Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

I Tll- WREXHAM AND RHOS RAILWAY t SCHEMES. The House of Lords' Committee hag, for the second time, rejected the East Denbighshire I Railway Bill in favour of the rival Bill pro- moted by the Great Western Company. As was the cast: last year, they have done so in direct opposition to the great preponderance of popular feeling in the district, expressed officially and otherwise. The refusal or » select of the Great Western Company to provide railway accommodation for so populous autl important a district excited qaite naturally a keen resentment, which niaie itself felt when they brought forward weir rival scheme, and the Company's atteraptod justification of the delay is far hum being satisfactory. On the other hand, i: would hardly bo fair to accnse the Lords' Uuimittee of having wantonly ignored the o I:) wishes of the iuhabitants of the locality con- Ctrued in order to favour a powerful and Wealthy corporation. The truth is that there ire arguments for each scheme which can- nJt be urI',1 in favour of its rival, aul the whole question turns upon a balance 91 vl*anta^es. The East Denbighshire scheme o:fr:; for iu"t<1ilce tl1d advantage of competi. tiúu. aud experience has shown that great railway monopolies are injurious to the in- terests of the public. Then again, the U'litral Station at Wrexham is more con- ▼•-■liitiitly situated than the Great Western s-adun, which is on the very edge of the Municipal burough, and, what is of far greater importance, the East Denbighshire scheme futud cliun out a new communication between Rhos and Birkenhead by means of the Wrex- ham. Hold, and Connah's Quay and Wirral On the other hand the Great Western scheme takes in Johnstown, and has the great advantage of affording direct communication with Ruabon. and with stations south and '\Y,'4 of Ruabon. It is to be regretted that the iiautlai arrangeme nts of the East Donbigh- 3 ury scheme were not more definite, and Mere can be little doubt that their compara- t've v, had something to do with its 0 rejection by the Lords' Committee. The rdusal of tlw Committee to sanction i1l(: (; t txtensiou of the Great Western lJue fro I'} ??" los to Pcnvcae, in order .0 1"eCt the opposition of -the Shropshire (mOll R?uw?ys and Canal Company is of eùnrs •unisc a serious disadvantage, which, if the Great W (:c,t"rn B.Il I b "a estern Bill should c) pass, must be r eU1(:Jwù hv r ici n requiring the former Company to t:rrv IJaSSlellU('rc' ùv th' 1, passengers over their line. In any case W, trust that some means will be found of voiding a recurrence of the dead lock •ecasioned last year by the rejection of both the rival schemes.

THE DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. The results of the Denbighshire County ?McM elections, a^ur^s a salutary warning to tbe Liberals of the county in view of the next of. .1 dection. It is the old story of Liberal Jf.f 1 ?om over-confidence of suc- eess Organis, organise, organise," is the .!if: tbj0n "??? is taught by the recent i elect'an<^ which must be taken to heart an(i Nviliell must be taken to heart 8.1 ??b?i?hire Liberals if they are to re- J 'r Ic?t ?ound. The truth is, that they W1 bc-Lu caught napping, and have suffered Cun~ liutnce. Their opponents have not Y ''pc ? more alert than they, but have far XCe^c<^ them in political strategy and fin uev,e. Fas et et a,b 7tosto doccri. The Tories liavc proved themselves adepti in the ar1 t of silently undermining the enemy's posi- 11 • They protested that they were fighting JI tIJe County Council elections on non- frolitical grounds, and having in this way llgùt the Liberals unawares, are boasting of l4T*ne Tron a great political triumph. The fact is that they could not even obtain a majority of elected councillors, and it was owing to Liberal defections, that they were able to elect eight Tory aldermen, and thus turn the balance of parties in their favour. In refusing to elect a single Liberal as an alder- man, their protest against County Council elections turning on party politics sounds hollow enough. It is also significant, that in regard to the two elections in which there was a tie-St. Asaph and Llanarmon-the return- ing officer for St. Asaph, who happened to be a Conservative, unhesitatingly gave his casting vote for the Conservative candidate, while at Llanarmon, the returning officer, a Liberal, refused to give a casting vote, thus showing a scrupulosity, which, however admirable in itself, has not only placed the Liberals at a disadvantage, but has raised a difficult ques- tion of procedure, and will necessitate a fresh election.

