The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

COLWYN BAY HOTEL'S NARROW ESCAPE. DAMAGE BY GAS EXPLOSION. A loud rrport brought to the streets, practi- cally very person living at the Old Colwyn end of C'oiwya Jiay on Monday evening-. It transpired that a gas explosion of unusual occurrence had taken place at the Ship Hotel, one of the prin- cipal licensed houses in the district. That no loss ot life occurred in consequence is regarded locally 11 a.s I ttle sliort of a mq:racle. The explo,l took 1)lace in one of th?3 n the second floor. A 9-inch wall bctwe and e ,I ¡, ,en ttiat rooii. dmmg- • v»oiii filing was blown down as though it were a sheet of p^per, while the ceiling of the coffee-room below was also swept away. Three persons, including the landlady (Mrs Stevenson) and her daughter (Mrs Clegg), who happened to be standing near thp door in the hall downstairs, were hurled with considerable foree some dis- tance Three minutes before the explosion oc- curred, Mrs St-eveoon and Mrs Clegg were in the room where it took place. immediately after the explosion curtains, oto., caught fire in the bedroom and drawing-room, and it was feared that the premises woirid soon be enveloped in fla.mes as the gas was still escap- ing. Happily, however, it was turned off in time, and a small army of villagers were soon busily at work wilL buckets and water, and the fire was extinguished before the arrival of the C'olwyn ,N, iir,? briqiide, wh,.e-li had been sunimoned Ba The damage is estimated at £ 400, and is covered by insurance.

The Commonwealth of Australia has decided not to accept the proposal of the Canadian Government to renew the service of mail stf-a- '?"?rs running between Vancouver and Austrahn, ? r. and calling only at Auckland ana »ycm_ A national scheme has "been started with the object of promoting the training of boys at sea in British ships to become able seamen. The Exchequer returns for the period from April 1st to November 12th show that'the receipts amounted to C116,578,912, an increase of £ 38,221,483 as compared with the corresponding [ period? of the previous year. The expenditure during the same period amounted to £ 98,390,973, an increase of £ 3,632,403.

BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH'S VISITATION. THE EDUCATION PROBLEM. REVIEW OF THE PRESENT POSITION. The Bishop of SK Asaph began his sixth triennial visitation of his diocese on Monday, when he met the clergy of the Archdeaconry of Wrexham at the Parish Church of that town. There was a large attendance of clergy. The Bishop, who is delivering his charge in sections, dealt almost exclusively with the educa- tion problem. Alluding first of all to secondary education in Wales, he said the report of the Welsh Department, of the Board of Education was a document marked by courage and capa- city, and afforded a hopeful omen for the future of Welsh education. It showed that in 1909 there were 13,760 children in the 95 Welsh inter- mediate schools, and that the most apparent weakness of these schools was the poverty of the Engosh which the great majority of the pupils wrote: Lat:n showed rnueh. inequality of attain- ment, while the conception of culture in these schools was unhappily illustrated by the almost total nbscrice of G n "k. The report then directed attention to what was the root of the whole matter. The senior certificate exami- nation o' £ the Central Welsh Board required a earefuljy organised course of instruction extend- ing over u. period of not less than four years, but as the pupiL did not as a rule stay for more than one oi- two years, over-procure was inevit- able. Still more serious was the fact that head- masters regarded the resulis of this examination as the test of the efficiency of their schools, a view which was strongly supported by the re- iterated comment of the Central Welsh Board. To one secondary school the report did not apply. Grove Park School, Wrexham, transferred by its headmaster on conditions he approved, was still under his guidance, and maintained its high re- putation, whch was in no way due to the Cen- tral Welsh Board. The scheme under which that Board worked was passed in 1895. DISAPPOINTING RES LILTS. It w s very disappointing after twenty-one years,, to read (tihe resjuita so_ candjitUy and graphically described in the last report of the Board of Education. It was cilexr that moment had come for a searching investigation into the working cf the secondary educational system. Jl, as the report stated, the nunds of the children seemed to be very mechanical, wag the exp anatden not to bo fotreid in t-ho foot t-hat the system under which tcachcnj and poipiJs worked was mechanical and in<j.a.itx'» for t'vro was neither opportunity nor 3paoe, nor fr{>OlkÆ1 für initiative or iiidop^ndence of action given to the. head teachers. The same mech- amcaJ tendency was evktomccd by ,;¡JiB- wearisome and complicated forms upon the lillimg of Wuxch tJi'3}:ca.d teachers wa-rted imich. vajujabc time. The failure described in the report was not duo to financial cauea*. For irmfcanoe, eehcols like Brecon, Llandovery, and iloweli's S<c.hoc?i, Denbigh—especially Llandovery and Brecon, wc-rk'-r:^ on the sk-nderctst caadowroeojite, had a*'hiev';id durin,? the ia«t twenty years «da- oodjoiusi re-:alts wheh jiacedi them m the very fb3& of the public eohools of England and Wales; a-r.d wh.en they oomjrtned the educational results achieved by a.. it the int.ermoJi.t..e oohoo1, in Wales with t':1C resui'ts achteved by the few sahco'ti tiiat were uaved from the Welih sys- 't-MTi, and the paJtry ee.do,> ineiitft of the lattber wit.ii t;ie enornwus gam of £ 141,OvX) which the iTnerti.cii'ato fichocls took every year from pub- lic founds, the recult of that oompa-ri:on was startling. The Bishop then referred- to the diffi- cult and still pressing problem of elementary education. The compromise of 1370 gave volun- taa-y school public i<xx;gnjtion, while. Ncffioon- formdet children in Church schools were protec- ted by t,he con-science clause, and the Cowper- Tem[i!(> claue exeiuded from raite-aided school ad oateeliK?ms and distinctive formularies.. The Act cf 1902 reduced almost to vanishing point the Ctwrch's sliare in the nia'tagoniccnt of her schools. It exjxeed the woaJcar tciiools to certain extinction under the weight of new and ecrr.sta.nly increasing require- monts, a,nd it left tho Church to work on under a f-y-tern which rerucferedi the extenrion of her eohoo's practically !mpo;s;'ble, and their sorioue dinTrmsitjoni prctaMo and constant. What had. happened cince 1902? Under the prresuire of tire new conditions the. numbers of the volun- tary ficihoolis in every diocese in Erw?l«aji.d! and Wakti were gomg down year by year, and schools were- being clojed cr transferred. Roe' tween 1903 aaid 1909. 1330' vohmtary schools had OO:1 e: or transferred, nd 0.