Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

THE MAYOR'S BANQUET. The Mayor (Mr J. C. Owen), following the example of most of his predecessors, gave a dinner to the corporate officials of the town and a few local gentlemen last Friday evening in the tCvuustay Arms Hotel. The banqnet was held in the Assembly-room, which was deeorated by the arms of the town and those of Sir Watkin W. Wvnn, Bart., together with several stars formed f'bavonets. On the tables were numerous exotic Slants and ferns, which had been lent by Mr Councillor Strachan. The cuisine department lias carried out with the greatest efficiency and despatch, and the manner in which the dinner was t)litced on the table reflected credit en the worthy host, Mr Mnrless. The menu was as folio* M JS A U soep Turtle. FISH Salmon and Lobster Sauce. ENTREES Salmi de Faisan. Cotelette de Mouton Sauce Tomate. Casserole de Homard. Rognons de Mouton a IA Brochette. RELEVES Tnrkey. Saddle Mutton. Sucking Pig. Sirloin of Beef. Goose. Leg Mutton. Second Course. Pheasant. Mayonnaise de Homard. .sea Kale. Escalloped Oysters. Partridges. EXTREMETS Stewed Pears. Jelly. Custards. ."ir Watkin's Pudding. I Compote d' Orange. Plum Pudding. Ice Pudding. DESSERT I There were present the.Mayor (Mr J. C. Owen), sh Waikin W. Wynn, Bart., M.P., Mr Cornwallis West (Lord Lieutenant of the county), Mr Siffiuelson (Mayor of Liverpool), Mr Robert Gre? pIllyor of Chester), Mr Yoike, J.P., the Rev Was. Davies, the Rev. J. Dixon, the Rev. J H. Gibbon, Lieut.-Col. Jones, Aldermen Wm. Eawiaiid, P. Walker, J. Beirne; Councillors J. Beale, H. Lloyd, Y. Strachan, H. Davies, E. Smith, S GriiB:bs, William Sherratt, and T. Manley; Dr. Williams, Mr J. H. Foulkes, Mr C. Hughes, Mr T. C. Jones, Mr E. Tench, Mr T. Eyton Totes, aud Mr W. Low, justices of the peace for the borough Mr J. B. Murless, Mr J. Clark, and Sir J. Lewis, ex-ioayors Mr John James,, town- clerk; Mr J. A. Hughes, magistrates' clerk; Mr B. H. Thtlwall, coroner; Mr J. Bradshaw, deputy- chief constable Mr T. Heywood, high constable Mr Li. William-, medical officer; Mr G. Bradley, aud Mr W. Pricliard, auditors; Mr J. Williams, assessor; r J. N. M. Smith, borough surveyor; Mr Srtetenham, Mr James Sparrow, Mr H. Dennis, Mr Acton, Mr D. Pugh, Mr Evan Morris, Mr H. Humphreys, Mr Thomas Bury, Mr J. G. Buckton, Mr By.1 er, Mr J. Pryce-Jones, Mr Ffrencb, Mr F. Page, Mr S. Griffiths (Chirk), Mr Moses (Chirk), aud Mr Farrer. After the cloth had been removed, and Non nobis domine" bad been rendered by the glee party (Messrs Cnzoer, Bell, Orme, and Waite, of Chester Cathedral), The Mayor gave the toast of Her Gracious Majesty the Q leeu," in doing which he referred to to the recent alarming illness of the Prince of Wales, and said at that time it was proved that the hearts of the people were true and loyal. "Gíld save the Queen" by the glee party. The Mayor next gave The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal family," and said if ever his Highness should visit Wrexham, a right royal reception would be given him. ii G,.d bless the Prince of Wales," glee party. The Mayor proposed The Army, Navy, Auxiliary, and Reserve Forces." There was such a thing as peace at any price, which, hewever, was a very dear price. (Applause.) It was better always to be prepared, and we must ever keep our powder dry. (Applause.) Lieat.-Colonel Jones responded on behalf of the army, aud said he hoped Sir Watkin would be able to coufirm the report that Wrexham was to be made the dej 6t centre. (Applause.) He would be glad if Mr Cardfcll could carry his measure, so that we might in Wrexham have some insight in soldier- ing; and if this town were made a centre, he hoped it would not result in the army being any the less popular. (Applause.) The gallant speaker also spoke of the utilisation of sewage, and said he believed the time bad come when the great waste of valuable material should be stopped, which would have a most beneficial effect on the country. Referring to the sewage farm, he said although the weather had been so exceedingly bad during the past year, lie had nothing to complain of, but had done very well. Sir Watkin replied for the volunteers and said if that part of the force always showed the same aUeixon to their duties as they had done since he had had the honour of commanding them, they wuuld well keep up their prestige. He believed the first officer who had ever tried to drill him was Colonel Jones' grandfather. (Applause.) He thought the drilling of the auxiliary forces in this country had been to a very great extent dependent upon the exertions if both Col. Jones' grandfather and uncle. The question of the military centre had been mooted. (Applause.) He did not like to bring his private affiira before a company like this, but he knew there was a strong feeling aboat it in the town, for of course a large body of men would cause a large sum of money to be spent in the town. Some persons said that the money would all go to the public houses. He would not deny that a very large proportion of it would be spent in the first instance in that manner, but still if a