Cheshire Observer

you SHOULD HAVE THE BEST. THE BEST BUTTER IS MAYPOLE DAIRY BUTTER, ONLY 1/2 PER LB. THE BEST TEA IS "MAYPOLE" TEA, A Is. 6D. A LB. NO HIGHER PRICE. WHY PAY MORE? NOTE THE ADDRESS- MAYPOLE DAIRY CO., LIMITED, 8, WATERGATE STREET, CHESTER. BRANCHES EVERYWHERE. GALVANISED CORRUGATED IRON J> OOFING. 1,000 TONS ALWAYS IN STOCK. 6 Feet long x 2 Feet wide = 7 Sheets per Cwt. ii x »> »» = 6 o 8 » II x •! II 5 12/- PER CWT. NETT ON RAILS. BURNELL & CO., LTD., IRONWORKS, ELLESMERE PORT, CHESHIRE. CHRISTMAS SEASON. GEORGE DAY & (JO., CIGAR AND CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS, EASTGATE-STREET, CHESTER, Are Shewing a fine Display of HIGH-CLASS PRESENTATION GOODS, SUITABLE FOR SMOKERS. SPECIAL —GEORGE DAY & COMPANY, being manufacturers, are in a position to supply Parcels of CIGARS at the Lowest Prices, ready packed for delivery to all parts of the World. Christmas Season.  o? ||| SUN k3 tj  L  ????' INSURANCE OFFICE. Oro ,\1 Sum insured in 1899 exceecledYA35,000,000 For all particulars apply to the following Agents:- CHESTER MESSRS. CHEERS & HOPLEY, 6, Northgate-street. „ MESSRS. W. DENSON & SON, Northgate. MAL PAS MR. THOMAS MULLOCK, Cud- dington Heath.

"J' TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements intended to appear in the CHESHIRE OBSERVER must reach the OBSERVER Office, not later than 12 o'clock- (noon) each Friday. Under no circumstances whatever can we insert in the First Edition Advertisements received after that hour.

PURE BEER. Mr. Henry Chaplin has taken the lead in the Pure Beer movement, which is now assuming practical shape by the formation of an associa- tion with that object in view. The new society proposed to ask the Government to receive a deputation on the subject prior to the meeting of Parliament. That request will, however, we take it, be now unnecessary, inasmuch as it was officially announced yesterday (Friday) morn- ing that the Government had appointed a Royal Commission to conduct an investigation into the beer-poisoning epidemic. Every possible guarantee for the thoroughness of the inquiry is afforded by the composition of the Commission, which embraces several eminent scientists and men of wide experience, namely, Lord Kelvin, Sir W. Hart Dyke, Sir W. S. Church (President of the Royal College of Physicians), Professor T. F. Thorpe (Govern- ment Analyst), Mr. H. Cosmo Bonsor, and Dr. B. A. Whitelegge (her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories). The instructions upon which the Commission will proceed, are to ascertain, with respect to England and Wales, the amount of recent exceptional sickness and deaths attributable to poisoning by arsenic, and whether these have been due to arsenic in beer or in other articles of food and drink- Tae Commission is further. charged to enquire by what ingredients or in what manner the arsenic was conveyed, and in what way the ingredients became arsenicated. In the event of the trouble being traced to arsenic, the Com- mission is invited to suggest the introduction as safeguards for the future. The prompt action of the Government, taken a day after the announcement of Mr. Chaplin's scheme, will go far towards allaying thepublic anxiety. Mean- time the "Pure Beer" Association will start a campaign forthwith, and will, by the circula- tion of literature and the organisation of public meetings throughout the country, endeavour to stimulate interest in and educate public opinion upon this important matter. It is hoped that the success of the Pure Beer" crusade will effect a twofold purpose; that it will not only safeguard the interests of the consuming public, but that it will increase the growth of barley in this country, and thus help to arrest the depopulation of the rural areas. While Mr. Chaplin is throwing himself with enthusiasm into the task, he does not forget to give due credit where credit is patently due to the untiring efforts of Sir Cuthbert Quilter in the same field for many years past; indeed, it is scarcely possible to speak or think of pure beer without coupling it with the name of the indefatigable member for Sudbury. It is instructive to recall the result of the latest agitation of Sir Cuthbert, when, in 1896, he was granted an inquiry by a committee of experts into the necessity for legislation to prevent the use of deleterious substances in the manufac- ture of beer. The Beer Materials Committee did not report until January, 1899. Five of the six members of the Committee issued a majority report, declaring their belief that no materials used in the manufacture of beer are deleterious, at all events in the quantities in which they are actually employed," and that "the exceptions to this rule are so infrequent and unimportant that legislation is not required to deal with them." The other member of the Com- mittee, Mr. Clare Sewell Read, although he stood alone, did not hesitate to issue a minority report, and to-day he reaps the reward of his courageous independence. In that report he pointed out that the evidence given before the Committee disclosed the fact that in the past certain ingredients, such as cocculus in- dicus, quillaia bark, grains of paradise, capsi- cum, tobacco, copperas, and other poisonous matter had been used in the manufacture of beer, and there is strong ground for stating that at the present moment materials which are possibly of an injurious nature are still employed." He then proceeded to cite the danger arising from the employment of sul- phuric acid for invert sugar, and to state that hardly any of the glucoses used were pure, par. ticularly those made from potatoes, which were imported from Germany for brewing purposes. Although he admitted that a glass or a bottle of beer might contain but a small quantity of an injurious substance, it these small quantities were taken constantly, harmful results were likely to follow. In summing up his conclu- sions, he stated in his report that at the present the public have no adequate protection against the use of deleterious substances in the manufacture of beer; that it would be neither difficult nor vexatious to enforce such legisla- tion as would ensure to the purchaser his right when he asks for