£ (hat number 670 were Church of England schco'e. No dio- ce;e in the Province of Oant-nrburv had made greater sacrifices, or lost. Jess t.ha.n that dioeepe had done flrnee 1902, but even they had- failed to hoid their own. CHRISTIAN TEACHING. It W:1" not easy to sec how the authors of th3 Act of 1902 could with safety repudiate the principle upon \\hich that Act was con- structed, or hazard an outcry, probably more disastrous bccause more substantial, than that tvhieh greeted the passing of tli'3 Act of 1902. Then there are. those who would main- tain that if the State paid for any religious instruction it ought to pay in every case tor religious instruction required by the parents. If they were starting fox the first time an educational system ^u.cli an arrange- ment ini.ght be urged with justice, but the history of the past and the whole tone and context of to-day seemed to demonstrate the impracticability of the suggestion. Finculy, they came to the. advocates of the sacciar system, who might roughly be divided into two One section suppoxtcd the secular solution because they were avowedly secularists; the other section cast their vote for a secular system, not because they were indifTercnt to religious imstmctioai, but bc- cause they repudiated the Id£ of reLig.ii&iLS instruction being any part of the business of the State as a. State. Were they, as English Churchmcai, prepared to maintain that the religious instruction of the children of /the nation was not the busi- of the laity as well as of the clergy, and, theTefo.re, of the State as well as of the Church? If the answer was in the affirma- tive, then they shou.'d not only aoccpt, but' oordiad.ly wtueome, the co-opera,tion of tHe State a-9 far a.s that co-operation couCd givea in this matter. Another consideration dc«cxvcd attention. The Church of England was still the National Church, and, if national, it could not divest itself of the responsibility of safeguarding and promoting to tho utmost of its power the religious instruction, not only of the children definitely within the frontiers of its own c.o.mmu:n,i()n, but of the children Off the whole iiatioii. If that view of the duties; and responsibilities of a national Church was correct, then he held that no greater reproach would attach to a nationa.l Church than that it dlOUM promote the secularisation of the Stabs by acquiescing in the secularisation of the school aaid the teacher. Even if they were to aeieept tho view that they were only responsible in this matter for the religious instruction of the childreai of their own com- munion, that responsibility must extend to those children, whether btitig educated in Council or voluntary schools. He believed the majority of thoir teachers valued most highly t.he privilege and opjxxrtunitv of giving the religious instruction to their children. A secular s^^tem would harshly deprive them of this privilege, and such deprivation would grievously weaken the Christian forces of this country. Churchmen had made enormous sacrifices 111 the past in the cause cf rol'gious education, and it was not in accord- ance with th.e character of the people of this country to tuni a. wholly deaf ear to the just claim which such saeriiiocft constituted. On the othpftr hand, an obstinate-and irrecon- cilable determination to press those claims to a point which would hinder, if not im- ]>e.ril, the establishment of a national aaid efficient elementary education, could only cause ii-remediate damege toO the cause of re- ligious instruction. They had to look at this question not only as Churchmen, but as Cliir;s-tians, and not only as denomination- alists, but as citizens. -4

THE QUESTION. THE DUTY OF CHURCHMEN. The Bishop of St. continued his visi- tation on Tuesday, when he received the clergy of tho Montgomeryshire and Shropshire portions of his diocese m Oswestry Parish Church. The Bishop said there were two 'facts in rela- tion to thoir work which he wanted to lay before them. The nunibcr confirmed from 1880" to 1889 was 19,813; from 1890 to 1359 it, was 21,317, and from 1900 to 1909 it was 22,.438. The total num- ber confirmed in the diocese, therefore, from 1889 to 1910" inclusive was 49,028. Turning to the record )f communicants, the number present on Easter Sunday in 1890 was 14,534; the number last Easter was 28,498; while the total number of communicants on the most carefully compiled lists sent up to the Royal Commission was 38,712. It would suffice for him to record his opinion that tho progress made during recent years had been groat and solid. The question of Disestablishment and Disen- dowment weuld, he believed, soon be upon them and it would be the duty then of every Church- man, whether clergy or hiymon, to take his share in the work of defence. They must see to it that this question was not decided until English Churchmen throughout the length and breadth of land had had an opportunity of knowing l. # t! d accurately what the work of the Cnurch in Wales was, and of realising in detail the stupendous blow which Disestablishment and Disondowmcnt would mean to that Church, and of accurately appreciating the far-reaching consequence to England, as well as to Wales, which would be involved in such a measure. Thev must not close their eyes to the supreme gravity of the present crisis. The danger lay in the confusion of the issues submitted to the electorate. The Constitutional question would seem to be of sufficient magnitude to overshadow all other considerations, and to demand for the time the postponement of other measures until this sup- reme question had been decided and clearly de- fined, but as matters stood to-day a decision on the Constitutional question might involve with- out -further reference to the electorate of ques- tions hardly less momentous than the Constitu- tional question itself; for example, in one con- tingency the Disestablishment and Disondow- ment of the Church in Wales would follow, not as the result of a straightforward decision of the people on the matter, but as a consequence, un- premeditated and perhaps undesired by many of those who had voted simply on the Constitutional question. It was not for him to express any opi- nion there upon the main Constitutional question, but it was his plain duty to point out to Church- men the danger that, amid the complexity and confusion of the issues placed before them, they might not fully realise that the welfare of the Church would be involved in their decision. Wales was, after all, not large enough to command the keen attention of the whole electorate, and wise men had repeatedly warned them that owing to this üomparativc inslgnificancc a mca61ue for the Disestablishing and Disendowing of the Church in Wales might be rushed or smuggled througJl Parliament without a just realisation of ita true character and importance.

