music. Prize was awarded! to No. 2. For the best resndeaing of any solo from the works of Handel, the following were selected for the stage:— No. 1 sang "WHiy do the Nations."—An excel- lent baritone voice. Words generally dear, but pronunciation not always accurate; nor-was the phrasing- quite correct. Time somewhat un- ataadv. The chief defect, however, was in the "runs," which lacked cieariies and detracted from the fktr'«h of this poirfoijnanee. Nor was tho rendering as effective, as "telling" at the repeat as at first. No- 2, Baes Solo, "lIe la-yeth. the beams."— Very good pfcylo im (ilvj recit., but tliere was a great deal' of tremolo, whichr—especially in the "ruins," later on—blurrc-tl the) effect to some ex- tent. Still more care should be taken of the phrasing. A good Handelian style-—broad, mas- sive. A good reaidiec'jng' on the whole. No. 3, Soprano Sok), "I know that my lie dee.nier liveth." This was a very appropriate re-cideri-ng of this beautiful solo. Indeed it was wdl-n;gn perfect. No 4, Solo, "Ho was despised."—A good contralto voice. Care must be taken that each word is correctly delivered. "With grid" must not- be "With-uih grief;" "Of sorrow" must not bo "Of-uh-sorrow." The 'flouring" although good, miglrt have been stall a little better. A most sympathetic rendering. No. 5, Tenor Solo and Reoit. Eve-,y Valley." An exceijeint voice. The recit. wa^ delivered in good stylc-a thing; amateurs generally fa.i1 to do. Paxm-uneiation not quite- perfeot amd "ruins'" not, clear: this fetter was tGle chief defect in an ct,bf'Q"vi.'<C exoefemfc rer.dterin.g on the whole. No. 6. Tenor Recit. and Solo, "Waft her Angels.'—This, like No. 3, waa a we!nigh perfect performance; but taking into account— as one is bou-rtd to do in a competition of this kind—the difficulties of the piece and the conse- quent greater amouait of work in mastering as well1 as in adequately pmiecvtin^ No. 6 R-r-el t. and Solo, as compared wit;h No. 3 Solo, the foT- mer gained tihe greater number of marks and Wii-a awarded tlhe first prize; No. 3 was a very gcoo second; .run.d1 No. 2 was placed third. No. G proved to be Mr Evan Lewis, of Capel Curig; No 3, Mrs Hrndierson Jones.; No. 2, Mr Hcca- deacon Jones, Talysarn. (To be continued.) < 0 CHILDREN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SOLO. This is the latest craze in music One would expoet tbesn to go through se-v^craJ years' fur- ther training before baing pressed into' tlie pkmship lists; but in the search for novelties certain concert organisers invite people to iislen to the little ones fighting for the coveted title of "champion," It is to be hoped this experi- ment will not be repeated. There is danger in its retarding t'he progrees of the ohildrGn. A #"chamit«ei" child singer would no doubt feel it knew a great deal, therefore would- lose the incentive to m:ch further effort or study. In aJl se-rj()U.Sr.œ¡ tlie' adult cliampionship solo is enough- of a nuisaaice Ore is obliged to listen to all kinds of singers Tendering any solos; tJhey may select, and, where merit is deemed to be equal', to decide tlie e-,act musical value of say two pieces. Probably, however, no two adjudicators could agree. upon such, and yet the tiling* must be done. SWANSEA COMPETITIONS. In corrn-ection with the Oddfell-ows' cen- te-nary celebrations, thoare will be mueical competitions at Swansea on Monday and Tues- day next. Children's choirs are offered prizes of < £ 14; mixed choirs will sing "Oh, Father Whose Almighty Power," for prizes of £ 25; male choirs, will sing "The Destruction of Gaza," priaes .