Free Education. It is rather stra.nge that so long after the passing of the Free Education Act, the rights it confers upon parents, of every degree and quality whatsoever," should appear to be so imperfectly understood. The Act is the necessary resultant of the law of compulsory attendance, which is the very keystone of our national system of education, for it has been found by experience that the latter cannot be generally enforced without it. As we understand that the accuracy of our remarks upon the subject last week has been called in question, we give the following quotations from a memorandum issued by the Education Department in May, 1893, which, it will be seen, entirely confirms what we said last week about the Free Education Act Under the Education Act of 1891 the greater number of the elementary schools in Eng- land and Wales are now free. With regard to districts where all school places are not yet free, the following memorandum explains the rights of parents, and how they may obtain free education for their children. Every father and mother, in England and Wales, has a right to free education without payment or charge of any kind, for his or her children between the age of three and fifteen. The right to free education is not a concession to poverty, but is common to all classes alike. Any parent who has not got free education already, may write to the Education Department and claim it, either alone or in combination with other parents. The free education to which parents have a right must be unconditional, that is to say, must not be free while the child is in certain standards only, or be given on the ground of poverty, or be subject to any inquiry as to the means of the parent or the reasons the parent has for desiring it, or be free only on condition that the child attends regularly, or have any other condition attached to it. It must be wholly free, without any charge. for books, slates, or anything else and it must be at a school within a reasonable distance of the child's home. The managers of all schools, whether they are free schools or not, are bound to provide a proper supply of books, slates, and other school apparatus, and cannot compel a parent to provi.e books, either by periodical payment or by pur- chase, nor can they refuse admission to a child whose parent refuses to provide them. But if a parent prefers to buy school books outright, so that they may remain the property of the child, there is nothing to prevent his buying them from the managers, or the managers selling them to him, as a purely voluntary arrangement, and a matter of mutual convenience." ———— ——-—-

co The Founda- tions of Religiout Belie/ Mr BALFOUR'S new book, what- ever its merits may be from literary and philosophic points of view, provides scant comfort for orthodox Christiana. His defence of Christianity appears to be a negative one. Mr BAT. ouR, likeSOCRITFS, says, in effect that all we know is that nothing can be known, and, therefore, we cannot know that Christianity is not true!

Denbighshire County Advertisements. The ways of official bodies are sometimes hard to understand. For instance, the annual state- ment of accounts of the Denbighshire County Council is, we presume, published, as required by law, for the information of the ratepayers of the county; but the statement is advertised, not in a Denbighshire newspaper, but in a Flintshire paper, published at Holywell! We are curious to know what explanation will be forthcoming of this extraordinary proceeding. ♦

The Oswestry Division. We congratulate the Liberals of the Oswestry Division upon having at length obtained an excellent candidate in Captain OWEN THOMAS, of Brynddu, Anglesey. Captain THOMAS'S intimate connection with the agricul- tural industry, and his position as the only representative of the Principality on the Royal Commission on Agriculture, are an important qualification for the representation of an agricul- tural constituency, and we have no doubt that he will fight a good fight against the present member, Mr STANLEY LEIGHTON, who is best known as the English representative of the Tories of Wales.

LOCAL AND DISTRICT. Lord Henry Vane Tempest has been appointed a deputy lieutenant of the county of Mont- gomery. Mn T. P. LEWIS, M.P., after being confined for some months at his residence, near Bangor, has been able to take out-door exercise. Sir Theodore Martin continues to make pro- gress towards recovery, but is still confined to his room. Lady Martin, however, is in a critical condition. The work of constructing a new bridge over the river Dee at Queensferry, to take the place of the old ferry, will be begun next Monday, when excavations will be made for stone piles. The total cost will be £ 15,000. In consequence of the election of Mr P. P. Pennant (I) to an aldermanic seat on the Flint- shire County Council, a vacancy has occurred in the Bodfari Division. Mr Edwin Morgan, J.P., of Cae Gwyn, has been selected as an Indepen- dent candidate. A marriage has been arranged between Mr W. D. Bridgeman, only son of the Rev. the Hon. J. Bridgeman, rector of Weston, and Caroline Beatrix, eldest daughter of the Hon. Cecil Parker, estate agent to the Duke of Westminster. MR AND 1Hs GLADSTONE are returning to Eng- land sooner than had been expected. They will leave the Riviera on March 24th, and are expected at the residence of Mr Henry Gladstone in White- hall-place on March 26th. Both are well and desire to spend Easter in England. A marriage will shortly take place between Colonel George Elphinstone Erskine, Bombay Ca.valrv Commissioner of the Kumaou Division in the North Western Provinces, India, and ETa. Constance, eldest daughter of the Rev. Canon Wood Edwards, vicar of Ruabon. CHESHIRE LIBERAL UNIONIST ASSOCIATION.-The Duke of Westminster, speaking at Chester on Saturday at the annual meeting of the Cheshire Liberal Unionist Association, said nothing could be more extraordinary than the present state of affairs—that the two chief items in the Radical programme—namely, Home Rule and the de- struction of the House of Lords, were put on one side. All the evidence they received with regard to the increase of the party in the County Council and in other directions showed that the cause was gaining considerably throughout the country, and they would not be surprised if at the next elec- tion they had an overwhelming majority. The Duke was re-elected president of the association. CHESTER AGRICULTURAL COLLHGE.