publican made large sums of money he would I find his house too small and would enlarge it; or ha would be more liberal to his wife and daughters and buy them new gowns. (Laughter.) He would tell them the position he was in. The Government had applied to him to give them lease of the racecourse for 99 years but he thought that was too much to ask, for he knew the Government was a very hard master. (Laughter.) If they obtained such a lease, it sight be very difficult to make any change in the hoding. He bad had an interview with the officers of the Government, and had stated his terms; and it was agreed that the matter should be settled by solicitors appointed by both sides. His (Sir Watkin's.) solicitor bad been in London a few days ago, and had hied to see the Government solicitor, lbut unfortunately he was not in town; and he hoped to see him next week, when terms might be agreed upon. He was only too anxious to give every assistance he could to the people of Wrexham —applause)—and he wished to come to a seltle- ment with the Government. He denied that any question of remuneration was connected with the eubj « ct, for the only difference was in reference to the terms of agreement. They must remember that the plan of military centres was merely an espenmeut, and whether the measure of Mr Card- well would be successful or not he could not say. aowever, the present Government would not last for ever. (Applause.) One of his own friends Olight soon fiil Mr Cardwell's office, and another overnment might adopt an entirely different plan Mr the organisation of the army. However, he 1 not wish to have a hard master over him as Mgarded his own land. The hon. baronet again tuauked the company for the way in which they had received the toast. (Applause.) The Mayor proposed The Bishop and Clergy « the diocese and the Ministers of all denomiua- cT' Eud regretted the absence of the Rev. Geo. ?""Sfr e in consequence of a death in his familv. The Rev. W. Davies responded, and said he did 1101. think there was a single minister in this large parish that he did not know, and he might say that they were all doing their work well, and he bad a very great wish that they should succeed in promoting Christianity. With respect to the bishop of the diocese, he believed his lordship had already gained the hearty good wishes of all •uoaential persons and many others in the diocese. (Hfar, hear.) He was looked upon by his clergy lu quite in the light of a father—a man to whom they were able to go and consult, and feel suie obtaining his lordship's parental advice; and that was a great deal to say of a man who was in gulh a bai. gh position as the Lord Bishop of the ocese. It appeared that the toast was divided tuto two parts, the 41 bishop and clergy," and the ttinigters of all denominations." He was sure that the ministers of all denominations had had far better advantages than the bishop and clergy of. the diocese. There never was a time when the r4inisterii of all denominations had a stranger sent them to rule them but the Church of tlifyland bad, long before the present bishop came been obliged to yield to the influence of II 6traligeri who spoke in a foreign language, and LardJy knfw bow to sympathise with the Welsh Peolile. However, their present bishop was a man 0 ad worked hard previously in his parish in jj 6 diicese of St. David's, and had gained the I affections of the clergy in that district; and through his great influence and powerful mode of ad- dressing Welsh people he had gained the high position he now held in this diocese. Those of them who knew the history of the Church of Eng- land in Wales knew that the Ministers of State had been in the habit of sending amongst as men who were very learned, who had distinguished themselves in classics and mathematics, but who knew very little about the religion of the country or how to teach the people. The create anxiety of many of those men was to promote the?r own temporal interests and to add to the wealth of their relatives. For a time they staod among us as rich people, but they and their families were now forgotten in the district. When the Church of England had its proper influence through the high officers connected with it, he believed it would gain upon the affections of the people. It appeared that those men of the state who had thought well of the church had been looked upon as church but. tresses, but the present prime minister, who had sent the present bishop amongst us to be our ruler, was actually a pillar in the church. His anxiety seemed to be to promote religion, and with that object he had sent this good man to be the bishop of St. Asaph and he believed his hard working clergy, guided by him, would promote greatly the interests of Christ's church and the temporal and spiritual interests of the people, which was the main object of the church of Christ. Of course the church was not now what it was in former times, for they now knew it was elastic and able to adapt itself to the wants of the people, and it had proved itself capable of meeting the wants of the people. One hundred and fifty years ago