THE IDEA OF THE CHftESTiASM CHURCH. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK. WORKINGMEN AND THE TAXATION OF FOOD. Yesterday the Bishop of St. Asaph concluded his visitation at the Cathedral, St. Asaph, when there was a record attendance. The Bishop said they were there as members and ministers 01[ the Church of Christ. An answer to the question of what they meant by the Chureh must be sought at the fountain head. His lordship then proceeded to trace the idea of the Church as set 10rtl1 m the New Testament. The language of the New Testament clearly proved that our Lord intended that His Church should be visibly and externally one body. When the New Testament speaks of the churches as well as the Church it is evident that these were assemblies of believers in different places, and there is no evidence of more churches than one in a particular City or of rival churches in any one place. The conception of the Church which we derive from the New Testament is that of a visible society of baptised and believing men built upon i-hc foundations If the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the head corner-stone. This is not the spectacle presented by Christendom to-day, which varies widely from what we conclude to be the ideal set before us by our Lord. Some, perhaps much of this variation had its root in two distinct conceptions of Christianity which it may be said rc- presents two distinct types of mind. The true relation between the idea! and the actual, the invisible and the visible Church, could only be maintained by that sound and well-balanced faith which was the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But tins balance on the one hand was disturbed by those who, while truly insisting that the unity of the Church of Christ was in its source and essence a spiritual unity, yet were so insistent upon this side of the truth that they forgot or ignored the essential importance of the Vjsa>le and organised Church in the building up of the body of Christ till we all attain unto the unity of the faith. The other tendency laid emphasis on tho outward and visible form. The Church must be a tangible in- stitution with its historic succession; it must have a supreme head, a voice whoso utterance all accept and obey, and the first duty of the Christian was obedience to this voice and dis- obedience his greatest sin. The practical outcome cf this view of the Church might be seen to-day in countries where there was not only separation, but a complete divorce and bitter antagonism between the Church and the State. These were extreme in- stances, but the same tendency was at work in our midst. Insistence upon the corporate life of the Church came with a demand for a readjust- ment of the relations of Church and State. The Church is no longer to be the spiritual aspect of the State, and Church and State arc now seen to represent not one unity in different aspects, but two societies each with its own origins, sanc- tions, and ideals. "A NEW DEPARTURE." This tendency to emphasjsc the corporate life of the Church, to concentrate thought upon ques- tions of self-government, order, and discipline, to intensify the fooling of distinctiveness and de- ti nit-ene s, to deepen and widen the gul'f between the civil and the religious life of the community, to press for a scientific frontier between the spheres of Church and State, to meet, the inter- position of the State for example in the religious education of the children of the nation or in any of the affairs of the Church with the cry of "hands"'—such tendency, be it right or wrong, was a wholly new departure, and eventually forfeit, the Church its title of national. The inevitable result, if not the conscious goal of such a tendency was the secularisation of the State. But were 0 they prepared tamely to acquiesce in a view which thua rigidly shuts out. the State from partnership and interest, in the highest and most sacred concern of human life—a view which seems to imply that religion was not the business of the State as well as of the Church? Bishop Cotton, of Calcutta, in a passage in one of his sermons, said that endeavours to degrade and de- moralise national life were at once overthrown by the simple words: "The powers that be are or- dained of God, he is the minister God to thee for good; he beareth not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, a revenger to exe- cute wrath upon every soul that doeth evil"; thcy are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." If earthly authorities are Cod's ministers, to Ged they are responsible, and must exercise this ministry according to His will. Analyse the same tendency in its relation to our Nonconformist brethren. True, their separation was a grievous evil which brought with it the weakness of divided forces, and the waste of forces unnecessarily multiplied, but did tho blame for that separation lie wholly on one side, or was the re-union which they prayed for likely to be promoted by narrowing the frontier and making more rigid the terms of admission into corporate union? Are we in our efforts to in- tensify the eOTporate life to exchange the spacious freedom of the Church of England as we have known her for the stifling narrowness of a sect? The Bishop of Durham in his impressions of the great Missionary Co-iference at Edinburgh, records one reflection forced upon him. "It was that at- present certainly the most formid- able obstacle to large- and wholesome move- ments of co-opeTatnon and ultimate union is a theory of episcopal succession a.rd ministra- tions which put .it, in the very front rank of the Christian verities instead of setting it in a. .groat, a, sacred but secondary place." CLERGY ENTERTAINED. CRITICAL POLNT IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. After the visitation, his Lordship enter- tained the clergy to luncheon in the Church House, and after the loyal toasts had been disposed of Archdeacon Lloyd proposed the health of tiie Bishop, and thanked his lordship for the very able charge he had that morning d-e- livered. They also wished to congratulate the Bishop on his having completed 21 years of his episcopate. Those 21 years had"been eventful years in the history of the Welsh Church. Many of them remembered the time-when his lordship was appointed; they were times of discomfort and almost persecu- tion. 