Cheshire Observer

CHiiSTSLl TOWN COUNCIL, I I The monthly meeting wis held on Wedues- j day, the Mayor (Aldermau H. T. Brown) pre- j aiding. SYMPATHY. TG;) Mayo ^pressed the Council's deep sym- pa-y zin John Jones upon the sad ioss be bad summed by the death of his wife. He movdd a rss lution of condolence. lad Sheriff (Sir. Edgar Dutton) seconded, j and the motion was carried in siience. TO W6LCOM& HOllE THE VOLUNTEERS. 1. Air. L i.no eaiied the attention ot one council to tiie t*ot tnat; the Special Service Company of the Ua4s3hire Voiuuceers were homeward bound atcer t.veive w service in South Africa, and aakcd if nay arrangements had been made for taeir reo-jpuoa at uester. They ought to recognise shoir service in South Africa by w giving -hern a cordial welcome home. (Applause.) The Mayor explained that no official coui- muntoioiju had oeen madt) to him on the sub- ject, aad all ne kna,-i wad what he had read in tho p.^p.-rs. iie was, therefore, not in a position to make any statement to the Council, but as au ola v"luiueer, aiso as Mayor of the City, it did .pp?" to him to be a fit occasion upon wh.cu the cilzuns could shew their apprecia- tion these lllll. who had served their country gaiiaiiti^ in South Africa, and he should be glad to take part ia Any recognition and welcome. Me. Lamb suggested that the Mayor put hiuis-if iu communication with Col. Shtaringham (commanding the 22ad Regimental District) and proposed taat a small committee should tik-i Lie inacter in hand. AiJ jvmaa iuos. Smith seconded. Mr. JJiHl .Jm'Jà (Boughton) proposed that the committee consist ot the Mayer, Mr. Lamb, Mr. H. C. Davies, and Mr. Carr. Mr. Ftrguaon seconded. Mr. Carr supported the proposition of the appointment of a committee. Cheater should not be behind in giving a good welcome to the men who hai been out hunting our country s ofatdeii- ( it-ar, hear.) fiJa Mayor said Mr. Peers (clerk of corn- liut-eeV) hart already miodø some inquiries and wo- I lJ\è\ke suiiaer inquiries. I Toe propositions were carried, and the com- ( jnili.ee wad empo wered to add to their number l it be desirabio. RAÅBLE VALUES. The assistant overseer (Mr. VV. Shone), in his Ct!ri.' ri,d:.e oi eatable v,tiue, stated that so t'ar j as he had oeen aole to ascertain the foliowiug amounts were tae ratable values of the parish at present chargeable with improvement rate, lam? Bttl, wdotch rate, and boruugh (including free library) rate, viz.:—Improvement and rites—ratable value on houses, buildings, j £ 183,872 16J. on gardens (agrielil turai), onargeaoie at one-half, £ 344 8s. on railways and (jaaais a total of £ 187,089 14*. borough and watcn rates- agricultural iaud at one-half, £ 3,572 193.; j buildings and other hereditaments not being making a total cf £ 2/2,764 lis. l>pi,yiu!, to Mr. Koger Jackson, the Town Clerk said the figures last year for the borough rate were £ 200,105 9^ and thore was thus an increase of about E2,650. THE BUDGET. I RJ5ABONS FOR INCREASED RATES. j iAST fKAliS UNDER ESTIMATES. The Mayor said he was sorry to say that the rates altogether were slightly in excess of those levied cor the year 1900-1901. The total municipal rates for last year were 3s. 4d. in the iC, and the Council were now asked for an additional 3d., or 3s. 7d., in the L. It seemed to him Úom a perusal of the accounts and with the assistance of the City Accountant, that really the nason why they were obliged to ask for a slightly increased borough rate was nrst of all that iihe various committees, or some of them, had ander-estimated their expenditure for the past year, also that certain works, mere ()apecÜ.7 sewerage works, had beea c?rr?d out during the year which were not estimated for at all twelve months ago. In consequence of tnis additional expenditure and the underestimates, they were in debt on the borough account. That debt must be paid, and they must aiso provide for the future. From the rates of the last two or three years they would see that tho citizens had no reason to be alarmed at the increase. Last year the total municipal rae, excluding the poor rate, was 3s. 4d. in tho L, and in the preceding year thay were 3s. 9d., in 1899 3s. 2d., in 1898 3a. 8d., and in 1S97 2s. lid. The last rate was the lowest levied in Chester for municipal purposes for a considerable number of years. The rates estimated ior last year (1900-1901) were too low. AL effort should be made to make the rates as equal AS possible, comparing one year with another, and he did not think it was pru- dent to abstain from any improvements one year in order to lower the rate and then have to in "rease it the following year because they thus had to do in one year the work which ought to have been spread over two years. In addition to the two causes he had mentioned to them there was another one which was entirely ne,v. That was the case of the Isolation Hospital. That institution, they {estimated, was costing the town now about 2d. in the 2. This was the first whole year that they had had experience of the Isolation Hospital, and that within a Id. in tho £ accounted for the increase they were asking as compared with last year. The total rate of 3s. 7d. in the £ would leave at the end of the year a substantial balance in hand to cover all contingencies, and should leave nothing of debt. The Free Library was an institution which had no income what- ever, except some few pounds from the sale of old newspapers and periodicals and the ld. in the £ Through the liberality of Sir Thomas Frost the institution was practically freed from debt some years ago, but during the last few years a debt had been contracted amounting to more than 9400. The expenditure over income' for the past year in connection with the Free Library had been about E119. He was not finding fault with that; he had no doubt the money was well spent. There had been a sub committee of the Library Committee appointed to con- sider the subject, and before long they would have the recommendation of the Library Committee as to what they proposed to do to pay oil the debt. He, however, was afraid that it was almost hopeless to believe that the insti- tution could be carried on without incurring debt. Where further economy was to come in he did not know. With regard to the lending department he (the Mayor) was curious to know what books were borrowed mostly from the Free Library. He found, as they would all imagine, that fiction was the branch of litera- ture which was mostly resorted to; but he was not prepared to find this state of things. Under the, class of fiction the one book that had been most out in the course of twelve months, and which had been out 105 times, was Sorrows of Satau," by Marie Corelli. (Laughter.) He also found that the book he thought would have been very interesting to people at the present moment, that was Lord Roberta's Life," had been cut 28 times. Then came the question cf the improvement rate. There they were making provision for new works to the amount of EZ,000, Reverting to the borough rate, the Mayor gave instances of where the expenditure had excoeded the estimates last year. There was a large cost which could hardly be estimated at all. It was occasioned by the opposition to the Rural District Council's sewerage scheme. It had been estimated at £ 250; the actual cost was 4616. Among other instances he mentioned an excess of actual over estimated expenditure of JE206 in connection with the management and, repair of corporate property. The income of the ,?p orate property was £ 4,721, and the expen- diture upon it was no lees than £ 2,156. There must be something radically wrong about this, and he had no doubt that it was capable of explanation. The estimates had I been carefully considered by the various com- mittees, and he hoped it would not be con- sidered that they were asking the citizens to bear more in the shape of rates than was necessary to wipe out the adverse balance of the previous year and to meet the expenditure of the ensuing year. He moved the adoption of the following rates —Borough rate (including Free Library rate), 2s. 2d. in the E; watch rate, 3d. in the £ improvement rate, 8d. in the £ lamp rate, 6d. in the R. Alderman Stoiterfoth, in seconding, said there had been a good deal said about the Free Library having exceeded their estimate. He explained that there was still a capital charge on tha Free Library of X128, and it was therefore rather difficult to meet current expenses. This L128 was part of the original t'od: of buying the building. However, as ct; i'man he should do his best to see if they c< ? not keep down expenses and still carry on the Library eiffciently. Alderman Churton asked on what authority the improvement rate was levied. It was a j somewhat startling fact that this rate, which j was paid half ¡)y tle owners and half by the occupiers, and which at eightpence produced a j sum of E6,224 16s. lid., only allowed of a sum of 92,000 to be spent this year in real improve- ments. It seemed to him that although they were receiving something like X6,250 a year j out of the improvement rate, there was only .about f,2,000 out of it being spent in real im- j provements, and he very much doubted whether the worka upon which the R2,000 was being j expended were real improvements at all. Why should not the maintenance of the City j t Wails be paid for as ordinary repairs. ) tea.d of being charged to the improvement rate? He understood the meaning of the word I, improvement as specifiei in the Act of Parliament was something in addition to mere I ordinary repairs and maintenance. He failed i to understand why they should spend E560 in I paving Queen-street with wooden blocks, and pay the money out of the improvement rate. Such work, which legitimately could only be called repairs, ought not to be paid for out of the rate. Besides he did not think there was the slightest necessity for wood paving in Queen-street. He did not wish to be considered a hostile critic, but he thought it was time the ratepayers expressed their views on this sub- ject.