—A meeting of the Agricultural School Committee of the Cheshire County Council was held at Crewe, on Tuesday, when Mr E. Druce, of Cirencester, was appointed vice-principal of the Agricultural and Horticultural School at Holmes Chapel, and Mr W. Nield was appointed head gardener and teacher in horticulture. The results of the recent examinations were submitted, and the names of nineteen pupils were recommended for scholar- ships, the one at the head of the list being awarded The Royal Show, Chester, 1893 Scholarship, provided out of the fund of £1,000, handed over to the Council by the Royal Agricultural Show Committee, Chester. The alterations at the college at Saltersford Hall will be completed by the end of next month. THB LATH MRS EDWARDS.—Mrs Edwards, the widow of the ReT. William Edwards, vicar of Llangollen, and the mother of the Bishop of St. Asaph, died on Wednesday of influenza at Llandow Rectory, the rectory of one of her sons, in her 89th year. The funeral took place at Llangollen yesterday (Friday) afternoon. The amount of the personal estate of the late Mr Arthur John Jones, Bamford, Oldcroft. Rhyl, and Llanrhaiadr Hall, Denbighshire, a member of tbp firm of Bamford Brothers, Liverpool, pro- vision merchants, has been proved in the St. Asaph registry at £ 17,335. The sole executor is Mrs Bamford, to whom the deceased leaves the whole of the estate. DEB FISHERY BOARD.—The Returning Officer (Major T. J. Leadbetter) certified on Saturday that the following had been elected representative members of the river Dee Fishery Board for the year 1895 :—The Hon. H. Holbrook, Parkgate Messrs W. Bennett, Connah's Quay; W. Bird, Chester; J. Buckley, Heswall; J. P. Davies, Chester; R. Dodd. Connah's Quay M. Gerrard, Chester; J. Price, sen., Chester; D. Sconce, Chester; W. Smith, Parkgate; H. Enfield Taylor, and E. H. Williams, Chester. Tiaii PRIXCE OF WALES AND THB LATE LORD ABERDARE.—The Prince of Wales has sent Lord Aberdare the following autograph letter in reply to one in which in the name of Lady Aberdare and the family Lord Aberdare thanked his Royal Highness for the constant support given by the Prince to the late Lord Aberdare on the Royal Commission on the aged poor :— rt 'T""Io.. xi.&Britannia, Cannes, ilarcn bth, loao. Dear Lord Aberdare,-Let me express my warmest thanks for your kind letter, and pray tell Lady Aberdare how grateful I am for her message. I have felt so deeply for her in her great sorrow. I bad the greatest possible regard and friendship for your kind and excellent father. The least I could do was to send Sir F. Knollys to represent me at the funeral. I shall always look back with the greatest interest and satisfaction to having been a member of the Royal Commission of which your father was chair- man; but I often feared that the work was too much for him.—With renewed expressions of sympathy to all your family, believe me, sincerely yours, ALBERT EDWARD. THE LATE MR SAHCSL SALTER, OF WELSHPOOL. —The death took place on Sunday, from influen- za, at the age of 88, of Mr Samuel Salter, of Vic- toria-terrace, Welshpool. Mr Salter was born at Oswestry in 1806. He was the son of Mr Jackson Salter of that town, and was descended from an ancient Oswestry family, of whom one, Ficar le Salter, is mentioned as far back as 1244. He went to Welshpool and started in business as a printer in 1836, and was many years treasurer of the Foresters' Friendly Society, who presented him with a silver medal for his services. He was a member of the M.Y.C. for 34 years, being the first member enrolled in the Newtown Troop. He retired from business in March, 1878, and was elected Mayor of the borough in November, 1882. Mr Salter was made a Justice of the Peace, and held numerous publie offices. BYE-GONSS."—We have received from the publishers, Messrs Woodhall, Minshall, and Co., the third volume (for 1893-4) of the new series, being the twelfth from the beginning, of Bye-Gones, relating to Wales and the border counties. The new volume is at least equal to any of the preceding volumes, and that is saying a great deal. The reputation of Bye-Gones is now so firmly established that no praise of ours can add to it. To the local antiquary it is a mine of wealth, and its numerous illustrations and carefully and accurately compiled record of current local events, greatly enha nee its interest and value to the general reader. FAILURES IN N ORTII W ALEs.-Richard Jones Thomas, grocer and draper, trading as R. J. Thomas and Co., at High-street, Glynceiriog, Denbighshire, and at Glyndyfrdwy, Corwen, had filed his petition, showing liabilities at £ 441 19s, and a deficiency of E242 16s lid. The debtor states his causes of failure to be Started with- out capital and not brought up to the business, and losses at Glyndyfrdwy shop." The bankrupt, the Official Receiver states in his observations, had carried on business at Glynceiriog since May 1, 1892, having previously been a Calvinistic minister. In 1893 he opened a branch shop at Glyndyfrdwy. He had also been a commission agent to a Rawtenstall watch manufacturer. The bankrupt had not kept a cash book, and had been aware of his insolvency since November, 1894, and said he thought he could pull round if he could give up the Glyndyfrdwy shop, which had been managed by an assistant. Of the unsecured indebtedness of iiC3,32 16s lOd, Cl74 188 lOd was owing for money lent. Joseph Stringer, general dealer and auctioneer, who had carried on business at the Market-place and Rechabite Hall, Bangor, has been adjudicated a bankrupt on his own petition. The liabilities expected to rank are C664 18s 4d, and there is a deficiency of £ 498 14s 9d. He attributes his failure to illness of self and wife, and having to neglect business on that account, and costs in a criminal action."