£25 (given by Sir John Llewelyn, Bart.); female and male soloists will each compete for prizes of two guineas. There will also be important brass band com- petitions and other attractions. A SOL-FA PIONEER. I was sorry to read the other day of the death of Mr Joseph Owen, a gentleman who was schoolmaster at the Vale-road British Schools, Rhyl, in the sixties. Many readers will doubtl-eas remember him and his untiring efforts to popularise the Sol-fa system of music. He taught a Largie number of young ,c people how to read tMs notation, and, as an examiner for Mr Cnrwen,gladdened the heairls of many by giving them certificates of various grades. Mr Owen has gone, but the most important worker in the cause of tho Sol-fa in Wales, namely Eleaaer Roberts, still remains. He is over eighty years of age, and resides at Hoylake. He is still activc with the pen, as readers of Welsh magazines know. • • • • A MUSICAL UNION. There is a new combination called "The Home Music Study Union." The members tour for ten days in summer, and during that time they enjoy "bracing air, fine sea, wild coast scenery, musical stimulus." T'his year, starting on September 3rd, they visit the north coast of Ireland, and the musical stimulus win comprise lectures on "Brahms" by Dr. Bairstow; "Voice training" by Rut- land tJo ugh ton; "The need of music," "The law of beauty," "Craftsmanship," ""Music and Worship,' Int..eire-sting Musical Books of the Year," "The Story of English Song," etc. THE NEW R.A.M. The foundation stone of the new building was laid a few days ago by Lord Strathcona. The site is in Marylebone-road, London, near- ly opposite the Church of St. Marylebone. Its frontage is 180 feet. It is to -be completed by June 30th, 1911. • ♦ » A YOUNG SINGER OF PROMISE. There is a young girl of sixteen in Leioester, who is said to possess a voice of singular beauty. WTith training it is asserted she may rise to the heights of a Melba or a Tetraz- zini. Her name is Dorothy Dainty, of poor parents. There is also a young girl in Pwll- heli who is likely to make a name as a ginger. I am told she learns her songs at the piano. She won at the recent Anglesey Eisteddfod, and stood very high at the last National Eis- teddfod. MISS EDITH EVANS. This Welsh vocalist will tour with Mr Beecham's Operatic Company this autumn. 4r « GLOOMY OPERAS. A writer draws attention to the large num- ber of gloomy operas which have been per- formed at Covent Garden this season. Let the reader consider the following list:—"Les Hugenots," "II Trovatore," "La Traviata," "Rigoletto," "Othello," "Lucia di Lammer- moor," "Faust," "Aida," "Lakme," "Borneo and Juliet," "Pagliaeci," "La Boheme," "Madame Butterfly," "La Tosca," "Carmen," "La Habanera!" There are murders or suicides in nearly all of them, and yet they arc popular. The music, of course, largely helps to make them so. If "Faust" or "Cajr- men" were acted as dramas they would pro- bably bo dubbed "blood amd thunder," and would not attract people of fine taste. In "Faust the heroine causes her brother's death; shoe goes mad, murders her child, and dies. Her lover is canned off by the evil one. In "Carmem" the heroine deceives one of her lovers, and is stabbed by him. We do not want to see tjiesep things on the stage, yet in opera, and because of the beautiful, fascinating, music, we wiah to see them over And over again. Such is the all-conquering power of music I