beer-the national beverage- to obtain a beer brewed entirely from malt and hops." The revelations of the past few weeks, and more particularly of the last day or two, amply bear out Mr. Read in the stand he made on behalf of pure beer, for it is stated that the death-roll from arsenical beer already exceeds 100, while in the past it is impossible, of course, to know how much mortality attributed to other causes was in reality due to the same poison. The citizens of Chester will shortly have an opportunity of receiving further enlightenment on this subject at a public meeting recently announced. Two points of prime importance yet remain unsolved. If beer is to be legally defined as the product of barley, malt, hops, water, and yeast," will the beverage be such as commends itself to the modern taste? Again, in the light of recent experiments, what guarantee have the public that, even with all the proposed restrictions in full operation, there will not still be a grave risk of arsenical poison- ing from the malt alone ? Chemists have discovered, as our readers will remember, that arsenic has been tound quite lately on malt dried according to the old custom by allowing the fumes of a soke fire to find their way to the malt spread upon a perforated ceiling above. Against this statement it will naturally be contended that malt has been pre- pared in the kiln in this fashion from time immemorial, and that no ill effects have been apparent, while the mischief has been traceable largely and directly to the use of glucose. With regard to the suggested limitation of brewers to malt and hops solely, there seems to be a very general consensus of opinion among experts of the Trade" that the present-day public taste would not tolerate the resultant beer, and that a certain proportion of malt substitutes is absolutely necessary. If that be so, the remedy equally lies with Parliament to introduce a fixed minimum percentage of malt substitutes, and to see that the regulation I is rigorously enforced. LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES. The Mayor has convened a meeting of the citizens to be held in the Town Hall on Monday to consider what shall be done to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of the Duke of West- minster and Miss Cornwallis-West. The Eaton tenantry are also taking action in the matter. As we had all along anticipated, the poll on the Tramways question has resulted in a large majority in favour of the Corporation's scheme, but at the same time the fact that 2,627 votes were recorded against the proposal, to a certain extent, justifies the action of Mr. Storr and his friends in demanding a poll. Looking at the matter from one point of view, no one can regret that the poll has been taken. Whether we are to have electric trams, 'buses, motor cars, or what, the question is one of serious interest to the citizens, and while we have every confidence in the judgment of the Town Council, it can do the members of that body no harm to know that they are being very critically watched by a considerable portion of the rate- payers. Judging from the number of votes that were recorded, the question of the future of the trams has not exercised the minds of the citizens to the extraordinary extent that was imagined. The total number of votes recorded was 7,171, but 60 of these were rejected, owing in some cases to the fact that the voters had gone to the unnecessary trouble of giving their reasons for saying "aye" or "no "to the pro- posal. We find that there are 10,000 assess- ments in Chester, but the actual number of occupying ratepayers is 8,525. The number of owners is 2,000, but of these only 500 thought it worth while to claim their votes. Over 1,600 papers were returned blank. One man who took his paper not filled in to the Town Hall explained that he was under the impression that if he did not return it he would be liable to a penalty of C20 If the Corporation decide upon electric tram- ways, and are as successful relatively with the undertaking as the Sunderland Corporation have been, the citizens will have no reason to grumble. In Sunderland one section of the municipal overhead electric tramways has been running since August and another since the end of November. The receipts, which were estimated at lOd. a mile, have been lB. 6d., and there was a nett profit of E3,000. The Corporation have decided to spend X27,000 in extensions, making the total invested X250,000, which is expected to produce E10,000 a year. He who preaches temperance should practise it. Mr. Tennyson Smith, who is vigorously prosecuting a temperance crusade at Saltney, is that paradox an "extreme" temperance man. His modus operandi will not commend itself to the unbiassed mind, for it is evident that, in his attempt to conduct his campaign on unique lines, he will not hesitate to stir up ill-feeling by prying into private affairs. He has declared his intention of visiting some of the Chester breweries, inspecting the share lists, and read- ing from a public platform the names of any public men he finds in those lists. as if, forsooth, any public man should not invest his money in a brewery if he wished! Surely there never was a greater piece of inquisitorial impertinence. In Mr. Duncan Graham a high-minded Christian gentleman has passed away. A man of conspicuous ability, Mr. Graham ungrudg- ingly gave his valuable services to the public welfare, and the county of Chester owes him a deep debt of gratitude. He excelled as chair- man of the County Council, conducting the proceedings of that body in a manner that gained him the praise of everyone. Mr. Graham was a sound practical Churchman, and his opinion carried much weight. He fully recognised the importance of giving the clergy in populous districts more than a bare living wage, and contributed an interesting letter on the subject to the last Diocesan Conference. Ellesmere Port is not exactly an ideal spot to reside in if a speaker at a Ratepayers' Association meeting is to be believed. According to him plans have been passed for houses in the Port without sewers or even a j road for the tenants to get to their homes." And, he added, in wet weather residents of