—The resolution was then put to the meeting aud carried. LIGHTING. I The following recommendations of the I Lighting Committee were ailoptod a rhat the committee be authorised to have the necessary distributing laid for supplying energy for public and private lighting in Weaver- street and Commonuall-street, at a cost not exceeding £ 125 recommendation that the com- mittee be authorised to have the lfoor of tht) new workshop laid with wood blocks on a concrete bed; recommendation that the com- mittee bo authorised to have iron pillars and gates fixed at the front entrance, and at the cart entrance, to the Electric Light Works, at an estimated cost of JE25 15s. A NORTHGATE STREET IMPROVEMENT. Mr. J. M. Frost moved the adoption ot the following recommendation of the Improvement Committee:—" That the Committee oe author- ised to accept the tender of Messrs. Parker Bros., LI,335, for taking down the present buildings (late Aston's, Northgate-row) and building new premises according to the plans, wtiieh will be submitted, and to arrange and oarry through the necessary contraot." Mr. Frost explained that, thanks to a syndicate, that corner ot Northgate-street was purchased, and the Corporation relieved them of their ¡ bargain. The Improvement Committee had aince ordered plans to be drawn out for the re- il building on the remainder of that ground after allowing a certain portion of the land to be thrown into Northgate-street. Mr. John Jones seconded. Alderman Churton wished to know how the money for this improvement was to be provided. Mr. Frost replied that it would have to be borrowed, but the cipital would not come out of the rates. Alderman Churton moved an amendment that the tender should only be accepted subject to the consent of the Locil Government Board being obtained for the necessary loan with which to carry out the improvement. The Town Clerk did not think that would be the right course to take. When the motion for buying the property was before the Council it was contemplated to carry out the street im- provement andseil off the remaining land, or that the Corporation should build upon it and then sell off the new building and apply to the Local Government Board for power to borrow the ultimate residue. They could not asoertain the amount they required to borrow until the property had been built and sold. Alderman Churton disagreed with the Town Clerk. He pointed out that the Town Clerk had said over and over again that it was never prudent to approach the Local Government Board for money after they had done the work. He saw no difficulty whatever in their going to the Local Government Board, and applying for the money upon an estimate. He protested against the course proposed, and he thought they had decided they were not to spend money by negotiating loans unless they had the authority of the Local Government Board. He hoped that prudent and right principle would not be departed from on the present occasion. The Sheriff seconded the amendment. The Town Clerk pointed out that tie was not in a position to apply to the Local Government Board until the Council fixed the figure to be expended upon the property, and estimates and I tenders had been obtained. Alderman Churton said that was the reason why he moved the amendment. He was not opposing the scheme on the other hand he was absolutely in favour of it. Mr. Lamb asked if there would be any difficulty in obtaining the money after the property was built. Alderman Churton Of course there would. You have heard the Town Clerk over and over again say so. Besides, what I protest against is the accepting of a tender when you have not the money in your pocket to sp-ind. Give your I estimates and ask the Local Government Board for the money, but to accept a tender is pre- mature until you have the money in your pocket and are able to pay it. Mr. W. Vernon pointed out that the com- mittee did not want to borrow the money to budd the premises, because their intention was to sell them when they were built. The Sheriff: At a loss. Mr. Vernon It is a question whether at a loss or at a gain. It is the intention of the committee that this property should be sold, so we do not want to borrow the money. What we want to borrow is the money for the cost of the site, about £ 2,000. Mr. Vernen added that when the premises were put up they would cost them £ 1,385. Alderman Churton In fact you are going in for a building speculation, -and have no money J to pay for it. Mr. Vernon said he could call it what he pleased, but that was the position. Supposing ) that the property, when finished, cost them E4,000, it would be put up for sale. If the pro- perty only produced R2,000 they would want to go to the Local Government Board for the other 92,000 for making a street improvement by clearing away the present unsightly and inconvenient block at the corner, and making a handsome building and a convenient arrange- ment at the corner for the public. Alderman Churton: You will not get the ) authority, then. If you go to them in the first instance you may be allowed to borrow the money. In reply to Mr. Lamb's question the Mayor said it depended upon the view the Local Government Board took whether there would be any difficulty in borrowing the money after the building had been erected. The Town Clerk I don't think there would be any difficulty in borrowing the balance from the Local Government Board. But if it meets with the views of the Council the recommenda- tion of the committee can be held in suspense until I have communicated with the Local | Government Board. Alderman Churton said that suggestion would meet with his approval. Mr. J. M. Frost said the committee felt strongly they should not be handicapped in any respect. The scheme would effect a vast im- provement to the street, and an improvement that was badly wanted. He would like to hear what the Town Clerk had to say upon the recommendation before they accepted it. The Mayor said it was prudent to communicate with the Local Government Board before the resolution was acted upon if there should be any friction hereafter. Alderman Churton said he would withdraw his amendment on condition that before the recommendation was acted upon the Town Clerk should communicate to the Local Govern- ment Board. The Mayor: That would meet your objec- tion ? Alderman Churton. Entirely. Mr. Frost said he was satisfied with that course. The amendment was accordingly withdrawn, and the recommendation of the committee was confirmed. REPAIR OF THE CITY WALLS. I Mr. J. M. Frost moved the adoption of the lollowing recommendation of the Improvement Committee:—"That the committee be authorised to contribute the sum of JE250 to the cost (estimated at JE500) of putting the City Walls near the Water Tower in a thorough state of repair for a length of fifty feet from the face of II the new abutments." Mr. Egerton Gilbert seconded, and the motion was carried. I VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS. I ALDERMAN CHURTON'S PROTEST. Mr. J. M. Frost next moved the adoption of a recommendation that the Improvement Com- mittee be authorised to have the following new works carried out during the current financial year :—Conveniences at Saltney and the Dingle, 9250; Bunce-street. street widening, R,100 road past Water Tower, wall and roadway, 2315; Raymond-street, setting back and re- j building wall, &c., £ 170; Castle-street, founda- tion and macadamizing roadway, £ 175; Park- street, kerbing, widening, and crossing, XBO; City Walls, maintenance, £100; Hops-street, Saltney. kerbing and street Wei-k. floe,. Sealand-road, east side, kerbicg and flagging, 1200; paving near Round Tower, The Groves, £ 50; Gloucester-street, ashphalting on boulder paving, £ 30; Queen-street, wood paving, £ 360; Saughall road, kerbing, &c., £ 50; i the cost of ,the works totalled £ 1,980. j Mr. Frost explained that the committee had contented themselves with the modest request of only an eightpennv rate, which would leave them with only f2,000 for what they called new works. He would remind the Council that their fixed expenditure was something like £1,550, the maintenance cost about E4,000, and when the new works were carried out they would be left at the end of the year with a balance of about ;e5W. They commenced this year with a balance of 41,457, so they were practically reducing their balance by very f nearly £ 1,000. The committee had been obliged to limit their expenditure strictly according to i their resources. Mr. J. F. Lowe seconded tha motion. Alderman Williams asked if there was any prospect of the Hoole Lane improvement being completed. > Alderman Churton We shall never live to sae it carried out. (Laughtpr). In reply to the Sheriff, the City Surveyor said if Qunen-street was paved with a certain kind of wood paving, the sum of 9360 which had been quoted would cover the whole cost. Alderman Cburton said every credit was due to the committee for doing the best they could under very difficult circumstances. He would like to ask the Town Clerk whether the main- tenance of roads and streets was a legitimate part ot expenditure out of the improvement rate. In lioole-lane, through which there was an enormous amount of traffic, they had