NORTH WALES FREE- MASONS. PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE MEETING. EMERGENCY LODGE TO BE HELD AT LLANDUDNO. The Provincial Grand Lodge of the United Fraternity of Ancient True and Accepted Masons of North Wales was held on Tuesday at Holy- head, the Right Worshipful Brother Colonel Henry Piatt, C.B., Provincial Grand Master, pre- siuing over a large and brilliant assemblage of worshipful brethren. Worshipful Brother C. E. Breese, Provincial Grand Secretary, intimatod his resignation of the post, which he had held for seven years. The Provincial Grand Treasurer, Worshipful Brother Tuxford, was re-elected treasurer for the 16th year in succession. The Grand Msst;>r announced that he had ap- pointed Worshipful Brother C. E. Breoso as Provincial Grand Senior Warden for the year. (applause). The Grand Master spoke in the higji est terms of the work of Worshipful Brother Breese as Provincial Grand Secretary, and it- formed the lodge that Worshipful Brother Hugh Corbott Vincent had consented to fill the post of Provincial Grand Secretary in the future, aDd would t.die office in October. The duties of Grand Secretary would in the meantime be per- formed by Worshipful Brother James Porter (applause). APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The Grand Master then appointed as officers of the Grand Lodge for the ensuing year uue following brathren :-Brother Edward Roberts, M.A., P. Dept. G.S.W. Br. Eng., P.Prov. urand Senior Warden, S:: gentium 606, Bala 1369, Wor- shipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master; Bro- ther Ch ,rk-,3 Edward Breese, Madoc 1509, Wor- shipful Provincial Grand Senior Warden; Bro- ther E. Sydney Taylor, St. Mark's 2423, Wor- shipful Provincial Grand Junior Warden: Bromer the Rev. William David Roberts, Royal Leek 1G49, Worshipful Provincial Grund Chap- lain; Brother James George Tuxford, P. Assist- ant Grrnd Director of Ceremonies, Past Pro- vincial Grand Senior Ward on, St. Trillo 2569, Worshipful Provincial Grand Treasurer; Brother Thomas S. Adams, Sir Watkin 1477, Worstnpiul Provincial Grand Register; Brother Hugh Cor- bett Vincent, Worshipful Provincial Grand Seo- retary; Brother D. Oswald Davies, Mawddach 1988, Worshipful Provincial Grand Senior Deacon; Brother Joseph Wright Bishop, Square and Compisil336, Worshipful Provincial Grand Junior Deacon Provincial Dr. E. Lewys Lloyd, Corbcc 1583, Worshipful Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works; Bro. George William Matthews, Segontitiin, 606, W.Prov. Grand Director of Ceron-oniea; Bro. John Hughes, St. David's 384, W.Prov. Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies; Bro. Thomas Houghton, Candle 1674, W.Prov. Grand S\\ord Bearer Bro. George Henry Learmouth, St. Cybi 597, W.Prov. Grand Standard Bearer Bro. John T. Morgan, Square and Compass 1376, W.Prov. Grand Standard Bearer; Bro. William Price Smith, St. Davids 7JH4, W.Prov. Assistant Grand Secretary; Bros. Horace Hasclden, Caradcc 1674, W.Prov. Grand Organist; Bro. Walter A. Jones, St. Tudno 755, W.Prov. Grand Pursuivant; Bro. William Fa. Davies, St. Mary's 2423, W.Prov. Assistant Grand Pursuivant; Bro. Dr. Robert James Hughes, Roval Denbigh 1143, Prow Grand Steward; Biu. Evan Davies Williams. St. Cybi 597, Provo Grand Steward; Bro. William Archibald Tuxford, St. Trillo 2369, Prov. Grand Steward; Bro. Thomas Garth Jones, Madoo 1509, Prov. Grand Steward; Bro. Hugh Pritchard, Prov. Grand Steward; Bro. John Walter Hughes, St. Cybi 597, Prov. Grand Steward; Bro. Wm. Williams, St. Uybi 597, Prov. Grand Tyler. NEXT YEAR'S MEETING. Tho Grand Master announced that the Provin- cial Grand Lodge next year would be held at Towyn, and that an emergency lodge would held at Llandudno in October next. PRESENTATION OF JEWELS. A handsome jewel was presented to the retir- ing Prov. Grand Secretary, as a testimony of the brethren's appreciation of his services during the past seven years. Jewels were also presented to several other brethren. On the invitation oi the Grand Master, W.Bro. James Porter was saluted in recognition of his elevation to membership of the Grand Lodge of England. The brethren afterwards attended a banquet at the London and North-Western Hotel.