Ellesmere Port might be seen wading ankle deep in mud right up to their front doors, and the strangest thing about it was that nobody seemed to care if they walked up to their necks in mud!" If this state of things is general in Ellesmere Port it is no wonder that the move- ment in favour of the substitution of an Urban District Council for a Parish Council is being so largely taken up. The opponents of the scheme claim that a District Council will be an expensive luxury, but financial considerations pale into insignificance when compared with questions of health. In recent years many reforms have been instituted, having for their object the destruc- tion of the evil known as the Workhouse taint, but we believe no scheme was ever more likely to attain that object than that which has just been inaugurated by the Chester Board of Guar- dians, and which assuredly has the best wishes of all interested in the administration of the Poor Law, or familiar in any way with the conditions of Workhouse life. We refer to the Children's Homes in connection with which there Ii was a stone-laying ceremony on Thursday. Our readers are doubtless aware that such homes are I now advocated by the Local Government Board, but it should be mentioned that the idea of making this provision was mooted on the Chester Board many years ago, and they would have been erected and in use by now had not the Board experienced delay, owing to those difficulties which ever hamper a public body that seeks to strike out an original line. The Local Government Board may not actually opposed the Chester Guardians' scheme, but they certainly did not at first afford the facili- ties which the venture deserved. The homes are four in number, and, with the exception of the headquarters block, which will occupy a site on the Wrexham-road, will be situated in villages within easy reach of the city. To these' institutions children will be drafted from the workhouse. They will attend village schools, play with village children, and generally their lot in life will be brightened. Amid such improved surroundings it will be easier to train them to be good and useful citizens, and when they leave their cottage home it will be to play their part unsullied by the contaminating workhouse influences which past experience has taught us to believe has handicapped many so severely in the battle of life that they have eventually been driven to again seek shelter in the only place they were ever able to call their home. If the Chester Guardians succeed in their attempt to remove this stigma they will have accomplished a work which will command the praise of every section of the community and earn the gratitude of those for whose benefit their parental fore- thought is being exercised.

I TRAMWAYS POLL. f BIG MAJORITY FOR THE SCHEME. The polling papers which had been dis- tributed among the ratepayers of the city regarding the Corporation's scheme for the municipalisation and development of the Chester Tramways were collected on Monday, but those who had not filled in their papers were allowed grace till noon on Tuesday, up to which time the papers were received at the Town Hall. The history of the scheme dates back to March 1899, but long before then the citizens gave expression to their dissatisfaction with the present inefficient service. So general did this dissatisfaction become that the Corpora- tion, after having fully discussed and carefully considered the matter, felt it incumbent upon them, when the opportunity arose, to make a practical move. laey opened negotiations with the Tramways Company which culminated in their acquiring the undertaking. Having done this wicn, wd believe, the entire approval of the citizens at laige, it was necessary to obtain powers by Act of Parliament to work aud, it coueiuerea advisable, to develop the system. It was a legal requirement tnat a meeting of owners and ratepayers should be called tor the purpose of sanctioning the Bill I! which had been drafted. This was done, and for the first time the voice of opposition was beard. There was only a meagre attendance, and to the general surprise, and notwithstand- ing that the resolution was carried, Mr. F. Storr, ef The Groves, demanded a poll. i'ne counting of the votes was expeditiously carried out at the Town Hall, on Tuesday by the Town Clerk and staff, and the result was declared by the Mayor soon after eight o'clock as follows:- For the Scheme 4,484 Against the Scheme 2,627 Majority for 1,857 mi « me actual number of voters was:—For the scheme, 3,499; against, 1,939; majority for 1,560. The number of papers not counted, being neither filled up nor signed, was 1,626, representing 1,723 votes. Sixty votes were rejected on account of improper filling up of the papers. Thirty-three ot these votes were given against the scheme, and 27 for it. THE GAS COMPANY AND THE TRAMS. I O TO THE EDITOR. I bir,-Will you please insert in your next I issue a copy of my chairman's letter addressed I to the Hon. Cecil T. Parker, in response to his letter inserted in your last Saturday night's paper ? Copy letter enclosed herewith.—1 am, yours faithfully, JAMES PYE, Secretary. The Chester United Gas Co., I 9th January, 1901. 1 [copy.] The Chester United Gas Company, January 9th, 1901. Sir,—I am at a loss to understand why in writing about the promotion of the Corpora- tion Tramways Bill you should endeavour to throw a stone at the Gas Company, especially as an irresponsible and irrational judgment without adequate knowledge is scarcely the qu ilitication for one who professes to advise the citizens of Chester. The directors of the Chester Gas Company, a company who are large ratepayers and promoters of an industry which is closely connected with the prosperity of the city, unanimously gave the votes of the company in support of the Corporation Bill, and they have never opposed any scheme for the benefit of the town, though it may have affected more or less seriously the interests of the company. I send a copy of this letter to the Cheshire Observer," in which your letter appeared.