a thoroughfare which was a disgrace to the city in its present condition. He admitted that the paving of Queen-street was not very good, but it was infinitely better than that of Hoole-lane. He did not hesitate to say tha, if they only ?pent £ 25 instead of X360 on the paving of Queen-street it would be sufficient to serve for a number of years. Mr. J. M. Frost pointed out that it would not be advisable to couim-nce with the improve- ment of Hoole-lane unless the. whole of the work was dona at the same timf, and as the committee had not got the money to carry out the whole of the work at present, it would have to be deferred. Mr. Vernon contended there was no street in the city that deserved more attention than Queen-street, and the paving was decidedly interior to that of Hoole-lane. Mr. D. L. Hewitt said he was given to under- stand that the dials and ironwork of the Easr- gate Clock were not yet paid tor. (Laughter.) He wished to know whether something could nut be done to p'\y for tnem, and m..et other charges in connection with them. At present the clock was a standing disgrace to the town, inasmuch as it was erected during the Diamond Jubilee year of the late Queen Mr. Lamb pressed for the motion to be put to the meeting. The Town Clerk, in answer to Alderman Churton, said the ne.v works to be carried out, by the committee would necessarily have to be paid for out of the improvement rate, because there was no other rate out of which they could be paid. No doubt the namo "improvement rate" conveyed some wrong impression to the ordinary minJ, but he presumed the rate was termed an improvement rart) because it was levied for the purposes of the Improvement Act. The recommendation of the committee was -ad-pt!nd. I u PU BLIC HEAL HI. THE ISOLATION HOSPITAL. 1. Dr. Roberts moved, that ttle Council make application to the Local Government Board to sanction a further loan K>r an auiouut to covur such of the expenditure in exceis of the loan already sanctioned a.3 had beeu incurred in respect of works of a permanent character." The Isolation Hospital, said Dr. Roberts, was now complete. The amount of the extras was certainly a surprise to the committee, but they found that two-thirds of the extras were for additional work which would beef a permanent character. They would require a loan of another £ 1,000. The annual report of the Medical Officer of Health was very satisfactory reading. the number of infectious diseast-s had been reduced, and it was encouraging to know that the Public Health Committea were getting their reward for their labour. During the first quarter, or up to April 16th, 1900, there were 30 cases of typhoid fever reported. For the first quarter of 1901, or up to tnat day, there were only 18 cases, a reduction whicu was very satisfaetory indeed. The water supply reports from Professor Boyce were more eu- couraging every week. Mr. Egerton Giibert mentioned a letter which had been received by the Public Health Committee from Mr. J. Lyon Deason suggest- ing a daily bulletin shewing the condition of the patients in the Isolation Hospital, should be fixed in the entrance porch ot the Town Hall. This, said Mr. Gilbert, would be a great boon to parents and others who had patients in the hospital. Dr. Roberts said it had been decided to have at the Public Health Office a telephone which would be in daily communication with the Isolation Hospital, and the condition of the patients might be tabulated day by day. The motion authorising application for a further loan was carried. AN APPOINTMENT. The Mayor moved the appointment of Mr. John Jones (Boughton Ward) as a director of the Chester Racecourse Company. The Sheriff and Mr. Lamb both seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Dr. Roberts: Shall we be supplied with tips ? (Laughter.) Alderman Churton That is part of the con- ditions. (Laughter). HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES, AN IMPORTANT STEP. INTERESTING DISCUSSION. I Mr. J. F. Lowe, chairman of the Housing of the Working Classes Committee, moved a recommendation that the Council adopt part iii. of The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890." Mr. Lowe said the housing of the work- ing classes was the problem of the day. The houses which were being built now in the neigh- bourhood of Chester were at prices which the working man, earning £ 1 a week or less, could not afford to pay. After paying 5s. 6d. or 6s. 6d. for house rent, what would such a man with a family have left with which to provide food ? He thought Chester could vie with any town in the kingdom in the number of its courts. There were some where the sun never penetrated, and he did not think that was the way to treat their working-classes who con- tributed to the welfare of the nation. Some time ago the Bishop made some strong remarks on the question, and Sir Horatio Lloyd and the Mayor had also made some remarks to the same effect. He hoped the Council, having plenty of land, would see their way to provide these people with better homes and surroundings which would make them better citizens. Let them be put to live in more airy houses and places where they could see the sun. Mr. Egerton Gilbert seconded the recommen- j dation of the committee. The matter of the housing of the working-classes had been so much discussed in the public press and by different public and other bodies in recent times, that it was almost unnecessary to enter into the general merits of the proposition. But with regard to the particular merits of the question in Chester, the Council were entitled to ask why the first step in what might be a matter of some difficulty, was being taken. He would refer them to the report of the city sur- veyor in 1899. From that report it appeared that only 43 cottages at a rental under 5s. per week had been erected in the city between 1894 and 1899, and most of these were erected by the Cot- 1 tage Improvement Company. Putting aside all under 3s. as impracticable, there were only 35 erected it this period, and as 37 were demolished, he supposed it must be admitted that practically na houses were being built in the city for the accommodation of the labouring class of work- men. He supposed that with the large amount ef old cottage property existing in Chester, the life of a considerable number of cottages must be ended every few years, and that it must be in- oreasingly difficult to keep such property even legally fit for occupation as years went by. It must be difficult also for economic reasons to re- build it en the same lines. What was to be the end of the matter? From the experience of past years they were led to believe that nobody would take up the question unless the municipality did so. Eve. the speculative builder, happily for them, shunned the city. He (Mr. Gilbert) con- tended that it would pay the Corporation to put up good, well-built cottages on open sites, not only for the sake of the better housing of the present generation, but for the future sanitary well-being of the city. (Hear, hear.) The city's population was not maintaining its natural in- crease. It had been stated that the bulk, or some of those who would otherwise have been in the city, were going to the outskirts. He knew of a man who had secured work at Chester, and be- cause of his difficulty in obtaining a suitable cot- tage at a reasonable rent he had given his job up I and left the town. There might be others who had done the same thing. There were courts in Cheater containing cottages which, if Dr. Kenyon and he law could not condemn, those best ac- quainted with them emphatically did. Over- crowding was of frequent occurrence, and the Public Health Committee had done little to check it; but it must be admitted that detection was dimoult, and the impossibility of workingmen ob- taining suitable accommodation elsewhere made owners themselves lax on this point. The want of cottages had been the one cause the Comora- tion bad in the past which otherwise would have been considered desirable by them. It could not fairly be said that the enterprise of private owners would be checked, because it was practically non- existent in Chester. Even though through any action of the Town Council rents came down. it would be a fact not greatly to be deplored. The rents had been going up on any pretext. or none for many years past, and were at the present moment at an absurdly inflated figure in many instances. By ail means let them have good houses at fair rents brought into competition with bad houses at exorbitant rents. No serious ob- I jection could surely be taken to the Council doing something to replace cottages demolished by them, or through their action. During the tenure of office of the present city surveyor some 70 cot- tages had been taken down for Corporation im- provements. He did not think any of these were taken down through the action of the Public Health Committee. Part III. of the Act was adopted in Stafford in 1899, and nine cottages were built. Now there was an application for a loan for 30 more. There was, necessarily, a charge on the rates, but cottages built under the Act had to be so substantial that at the end of the loan period they would be worth all or nearly all that they cost the rates in annual deficits. It was urged that the ownership of municipal cot- tages led to corruption; that councillors would be dependent for position upon the votes of those who were, or who wished to become, municipal 1 tenants. Surely this contention was an exagger- I ated one. Even if it were true, it was no worse than their position at the present moment under the Education Acts, which