'J hey all knew how his lordship had grappkd with the matter, and finally put an end to the tithe war. Then there followed the great battle of Church Defence, and they were thankful to the Bishop for what he had done on that.occasion. They were oil pleased to see lus lordship looking so well and so strong. One did not hesitate to »ay that there was a serious c-rdsis in front of the Church to-day, and they looked forward to the bishop's strong lead when the time came (applause). He was sure that they would do their level best to meet the task imposed upon them (hear, hear). The Rev. D. Jones (Goisedd) supported the Archd-oaeon's sentiments. The Bishop, tin responding to the toast, said that it was true that the 21 years had been eventful in the Church. There was now a marked ehan.oia to the tim.e when he first oarn.3 to the diocese. During the first years, as they knew, he went through the diocese a groat deal, and he could say that many places he was met with unpleasant looks and hostile countenances, the attitude being not only unkindly but sometimes dis- courteous. But to-day it was different. Now lie was met with smiling faces and words of welcome everywhere from Churchmen and Nonconformist*. Ho attributed that to the fact tlwt the people realised that the Church was a power for good and a great power in the land (applause). The visitation that day was the largest on record, and Mr C-kjaver had told Km that there was scarcely an absentee (applause). That was substantial evidence of the unity of purpose which ran through their work in that diocese (applause). Of course they all realised that they were at a critical point in the history of the Church. He had always felt that it was best to speak plainly, and he thought tJ13.t +''l1C had now C01!l(>. J n tho(' p.1.st few days "t.a. h' 1-- ::J. he hoo ,:(n very !}u.sy, uut lW .h.a-a toù,11u tllUii; to read a letter from a. prominent member of the Government. It seemed to him that when the Prime Minister, so to speak, was taking- his afternoon nap, Mr W inst-on Churehil1-(laughter)-promptly stepped to the fronta.11d as eommander-in-eh ief gave the battle cry for the Liberal Army (laughter). If he (hts lordship) able to tell his hearers (which he was not) what were the commeaite made by the Prime Minister when he awoke from his slumbers he thought they would be very interesting, and perhaps they would be less interesting than the comments made by the rest of Mr Winston Churchill's colleagues (laughter). But thAt was in pass- ing. A GRAVE OUTLOOK. He did not think that any redlectivc person could take a survey of tiie situation with- out feeling that so far as the Church was concerned it was a grave outlook. It was not a grave outlook because the merits and demerits of the Church were to be weighed separately or independently, but because they were to bo mixed up wt.1 h a number of other tilings (applause). One cou!d not help look- ing at tine great question from a political point of view, bfcau.se disestablishment and disendowinent had become part of the pro- gramme of a political party, and they could not therefore touch upon lit without trespass- ing on political area. Now the great party which had been associated with the defence of the Church in the past had a very severe struggle before them. They were asking the country for its support on more than" one issue. He wouJd like if the Unionist Party would make ifce.f specifically dear on one jxhnt. Asf.ujrung diia* lie were a woi%iin» man earn- ing £ 1 per week—and those who wished to know what that meant should try and live on h whatever the was he as a father and husband should know, and was rightly anxious to know, that the bread that supported his children was net going to be dearer for them in future (a-pp.a°u3e). lie wished tuou; point made pcriectiy ciear, and he did not desire to criti- cise tbat fiscal changes, and' lie diid' not say that Mr Balfour cou.d not make it perfectly clear that there wad not the slightest danger ;n the pro>j>asai3 to increase the cost of ithe food of i ho jK-cyie. But there was this: there was amongst the working CUUSSO3 a very natural anxiety inu dixj'uie.iade on that point, a-nd they would like to be assured. They would like to have the assurance from tho-,x> who were kadimg a groat party aprjxvuse). He had hie own views on jic point, and he did not doubt but that Mr Bal- t-cur wa; quite competent and able to give tmit aajarance, and he ielt certain (thlat, that assur- ance elhould bo given. The working men of th 13 country, anxious as they were for: he Church and for tho deieriee of this Empire, cou-d not lock around their bumble abode "id not Tiehiy endowed hcxmee. withooi anxiety for the future. Those men were asking, a.nd rig in- ly asking, for an assurance of that kind (a,p- piau-c). Indeed if that assurance was rot f-orthccming he thoug-httho outlook was very doubtful. As to the question of disendowm-ent and mtabi:1'.i1hme]1Jt., it was. aknort impossible to touch upon it without being thought egotrisfeicoJ. He had go-no about the country a great deed, and not very long ago a person, told him that he not thrnik j'1I would bo ipesf: £ >!e to arovf } 0011- thusiasm again for the defence of the Church as was aroused in 1003-1904. lie did not at the time say anyilhiiog, as matter's were stagna.-H politically. He was not then able to arnTwcT the question, but to-day he did not hesitate to aniTwcT it. It was his profound conviction that if there was one cry in England which would to-day stir the working man to the depth, it was the defence of the Church (applause). But as he had said before the working man nnusfc be a-fiured that the party who were to de fend the Church were not going to increase the cont of the struggle for the neeesfcaries of life (applause). He hoijed that they would forgive him for sneaking thus clearly, and he did not know whether the supreme moment for action had' come or net. They would knew perila.ps in a. few clays, but he was su.re that when the time for action did come they would all do their level beet (hT, hear). He had been re- minded that day that he was not growing younger, but he aesured them that he was atill young enough to go out a-nd fight the battle for the Chmrch (loud aipplause).