WREXHAM. I Tnz ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETy.-We under- stand that Mr H. Croom-Johnson, of The Elms, has recently been elected a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society. Tiiii GRAND NATIONAL.—On Friday, March 29th, —Grand National Day—a cheap day excursion will be run by the Great Western Railway Com- pany to Liverpool, leaving Wrexham at 9.50 a.m. THE BOAT RACE. On the occasion of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, on Saturday, March 30th, a day trip will be run to London by the Great Western Railway Company, leaving Wrexham at 5.10 a.m. THE NEW NATIONAL SCHOOL. On Sunday, March 10th, the Rev. LI. Wynno Jones preached sermons at St. Asaph in aid of the funds for building the new Girls' National School, Madeira Hill. in this town. Collections were made. Mr G. B. Leonard, Mr Butt's new manager at 42, High-street, having had considerable experience under a first-class occulist, will be glad to give advice, and to test the sight of customers requiring spectacles or eye-glasses. 584 ST. MARK'S CHURCH.—At Evensong on Sunday, the service will be Wesley in F., and the anthem, Whoso dwelleth," Dr. G. C. Martin. Organ recital :—Organ sonata, No. 1, Mendelssohn romanza in G, Beethoven; andante in G, Batiste adagio from sonata, op., 27, No. 1, Beethoven. WARNING TO CHRISTENDOM. On Sunday two addresses upon the second coming of our Lord and the impending judgments were delivered in St. James's Hall, by an evangelist serving under the Lord's Restored Apostles. The bills of the meetings stated that the addresses were not con- nected with Mormonism, Christadelphianism, Spiritualism, or the theories of Mr Baxter. THE DISESTABLISHMENT BILL. On Monday evening, a meeting was held in the Savings' Bank, to protest against the Welsh Church Disestablish- ment Bill. The meeting was announced by the Vicar in the Parish Church, but he informed our representative, who attended, that they did not desire reporters to attend. We understand that Sir R. E. Egerton presided, and that arrange- ment:: were made for getting petitions against the Bill signed. THR HOLY LAND."—On Monday night, the Rev. Alon Peskett gave a lecture in the Penybryn Congregational Chapel, upon Travels in the H(.v Land." The chair was occupied by Mr Jar's Stevens, and there was a large audience. The lecture, which was an interesting account of Mr Peskett's own travels in Palestine, was illus- trated by lime-light views exhibited by Messrs Hughes and Francis. At the close, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, the lecturer, and Messrs Hughes and Francis, on the motion of the Rev. S. D. Thomas, seconded by the Rev. W. Moses. The proceeds were on behalf of the Church funds. WREXHAM INFIRMARY.—The secretary gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following:—The executors of the late Miss F. Poyser, £50 (legacy); employes Great Western Railway Company- locomotive and carriage department—further donation of El 4s 9d; Welsh Wesleyan Chapel, per Mr R. Morris, offertory, C2 2s; All Saints' Church, Penylan, offertory, L2 for kindness shown, per Mr William Overton (president), dona- tion, E5; special donation from Chester, per Mr William Overton (president), 10s 6d; English Baptist Chapel, offertory, per Mr Simon Jones, Z2 2s; Mr Hargreaves, Mold, per Dr. Brewer, 10s. PN.STIIR.VN MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.—The last meeting of this society for the session took place on Tuesday evening, when Mr Mills, lamp manufacturer, gave a very instructive and interest- ing paper on the safety lamp. During the evening Mr Mills showed specimens of the various kinds of lamps, and minutely explained the merits of each. He also gave interesting experiments show- ing how the lights are extinguished when in contact with gas. At the close of the lecture, Mr Reid proposed, and Mr Barnett seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer. The society has had most successful meetings during the session, and the attendance has been better than for some years past. ALLEGED THEFT FROM THE PERSON. At the Borough Magistrates' Court on Thursday, before theMayor (Charles Murless, Esq.), and Evan Rich- ards, Esq., Thomas Walsh and John Jordan, were in custody charged by Thomas Loftus, labourer, Mary Ann-square, with having stolen a purse containing 2s 6d or 3s, from him.