-=! PLAIN TALKS ON TARIFF ltEFORM. TARIFF REFORM AND THE MAJORITY. F-roo Traders- sa.y that Tariff Reform cotukl only benefit the minority. Their argument is that the majority of the potmi-a-tion is made up of people who follow trades in which there are p-ractKxdl.y no irn'oort, together wtith many who enjoy fixed incciues and affinities, and that iit would be impossible for any change in ou-r fisoal system to ben edit these. The. fallacy in this argument consists in re- awr,'llliiT the interest*, of those djiifferem-t (^eci-ion.! of the "community apart from the interest of the community as a whole. But modern sjbdety i" not bullifc that way. We are dependent on one axvotlier like the separate bricks in a building. The. firmer each brick is =et the moire the build- irvcr is fyfcrengthencd aaid the stronger the build- in"- I' as a the more secure becomes eaoh biEek. It is just the same in builbding 'a nation's indu^trie- The carpenter -depends on the build- ing industry, the dock labourer on the slipping trade, the -shopkeejxir upon tine general pros- perity of the country, and so car- When trade aa a. ^viioie in g"O'O'd,. more money vvul-li be in oir- culation, and, consequently, more money will flow into every channel of trader This 13 what the Free Trader forgets. He looks upon the fAumber and the painter and the draper as quote independent of each other, whereas fh- differ- ent vvorliera are rea Iv so many links in an in- dustrial ahain in whaah one imk supports an- other. INDIRECT BENEFITS OF TARIFF REFORM' If a tariff directly affects one partiiwuiar in- dustrv and makes trade bost. it is bound to benefit indirectly a lyumbeir of other trades more or lees de^jerwient, ar.d the benefits wiill guradiuaWy spread over the entrre oernffwunsity. x-iie workers wiM be in recefpt of more regular work antd wages, and we 8;1: krww tihta/t whan moiiey ? plentiful people not only save more but spend more also. They spend more in shopping, in pieaeume, in luxuries they eat and live better. They go to the theatre. iind they take holidays, and they refid more books and new^apctrs. This means more support, not oniy for the shop- keepers, but for actors, authors, joumaldsts, boardingJhcJUEe keepers, hotel propsrietors, and m-anv others who fotJow occupations wtidh can- not be "protected." Thus has been the exper- ience of notions with a tainff. Take* for ex- ample, the United States. The United Staiea haA re-ore tihan doubled1 the salaxies of its school teachers smoe 1870, as the foil-owing figures show:— Number of lotal salaries oaifcary Teachers. Paid. Per head. dob. doLs. 1870 200,515 37,832,566 188.70 1966 466,063 186,483,464 400.10 Do you suppose this wou,'d have been pos- sible unless the nation as a wimple had been pros- percu-i? Free Traders say that in America only aboifrt 5 per cent, of the people benefit ckirootly by too tariff. Perhaps so, but 95 per oerrt. bene- fit indirectly at the- time, and the proof is that practically all the electors vote for the tartfifT THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER. Do not be deluded then by those who, like Mr Chioraa Money, say that Tariff Reform would aff'sct only one-fourth of ooir people. If it benefited one-foarth it wouibd bo bound to benefit the renraimiiTg three-fourths, beoaaifie pro- duction oaiunot improve wirtlhoatt increaixng tihe demand for sorvioe^ and this would mean, not only mere nwil-operatives a.nd! artisans, but it would mean more clerks, typists, shop giris, etc. For does it not follow that as tbo incbui^toul dle- pertmejit of & business extends, the ouuntinl, house department extends also You cam apply this psrinciple all round to aknoet every entea-- priaa under the sun. The main thing to remember is that Tariff Reform wouid increase production. The l- fare of every man, woman and c.h=,rd depends directly or mdSirect'.y upon production; there- fore it is oloaj- that Tariff Reform would benefit the majority.