RHUDDLAN LIGHTING QUESTION. A NEW SYSTEM MOOTED. A parish meeting was held in the Rhuddlan boys' schoolroom on Friday to discuss the que,> tion of lighting the village. Mr Wm. Morris, J.P., pointed out that although he was chairman of the Parish Council, the parish meeting must appoint its own chairman Mr W. C. Bell p.'J^sed, and Mr Ed Jonei seconded, that Mr \Vri1. Morris take the chair The motion was carried II niluirnollsly, and M r Morris at once proceeded to business. He said the Parish Council as a body had nothing to 1) with the; lighting of the village, but as ratepayers and in the interests of the parishioners they ha i formed themselves into a Lighting Committee There were 292 houses in the village, and if the Lighting Act was adopted, and a rate levied it would be 2d in the or in the event of their going in for new lamp" and some 17 more lamp posts the rate would be 2d. The area whic-t benefitted most by the Light wete the smallest contributors under the present voluntary system all the larger amounts being collected outside th y area. The Lighting Committee had been unab!c to meet last winter's expenses; consequently this year's committee had to clear off a debt of over £ 2 before they could start lighting, and aftn g, ing into the matter very fully they decided to hold a parish meeting, and it was for that meet- ing to decide whether they would adopt the Light- ing Act or what course should be taken. Among tho other parish councillors present were Messrs John Blinston, W. C. Bell, R C Enyon, John Edwards, H. Barnett, and Robert Evans. Mr W. C. Bell asked the Clerk whether it wa., a fact that out elÍ the sum of £9 which he had collected for lighting purposes he had received S7 from outsiders. The Clerk admitted that that was so. Mr J. O. Hughes said that when lie was waited upon by Mr Robert Evans he had willingly con- tributed towards the lighting, but he was not aware that his contribution was to be used to wipe off last year's debts. He had given towards this year's lighting. The Chairman on being asked who would define the area replied, "the Local Government Board.' Mr H. I! irnett, who is strongly opposed m the voluntary system, was called upon to defend himself in the action he had taken in the matter. Mr Burnett maintained that the voluntary sys- tem had proved a failure and that the lighting was always unsatisfactory. Mr Robert Evans said that when he undertook the ch:t:e.<; of canedor hc had felt 1](' must col- lect for the past as well as the present. They could not incur further expense until they ha 1 paid their debts. This they had now done, he hoped soon to be in a position to have the village lighted as usual. Mr J. T. I/cwis Jones advocated a J rate over the whole parish, which he thought would allow for more lamp-posts and better lighting. Mr H. Williams strongly objected to pay last year's arrears Mr Conwy Belli said lie saw several parish coun- cillors present, and ho felt it was the duLy of every one of them to support Mr Robert Evans in his effort to save the rates. If every house- holder in the 292 houses would only subscribe I. per annum they would have £14 12s, which would be ample for the lighting of the village. Where,is if they went in for a rate there would be CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION from the railway company and others who were already heavily rated, and they would find a difficulty in obtaining the necessary two-thirds of a majority in a parish meeting. It would therefore be far better for them to unite amicably together and give as liberally as they could. Mr H. Williams said he supported Mr Lewis Jones in advocating a d rate over the whole parish. Mr Barnett said the money collected for light- ing purposes had been subscribed under a mis- taken impression, and this had seriously mitigated against the collections in reAe.nt years. Mr Thompson moved "That this meeting pledges itself not to proceed further with the adoption of the Lighting Act." Mr Wm. Morris said the Vicar was in favour of an entertainment or concert being given j., heEp the funds. Mr R. C. Enyon proposed "That this meeting pledges itself to carry on the lighting on the o111111a ry systen1." Mr W. C. nd! said a gentleman who had. under- taken the lighting of a village by electricity was prepared to undertake the lighting of Rhuddlan in the same way. He proposed that a small com- mittee be formed to go into the question of intr > ducing a new light at a small cost- Mr H. Williams proposed, ai d Mr W. C. Bell seconded, that the Lighting Commit loo be com- posed of parishioners and not parish councillors. This was agreed to, the committee to meet < in the early part of next autumn. In the meantime the present Lighting Committee will see to the lights for the present season. The following gentlemen were elected on the new committee:—Messrs Henry Williams, W. t; Bell, H. Barnett, Robert Evans, W. Morris, W Morgan R. C. Thompson, R. C. Enyon, Walter SaiclnvoH. J. O. Hughes, and Samuel Owen, Mr James Kilner, the clerk, to convene the first meet- ing.

SUDDEN DEATH AT BLAENAU FESTINIOG. The death took place yesterday (Wednesday) morning of Mr John Hughes, headmaster of the Tanygrisiau Council School, at the age of 46 years. The deceased visited Rhiw on Tuesday evening, and. at about ten o'clock that night he was found by Mr Nation master, in Gianypwll-road in a state ot oolin-pno. Mr Thomas carried him to his house and summoned Dr. Williams, who when he arrived found thai, I Mr Hughes suffered from a paralytic seizure. Dr. Jones was also called in, but, despite this, Mr Hughes passed quietly away a.bout 5 a.m. fester- day.