—I am, sir, yours faithfully, JOHN GAMON, Chairman of the Chester United Gas Company. The Hon. C. T. Parker. We have also received the following copy of a letter from the Hon. Cecil T. Parker to Mr. John Gamon, for publication :— Eaton Estate Office, Eccleston, Chester, 10th January, 1901. Sir,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your courteous communication of the 9th. No doubt the public will be glad to hear that neither your company nor those holding shares in it have voted against the Corporation Bill. As yeu are sending your letter to the Observer you will, doubtless, send this, my reply.—Yours faithfully, (Signed) CECIL T. PARKER. Jno. Gamon, Esq. HOOLE AND THE TRAMS. TO THE EDITOR. oir,—The Hoole Urban District Council appear to have returned to their old method of throwing stones where they know it is impossible to re- taliate. I therefore ask you to allow me space to deal with the utterances at their meeting on Mon- day last. In the first place I must inform the clerk that I gather my information from the urban district of Hoole, where he only enters about once a month, and receives high fees for so doing. It is to be hoped in future he will be wise and accept the hint of Mr. Davies. I would also remind him the ratepayers of Hoole have elected: twelve councillors to conduct the business of the district. So far as the tramways are concerned, the prin- cipal objection raised in the city was that of j bringing the trams to Hoole. However, the Bill is approved, and it seems almost incredible to think of any sane person interested in Hoole attempting to put a thorn in its path. I have not the slightest doubt that if the Council will be so blind to the future interests of the district as to oppose a scheme the ratepayers have for years been longing for, the electors will immediately rise in a body. I again repeat the principal an- tagonists to the amalgamation scheme are the officials. If this was not the case, why was the surveyor instructed to go from door to door with a petition impressing the minds of the ratepayers with a false statement that if they did not sign it their rates would be increased? Was not this officialism? The facts were as stated by the present Mayor of Chester, that the average rates during the preceding five years were in Hoole 4s. lid. and a fraction, and in Chester 4s. 4 2-5d. of a penny. That was to say, Chester owners on the average paid 7d. in the pound less than Hoole, and occupiers lid. less. Mr. Nightingale accuses me of being once "dead against" joining Chester. This is another of the abominably false statements so often made in the Council Chamber. Any ratepayer interested in the district is aware I have always held if any sensible man would sit down and ponder the ques- tion for half an hour, free from pessimism or prejudice, he would rise in favour of seeking equitable terms from Chester. Mr. Nightingale's statement appears to be an attempt to inform the ratepayers of Hoole that because they have been blindfold so they must remain. I have more confi- dence in the good sense and wisdom of the rate- payers of Hoole than to believe any such state- ment. As Mr. Nightingale is so strong against joining Chester, let us consider the only two reasons this gentleman was able to give in evidence at the time of the inquiry. 1. "He was told the rates of Hoole would be increased." 2. "He was told the City Council would do away with the Ermine Cattle Mart." In reply to the former Mr. Nightingale was asked if he was responsible for the false statement circulated in Hoole con- cerning the rates; and to the latter that the City Council liad never considered the matter. Mr. Nightingale also informs us the whole of the members of the Urban Council, with one ex- ception, were against the Amalgamation Scheme. He failed to say that a particular member was elected last April at the head of the poll, and that four of the other members have never been before the ratepayers. The chairman thinks I go beyond the limit of my powers to state at a public meet- ing what I believe to be the opinion of the majority of the ratepayers of Hoole. If Dr. Butt is worthy of the position he was so eager to obtain and now holds, as chairman, and has any argument against the Amalgamation Scheme worth the slightest consideration, let him first explain to us why the clerk is so eager to keep the district from Chester, that pays him about JB8 for every meeting he attends, and allows him to charge solicitors' scale rates for nearly all the business he executes on our behalf. Again, we have about 500 children in Hoole more than we have school accommodation for. If we are to keep from Chester, and be honourable, what are we to do with these chil- dren? If Dr. Butt, Mr. Nightingale, or any other member of the Council will be good enough to answer these questions through your correspon- dence columns, I will be delighted to give them a few more. It will also be the means of giving the ratepayers of Hoole an opportunity to know both sides of the question, and to judge for themselves. So far as the park question is concerned, I hope to have the pleasure later on of dealing with the senseless restrictive covenants so often and un- fairly mentioned. However, the ratepayers have demanded a public park, and in case the clerk fails to agree with Messrs. Bater and Williamson it is the Council's duty to look for land elsewhere at once. Otherwise the district will soon owe the clerk the nice little sum of L100 for legal ex- penses. This means another extra Id. rate in a small district like Hoole, and nothing to see for it.—Yours, &c., H. CROWDER. Mona Lodge, Hoole, 9th Jan., 1901. P.S.—Since writing the above I learn there is some misunderstanding concerning the rates of my house, as mentioned at the Boughton meeting. It must be understood the house in question is in Newton, not Hoole, and is assessed at JB59 10s. I also referred to last year's rates. Ratepayers in the know are aware there will be a great increase in Newton rates for the present year-In fact there will be little difference between Newton and Chester. The increase is to cover legal expenses. This onl confirms what I have always held, that neIther Hoole nor Newton can keep their rates ?belo-w ?th hose of the city if they are to attempt the 1 I shghtest necessary improvement.