there were dozens of parishes in Wales that had ministers who kuew nothing about the wants of the people but when great men felt that the Gospel of Christ ought to be promoted amongst the people the bishops were the first to lav hold of those ministers and expel them from the church. Those great men had left their mark and would ever be respected by the Welsh people and he hoped that amongst that number would be their present bishop and many of his clergy. (Applause.) Sir Watkin said he bad great pleasure in giving the next toast, which he was sure would be well received. He begged to propose the health of their Mayor." (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Davies had said the Welsh people required a bishop who knew their wants, and he thought the inhabitants of Wrexham had gone on that principle in electing the present mayor. They had elected a man who had lived all his lifetime in the town, and such a man, if he had any intellect at all, must know the wants of the town. They all knew his good qualities, and he was one of the most fit gentlemen that could have been select- ed. He (Sir Watkiu), not many years ago, had had the honour of being asked to attend the first meeting cf that kind, when the difficulties that would have to be gone through were referred to, but the town had gradually raised its head above the others in the district and was now an example to the towns of the neighbourhood. (Applause.) He was glad to see the inhabitants of the town trying to improve it as much as possible, and he was likewioe happy to see that they were quietly carrying out their improvements without getting themselves into difficulties. As regarded one thing he had a little influence, and he hoped before long to see the station very much improved. (Applause.) He knew for a fact that the money was the other day voted for the alterations, an i orders had been issued that they were to be carried out as soon as possible. (Applause.) The Mayor said he felt extremely thankful to Sir Watkin for having uttered such words of kindness towards him in occupying the position he did as Mayor of Wrexham, for he knew that the hon. baronet had exerted himself a long time in every direction for the benefit of the town and neighbourhood. Sir Watkin had referred to his (the Mayjr) being a native of the town. He believed he was born in Wrexham, and he had been amongst its inhabitants ever since; and they were able to say whether he had conducted himself with that propriety and that straight- forwardness and fairness which entitled him to take the position to which he had been raised- (applause)—for having always been amongst them they were able to judge of the course he had taken in life. Having only been in the Council one year, he had not expected to have been elected to the honour of the mayoralty. There were those who might have taken that position and were entitled to it; and he had already expressed his thanks to them for having by an act of kindness and grace to himself waived their claims so that he should have the unanimous vote of the position in being elected to the position he now occupied. He felt that the position was very elevated, and he felt the moie thankful to his townsmen, because it was by no effort of his that he was placed in such a res- ponsible post, and he was thankful that the selection had been entirely endorsed by the inhabitants; not only of the town, but those ontside-by his friend the Mayor of Chester, by other friends, and ty the lord-lieutenant of the county; many of whom had given him kind invitations in his position as mayor, and which were therefore given to the town and not to him individually. Although the honour bad been placed upon him, he felt very humble, and he would always endeavour to fael humble so that he might be able to conduct himself with propriety, and he hoped to their satisfaction. (Applause.) He could say that, to the utmost cf his ability, and as long as health and strength would permit him, he would always be anxious to make himself useful for the benefit of the towu and so far as his humble services would go, it would always be given freely and entirely. fi-a hoped he would leave the civic chair with the same lustre with which the former mayors had vacated it, and he hoped by having emulated their examples, to have been of some use and benefit to his neighbours. Ha trusted that like his prede- cessors he would have the honour of seeing new and useful measures brought before the council, and that he would have the honour of seeing them pass into beneficial operation during his year of office. He would be ungrateful if he did not express to Sir Watkin his great sense of his kind- ness in giving him his valuable assistance in various matters, but especially with regard to the military centre. He felt deeply that, although some people might think that morally it would be an evil to the town, it would be exceedingly selfish if they were to take it in that light. Military centres must be made, and soldiers must assemble somewhere; and it would be very selfish if they, by taking that view, were to cause the