compelled tnem to sit in judgment upon people they might afterwards have to ask to return them to the Council. For the reasons given, and for ethers equally cogent, he hoped the Council would adopt the recom- mendation of the committee, thus enabling them to bring before them some definite scueine, and that the result of their action imgiit be tne more comfortable and better housing ot their worKing- men and their wives and families. (Appiause.) Mr. Carr supported, and said he was extremely pleased that the time had come ior the Council to decide one way or the other upon this important question, wlncn had been beiore tuat body since lSyj. There was ample evidence to support their bringing the question betore tne public and the Council. During last year tuirteen cases ot overcrowded houses were ueait with. Dr. Roberts also supported, it was a question he had gone into veiy carefully for many years. Whatever might be said about tne specuiative builder, he had his place like everybody else. He wished tue movement success. Alderman Churton thought they were all pretty unanimous upon the principle of the question, The diilicuity the committee wouid nave w deal with was alter they had got the powur. There j would be so many problems in exercising the power. What ciass ot cottage was to be put up and where they were to put liiein were questions tiiey would have to decide, it would be diihcuit in the centre of the city to find a she witn proper surroundings. He wished they could induce the | working-class to take to cycling. He. was at Eaton the other night, and he was quite suiprised to and a number of workingmen wiui their bas- kets on tneir backs cycling alter their day's work to their homes in the cuíierent villages. If it could be done there, why not in CHestcl A man who cycled could not be anything else but a tem- perate man, and that was a good thing to have combined with the other advantages of cycling. Mr. J. At. Frost asked the chairman ot tne committee ii it was possible to build houses at weekly rents of 2s. or 2~. 6d. withouv. coming upon the rates for the bai»nce. It seemed to him practically impossible. Mr. Lowe said he thought it was possible to build houses at 5s. per week. lie would not say anything about 2s. 6d. per wtek for the present. Mr. Vernon said the Corporation couia borrow money at 3 or 31: per cent., and houses could be built at very chttap rents without coming upon the ratds. Mr. J. Jones (Boughton) wanted to know what Part III. actually was. The Town Clerk explained that under it the Council Cuuld buy lanti, buitd or provide cottages for tho working classes, aiter, uniarge or improve them, and nave tiii- III furnished, if they tiked, with ait req uttile furniture. 'There was aiso a provision tnat auy person receiving any relief under tho Acts reiasang to the reiiei of the poor, otherwi e than during temporary illness should be disqualified fiom continuing to bb a tenant. ShoiUy, they might buy laud, build houses and let them. Mr. J. Jones (tiougwton) said this section I would not altogether meet their rtquiiements, inasmuch as it debarred trom being tenants the poorest persons tho council desired chiefly to assist. This condition did not apply in ttio case of the cottages erected by the Cottage Improvement Compauy, who were not paying more than 3 per cent. Mr. Carr said tiiey had nothing to do with the Cottage Improvement Company, and the clause referred to was a fault in the Act which re- quired to be amended. Mr. Roger Jackson WaS glad to learn that a house could be built tur 2" 6d. ot 3s, per week. l'he Mayor said he cordially agieeu with most of what had fallen from the various members, aiso with the recommendations ot tne com- mittee. He was quite sure that, having got tue power, the Corporation would carry tuein out judicially and economicaliy. It the Corpora- tion carried out those powers tentatively, they might do a great woik in Chester, where there were great numbers of the people living in houses in courts and alleys, and that, socially speaking, was a very bad thing. lid was very much shocked by tho deplorable amount ot drunkenness among women of the poortc elassi-s in the city and elsewhere. That wrss a great deal due to the fact that these poor people lived in courts and alleys away from the ken of the public at large, and there bat and drank until they got into a degraded position and were not only a danger to themselves but a danger to their family. If these poor people could be brought to live in houses within sight of the public a great thing would have been accomplished. He sincerely trusted that when the Act was put into operation it would be the means of elosiug the courts and alleys and bring better houses which would have certain effect upon the demeanour and morals of the people themselves. He hoped healthy houses would be found for these poor people who were at present housed in places very degrading to them. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was then put and carried. INJURED DIGNITY. I WHO IS THE OLDEST COUNCILLOR? I Mr. Hewitt said there had unwittingly been a slight cast upon the oldest member of the Cor- poration, Mr. Isaac Jones. Ha (Mr. Jones) bad been elected on the Council in 1884 anu had served continuously for St. Mary's Ward for 17 years. Mr. Lightfoot had served on the Couucil for 15 years. Mr. Isaac Jones ought, therefore, have been the member to go to London as the oldest councillor." Mr. Rae agreed that unwittingly Mr. Isaac Jones had been slighted. The Mayor: The Town Clerk reported that Mr. Lighttoot was the senior councillor, and be was treated as such. The Town Clerk said of course the question of seniority raised a good deal of difficulty. Mr. Lightfoot commenced his service earlier than Mr. Jones, but Mr. Lightfoot was out of the Council for a period. Having regard to the seniority of commencement of length of service, they came to the conclusion upon the records that Mr. Lightfoot was the senior councillor. He was quite sure the Council would give them credit for honeat intentions when they ad- judged Mr. Lightfoot senior councillor. (Hear, hear.) If they had made a mistake he was sorry for it. Perhaps it would be as well if the General Purposes Committee settled the line which constituted seniority. As they saw seniority might mean commencement of service earlier or it might mean longer actual service. They took the two things into consideration and, rightly or wrongly, came to the conclusion that Mr. Lightfoot was the senior. Of course both gentlemen were well known to him (the Town Clerk) and he had no object in coming to such a conclusion. Mr. Isaac Jones said Mr. Lightfoot entered the Council in 1879 and he (Mr. Jones) entered in 1884, but in 1882 Mr. Lightfoot was out of the Council for four years and after that be was out of the Council for three years. In reality Mr. Lightfoot would next November have actually served on the Council 15 years, whereas he (Mr. Jones) had been in the Council 17 years next November. They had tried to throw him (Mr. Jones) out, but they never could. (Laughter.) The Mayor hoped Mr. Isaac Jones and the others of the Council would understand, as he was quite certain they would, that they had no desire to cast any reflection or slight upon Mr. Isaac Jones in any way whatever. The Town Clerk had calcu- lated upon one basis, and, apparently, some members of the Council had calculated upon another basis. He was quite sure the Town Clerk had ionestly come to his conclusion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. Jones (Boughton): I should like to have it settled whether Mr. Lightfoot or Mr. Isaac Jones should go on any future occasion as senior councillor." The subject then dropped, it being under- stood that the committee would decide the point. A

ALLEGED EXTENSIVE EMBEZZLEMENTS. CHESTER TOBACCONIST'S PROSECUTION. At the City Police Court on Monday morning Joseph Henry Gibbs, an elderly man of respect- able appearance, residing at Princess-road, Moss Side, Manchester, was charged before Mr. Roger Jackson with embezzling J612 38. 9d. belonging to Messrs. George Day and Co., cigar manufacturers, Eastgate-street. Mr. W. H. Churton appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. W. H. Shawcross, barrister, Manchester, defended.—Mr. Churton said defendant was for- merly engaged by Mr. Day as a traveller on com- mission. It was defendant's duty to collect money from various customers and then to give an account of the sums he had received to prose- cutor at the end of every week. Everything seemed to go all right until a short time ago, when it was found that certain sums of money which had been received had not been accounted for. An inspection of the sheets shewed that a considerable amount of money was not accounted for-nearly;ClOOin fact. He (Mr. Churton) only in- tended to call sufficient evidence that day to justify a remand for seven days, when the case would be investigated more fully. He would raise no objection if defendant were bailed out in sub- stantial sureties.—Mr. George Day, in giving evidence, bore out Mr. Churton's statement in saying that the sums unaccounted for came to about EIOO. An account amounting to E12 3s. 9d. was collected from a person in Manchester some time ago, but it had not been accounted for. —It was stated that defendant was apprehended late on Saturday night and brought to Chester.- ] Mr. Shawcross applied for bail on behalf of his t client, who, he said, was well known and i respected in the locality.—Defendant was re- 1 manded for a week, bail being allowed, himself in 225 and two other sureties of £ 25 each.