I CHILDREN'S HOMES FOR I CHESTER. INTERESTING POOR-LAW FYPPPTAIPVT REMOVING THE \V(YRK"Ur»T7STi< TUVT Thursday witnessed the inauguration at Chester of an important scheme of poor-law reform, which is destined to rid our pauper children of the stigma which ever attaches to those who have been brought up amid the injurious influences of the workhouse. The Chester Board of Guardians has for many years past been ahead of the Local Government Board in almost every branch of workhouse reform. The idea of providing outside cottage homes for the children connected with the Workhouse was first mooted on the Chester Board, we believe, some ten years ago. When the attempt was made to carry out the scheme the Local Government Board, who have now adopted the idea, did not afford those facilities which the venture deserved, and delay was the result. The London authority is, however, now thoroughly alive to the advantages of such an ar- rangement, and it would not be surprising if they issued an order in the near future calling upon all boards of guardians to make similar pro- visions. Be that as it may, the Chester scheme is being pushed forward rapidly, it being with good reason believed to be a step in the right direction. The experiment will be watched with great interest by poor-law authorities throughout the country, for although children's homes may already exist in a few unions, those in course of erection in the Chester district will, it is believed, be the only isolated homes in existence. Alto- gether there will be four homes, and they will cost about £ 6,000. The headquarters block, from which the other homes, when erected, will draw their supplies, will be under the charge of a superin- ten dent, while the others will be managed by matrons or "mothers." The former occupies a site which was acquired from the late Duke of Westminster on the Wrexham-road, Chester. It will accommodate about ten boys and ten girls, superintendent and his wife, etc. There will be a common dining-room, kitchens, out-buildings, bathrooms, lavatories, etc. The elevations will be carried out in terra-cotta work, and will be of a simple but useful character. The other homes will occupy sites at Dodleston (purchased from the late Duke), Saughall and Upton. The foundation-stone of the headquarters block was laid by the venerable chairman of the Board (Mr. J. Pover) on Thursday, in the presence of a large assembly of guardians and others interested in the movement. The ceremony was fixed for twelve o'clock, when a silver trowel was presented to the chairman on behalf of the architects (Messrs. T. M. Lockwood and öons), together with a specially made mason's mallet with silver in- scription plate, on behalf of Messrs. McLennan Bros., builders for all the homes except that at Dodleston, which is being erected by Mr. Peter Edwards. The stone bears the following inscrip- tion:—Children's Homes, 1900. Foundation-stone laid January 10th, 1901, by Joseph Pover, Esq., J.P." Amongr those present were the Lord Bishop of Chester, the Rev. Canon Lynch, Mr. J. Pover (chairman of the Board of Guardians), Mr. T. Knowles (vice-chairman), the Revs. F. Edwards, E. C. Lowndes and W. Jones, Messrs. W. Vernon (chairman of the Visiting Committee), J. Gooddie Holmes, Roger Jackson, S. Wedgwood, T. Hart Davies, A. W. Jones. M. Kennedy, W. Mills, S. Coppack, A. Smith, E. T. Hallmark, T. Nixon, J. A. Kendrick, J. Dean and A. W. Butt, Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. B. Adams, (city Guardians), Messrs. W. J. Lee, T. Payne, E. Carter, J. Warburton, J. Dutton, W. A. Forster, S. J. R. Dickson, J. H. Dickson, J. Minshull, Rowe Morris, J. Pickering, T. L. Okell, R. Rowe Morris, NN-illiams'T. Butler, J. T. Ball, E. Hartshorn, T. Williams, T. Butler, J. T. Ball, E. Cookson, C. Maddock, J. Ball, J. Taylor, E. Dean, M. Gibbons, S. Crawford and W. Williams (county Guardians), the Rev. F. Anderson (chaplain), Mr. W. Turnock (clerk), Dr. Archer (medical officer), R. C. Turner (master), C. J. Owen (surveyor), H. Harrop and H. Anderson (relieving officers), P. H. Lockwood (architect), McLellan (builder), &c. Mr. T. Knowles (chairman of the Children's I Homes Committee), said they were met there that day for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the central block of the Children's Homes. The object of the guardians in pro- viding those homes was pretty generally under- stood. They desired to remove the boys and girls from the Workhouse and its surroundings and place them in cottage homes in villages within easy reach of the city, under the charge of foster parents; to allow them to attend village schools, play with village children, attend churches, chapels and Sunday schools along with village children, and give them a part in life they could not have under the present circum- tances. They trusted that when the children had finished their education and were discharged from the homes they would start life under very different and, they hoped, improved circum- stances. He now called upon their venerable and esteemed chairman to lay the foundation stone. (Applause.) The Chairman having declared the stone well and truly laid, and expressed the hope that the homes would answer the purpose for which they were intended, the Bishop pronounced the Benediction. I THE LUNCHEON. The company then adjourned to the Town Hall, where they were entertained at a complimentary luncheon by Mr. Pover, the gentlemen already mentioned