ANTIQUARIAN NOTES. YSPYITY IF AN. There is no doubt that there was a hoSpj^ belonging to the Knights Hospitallers oi.ijjgi John ot Jerusalem at this place in the m1 ages. Tradition ascribes its establishment 1 jfe I fan Prye, who is also eaid to have endowfuy with the Manor of Tir I/aii, which comprised the townships of Tir Ifan m q^' shire, and Eiu-ua (also called. Tir lian i11 narvoashire). The hospice is said to 0 £ thus established A.D. 1190. in the reig11 Richard I., King of England, and when tbØ Rees ap Griffith was reigning in peace over whole of Wales. It an Prys is also attributed have obtained for the newly-established he«P the privilege of sanctuary, whereby crlniinaiS the precincts of l-he hospke were not liaH-0^ the law of tlie land, but to the rule of hospice. f th« The next step visible in tlie history 01 hospice is thatitn J 225 Llewelyn ap Iorw'°V» "Prineaps de, Abarffrau et Domaius Snaudoiii (The Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowd oo-nforied upon it, under the title of D°'Tl Hospital-is Jeruaalein cle Dolgenwal et- \xaf £ *j) DJO et samcto Jeaiuni ibidem servientes" 1^, Jerusalem hospice of Dolgynwal and ~Z- brothers tthere serving' Gcd and St. John), rectorial Vithes of ELlesicere. l>uring the CP^ cop-ate of Anian II. (1268—1293) a compact- entered into between the Brethren at Yspyu Lian and the Prebendary of Llannefydd for t d. cure of souls and the ministration of Chl1!' offices to -the parishiomers of Llaneiwv dwei^- in Hiraet/nog, in leram for which the Brethr were to receive a third of tlie tithes. This P0^, tion of Llanelwy in Hiraethog was Tir yr Aba or Pentrevoelas. and the> Rector of Yspywi within a hundred years ago, was still receiyj^ this "one-third" ox the tithes of that townsh1?" In 1291 appeaml the Taxa tio of Pope Nich0'3^ and the name of the Church, at Yspytty 's r a. forred to in it thus; "Eoalua de Doligenwal app'ata Ho=pitelarus ot ideo non taxatur" Church of Dolgynwal is appropriated by Hospitallers and so is not taxed). This was inspected and confirmed in 1316 by £à'WIJ.úd II. (See Eyton's Shropslnre, A., p. 247. s. Tlion i as' St. Asa oh, p. 352). HALSTON. rt Early in the 14th century Halston, a place in the County of Salop, about five from Oswestry, in the direction of Ellro became tlie hea<.lquartexs of the Order of Knights. Hospital lei's in North Wales borders, and the I lo-piee at Dolgynwal ^eoalXZ. subject to it. Aavtiquaries have more than coca- expnassed the desire that the old chronicles Hstlston should be well examined- for light tlie h.stoi*y of tho Knights Hospitallers in Ncr Wales, li these words happen to draw the a tention of anyerv who ocu,:d help in tins exaP11! nation he nii-glit fed sure of the gTatitude 0 many besides the present writer, for doing e12j 00 little of the interesting work. The proba-W lity is -that the MSS. are not now at Hals* It would be a very great and important step 10 the work to find out where the MSS. arc. Archdeacon Thomas throws the next of light on the history of Yspytty from a Recor" ng- to Halston. In 1338, among the eS" penses of the Hospitallers in connection W1 Halston are the following items: "For the e!- penses of the Prcceptor visiting Dongenwal iJ:I due course, arte I staying there to overlook the manor, £ 10; for the stipend of a seneschal tllelel jBl; for the stipend of a chapdain there, 6s 8d." MIDDLE AGES. M Thus w-e have tlieiie points and dates in history before tho time of Ilenry VIII. :— 1190.—Establishment of the Hospice. 1225.-Its endowment by Llewelyn. 1280 circa.—Compact about Tir yr A bad. 1291.-Referenoe to it in Taxatio. 1316.-Confirmarion of Llewelyn's grant. 1325 circa.—Annexation of it to Halston. 1 1&>8.—Reference to it in record of expenses Halston.. I11 a future note we shall endeavour to foi»3W tlie history from this to the present day.

CHESHIRE ESTATE SOLD FOR M- 63,000. In the preeenoo of a iwrge gathering of larwt- ov.inor, and agrioultujriistsi at Cheater, cn Satur- day, Messrs Frank Lloyd and Sera, aiK-tioneon*. Wrexham, offered for sale tl^o H-and-ksy Ewio, Cheshdre (the property of Mr S. II. SandbactoM oonsieiirug of four durry farim, fox covers in ttT^ Chest lire Hunt, small hokl-ings, cottageet buiidin-g siters* and contaji,i.-in>g a.litoge.jher &J-lj. acsres. The whole efftrvte Mr LloYd off one lot. Bidding commenced at ±145,000, and inclosed to £ 63.000, at which price Mr Geoi's" Barbour, Bolesworrh Castle, Chesliire, beccm the purchaser. Mr Barbcair is prssident of British Dairy Farmers' Aaocxsiation.

Three cases of diphtheria are reported It the Medical Officer of Buckfastleigh, Dev<w to have been caused by infection cat.