military centre to be formed in some other place. They thought they had quite as much power to regulate morality in Wrexham as in any other part of the country. (Applause.) He trusted that if the military centre was brought to Wrexham, they would find it would be a great benefit to the town by increasing the wealth of the inhabitants, by decreasing their rates and taxes, and enabling them to give the right hand of fellowship both to Chester and Liverpool, which were the out ports of our mineral wealth, so that they might join in fight- ing the common enemy if they were attacked; and by these friendly invitations they would come to a better understanding, and have a more cordial spirit existing between them, and they would be able as brethren to fight under one common ban- ner. It was his pride to be able to say one thing that although he had only been in office scarcely three months, he had received the greatest kindness from the town council and from the magistrates who sat on the bench; in fact he uid not think there had been a single atom of discord existing throughout the whole time they had had the plea- sure of working together. He sincerely trusted that they would continue to work cordially to- gether for the good and the welfare of the town. They might depend upon it that unless they laid aside their little differ- ences and merged their little peculiarities, and determined to consider carefully the various im- portant matters which would be brought forward, they would not work for the advantage of the town. He hoped that during his year of office it would be found that greater advantage had been derived by a quiet, calm, and deliberate examination of the facts and circumstances which related to the welfare of the borough, and he hoped that when he retired he would do so with satisfaction to himself and he trusted to the satisfaction of all the town. (Applause.) Mr Yorke proposed the Lord-Lieutenant of the county and Mrs West." Mr West, in responding, said he has aware that the position he held in this county was one of con- siderable responsibility. He succeeded a gentleman with whom they were all acquainted, and who, he believed, during his tenure of office, succeeded in winning the esteem, not only of every magistrate with whom he was accustomed to act, but also of the general public. (Applause.) He had con- versed very frequently with him upon the appoint- ment of maistrates, and from what he had said, and from his (Mr West's) own convictions he would say that the first consideration in appointing a justice of the peace was that he should be a man of decided independence of character and position. He believed the confidence of the public in the I unpaid magistracy of this county depended entirely on the fact that they believed that every magistrates that was appointed was a man who was not subservient to popular clamour, that he was a man who, to the best of his ability, acted with justice and fairness, and acted according to law. However, he was not one of those who were of opinion that in this age the magistracy of the country should be entirely taken from the landed interest. He believed that it was contrary to the spirit of the age in which we lived if we did not, if we could, put upon the bench the com- mercial element as occasion demanded. He should certainly, whenever he had an opportunity, en- deavour to meet the wishes of the public by appointing gentlemen, not solely because they happened to have broad acres, but because they happened to be men of common sense, which he conceived to be one of the greatest qualifications for a magistrate. (Applause.) He congratulated Mr Owen upon being at the head of the magistracy of such a flourishing town as Wrexham, for it must be a most flourish- ing place to judge from the number of railway projects which had been sent to him. When he had returned home he found such a budget of railway schemes on his table that he stood quite aghast, for it seemed as if the whole country was about to be cut up. It appeared to him that a great deal of time and money would be saved if some of these schemes were to be submitted to a county board composed of gentlemen acquainted with the wishes and wants of the neighbourhood. Really some measure of that kind ought Ito be adopted, for it would save a great deal of trouble and expense. He merely threw cut the hint, because they must agree with him that such a board would be very beneficial. There was one other question connected with the county which, no doubt, would inter- est them in course of time. He alluded to the institution of financial boards. He ventured to say that before long, notwithstanding the pre- diction of his friend, Sir Watkin W. Wynn, as to the collapse of the Government- (laughter) -it was possible some measure connected with county and local taxation would crop up, and the financial board question would undoubtedly appear I at ine same time. Me believed the majority of the magistrates would have no objection whatever to relinguish a great deal of the respon- sibility they now had,and allow the ratepayers if thev wished to be represented in