MH. YERBURGH ON CURRENT POLITICS. THE CHINESE QUESTION. ARMY REFORM. THE COL VILE CASE. Mr. Robert Yerburgh, M.P., addressed a large gathering of Unionist workers in the Assembly Rooms, Newgate-street, on Tuesday evening, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Chester Conservative Registration Association. Mr. George A. Dickson presided, and was supported on the platform by Mr. Yerburgh, Alderman W. H. Churton, Messrs. Egerton Gilbert, H. J. Price, J. Price Bennett, and W. E. Phillips. Letters explaining inability to attend were read by Mr. H. W. Lovett from Dr. Mann, Dr. Butt, Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes, Mr. George Clongh, and several others. The Chairman, in proposing the re-election of Mr. H. J. Tollemache, M.P., as president of the association for the ensuing year, remarked that a more popular man or more thorough gentleman than he it had not been their lot to meet. Mr. Egerton Gilbert seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Alderman Churton, in proposing the election of Mr. B. C. Roberts as cnairman, said it was natural tnat now Air. Roberts had been relieved from the duties of High Sheriff they were glad to welcome him back as the head of the associa- non. iie could not attempt in the short time at his disposal to enumerate the valuable work Mr. Roberts had done for the Conservative party in Chester. he was one of the first to resuscitate tiie Conservative and Unionist party in this city, and had devoted time, energy and money to the j cause, and always been at tne forefront to help j them in much darker times than the present. (Applause.) Although the election was over and they Had to congratulate themselves upon the high position they had attained at the last election by returning Mr. Yerburgh at the head of the poll by such a magnificent majority, ho hoped that the demon of apathy would not be allowed to find place in the city. If there ever was a time when it was necessary they should still sticir to their colours it was the present. If by any mischance the Radical party got into power—he did not anticipate it-it would be found that they had no policy. Was there the slightest probability of their getting into power inde- pendently of the Irish party? ("Never.") He was sure there was not, and what would bo more miserable, wretched, or more feeble than to find a party like the present Radical party returned to power, and dependent upon the Irish party for the security of their office? The result would be that the Irish party would immediately put the screw" upon the Radical party, and we should very soon have the old-fashioned Home Rule Bill brought forward, and we should have again to strive to defeat it. He read 1:1 the "Standard" the other day that at a Liberal meeting in the Mid-Devon Division Mr. Seaie-Hayne, M.P., was asked by one of his supporters why the front Opposition bench did so little to oppose the Gov- ernment. It was a shame, he said, that the Liberal party should be so sound asleep. Mr. Seale-Hayne denied that the Liberals were asleep. He believed the most effective time for attacking the Government was when the country had to pay the bill for the war. That was a nice, honest sort of thing to go to the country upon! The Radicals, including their friend Mr. Idris, professed at the last election to be in favour of the war, and now, forsooth, their policy was to attack the present Government when they had to pay the Bill. Such a policy was a deliberately dishonest one, consider- ing that the Radicals were in favour of the war. (Cheers.) If that was the only policy the Radical party had got to bring before the country it would be a long time before we would ever see them in power. In conclusion, Mr. Churton re- newed his appeal to the Unionist party for vigilance, because, although many thought that Home Rule was dead and buried, it was not, and there was no doubt the Irish party were very active at the present moment. Mr. Herbert Johnson seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Egerton Gilbert proposed the election of Mr. G. A. Dickson as vice-chairman, and pointed out they ought not to forget that it was during Mr. Dickson's year of office as chairman that Mr. Yerburgh was put into his old place with the largest majority on record. (Hear, hear.) The motion was seconded by Mr. Prescott and carried with acclamation. On the motion of Mr. Small, seconded by Mr. Conway, tho Finance Committee was elected, to consist of the ten chairmen of the districts, with the addition of MeQsrs. Carstairs Jones, Charles G. Haswell, F. W. Ward and G. H. Reynolds. On the proposition of Mr. John Clarke, seconded by Mr. Jefferson, it was decided that the chairmen of the ten districts should compose the Emergency Committee. Mr. H. Crowder proposed, Mr. Edgar Owen seconded, and it was carried, that Messrs. George Lowe and Edgar Dutton be delegates to the con- ference of the National Union of Conservative Associations. On the motion of Mr. H. J. Price, seconded by Mr. W. E. Phillips, the council of the association, as elected by tiie district committees, was con- firmed. Mr. Yerburgh, who was received with en- thusiastic cheers, spok e of the pleasure it afforded him to come to Chester to meet so many of those friends who gave him such valuable assistance during tho hard contest they had lately been en- gaged in. He congratulated the Conservative party in Chester upon the fact that they were able to have such a large muster of energetic workers, who had shewn by their presence that night how greatly interested they were in the proper organisation for party purposes.- (Ap- plause.) He was delighted to hear his old friend, Mr. Churton, lay such great stress upon the abso- lute necessity of their preparing themselves by all proper and legitimate means for the contest which might come upon us, it might be unex- pectedly. It was not that he himself thought for one moment that we were likely to have an elec- tion within, say, five years he saw no reason for it. He had himself noticed the Radical party, and he had little doubt that that night across the I way they were comforting themselves with the idea that the Unionist party was going to pieces, that the rank and file of the party were jealous of their leaders and quarrelling among them- selves, and that there would soon be a general election. But the Radicals were placing their de- pendence upon a broken reed. There was no jealousy among the rank and file of their leaders -(hear, hear)—they were as loyal to them as they had ever been. There was no dissention among the rank and file; their principles were known, and upon the great principles which were the foundation of their party they were all agreed. RIGHT OF INDEPENDENCE. I He did not for a moment say that they of the Unionist party did not claim the right, if any question came forward with which they could not see eye to eye with the Government, to express their opinion and support it by their vote. (Hear, hear.) They did not want the members of their party to be mere delegates, voting "aye" or "no," like so many machines. They wanted intelligent men to support the policy which mot with their approval. Tha,t was the position of the Unionist party-prepared on principles to follow their leaders, proud of their leaders, loyal to them, but claiming on matters which were not great party matters to be allowed to exercise their own dis- cretion and to support their own views. (Cheers.) Ho mentioned that point because he had had handed to him a letter on behalf of one of his supporters, saying that he voted against the Government during the sitting of Parliament, and he (the writer) would like to know, as he had every right to know-all his (Mr. Yerburgh's) supporters had a right to know-why he thought It right to vote against the Government. He would explain that later on. He meant to say that if he had to give that vote again that night he should give it. (Hear, hear.) To pass on to the general position of the Unionist party, if across the way they were building their hopes upon any election being near at hand because the Unionists were divided, and because they were not loyal, they were building a house upon a foundation of sand. As a matter of fact, he cculd see nothing that was likely in any way to destroy the Unionist party or compel it to go to the country before its term of office expired in the natural course of events. But there were always accidents; one never knew, and it was always wise to be prepared; the wise man was always pre- pared. If they wanted a lesson they had only to th,,?k what had happened during the Boer war. They wanted to be prepared. To win battles they must organise in times of peace. They must pre- pare for their battles in peace time, and when the battle arrived they had half won. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was glad to hear Mr. Churton's timely warning as regarded the absolute necessity of putting their house in order and keeping their force properly officered and properly drilled. That night they had accepted gentlemen for various posts of importance in their. organisation, and they knew that they were gomg to have in the coming year the most capable officers they could provide themselves with. (Cheers.) They knew from their experi- ence-and he had had a good deal of experience- that they always had a large band of energetic workers, who felt that they were working for the honour of their country, and were proud to give their services. (Cheers.) He would now like to refer to some of the political questions of the day. In the first place he would deal with a Bill which, though not a Government Bill and though small in itself, was a Bill that had aroused a great deal of interest in the city of Chester. He knew this from the number of petitions he had received in favour of this particular Bill. The Bill he meant was the Bill which prohibited the sale of INTOXICATING LIQUORS TO CHILDREN I under a certain age. (Hear, hear.) He was one of those always ready to admit—one could not deny it-that it was a very bad thing for children l of tender years to have to go to a public-house. There was no doubt about it. Then, on the other hand, there canie the question of the workingman who c: iii- home r his dinner and had a short time i'i wi h to o f it. The question was how to i,tli his beer without his t 1; his chi'd for if. P' *m-e this Bill came before the Hon?? (?dr. Y- put this par- ticular oration be "ore a firm of brewers. He thorn thtt in hir. opinion Uicv ought to find method by which they con d get over the difficulty. They were p. oared io do it, but the difficulty was t.t ,n'e they might get a firm of or- wen-: ,ir,e and another there to under- take it, the." C'o"id not get a; 1 brewers to do it. Thoy m' -t get :he:;i all to work together, other- wise they would penalise one brewer for the bene- fit of another, and it appeared to him that the only way by which they could get all the brewers into line was to pass some measure which would prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors under present conditions to children under the age specified. That was his view broadly. He be- lieved that Bill would bo accepted cheerfully by all the great brewing interests of the country. He voted for the second reading of the Bill, and he should be glad to see the great principle of the Bill carried into law during the present session. (Hear, hear.) This subject, though not perhaps ot Imperial interest, was of great interest to our national life, because the children of to-day were to be the citizens of to-morrow and the fathers and mothers of the coming generation. The first question of Imperial interest lie would deal with was the question of the rosmoN OF CHINA. He did not apologise for dealing with China, be- cause now the electors of this country, through the dissemination of intelligence by the cheap press, and through the numbers of meetings held in different parts of the country, were beginning to get a thorough grasp of all the great questions affecting the interests of our country in foreign parts. He thought it was now generally known that in China we had set out before us what would in an probability turn out to be the greatest neutral market of the A-orld. NVe were now faced on the Continent and in America with high pro- tect-ive tariffs, which had the effect to a large ex- tent of crippling and checking the extension of! our trad e with those countries. Therefore it was of the greatest importance to us that we should take care that al', the neutral iiaat-kets--marlets which wt-ro open to all nations of the world in friendly rivairj—were kept open for free compe-1 tition. (Hear, hear.) At present he thought the British Empire possessed something like sixty per cent. of the total foreign trade of China, and it amounted to £ 49,090,000 per annum. In China we had an enormous empire, possessing a very fer- tile soil, enormous wealth in the shape of minerals and precious metals, a very industrious, hard- working and thrifty people, a commercial class of the highest integrity and great enterprise, and a population of about 400,000,000 souls. That was a neutral market in which to-day we had the right to compete on equal terms with ail the nations of the world. (Cheers.) Our market at the present time might not be a very large one, but we had to look at the FDTTJRK POSSIBILITIES that China offered to our trade. Ho thought be ■ was right in saying that at the present time the foreign trade of Japan, which was a small but energetic country enjoying good government, was a little over £1 per head of the population, while j the foreign trade in China per held of her popu- lation amounted to something between two and three shillings. It would be clearly seen that if the trade of China was developed to the same ex- tent as the foreign trade of J apaB per head of the population it would amount to the enormous sum per annum of 400 millions. Why should not it be possible for China to develop to that extent? j China was a richer country than Japan, it had a more fertile soil, its people were quite as industri- ous, they were more given to peaceable pursuits than the Japanese, and their merchant class were of quite as high an integrity. Lyiiina had been passing through a gieat crisis. Many people be- lieved that the difficulties that had arisen in China had been owing to a great, national movement and uprising against the hated foreigners—the "foreign devils" as the Europeans were called. Did we think for one moment. that if there had been a great national uprising in China against the foreigner we would have found the Chinese serving as soldiers on behalf of any foreign power? lie did not think such a thing could be! possible. During ali the troubles we had had the very able assistance of our Chinese regiment at ei hai Wei. They had been fighting for us, doing yeoman service in the advance upon Pekin against their own countrymcn. Did we think those men would have acted in this way if the movement had been a great national one? The China question was without doubt one of the greatest questions of the day. What was this movement? We had seen the Chinese besieging the Legat ions, we had seen the massacres of mis- sionaries carried oil in different parts of China, and it would be asked, "What is the reason of this movement, from whence has it. sprung, and who is responsible for it?" The answer to that question was not a very difficult one. The reign- ing party in China were the people who were known as the Manchus, who conquered the em- pire many centuries ago,and had at the present time certain privileges. They were a small minority, but they had practically the w hole of the power in their hands. There had been growing in China, and gathering in force-it might be that in a short time that force would be irresistible—a great movement in favour of reform. That move- ment threatened the privileges that the Manchus enjoyed. They saw if this wave of reform gathered to a large volume and rose too high they would be dashed on to the rocks, and their privileges would be shattered to pieces. Real- ising that, they determined to act while there was yet time, and they took advantage of the large proportion of unemployed people in the large Chinese cities who were always ready for any- thing like pillage or revolt. They secured the services of those people, and induced them to make the attack upon the foreigners, because they thought if they got- rid of the foreigners they would be able to destroy the reform party in China. That was the whole genesis and founda- tion of what had been considered to be a great national movement in China. It was a purely selfish movement on the part of a privileged class who saw that their privileges were going to be taken from them-a class which had existed upon its prestige in the past, and saw that it had, so to speak, been found out, and was anxious before it was too late to again secure a position which was surely slipping from its grasp. He thought it was very plain what our Government ought to do. The real centre of stability in China was not the northern part, but the great central provinces, rich and fertile, through which the great Yangtsze River ran. Over those provinces there were ruling two very remarkable men of great capacity, who were thorough patriots. Those men throughout the difficulty had taken up a position of active opposition to the anti-foreign party which led the attack upon the Legations of Pekin. They had protected missionaries and all foreigners, they had kept order in their provinces, and had been the great force which had saved China from being involved in a huge revolution which would have swept the whole of the foreigners out of China, and destroy any hopes of trade with that country for years to come. Those men were in favour of a REFORM OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, a reform of administration. They were loyal to the Throne, they were great patriots, and were anxious to see their country preserved. In the advance of Russia from the north they saw a great danger hanging over the country. Our Government ought to make a stipulation in the terms of the settlement they were now making with China that those viceroys in the province of the Yangtsze region which was called our sphere of influence should be allowed to introduce the various reforms for which they had already memorialised the Throne. (Hear, hear.) But the Government must go a little further. Those men had risked their lives in taking up the position they had on behalf of the foreigner. If we retired from China to-morrow without making a stipulation on their behalf their lives would not be worth a month's purchase. They would either be ordered to commit suicide, or tried and con- demned at Pekin. He would not hesitate to say in the House of Commons