—Prosecutor said he was with the prisoners in the Feathers' Hotel and stood them drinks. He went out with them, and in the Beast Market, both men put their hands in his trousers' pockets, and he found afterwards that his purse had been taken.—Ser- geant Woollam said he had watched Loftus and the prisoners walking towards Farndon-street. Loftus was drunk, and the prisoners were on each side of him. When they got in a dark place, they stopped, and witness heard Loftus cry out. The men walked away. When arrested, Jordan had a few coins on him.—The prisoners were re- manded until Monday. TIDI LATB MR RORERT WILLUMS.—Many readers will regret to hear of the death of Mr Robert Williams, formerly of Wrexham, who died on Monday at Clifton, Bristol, aged eighty-two. Mr Williams was a native of Cowbridga, Glamor- ganshire, and entered the service of the National Provincial Bank. While in this service he became acquainted with the late Mr Anthony Dillon, who was also in the bank, and who founded the Pro- vincial Fire and Life Insurance Company in Wrexham. In 1853 Wr Williams joined the In- surance Company, at Mr Dillon's invitation, as inspector of agencies, and in 1859 became assis- tant secretary, and in January, 1869, upon the resignatios of Mr Dillon, was appointed secretary. In 1875 the purchase of the fire business of the Provincial by the Alliance was completed, and in July of that year Mr Williams retired from the service of the Provincial Life Insurance Company, being succeeded by Mr John Francis.. Mr Wil- liams resided in Wrexham until the death of his wife, when he left for Clifton, where he resided until his death. He was a very active member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and besides holding many important offices, he was a generous supporter of the denomination. PRESBYTERIAN DISTRICT MEETING. The Bi- monthly Meeting of the Wrexham District of the Lancashire, Cheshire, and Denbighshire Presbytery, was held on Monday in Hill-street Schoolroom, Mr George Cromar, D.C., in the chair. Among those present were :-The Revs. W. O. Williams, Rossett (secretary), J. Meredith, Rossett R. L. Roose, Holt Thomas and Robert Phennah, Wrexham Richard Williams, Rhos E. M. Rees, Barigor-Isycoed; D. W. Elias, Bersham-road; D. W. Williams, Summer- hill; Messrs W. R. Evans, J.P., J. B. Francis, C. T. Hughes, T. R. Fearnley, Wrex- ham David Lewis, William Povah, Glanrafon Richard Hughes, D.C., Coedpoeth William Davies, J. Parsonage, J. Evans, Summerhill F. Blew (treasurer), Rhostyllen J. Roberts, J. Lloyd, Broughton J. Shone, Bethel; Herd, Bowling Bank &c--Examinera were appointed for the scriptural examination in April. The following applications for grants were made, subject to the approval of the Presbytery :—From Home Mission Fund, Bersham-road, JMO Rhoa- ddu,.930; Rhostyllen and Salem, £ 60 Bethle- hem, £30; Bangor, £ 20; Bowling Bank, E35 Bethel, from English Causes Fund Broughton, EqU Summerhill, E30 Glanrafon, 425 Coed- poeth, E25.-iNIr Ward Williams' name having been submitted to the Churches, he was approved of for ordination.—A report of the psalmody festival wis given by Mr Blew. The meeting was closed in prayer by the Rev. Richard Williams, Rhos. THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—On Friday evening a most agreeable meeting took place in the National Schools, when the infants, who have the advan- tage of being taught by Miss Boston, and the staff which she superintends, gave an entertain- ment, which was witnessed by the managers and parents with keen delight. The chair was occu- pied by the Rev. Ll. Wynne Jones, and the first part of the programme was as follows :—Song, The cradle song song, The golden boat;" recitation, A grevious complaint," by Hubert Wright and song, The little laundresses." Then money prizes, amounting in all to 92, were presented for regular attendance and good con- duct. The numbers after each name show the attendances. The school has been open 434 times :—Edward Jones, Beast Market, 434, 7s 6d Hetty Garry, 430, 5s 6d; Emily Balsom, 428, 4s 6d Gertrude Garry, 427, 4s; John H. Griffiths, 427, 4s Sarah A. Jones, 426, 3s; Annie Green, 426, 3s; Mabel Allmand, 423, 2s 6d; Martha A. Jones, 421, 2s John Partington, 421, 2s and Joseph Owens, 420, 2s. The Chairman said that as he recognized the important part which mothers had to play in securing the regular attendance of the children, he would leave a sum of money with Miss Boston, to be given next year to the parents of those children who made the most regular attendances. The musical programme was then resumed as fol- lows :—Song, The juvenile musicians;" song, Mama's babee May pole dance Sir Roger de Coverley and song, Good night." It need hardly be said that the performance of the little people was very clever, and was much enjoyed. Before the entertainment the children had tea, which was served by the teachers in the schools. WREXHAM SCHOOL BOARD.