being joined by the High Sheriff (Mr. B. C. Roberts) and the Mayor (Alderman H. T. Brown). After the toast of The Queen and the Rest of the Royal Family from the Chair, the High Sheriff submitted The Bishop and Clergy and Ministers of all Denominations." He expressed the pleasure it afforded him to do so. The clergy and ministers were well represented at the banquet, and he was glad to say regular in their attendance at the meetings of the Guardians. He was glad to be able to say from his own know- ledge that the clergy and ministers had always been foremost in doing their best to further the business of the Board. (Applause.) The Bishop, in responding, said he was par- ticularly glad to hear what the High Sheriff had said about the regular and valuable work done by the clergy and ministers in connection with the Workhouse. He could speak quite inde- pendently in the matter, because he could claim no connection with this work for himself, as he was not in the habit of attending their meetings, even irregularly. (Laughter.) It was a field of work wherein they were well employed, and it was a comforting thing to hear a great repre- sentative of the laity putting his seal upon the assistance rendered by the clergy and ministers of all denominations in that important field of opportunities and responsibilities. He had probably said before what he believed was a most important fact and truth, and that was that people were too apt to think that the important thing in life was to get laws passed, whereas he ventured to say an even more important thing was to carry out those laws by a wise, intelligent, persevering and open-minded application. That applied of course to our poor-law. They might see here and there some point which could be improved, but the more important thing was to make the best of the law as it existed. He believed there was a mind abroad, equally among the clergy and laity, leading them to see what was best to be done with their existing buildings and appliances. He thanked the chairman and those associated with him for the hospitality shewn to the clergy and ministers that day. The work they were engaged in that day was an instance of how to make the most intelligent use of the opportunities which were already within their reach. He could not conceive anything nearer to the heart and understanding of every Christian, and certainly to the ministers of all denominatiofls, than the watchful and wise care and provision for those young citizens who were placed in a peculiarly difficult position in early life-provision in order that. tiiey might have every advantage given them for growing up to be good and useful citizens and good and sincere Christians by being put in the best places they possibly could be for their development both for this world and the world to come. That was common ground between all denominations, and they could rely upon the ministers and clergy doing sympathetically and perseveringly all that lay in their power to strengthen the hands of the authorities at every point. (Applause.) Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes proposed "The Right Worshipful the Mayor," and said that Aiderman Brown was well known to them all and appre- ciated. He was an exceptional Mayor—(hear, hear) —both in ability and zeal, and they trusted that he would long continue to OCCUDV that offiop. as did Mayors of Chester some six or seven centuries ago, when they occupied the position for as many as ten or twelve years successively. (Ap- plause.) The Mayor, whose health had been cordially toasted, expressed the pleasure it afforded him to place the Council Chamber at their service for the banquet. Mr. Pover was at the head of a very important public institution, and he (the Mayor) was at the head of another. He had always held that public institutions such as the Board of Guardians and the municipal authority should always shew the utmost sympathy the one with the other-(hear, hear)— because they were both engaged in very important public works, and those works would be far better carried on if thev were in sympathy with each other. He was therefore very glad that they had been good enough to use the Council Chamber on that oc- casion. He took the opportunity of congratulating the Board upon the work which they had in- augurated that day. Many years ago he (the Mayor) was elected a guardian on their Board, and for many years also he was an ex-officio member. During his active connection with the Board he took an interest in its affairs. There was one subject which pained him very much, and that was that children who had been brought up in the Union afterwards, unfortu- nately, had the stamp of the workhouse upon them, and that that mark was hardly ever erased in after life. The work they had inaugurated that day would largely contribute to the removal of that defect in the administration of the poor- law in that Union. For upwards of 20 years he had been intimately associated with an industrial school which was entirely supported by voluntary contributions and educational grants from the Government. He could not see why a school of that kind should differ in any way from schools under the management of the Board of Guardians. His experience of the industrial school was that not only did no sort of stigma I attach to the boys who had been educated there. but that in after life it was their great pride to speak of themselves and hear themselves spoken  He hoped that the scheme which hey had inaugurated that day w<,mdp,od?..?.?S ''??"