RHYL URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. STRONG OPPOSITION TO SUNDAY STREET-SWEEPING. EXCELLENT PROGRESS IN THE ELECTRIC LIGHT WORKS. PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED ON TOWN AFFAIRS. The monthly meeting of the Rhyl Co tin oil was held on Monday evening. Councillor A. Rhydwen Jones, J.P., presided, and Council- lor .L.iew. B. Evans occupied the vice-chair. There were also present: Councillors J. H. Ellis, G. Â. Tavcrner, S. Perks, Edmund Hughes, E. Hughes Jones, E. D. Evans, E. George. Evans, Fred Phillips, A. L. Clews, I. Batho, and J. Frimston, A. D. Hill, A. Cheetharn, E. B. Jones, and T. D. Jones, with Mr A. Rowlands (clerk), Dr. A. Eyton Lloyd (noicdicaQ officer of health), Mr L. G. Hall (gas and water engineer), Mr A. A. Good all (sur- veyor), Mr E. H. Wright (electrical engin- «*\r), a'lid Mr Robert Lowe (sanitary inspec- tor). An unusually Large number of general public also attended. SWEEPING THE STREETS ON SUNDAY. Mr T. D. Jones proposed tha.t in future no t money be voted by the CounedJ for the sweep- ing of the town streets on Sunday mornings daring the winter. His reason for making the proposition was that there were very few streets at present to deal with, and there was really no necessity that the work be done iu the winter, as there was very little dirt about and no fallen leaves. Mr Batho seconded. Mr E. G. Evans suggested that sufficient staff should be put on to do the work on Saturday evenings. Mr J. H. Ellis replied that the staff now engaged wa.s normal. While lie agreed w.th Mr T. D. Jones on many things, he could lot agree with this proposal, as he felt that the residents were as much entitled to clean streets on Sundays during the winter as were visitors during the summer. They wanted to keep Rliyl up to its present excellent stan- dard of cleanliness, but if this proposal were carried he was afraid there would be- com- plaints. He believed that at present it cost a.bout 10s each Sunday to do the work, and for the eake of eo small a- sum they should not allow the work to go undone. He did 'tot think there was any unnecessary Sunday labour. Mr Taverner sa.id if tliey decided not to sweep the streets on Sundays, why did they wash their faces that day? might just as well go unwashed as to neglect to sweep the streets. Mr A. D. Hill considered it was far more necessary to sweep the streets for Smiddys than on any other day, as residents as well as visitors walked about on Sundays, and it would give a bad impression were the streets allowed to be dirty. Mir Phillips said, lie thought that the real objection was to Sunday labour, and not to the cost. He did not like Sunday labour, nd suggested that the Road Committee should try to arrange that a staff turn out late on Saturday night to do the work. Mr T. D. Joius replied that he would sup- port that suggestion. He had proposed same thing in the Road Committee, but be- cause he brought it forward he was not lis- tened to. Ho was out-voted. He was sorry to hear Councillor Taverner make the remark he did about, going unwashed on Sundays, as it was costing a «l,ur on Sunday, and they should 'be moce serious about that day. He wanted them to have no Sunday labour if th.?y could avoid it. Mr Ellis said he respected the Sabbath, hut they also wanted efficiency. He thought there was an objection to calling out a. anlm- ber of men between 11 and 12, on Saturday night, when they should be at h{):1lI with their families. If they did not sweep their streets on Su'ndays, why did they have men working at the gas and electric light works? If Mr Jones was consistent why did he rot have his Sunday dinner cooked on Saturday instead of keeping maids at work basting the Sunday jo.int? Mr Perks agreed with Mr Ellis. Mr Frimston was opposed to Mr Jones, as there were many shopkeepers who swept out rubbish into the streets after their shops closed on Saturday. Mi T. D. Jones: You can remedy that. Mr E. D. Evans pointed out that if they did the work on Saturday night, they would have to hcep gas and electric light going, as tiie men could not work in darkness. Replying to questions, the Surveyor said he pub pn nuc» according to the state of the weather, but they always finished by 8.30. Mr Hill considered it unreasonable to ask men to work until midnight on Saturday. Th.3 Vice-Chairman suggested that the mat- ter should be aefemd back to the Road Com- mittee, but on a division Mr T. D. Jones' motion was defeated by 12 votes to 5. Mr Phillips then moved that the work be don-c 01J Saturday night, after 10 o'clock. Dr. Hughes Jones seconded, and said he did so as he wanted clean streets on Sundays in winter as well as in the summer. Mr E. D. Evans and Mr T. D. Jones sup- ported this, but Mr Ilill said the work would still go on until the Sunday, as the men could not complete it by midnight. Dr. Hughes Jones suggested that there should be a night shift, but Mr HiJl argued that it would cause incon- venience to the men. Mji- Clirtefcfoam- supported doing the work on Saturday night, and said he was sure the men would prefer that to being called out on SUll- days. Mr Taverner: And they will lie in bed in- stead of going to a. place of worship. Mr Ch'-elham They will not go to a. place of worship after sweeping the .streets. The Surveyor, in reply to questions, aid he had never trkid doing the work 011 Satur- day nights. He paid each man Is 9d for Sun- day morning labour. Mr Phillips' amendment was then carried, and a disehssion followed as to sufficient men being employed to finish the work by mid- night. Against this, there was urged the extra. cost, Mr Ilill saying the electric light would have to be paid for, but Dr. Hughes Jones and Mr E. B. Jones argued that it was belter to spend a little more on light than to defeat the proposal. Mr T. I). Jones said he would guarantee that if the work was done after 10 p.m., the men would be in bed or somewhere else by 12 o'clock (laughter). Mr Edmund Hughes a.t this stage asked whether they really meant to talk until mid- night on this subject-? (laughter). They had already heard twenty speeches (laughter). A vote was taken, when it was decided that- the Rood Committee should experiment