-At a meeting of the Wrexham School Board, held on Friday, there were present, Mr John Francis in the chair, the Rev. Henry, Canon Hopkins, Mr J. Oswell Bury, Mr Robert Sauvage, and Mr J. Whittingham. Mr Ashton Bradley, clerk.—An application mas made by Mr D. Lloyd Jones, the attendance officer for new uniform, and it was granted on the motion of Mr Whittingham, seconded by Mr Sauvage, the order being given to Messrs Morris and Co. The Board resolved to send Elizabeth McCarthy, a deaf and dumb child to St. John's Institution, Boston Spa, Yorkshire to be educated.—Mr Lloyd Jones in his report gave the following statistics of attendance No. present Week ending No. on books. Average. at all Feb. 8 2,209 1,455 1.743 15 2,213 1.409 1.991 » 22 2,209 1,474 1.754 Mar. 1 2,224 1,580 1,142 WELCOME CLUB CONCERT.—It will be seen from our advertising [columns that a grand evening concert will be given on Tuesday next at the Congregational Hall, Chester-street, in aid of the funds of the Welcome Club. A number of artistes have been engaged, who are entirely new to Wrexham audiences, and a high class enter- tainment may be expected. It may be men- tioned that the club, which is non-political, and unsectarian, has been established at 13, Bank- street as a leisure resort for men and youths, at the nominal admission of one penny per week. We feel assured that a concert for such a worthy object will be generously supported. The prices of admission are, front seats two shillings, second seats one shilling, back seats and balcony, six- pence. THE SWINE FEVER CASE. I On Saturday the committee appointed under the Contagious Diseases (animals) Act by the Denbighshire County Council, and the Smithfield Committee appointed by the Town Council, held meetings to discuss the outbreak of swine fever in the Smithfield. The committee resolved that the 300 pigs at present in the Smithfield should remain there until the Friday following, and if by that time none of the animals showed signs of disease, their owners will be at liberty to remove them to their own premises, where they will have to remain under surveilance, for another month before they can be further removed. The com- mittee also resolved that the usual weekly cattle market should not be held, The Smithfield Com- mittee, to meet this difficulty, accepted the offer of the Mayor (Councillor Murless) to permit Monday's market, for cattle and sheep only, to be held in the Eagle's Meadow, and this was done. Notices have been issued, stating that yesterday (Friday) the imprisoned pigs could be removed by their owners to their own places, but the pigs will be quarantined for one month further. To-day the Smithfield will be disinfected, and the fair will be held as usual on Monday.

CEFN AND RHOSYMEDRE. I AMERICAN POLITICs.-Under the auspices of the Cefn and Rhosymedre Liberal Association, the Rev. A. J. Parry gave a lecture on Thursday evening, entitled "America Politically Cousidered." Dr. Bishop presided over a large attendance. A cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed. A CO-iCERT.-On Tuesday evening a concert was given in the Welsh Wesleyan Mission Room, Acre- fair. The programme was opened by Mr Edwards, Acrefair, with a Welsh song, and Mr J. R. Williams, Ruabon, sang "Dim ond Deilen." both of which were well rendered. Mr Langford recited The Fireman's Wedding," and was warmly applauded. Mr E. Edwards, Ruabon, sang Can y Marchog" with good effect. The duet, Gwys i'r Gad," having been I given by Messrs D. R. Roberta and J. Davies, Ruabon, Miss Gwenie Evans gave Cymry Fydd." A recita- tion by Mr D. R. Roberts was well received, and the duet, "Y ddau wladgarwr," by Messrs E. Edwards and D. R. Roberts, was given very efficiently. Mr E. Davies, Plasissa, sang an ancient Welsh song pathetically. Mr J. Davies sang Y'r hen lane," with effective humour. Mr Langford recited The shadow on the blind," which O was followed by Chwifio'r Faner by Mr J. R. Williams, and air Edward Edwards, Acrefair, sang a Welsh song with good effect. After the usual votes of thanks, the successful concert was brought to a close by the singing of Hen wlad fy nhadau," led by Mr John Davies.