? an enormous bodiy of usefu] momk of r Tlety would be the result of a general adoption of scheme throughout tha e gene^f^fc^ ^unt^aT a°n t* mense mass of useful cItIzens there would be for the country to fall back upon m time of ??e?? He sincerely trusted that every su?ss wo,!hi attend their effort and the effort that ^as beW made throughout the country to educate the children in such a way as would further their interests in after life. (Applause.) The Rev. E. C. • Lowndes proposed The Hio-h Sheriff" in felicitous terms, and spoke of the characteristic energy and zeal with which he carried out everything he undertook of a public SthJ Board of Guardians had rejoicS to hear that one of their own body had been appointed High Sheriff of the couiity-(applause) -and he was sure the High Sheriff counted it not the least of the honours which had been thrust upon him in recent years that he was him- self elected a member of the Board of Guardians. They would all be glad to see him re-elected on the Board i- n March, when his duties as High Sheriff would terminate. (Applause.) Wu Sheriff thanked them for the manner in which they had received the toast, and assured them that he would always be glad ? assS in any movement for the good of the community in the city or county. He took the opportunity of congratulating the Bishop upon his scheme which, he understood from the papers, was about to be floated. He had the greatest possible pleasure in wishing his lordship s scheme every success, and he was sure from what he had seen in a critical article that it must succeed. They all hoped that it might. (Applause.) Mr. W. J. Lee proposed tne health of "The Chairman," a toast which was received with the utmost enthusiasm and musical honours. He referred in eulogistic terms to the life-long public services of Mr. Pover as a guaraian. and to the good work which he did while resident at Elton. His loss was very much felt in that parish, where they were sorry to lose him, but he (the speaker) was glad to find that he was carry- ing on good work at Hoole, where he had made so many friends. Mr. Pover was an honourable iunglisnman whose only object in life was to assist those who were not able to help themselves. He had set a worthy example of good work, and it was a matter of pleasure to all of them that he had laid the foundation stone of the new Children's Homes, which were the outcome of a worthy and noble scheme. He hoped he might have good health and be spared long enough to see many of the inmates of those homes become honourable citizens. (Applause.) The Chairman, who was cordially received, thanked them for the kind manner in which they had received the toast. He mentioned that he had been a guardian for something like 40 years. First of all, before the Chester Board existed, they used to meet at Great Boughton, and after- wards in a room in Lower Bridge-street, and the Workhouse at that time was situated near to the Gasworks, somewhere near the Roodee. After that they went to the new house, and he had been chairman of the Board for about 16 or 17 years. (Hear, hear.) He had always been elected with- out opposition. Sometime he might have been thought to be a little harsh on the poor. but he assured them it was not with the deserving poor. It was very pleasing to him to have his invitation so heartily responded to, and he wished all the best of health and happiness. (Loud applause.) Mr. J. Minshull proposed "The Vice- Chairman," and praised him for his persistent and thoughtful work. No one had given more of his leisure time, thought and energy than Mr. Knowles--(applause)-who had been actively en- gaged in the preliminary work in connection with the Children's Homes. Mr. Knowles, in responding, said the scheme of the Children's Homes had been in the minds of a great number of the Guardians for about ten years but it was not until about three years ago that the Board ap- pointed a committee to look out for suitable sites. They then set to work to select sites, and some difficulty was experienced in find- ing town sites. Mr. Rowe Morris suggested that they should approach the Duke of Westminster. They did approach the late Duke, and their diffi- culties were soon over, for his Grace placed at their disposal the site upon which they had laid the foundation stone of the headquarters block, the situation of which could not be improved upon. One of the things which they thought might have given them trouble was the question of what to do with the Roman Catholic children. For several years they had been sending their Roman Catholic children to Pantasaph. where they knew they had been cared for in a way which left nothing to be desired. After speaking of the internal arrangements of the building, he mentioned that they had come to an arrangement with the Infirmary Board with reference to the children who might be unfortunate enough to become seriously ill. The arrangement was that any case of serious illness should be treated at the Infirmary at a fixed sum per week. They had every confidence in the work which they had undertaken, and which had been inaugurated without difficulties, and believed they might have every reason to rejoice in the results of the work which they had begun. (Applause.) Mr. Rowe Morris submitted the toast of The Chairman of the Visiting Committee," who, he said, was one of the principal movers in the inauguration of the scheme. When the idea was first mooted some of the Guardians had criticised them, but he believed that that day every mem- ber was of opinion that they had made a step in the right direction. It might cost them a little more than hitherto to maintain thev children under the new conditions, but it would be money well spent. If they removed the stigma which had hitherto rested upon children brought up in the Workhouse they would have accomplished a splendid work. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Vernon, replying, spoke in optimistic terms of the results which would attend the Children's Homes venture. Their object was to make the children good citizens, and to train them so that they would be able to hold their own among those with whom they would associate in after life. If they could teach workhouse children to disassociate themselves from the Union they would have done a good work. Future generations would see the result of the experiment, and they (the present Board) would feel proud of the step they had taken. It was a remarkable fact that the Chester Board of Guardians had been ahead of the Local Govern- ment Board in almost every poor law reform which the latter had suggested. (Hear, hear.) They had already classified the inmates of the Chester Workhouse, and the Guardians had now in hand the classification of out-door relief. He described the changed condition of life in the house, and asserted that they were doing all they could to make the lives of the inmates as com- fortable as possible. He was proud that the Chester Board deserved the credit of being fore- most in such reforms, and that they had for their object the betterment of the conditions of workhouse life. (Applause.) Messrs. Bolland and Sons catered for the luncheon, which was excellently served.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES,& DEATHS. BIRTHS. MAILRIAGICS, and DEATHS are charged at the rate of 20 words for Is. (prepaid). If not prepaid, the charge will be 2s. 6d. The announcement must be authenticated by the Signature and Address of the Sender. BIET H S. EVANS—January 9, at Clement House, Blacon, the wife of Alfred Evans, grocer. of a son. HCNTER—January 9, at the Vicarage, Seaton Carew, the wife of the Rev. C. H. Hunter, of a daughter. SIKFSON—January 6, at 5, bandolph Crescent, Edin- burgh, the wife of Dr. G. F. Barbour Simpson, a son. MARRIAGES. BitirRLEY-TAYLOR-January 10, at St John-the-Baptist, Chester, by the Kev. Canon Cooper Scott, Vicar, assisted by the Bev. F. Tilney Sionex, John Gamon. second son of the late J. C. Brierley, to Alice, youngest daughter of John Taylor, Queen's Park, Chester. TOPHAK—SHAKPE—January y, at St. Weri urgh's Church, Grosvenor Park-road. Chester, by the Very Rev. Canon Lynch, assisted by the Eev. Chicele Giles and the Bev. George Carton, Edward A C., eldest son of J. B. Topham, fcsq., of Oxton, Cheshire, to Norah M.. second daughter of F. W. Sharpe, Esq., of Abbey Gate House, Chester. DEATHS. AKDEKTON—January 4, 19-1, at 3, Back Brook-street after a short illness, Thomas Anderton, late of Guilden Sutton, in his 83rd year. BARKETT January 3, at the residence of his daughter. Mrs. Hooley. Bridge-street, Joseph Barnett, of Dove House, Boughton, in his Bird year. CRIMES—January 8. Mary, the widow of the late John Crimes, of Crane Bank. FoulqT&IN- December 13, :&00, at Calcutta, aged 24, Walter Fountain, youngest son of Major E. Fountain, late Royal Artillery, of Southcote, Fiookersbrook. Chester. GRIFFITlis-Janllary 5, at the Ship Victory Inn, George- street. Chester. Martha, widow of the late Joseph Griffiths, in her tilst year. filGGiK80S—January 7, at 358, Overleigh-road, Hand- bridge, Chester, Ellen, the beloved wife of John Higgmsou, aged til years. [Interred Barrow Church- yard, January 9th.J METcALFE-January I, ll, suddenly, Ellen. daughter of John and Emma ?etcalte. 01 9?. Francis-street. Chester, aged 37 years. PATNE—January 4, 1901, at Kimberley, Charlie, third son of William Payne, of Holly House Farm. Hoole, in his 21st year. IN MEMOBIAM. BEKKETT—In ever-loving memory of Frank, the beloved son of Frances and the late Charles Bennett, 49, Tarvm- road, who fell asleep in Jesus on January 13th, 1898. We shall sleep, but not for ever: There will be a glorious dawn We shall meet to part-no, never, On the resurrection morn. (Ever remembered by mother and sisters.) FRANcE-In loving memory of Florence Helen, the dearly beloved niece of C. J. Errington also Jeff, the bon of the above. [Peace, perfect peace.] (IORHAX-IU fond memory of Edward, the beloved husband of Hannah (iorhava I who departed this life January 6th, 1892, in his 42nd year. [Gone, but not forgotten by his sorrowing wife and children JONEII-In loving memory of my dear husband, John Jones, who died January 8th, LFCOO, at 11, Mount street, Boughton, aged 60 years, and was interred at Chester Ceiretery January 12th. Good was his heart, and in friendship sound. Patient in pain and loved by all around His pains are o'er, his griefs for ever done, A life of everlasting joy he's now begun. LANGToJr-In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas Langton, who departed this life on the iOth January, 1898. WILKINSON—In loving memory of my dear sister, Eliza- beth (Lizzie) Wilkinson, who tell asleep Jauuary :5th. 18S7, at Heywood Lodge, Newton. [At rest with loved ones far away.] (M. S. E.)

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