or elsewhere that if they deserted those men who had helped us in the hour of peril, they were doing a thing which was as dishonourable a thing as any great nation could do. (Cheers.) We ought to make it part of the terms of settlement, in addition to the stipulation he had already set forth, that the vice- roys should be guaranteed their lives and the pos- session of their offices for a definite number of years. He had pressed that point upon the Government the other night, and if he found the Government were not prepared to go as far as that, ho would not bind himself to vote with them. With regard to the question of indem- nity, he was glad to observe it was the intention of our Government to limit their demands upon China strictly to the cost they had been put to. (Hear, hear.) Certain of the countries, however, were putting forward very large demands indeed. If we put a great burden upon China under present conditions it would fall upon the great central provinces, which were the richest, and which had throughout the disturbance refrained from any attacks upon the foreigners. If under present conditions we put new taxes upon China we would be taxing the agriculturists and mer- chants, and in doing so would prevent that ex- pansion of trade which was the one thing our country desired. That would be a very foolish thing. So our self-interest told us we ought not to exact a heavy indemnity upon China, but to limit it to the costs we had been put to. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the I QUESTION OF MANCHURIA, we had seen that Russia had made an agreement, or attempted to do so, with China which, from the terms put forward in the Press, would undoubted- ly have been prejudicial to the rights we pos- sessed in that part of China, and we were glad to know that China had refused to ratify that pro- posed agreement. (Hear, hear.) But what position ought we to take up with regard to Russia? Russia had obtained the right to run a railway right through Manchuria down to the harbour of the town of .Port Arthur. It was per- fectly obvious Russia, having obtained that right, must be permitted to take measures to protect her railway, which would give her a preponderating interest in that part of China. But while we ad- mitted that, we possessed trade rights under our treaties with China which we could not permit Russia to interfere with. (Hear, hear.) We ac- knowledged that Russia had a preponderating interest in that part of China, and we had no de- sire to challenge it; but we. in common with other countries, had certain trade rights there, and would not under any condition allow those trade rights to be prejudiced by any action on the part of Russia. (Cheers.) He could not but think it ought to be possible to come to an understanding with Russia. He had always believed it was possible to come to an understanding with that great country, and it would be in our interest that we should have such an understanding. With regard to THE WAR. we all regretted that the war had dragged on so long a time; we folt disappointed that the Boers had not surrendered before now, and we were free to admit, as everybody must admit, that the Boers had shewn the greatest courage and the greatest doggedness in defending their country and holding out against our superior forces. But when we said we were disappointed we were apt to forget the enormous size of the country in which our forces were operating; we forgot the difficulties they had to undergo wo forgot the difficulties of transport; we forgot the moun- tainous aspect of the country, and we forgot all the difficulties which met an invading force. Wo were apt to look upon the Transvaal as being a sort of country like France or Germany, through which troops could march without any difficulty whatever. We knew our troops had had to under- go enormous privations and march enormous distances. They had done all this with cheerful- ) ness, and he ventured to think that no other European Power could have got any further with the prosecution of the war than we bad done at the present time. (Cheers.) He doubted whether some European Powers would have got nearly so far as we had. (iiear, hear.) Therefore, when we opened our paper and saw that the war was not over and the Boers llad not surrendered, we ought not to be disappointed with our troops or our generals. It was wnat we must expect. It might go on for weeks. The Boers could dis- perse. \Ve had not got an organised iorce to deal with. The Boers had friends all over the country and got information and got supplies, and it was the most,. difficult thing in the world to corner their troops. But it would be done. (Cheers.) It was only a question of time; the end was as certain as that the sun would rise to- morrow. Of course mistakes had been made. Everybody made mistakes, and he thought it was .Napoleon who said that the greatest general was the man who made the fewest mistakes, but now he did not blush at his mistakes because he made so many. That was the great ISapoieon. We had seen our troops behaving magnificently, and our officers had shewn all the courage that they had done in our wars in past days. (Hear, hear.) As regarded the settlement, we were ail agreed that the Boer Republics were no longer existent, and that they had become part and parcel indis- solubly of the British Empire. What we hoped to see was a combination of the various States of South Africa in one whole. We had the Commonwealth of Australia, v, e had the Dominion of Canada, and why should we not have the UNITJED SiAiLS OF SOUTH AFHICa ? (Cheers.) He looked forward to that with the greatest confidence. It took time, but time worked wonders. VI" e were told that the Boers had such an intense hatred of us that they would never come in and never dwell with us under the same iig-L lee and in the same tent. He, however, thought that very possibly they would find that the Boers in time to come would, having reecognised that we had the same courage that they possessed, be content to settle down and live side by side with our people. (Hear, hear.) That was generally his view with regard to the operations la South Africa. Those operations had been productive of great misery and great suffering. Thousands of gallant men had laid down their lives, and there was mourning, in many a home in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and in the Colonies. But there was something to be said on the other side. We saw some good coming out of all these troubles in South Africa. We saw in the future a united South Africa, a great country under the British flag. That was a great thing which we might all be proud of. We had from this war learned many useful things. We had learned in the first place that in the hour of our trouble we could depend upon the assistance of our Colonies. (Cheers.) We had also learned—we did not want to learn it, perhaps, but the fact had been burned into our minds and we could not forget it-that after all it was not an Army this country wanted to defend it; it was above all things a Navy we required. How had that fact been brought home to us? Because we were able to land 200,000 men in South Africa without any interference I from foreign nations. What enabled us to do that ? THE NAVY S SERVICES What kept the ring, so to speak, while we were sending troops to South Africa? It was our Navy. The ring would have been broken up if our Navy had not been there. it was our! great possession of battleships that prevented any foreign Power interfering on behalf of the Boers. We were sometimes apt to forget what great value our Navy was to us. We knew that the naval contingent did magnificent work at Ladysmith, and we knew that wherever sailors were employed they acted as well as men could act. (Cheers.) But the great Navy remained in the background. We required to remind our- selves of what enormous value the Navy was to us. Did anybody believe for a moment, looking at the state of the country, that if we had had a fleet only half the size of what it was we should have been able to carry out the operation in South Africa? We knew we should not have been able to, and if there ever arose any question of cutting down the expenses of our defensive forces we ought to say in our loudest tones that we would never allow the expenditure upon the Navy to be cut down. (Cheers.) It was a very important point. Our Navy was large and strong, but there was no doubt that it might be greatly improved. It might be improved in this way Our fighting fleet, so to speak-the Channel Squadron and the Mediterranean Squadron were the squadrons that would be called upon to meet any combination against us, a combination, say, of Russia and France—were not kept prepared for instant action. That was to say, if war broke out to- morrow with France or Russia our fleets were not prepared for instant action they would require reinforcements of cruisers and torpedo boats. It was essential that our fleet should be in such a position that if war was declared it could strike on the instant. While in the statement put before the House of Common? by the representa- tives of the Admiralty we were told that a build- ing programme was-be Iilg carried out faster than it had in the past and that arrears were being made up, we were not assured that our fighting fleets were to be put in a thorough state of I efficiency. Therefore he trusted they would do their best in every