PONTBLYDDYN AND LEESWOOD. r- HIPIDLMIC.—ocariet lever has broKen out in this neighbourhood, and there are a number of children suffering. It had a bad effect upon the attendance of the children at school. LOCAL TRADE.—Trade in this neighbourhood is at a very low ebb. The majority of the collieries are practically doing nothing, and the workmen are leaving the district to seek employment elsewhere. Great distress prevails, and there seems little pros- pect of a brighter future. THE Soup KITCHEN.—The final meeting of the relief committee was held on Monday evening in the Leeswood National Schools, Mr E. Bithell, P.C., presided. Mr Charles Lewis reported that he had examined the accounts and found them correct. There was a slight deficit, and several items for breakages and losses were not included. But a promised subscrip- tion of ten shillings would cover all outstanding accounts.—The balance sheet was adopted, and Mr Phillips was authorised to supply each subscriber with a copy.—The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Langley for the great kind- ness shown by them in relieving the great exceptional distress. It had been no easy task to make and serve out such a large quantity of soup each week.- Mr Lewis, P.C., seconded, and Mr Langley briefly acknowledged the compliment.—A similar vote was also given to Dr. J. Jones for his services in connec- tion with the soup kitchen, and also to the Rev. W. Llovd Protheroe, vicar, for loan of the room for com- mittee meetings, and also for the dinner on New Year's Day.

MATCHLESS CLEANSER has swept away. A thousand worries of washing day. 1996f

THE FATAL FIRE AT HAFOD COLLIERY. THE INQUEST AND VERDICT. The adjourned inquiry into the death of John Davies, furnace man, who had lived at Mary Ann Square, Wrexham, and had been employed at Hafod Colliery, and who was found dead in the pit near the furnace on the morning of February 16th, was held at the County Buildings, Wrexham, on Friday, March 15th, before Mr W. Wynn Evans, coroner. Mr Hall, Government Inspector of Mines, and Mr Matthews, assistant inspector, were present. Mr J. Hopley Pierce represented the relatives of the de- ceased, and Mr Glenney, M.E., Birmingham, repre- senting the Colliery Company. Mr Dyke Dennis, Mr V Edwards, and Mr F. Morrish were also present. The Coroner said that it seemed, from inquiries, that the misunderstanding when the inquest was opened, was due to a mistake on the part -of the police officer who telephoned to the Colliery Com- pany. It did not matter very much, as they would have had to adjourn in any case. The first witness called was Enoch Jones, certificated manager at the Hafod Colliery, who said he had been in that position four years and a half. He produced several plans. On February 16th, when he heard of the accident, he was down the pit. It was then nearly six o clock in the morning. The deceased was a stoker at the furnace which he had charge of. Witness had no idea. how the fire originated. When he examined the place he found three pairs of timber burning, and there was a fall from the roof in front by the fire. This was at a point about 190 yards from the bottom of the shaft. There was no one working at the place where the fire was dis- covered. They had torch lamps; in use to within about 90 yards of where the fire was discovered. They did not allow naked lights to be used after that distance. The fire was first discovered about quarter of an hour before witness was informed. Between six and seven on the previous night men had been fetch- ing a rope from the district where the fire was dis- covered. The fireman, Thomas Ellis, would leave work, and be relieved by Davies at about five o'clock on the previous night. The place was not examined after the men who went for the ropes had gone through it. It was like overtime for the men, and they would have with them the lamps they had been working with. The ropes were haulage ropes, and were wanted for another district. The place was used for storage, and when they wanted materials for other districts they were fetched from there. By Mr Hall: Before his attention was drawn to the fire underground, his attention was called to a fire on the surface. It had been put out when he arrived on the spot. It had been seen at about a-quarter past five, and it arose from a fire grate used for warm- ing the shaft to keep the ice out. The fire on the sur- face was very small, as far as he could ascertain. A few bucketfuls of water put it out. Some of the woodwork at the month of the downcast shaft was on fire. The wood was slightly overhanging the mouth of the shaft. There would be a large quantity of air going down the shaft—about 160,000 cubic feet per minute. The air would be travelling down the shaft to the top seams at the rate of about 1,300 feet per minute, a.nd down to the lower seams at a lower rate. He thought if anything burning went down the shaft it would burn itself out before it got to the bottom- that would depend upon the size of the burning material, bat if it was a large piece he thought it would fall into the sump. A boy, named Rogers, saw the fire at about half-past five. but he appeared to have given no information about it. The fire on the surface was from a quarter to half-past five. He thought there was no question