with aoing the work on Saturday nights, employ- ing enough men to complete.it by midnight. Some of the members during the division con- fessed that they did not know what they were voting on. Both Mr Perks and Mr Taverner voted for and against the amendment, and eventually told the Town Herk to record their votes which way he thought best. V ALË-ROAD REPAIRS. Mr Batho enquired if th.e Yale-road repairs were completed, a-nd on 'being told by the Sur- veyor that lie had already used 10 tons more etc-ne than tiie County Council! allowed, Mr Batho said he was not satisfied with what done. A LONG DISCUSSION ON A SMALL MATTER. Mr E. D. Evans said he noticed that lite Load Commat Lee h ad decided not to allow an advertisement on a .small sign proposed to be piio up by a chemist. He complained that tbo. was a. tendency on the part of members toO stifle enterprise. The chemist had paid for the sign, and it would involve using elec- tric current, yet the committee objected to a- certain food being advertised on" the sio-n. He saw no consistency in their action, as The kign was 8-ft. G-m. high, and ot an ornamen- tal character. H<c, saw around that table a f'eAv men who had not vet made their "pile and he appealed to them to give a tradesman a chance of making a little beyond what was -k° Vay T>en^ rates. He moved that the sign be allowed. Mr E. B. Jofl'ss seconded, and asked whet a sign was good for if it was not to advertise something ? C-ierk explained that vie committee ob- jected to the sign because it advertised a food vrjiieh was not made in Rhyl (laughter). Alter a protracted diiwussioai '.he°Council by a ia.rjroi majority decided to allow the sign. Aiyi&uer di*u.ision took place upon aft im- proved system of lavatories, and the repent was ever*.unby referred to the. Council in ocuiunit-tec. HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE. Mr Elba said he hoped) that the Sanitary Committee would look into their expenditure, thev had spent £ 491 out of £ 496 provided in he estimates for the isolation hospital, while they had yc-f five mcnth8 .:0 run. Dr. Hughes Jones said they were not able to foresee exceptional calls on them. Mr lilies: It shows bad estimating. Dr. Hughed Jotiem; No" A.. shows we have not the power of pwohesv (laughter). ELECTRIC LiGHT PROGRESS. Mr S. Perks referred to the recent inspection of ih* works connected with (he e-lectrio light undertaking-, and cemgrafoliated the chairman of the committee on rhu progress "dhe "works were making, and on the Way he had recently enter- Utlned the membens. Ho hosed that when the i-nfcpoc&oni of \heigasworlU took place mem- bers turn in equally large immbors. He moved a vote of tha-oks to Mr Frimston for his hoeipiiUUity. Mr T. D. Jones seconded, and said they Beamed to have turned) the corner, and th. works were now paying better (.hear, hear). The Vice'-U'hairma.n also supported. Mr Hili said that month after month the ElecC.no Lagging Committee had been "slated, and it was refreshing to hear a word said en their favour. No one knew liow hard Mi Frunaton had worked, audi to-day the works' c.); 1¡,'l.J. be,'n ruc.-xl at the ra.te of £3') to: £40 per j;!{Jllh (;¡pt.Jla'l¡I3R). nc t;-HGtC'd t.hat 3,ù L' 'd J 1.: r¡l:8t()n WOUi ()JJ live to con,Î,W¡ t.,¡.ü 0.Cet.r.o« hgr;nng wUl'k2. ;¡¡,Q that lie would 11yO 10 !;iC: it L paying concern. "lhe joca of Uiankj having been carried. Mr Fninii'.on acknowledged, and said he be- lieved had now turned tho corner, and had boon able to get the works in o proper or- der aftor an up-iiul fight against badiy-.iaid nioiauj and resistance Loxej. which were p;acc<i in a wrong ivodtion. So wore the works- doing wntii thecr new Deissel engine thai. on& of tho trade papers recently headed an arfcx\« on the undertaking, "Weli dcr.o, Rhyl" (ap- pia.uie!. T11 at showed that they were on ,h« right, track, and what was more, he was pleased' to say that they were able to run their smajj 3 cam set on refuse alone. Not a pound of fuel had been^ used for it. Last mcixii they had reduced the works' ocet by £ 37, as compared with the corresponding iriomth last j'oar. and w.b3ln the machinery was running in i. s normal condition and they had some experience believed they would do hCUN. Despite ti » fact, that the new metadic lamps were re- ducing .he comeumption new consumers were> coming i'», ami the output was increasing. He "ia." pleased to say that the railway company had that, day placed orders for current to use- with their new iif's, and he hoped the day was. not far distant when they wou.d be able to ar- range with the cu.mpa.ny to light tho sta. ion by means of eiectricitv (hear, hear). SAVING At THE GASWORKS. In deeding with the report of the Gas Com- n1 ee, in which it was reported that the- Council had decided to purchase coal waggons- out-rigitt, Mr E. B. Jones asked what was saving on the hire-purchase terms. The Cierk said it was about £216. Mr E. G. Evans said he knew tiiai it w Mr K B. Jorio.i who had first mooted t. question of purchasing the waggons, but c.ieimed1 the credit of "blocking" that member's proposal for hire-purchase, and so saved the £216 (hear, hear, and laughter). Mr Ilill said he noticed that the Council ex-ending the gas lighting, and he hoped that, where it could be done that the Eleetrk Light Coirn.miitteo would be given a chance ot piloting in alterna e estimates with gas (heats- hear). TOWN PLANNING. When it was reported that the surveyor had attended the Town Planning Exhibition, on tha moiion of Dr. Hughes Jones thrut official was- arsiked to. prepare a. detailed report for th-el- (Jouneil. SUNSHINE. The amount of bright sunshine registered wan reported to be 99 hours 25 minutes—a daily was reported :0 boe. 991w un 25 minutes—a daily average cf 3 hours 33 minutes. PUBLIC MEETINGS WANTED. The Chairman iXl-id be had been asked by many ratef>ayers to give them an opportunity of discussing in public mettiing various matters- with the members of the Council. Is Waft suggested that public meetings should be held for the purpose of giving members and others the opportunity of putt ing before the pubHo. various schemes. He asked the direction of tho Council as to whether he should call such