way they could to bring this question before the public. He, for himself, intended to take every opportunity of pressing this question on the notice of the Government. Turning to the proposal of the Government with regard to ARMY REFORM, Mr. Yerburgh said for his part he was not at all satisfied with this proposal, and if he could catch the Speaker's eye he should criticise the proposal in the House of Commons on Monday or Tuesday next. The country paid a very large sum per annum for what was supposed to be an effective Army. Lord Lansdowne had told us that when war broke out there were no fewer than 92,000 men who could in no sense be called a field army, and were unfit for foreign service. The country did not appear to realise that. How had we carried through our war? We had called up the Reserves and then we had to call upon the Yeo- manry and Volunteers. That was how we had carried through our war, but the men we had been paying for were no good—they were too young, not of sufficient physique, and not capable of going abroad and acting for us in the field. There were 92,000 of them, and what did they I cost us: A soldier cost us upon a moderate com- putation B50 per annum. Thus these 92,000 men had cost us over four and a half millions per annum of money. That might just as well have been thrown into the sea. What good was it? We had been paying the price of five battleships for an Army which was no Army at all. They proposed to raise more soldiers in the future, but they had not been able to get all the soldiers wanted in the past; last year they were 18,000 short of the number it was intended to get. How were we going to get more? All that was offered to the soldier was the abolition of sentry- go, and he was to have a sleeping place to himself. Was that the sort of thing that was going to appeal to recruits? Were we going to get good men of good physique at the rate of Is. per day and 3d. per day messing allowance? Was it likely? (A Voice: "No, no.") It was absolutely! absurd, and the case was made stronger because we had been giving our Yeomanry 5s. per day. What was the effect? He met a retired colonel the other day who had been at Aldershot to see his old regiment and had been told that 150 men had deserted. It was believed that these men had deserted in order to join the Imperial Yeo- manry at 5s. per day. Was it likely by our giving the Yeomanry 5s. per day we were going to get the proper sort of men at Is. per day and 3d. per day messing allowance? We should have to PAY OUR SOLDIERS BETTER. I There was no proposal to increase the pay of the Regular Army. The Gov- ernment did propose to increase the pay of the Volunteers and Yeomanry and to give them a certain allowance, but nothing was to be done for the Regular Army. Was it likely that this scheme of the Government was going to be a real scheme? It appeared to him that the effect of this would be the same bad state of affairs, and if we had a war in five years' time the sa«ne thing would happen—we should have 90,000 men unfit for service, and we should be obliged to call upon Volunteers, Yeomanry and Reserves. Was the country ready to accept that position? He was certain it was not. We were willing to pay for an Army and we must have an Army. For his part he would prefer to wipe out those 92,000 men and give increased pay to good men and to Reservists. (Cheers.) What we wanted was an Army, say, of 30,000 men kept ready to go any- where at a moment's notice, because we had all our possessions beyond the seas, where the services of a body of men might be required. We remem- ered what happened in the Boer War. Lord Wolseley wanted the Government to mobilise, and Lord Lansdowne said they could not do that because it would be a provocative action. What we wanted was an efficient Army, and if we could not afford to pay for a large Army we must pay the Army we got well and increase our Reserves, so that if necessary we should have a larger body of men to call upon if we had a war forced upon us by a big Power. (Cheers.) He hoped before long he would have an oppor- tunity of dealing with another question bearing upon the Army—the Militia Ballot. (Cheers.) But he had forgotten the case where he voted against the Government. It was the CASE OF GENERAL COLVILE. I He, as they knew, returned home from South Africa, and, having had his case examined by Lord Lansdowne and Lord Wolseley, was sent back to Gibraltar to discharge there the remainder of the term of his appointment. On the receipt of the finding of the Court of Inquiry upon Colonel Spragge and the Imperial Yeomanry who were at Lindley, General Colvile received a letter from the War Office calling upon him to resign his command and leave Gibraltar. He (Mr. Yerburgh) had not the honour of the ac- quaintance of General Colvile. He had never seen him, and only knew him by reputa- tion as being a man of extraordinary daring and being too reckless. A friend of his (Mr. Yer- burgh's) asked him if he thought General Colvile had a case would he be prepared to take it up. He replied that he would look through the papers, and if he had a case he would do his best to put it before the House of Commons. It would be a very bad thing indeed if supporters of the Gov- ernment refused to look into a case because their own Government had decided upon it. A man ought to be able to get justice from either side of the House. He looked into the case and came to the conclusion that General Colvile had been extremely hardly treated. Nothing he had heard since in the course of debate had led him to alter his opinion one jot. Whether General Colvile was guilty or not guilty of certain act-- had noth- ing to do with the charges agrnnst him. The short point was that that officer was condemned upon, a charge which he -,nd never had the I opportunity Qf meeting. The Court of Inquiry sat upon Colonel Spragge, not upon General Colvile, who was never called before the Court and knew nothing of what took place. He (General Colvile) was not represented in any way, before the Court, neither was he given an oppor- tunity of sifting the evidence. His (Mr. Yerburgh's) contention was that every man, whether he was a civilian or whether he was in the Army, had the right to be heard in his own defence before he was convicted. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Yerburgh) had boys of his own who might go into the Army, and if they did he should like to know that if charges were brought against them they would have the chance of defending themselves. (Cheers.) General Colvile might be the most guilty man on the face of the earth, but he had nothing to do with that. General Colvile was prepared to stand his Court Martial, and he (Mr. Yerburgh) thought he ought to have been given the benefit of a Court Martial. (Cheers.) It was because the Government acted in a way which he thought was ill-advised and unfair to General Colvile, and in a way that he could not possibly approve, that he voted against them, and he would vote against them to-morrow under similar circumstances. (Loud cheers.) On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Churton, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Yerburgh for what was described by the Chairman as his statesmanlike address. Mr. Yerburgh, in acknowledging this cordial vote, expressed the hope that he would soon be able to come to Chester again and meet his constituents. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Dickson for presiding. This was seconded by Mr. Egerton Gilbert and carried with acclamation.

SLEEPLESS MGHTS. WEAK NERVES THE CAUSE. MR. CLINNICK TELLS HOW HE OBTAINED RELIEF AND A CURE. Sleeplessness is a forerunner of Nervous Pros- tration. What organism is strong enough to stand up under the strain of sleepless nights ? It is not strange that physical and mental weakness, amounting soon to complete prostra- tion, follows inability to sleep. That the nerves largely depend upon the kidneys for sustenance and strength is easily understood, as without rich, pure blood to feed upon, the nervous system soon becomes weak, and if the kidneys are impaired, poisons are allowed to enter the blood, and the nervous system is quickly affected. That Dodd's Kidney Pills, by acting on the kidneys, promptly afford relief in cases of nervous debility and sleeplessness is evident by the following letter from Mr. E. J. Clinnick, who, writing from 4, Palmerston-street, Devon-, port, on Feb. 20th, 1901, says :— I take pleasure in writing to inform yOiX that I have found Dodd's Kidney Pills most valaable; in fact, better than any remedy fchafc I bave yet heard of, and I feel quite a different, person since taking the first box. I was suffering from nervous debility.. and did not feel equal to performing mjr usual duties; was very depressed and low qpiritcd could not sleep well, and usually ros& ill the morning with a sense of fatigue, antf a feeling that my sleep did not refresh me. I war. also greatly troubled with bad hcadadhas. Finding such good results from the first box, I took three more, a-ad am pleasedj to say I am now free from the symptoms nam above. I have. no hesitation in recommending Dodd's Kidney Pills to anyone suffering from nervous debility." Dodd's Kidney Pills are 2 9 per boy, six boxes tor 13/9, ot all Chemists; or Kent post free on receipt of price by The Dodd's Medicine Co., 23, Favrivt^on Averrao, London, E.C. ImportarJ, to rcKiensber the