a more direct manner than they were at present, as regarded the county finances. He was afraid the ratepayers would be grieviously disappointed, for he wouI.t maintais that the magistrates, and especially the chairman of the quarter sessions of this county, took the greatest possible care and trouble in limiting and controling the expenditure of the county to the greatest extent. (Applause.) The ratepayers must bear in mind, that notwithstanding that they had direct representation at the finance board, they would be unable to any material extent to lessen the present expenditure. If they would allow him, he would make one other suggestion which had occurred to him. As he approached this very flourishing town, it seemed to him that there was a heavy cloud hanging over it. He did not mean to say it figuratively, but in reality, for it was a cloud ot smoke. He could not understand why. under the existing sanitary acts which itflected the local authority of towns of this description surrounded by mines, they did not proceed to prosecute if they possibly could the proprietors of those mines which emitted those poisonous oioars. He believed he was perfectly right in stating that under the present sanitary acts, it was in the power of the sanitary authority to prevent the frightful amount of smoke nuisances which made the country absolutely uninhabitable. He hoped aud trusted Wrexham would continue to remain the prosperous town it now was, and that it would continue to be an example to the other Welsh towns of industry, independence, spirit, good order, and intelligence. (Applause.) Mr T. Eyton Jones, in proposing "Sir W. W. Wynn and Lady W. Wynn," claimed some ex- perience and knowledge of the character and man- ners of the inhabitants of Wrexham, for he would remind them that nearly a quarter of a century had elapsed since he went to the office of Messrs James and Owen for his indenture. He, therefore, might allude to the character of Wrexham and say that whilst it was an agricultural town with a fair market, it in no 'way bore any relation to its pre- sent proud financial condition which placed it, as a town of its size, on an equality with any in the kingdom. (Applause.) He would remind them that at that time land was selling in the town in the principal streets at Is. 6il. a yard, but now it realised 30s. a yard. The output" of coal, lead, lime and other minerals was now so great that it had placed the county of Denbigh at the head of the list as regarded the mineral output" of the North Wales section of the Principality; and the financial assessment of Wrexham placed it in the first posi- tion. He would ask what had given rise to that change ? He would say, on the authority of Mr Robertson, the engineer of the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, and the ex-Liberal member for Shrewsbury, that if it had not been for the cordial assistance of Sir Watkin to the line projected between Shrewsbury and Chester, they would not at that moment have been in their advanced posi- tion. (Applause.) It was well to remind them of the foresight of Sir Watkin, his love of Wrex- ham and its neighbourhood, which had given to them not only the prosperity they now enjoyed, but even the Town Council, who had elected the mayor, through whom they had received the glorious hospitality of that evening. As a native of the county of Merioneth, he could tell them that the same foresight, prudence, and kindness had been extended not very long ago with respect to the line between Corwen and Llanfyllin, when the hon. baronet, without guarantee and without security, came handsomely forward, and put at the disposal of the promoters a large sum of money. They knew he was the greatest supporter of our local charities; he was the friend of every public institution we possessed he was the warmest supporter of the church and he would draw attention to the fact that he had preferred being a representative of the county of Denbigh than hold a higher seat in the House of Lords. (Applause.) How nobly he had been supported in his labours of love in this district by Lady Wynn, he need hardly tell them. So nobly did that lady conduct herself at the great calamity that happened to Wynnstay that she received the sympathy, not only of the whole district, but he might say from the throne to the cottage, from the Sovereign to the peasant. (Applause.) Her warm acts towards the sufferers at the Green Pit explosion had immortalised her name, not only in the district in which she lived, but far away, and they would be handed as a tradition to the children of the district and he felt sure that the Ruabon Cottage Hospital, which had been erected through her aid, would demonstrate to future generations that the Lady Wynn of the present day had been the friend and wellwisher of, and the hard worker for, the poor people of her neighbourhood. (Ap p ause.) He wished them God speed, and God bless them. (Applause.) Sir Watkin said Mr Eyton Jones has drawn a little on his imagination, more particularly about the railroads, for although be had given them certain assistance he had not done so to