a. meeting. ] le could aJso say Hhat on more than one occasion he had received pH ittions. from ratepayers which he had not considered wise, to bring before the Council. The Vice-Chairman asked if tho Chairman suggested tha.t anything could be discussed ati. such a'meeting. The Cnai.rman said that was &0. At present there seemed to he no definite policy before the Council. Ij&t them give the ratepayers t. ehr.T.ee of expressing an opinion. Mr C lews: To discuss everythin.g in general, and nothing in particular? The Chairman If you He added li uiiged by ratepayers tlujt. when schemes, were brought out they were generally cut and dried before they went before the public, and oertajn sections mad0 up their minds :0 carry echerces. They did not realise that the rate- payers had opinions as to wha.t was requiroo.. and if they heid public meeitings people could. give voice to wha' thev coaidercd was re- quired to advance Rhyl. Mr Frimston asked if the chairman had any schemes. The Chairman: Yes, several; but you will not listen to me (laughter). Mr EIEs: We have the lavatory scheme- now. Mr Hill: Wid you be bound by the meeting? Tho Chairman: Not necessarily so.. Mr E. B. Jones thought that the scheme* should to firet laid before the Council. Mr Cheetham: I think you should call a. meeting to deal with the question of acfertising. That is t.he most vital question for Rhyl to-day. Mr Ellis: If you call an advertising meeting you will get no one there. Mr Clews moved that the matter be left to the discretion of t'he Chairman. If he thought, well to call a. meeting he- should be able to do so. Mr Ellis aecondedi, and it was carried. Mr Ilill warned tho Chairman that if he called: a meeting without a, definite purpose there would be nothing done. PRESENTATION TO FIREMEN. The following mem bers of the Fire Brigade then filed into the Council Chamber accompanied by Ex-Capt.' Parry:—Cant. Proflit, Lieut. Hughes, Sorgt. Jones, Engineers LJew- W i¡ liams and T. Jones, Firemen JIlO. Jones, W. 11. be-rt.% T. Ryles, and T. Roberts. Mr Clews, as chairman of the Water Commit- tee, said he had been asked by the chairman of the Council to present two long service medals. He had great pleasure in complying with thao request. It was the rule of tho National lire Brigades Union that when firemen had served st number of years they were awarded medals. Ex-Oa,pfc. Parry had been connected with tho- Rhyl Fire Brigade for many years, and as cap- tain he had miooeeded their old friend Capt. Vaughan. In recognition of his 20 years' ser- vice as captain, Ex-Capt. Parry received the- silver medal of the Union (applause). On be-half of the Council he wished to thank Ex-Capt. Parry for the valuable services he had rendered- the town, and hoped he would be spared for many years to contemplate that token of efri.cent services which he had so faithfully unselfishly rendered. The other medal was for Lieut. 1 lughes, who had served in the Rhyl Brigade for upwards of ten years, and now re- ceived; the bronze medal. Ex Capt. Parry acknowledged the receipt of the medal, and said he wished to thank the Clerk for the help he had given the brigade as. secretary, Mr Hall, for his assistance 011 every occasion when appliances were wanted, and also the officers and members of the brigade for their cooperation. He wished the brigade success in the future. Lieut. Hughes also acknowledged tho remarks- of Mr Clews. THE CENSUS The Clerk said he had received a. letter ask- ing for tho co-operation of his stall' in taking the census. The work could be done in the eve- nings with the exception of one day. Mr Phillips moved that permission be granted if the work could be without affecting the- routine ù ut,Î(,s. Dr. Hughes Jones seconded. Mr Frimston thought the Council were rather- hurried in arriving at a. decsioii. Surely there were capable men out of employment who cou Id do tho work, and the clerks in the office would b3 the first to say "Give someone else a chance." Mr Phillips said he thought the services of the clerks were asked for. It that was not the case he w.thdrew, and supported Mr Frimston. The Clerk explained that the Government offi- cials wanted tiie1 work done well, and they su'g- gested that public service officials should fe- uded .for that purpose. Each applicant would have to apply to the Registrar of Births and. Deaths to be appointed, and he wanted autho- rity to allow his clerks to do the work if they were appointed. Dr. (lughes Jones and Mr E. B. Jones sug- gested that the Clerk should allow his staff to- do the work failing the securing of outside com- petent persons. Mr Hill: Is it not neoaesaFy that the pcrS{J!1S apjxiinted should know Welsh ? The Cierk: 1 think so. It was then decided that the Clerk should be allowed to use his discretion in the matter, bear- ing in minf the views of the members that un- employed men should be engaged if they applied and were conmetent. MINIATURE RIFLE RANGE WANTED. An application was made for a site for a. m:ni,ature rifle range on the shore, but it was. urged that all the sites had been allotted. Mr ILJl hoped that miniature rifle ranges would bo encouraged. A Voice: Put t-iiem in front of the nigger stand. Another Member: What! Shoot the niggers? Never (laughter). The matter was referred to a committee. TIIE PAVILION PROGRAMME WANTED. A letter was read from Messrs Baring Bros. in reply to tho Council's request for next year's programme, in which the firm stater] that Mr E. Baring had the matter in hand, and as soon .1)3. lin relumed to England he would deal with the* matter. Mr T. D. Jones urged that they should press. for an immediate reply to their letter, as the season was advancing-, and they wished to have matters settled. This; WPS carried. The Council were then proceeding to discuss the question of getting counsel's opinion on the agreement, with Messrs Baring Bros., when the matter was suddenly cut short by a motion to go into committee, and this was carried.

The London correspondent of the "Yorkshire Post" is told by those immediately interested that the report of the W eI>h Church Commission will be out next week. It is now before the King

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