the extent which his speech would give them to understand. Sir Watkin then spoke of the advantages of railway communication, after which he referred to the county expenditure, and said that nearly every item had to be settled by different departments of the Government, but he did not believe that very much would be gained by having financial boards. It was not yet known what measures the Govern- ment intended bringing in for the amendment of the laws of the country, for unfortunately the pro- gramme of the Government for the ensuing session was concealed in the breasts of the Cabinet, and none of them could do anything more than sur- mise and what had been done in the last session had taken place so long ago that if he again dragged it to the front, it would result in his saying what had appeared in every newspaper and what had been talked about at every dinner. It was therefore not worth his while to do so, as he knew that some of his friends present were strong supporters of Her Majesty's Government, and others there were round the table who were just as great opponents. (Applause.) He would say, notwithstanding that several Acts bad been brought before Parliament last year, and might have to be again brought forward, such for instance as the Mines' Regulation Act, which although it had been passed, might still require to be altered. However, he would say no more on that point, but again thank them, and hope he might long be spared to sea many of those friends that were now around him. (Applause). Mr E. Swetenham, in giving the" County and Borough Members of Parliament," said they had now a greater opportunity than they used to have of becoming acquainted with the private feelings, both in public an d other matters, of their members of Parliament. If they looked over the public prints they would see a great many columns of Parliament out of Session," and when members were not in Session they aired their opin ions I amongst their constituents. Wilether that, was altogether good or not it was not for him to say, but he would remark that he thought gentlemen were apt to say a great deal more out of session than in session—(laughter)— and they sometimes obtained a good deal more information in the recess than when the members were under the influence of the more sobering atmosphere of the House ef Commons. He believed the members of Parliament acted con- scientiously in doing the best they could for the interests of the country. That was all they could hope for, and if they had members, as he believed they had, both for the county and the boroughs, who conscientiously did what they thought right for the country, they deserved at the hands of their constituents their warmest feel- ings of thanks. What he hoped they would always see carried out by their members was a single- minded and thoroughly straightforward course, and one in which all self should be sacrificed for the public good. (Applause.) Whatever might be the state of politics in the county of Denbigh, whether Whig or Tory, he believed there was not a single person who would wish otherwise than see Sir Watkin in his place in the House of Commons, because he represented not only a political opinion, but certain Welsh ideas which none but such a nobleman could represent. (Applause.) Sir Watkin alluded to the fact that he had had the honour of being their representative 32 years, and said he had always received kindness from every shade of political feeling in the county. Mr William Rowland proposed the County and borough magistrates, and specially referred to the assiduity of Mr T. C. Jones in the performance of his magisterial duties. Mr Cuarles Hughes responded, and adverted to the suitable choice the Town Council had made in appointing Mr Owen mayer. He said there was little intemperance ia Wrexham, which might be due to the vigilance of the poliee, or the increase in the intelligence of the inhabitants, but they would all agree that the bench discharged their functions in an efficient manner. Dr. Williams proposed The Visitors." Mr Samueleon (Mayor of Liverpool) replied, and remarked that in the town of Liverpool there were 50,000 or 60,000 Welshmen, and he had felt it due to them to accept the Mayor's invitation and tell the people of Wrexham how loyally they behaved as citizens in the town of their adoption. Unlike the story of the Scotchman, they never turned their backs on Wales for ever; still they contributed very largely to the success of the port of Liverpool. He might say another reason why he had accepted the invitation was because his heart yearned towards Wales, lor his better-half was Welsh. (Applause.) Wrexham was more closely allied with Liverpool as a commercial town than any other town in North Wales, and the com- mercial interchange between them was both beneficial and lasting. Mr Samuelson concluded by reverting to sanitary measures, and advising the Town Council to pay for all improvements at once, for if they did not do so whatever paity was pre- dominant, the taxes would still cling to them. (Applause.) He took the opportunity, on behalf of himself and his wife, of thanking the people of Wrexham for theit kindness to his brother-in-law, Mr Eytan-Jones, during his recent illness. Mr Peter Walker proposed the health of the County Court Judge (Mr R. V. Williams) and the legal and medical professions. Mr Lewis in responding designated the lawyers necessary evils." and happy was the man who cou'd go through life without troubling either a doctor or a lawyer. He congratulated the com- pany on the fact that perfect amity existed between the legal gentlemen of the town, for no greater calamity could befall a commanity of this size than a deadly fend among the lawyers. Dr. Williams replied on behalf of the medical profession. Mr Charles Hughes gave the Town Council," and spoke of the improvements that had been made since the town had been incorporated 15 years ago. The Town Clerk responded, and after alluding to the work accomplished by the Town Council since its formation, said they had by their sanitary mea- sares saved many hundreds of lives and alleviated a great amount of misery. It was now twelve o'clock, and permission having only been obtained to remain open until that hour, the proposing of toasts was brought to a close, although Mr J. Lewis gave it as his opinion that the magistrates present could legally form themselves into a petty sessions and grant a further extension of time. A pause ensued, and there seeming little likelihood that the justices would prolong the hour, Mr J. Lewis expressed himself unwilling to remain on the premises and run the risk of being fined for being in la public-house at an illegal honr. This was the signal for a stampede, and the proceedings were brought to a termination. The remaining toasts were-To be proposed by Mr J. Lewis "The Town and Trade of Wrexham," to be responded to by Mr T. C. Jones; Mr James Sparrow The Mining and Agricultural In- terests," Mr W. Low, Mr H. Dennis, and Mr J. B. Murless; Mr E. Tench, The Ladies," Mr J. D. Williams; and the Press," Mr Bradley. During the evening the glee party gave several selections, which were rendered in their accus- tomed efficient style. It is expected that the Qaeen will open Parlia- ment in person. Professor Sedgwick died at Cambridge on Mon- day morning. The National Bank of Belgnim has reduced its rate of discount from 5 to 41 per cent. It is said that the Empress of the French is about to leave Camden-place, but will continue to reside in England. Two boys were drowned on Saturday in the Town Loch, Danfermline, by the giving way of the ice, and a third hai a narrow escape. The Belfast jury have found a verdict of wilful murder against Charlotte and Mary Rea for the Holywood crime. Only one juryman out of 18 dissented. In the city of Dablin there are 195,180 Roman Catholics, 38,897 Protestant Episcopalians, 4,517 Presbyterians, 1,828 Methodists, and 4,904 of other denominations. Oa Friday afternoon the late Dr. Stephen Lush- ington was buried at Oakham, near Woking, Dean Stanley officiated at the foneral ceremony, which was entirely of a private character, at which none but the members of the family were present. Fonr days last week and on Monday and Tues- dty were maiden sessions at the Southampton police coort-a circumstance that has net occured for the last ten years. This is attributed to the closing of the public houses at eleven o'clock. It is the intention of her Majesty's Government to call oat the Yeomanry Cavalry for permanent duty during the present year, and general officers commanding districts in Great Britain have been instructed to submit their proposals accordingly. The revenue returns for the financial year, from the 1st of April, 1872, to the 25 of January, 1873, show an increase on receipts of £1,834,501, and a decrease on the expenditure iDf 21,176,380, as com- pared with the corresponding period of the previous year. The balance shows an increase of £ 3,053,899. Mr Bright, M.P., in a brief note apologising for not being present at the dinner given by one of the Liberal ward associations in Birmingham, says he hopes to be able to give a fair attendance in Parlia- ment during the coming session, and trusts the country will continue to support a Liberal Ad- ministration. At a publio meeting held in Liverpool, on Saturday, under the presidency of the Mayor, it was resolved to erect a memorial to the late Mr Graves, M.P., in commemoration of his eminent public services. A proposal that a statue of the lamented gentleman should be placed in St. George's Hall met with much favour. MANAGEMENT OF HIGHWAYS.—A deputation from the District Surveyors' Association waited on Mr Stansfeld on Tuesday to urge the better management of highways generally, and the plac- ing of the aypointment of surveyors in the hands of the Local Government Board. The suggestions made by Mr Hicks (chairman of the association) were a uniform system of management; the cost of maintaining highways to be a common charge on highway districts, and upon the county; power to trim hedges and ditches. Mr Stansfeld said they could not maintain roads out of imperial taxes, but they might widen the area. The other matters should receive attention.