that the de- ceased was smothered by smoke from the fire. There was a lamp station about 100 yards from the bottom of the shaft, beyond which naked lamps were not allowed to be used. Anyone taking a torch beyond the lamp station would be committing a serious breach of the regulations. So far as he knew, no one had done so. Up to ten o'clock on the evening previous to the fire, there would be other men at work in the district where the fire was, besides the furnace man. They were putting tubs of coal in the siding near to where the fire was discovered. Those men would be using safety lamps. The men who went to fetch the ropes left off work between six and seven on the previous evening. One would have ex- pected that if those men had caused the fire, the men putting in the tubs of coal would have ascertained the fire. A fire in a pit was easily detected. Witness did not think it was impossible that it might have started at seven o'clock on the previous night and not discovered until the next morning. The smoke would not at first he thought travel to the furnace, as it would go along the yard seam and up the shaft. The weather was very frosty, and they had had to use torch lamps to keep the compressed air engine from freezing. That process bad been used on the day previous to the accident. The engine was worked during the night, starting at seven o'clock, and a torch lamp had to be used to thaw it. The engine was nearer the shaft than the lamp station, and it would be no breach of the regulations to use a torch light there. The road from the shaft was straight for 100 yards, and then turned very much to the left, and it was ninety yards round the turn where the fire was discovered. About 11,000 cubic feet of air per minute went round the turn. That would be a breeze. About 30,000 cubic feet would be going straight forward. It would be strange if the fire was caused by a spark travelling down the shaft, that it should take the turn and not go straight on, where the greater current of air was going. When witness got down the pit, a man, named John Hughes, a ifreman, reported that the man at the furnace had shouted down that there was something wrong. Witness sent him to inquire, and he came back and said that he could not arouse the deceased. Witness then went with some others and tried to revive him. The deceased was found some little distance from the furnace.—By Mr Pierce: Deceased was found at about half-past six. He was brought up immediately. When he was got to the surface, witness did not tell the young man he sent to Wrexham in charge of the body that he was not to give any information to the police or anybody else. Deceased was immediately taken out when discovered, and everything possible was done for him. When the deceased was discovered, he did not say, "For God's sake, chaps, don't say anything about it. Let's get the old man from here as soon as we can. By Mr. Glennie: It was about 790 yards-very nearly half a mile-from the top of the shaft to where the fire was discovered. It would, he thought, have taken a spark three and a half minutes to travel that distance. He did not think a spark would have travelled that distance. If it had been larger than a spark he thought it would have gone into the sump. 'Alr Hall: He thouoht that anything that would By Mr Hall: He thought that anything that would have kept alight for half a mile would have fallen into the sump. By the Coroner: He had no theory as to how the fire originated. Undoubtedly, a naked light must have got there somehow and fired the timber. It was a mystery to him. Edward George Rogers, living at Swan-street, Rhos, said he was a filler working at the Hafod Colliery. He was working there on the morning of February 16th, when the fire started. It was from twenty to half-past five when he went down that morning, and about five to ten minutes afterwards he was by the pick cabin when he saw a tremendous light on the "rock flat,' and he went and told the pickman what he had seen.' The pickman said it was the lamp to the engine. Witness told him there could be no engine there, and the pickman said it must be that. Witness then went to his work. Witness went into the rock fiat" to get a tub, and then saw the light. By Mr Hall: Witness had a safety lamp when he was in the rock flat looking for the tub. By Mr Pierce: He also told a man named Samuel Davies about the light. Richard Roberts, a boy thirteen years of age, living at Owen-street, Rhos, said he was work- iug at the Hafod Colliery. He was a rope hooker. He was working at the pit on the morning of February 16th, and went down at five minutes to six. He was by himself, and went to the rock flat" to couple some trams. When he got there he saw a fire at the top of the flat," and he went and told John Hughes, the fireman, whom he met at the turn near the lamp station. By Mr Hall: When witness told Hughes, he ran at once towards the fire. Witness had a safety lamp. He had never seen anyone in the "rock flat" with a torch lamp. By Mr Pierce He did not tell John Kyffin at all about the fire. John Hughes, living at Church street, Rhos, said he was a fireman at the Hafod Colliery. He was work- ing at the colliery on the morning of February 6th. He had gone down to his work at about half-past five. He heard of the fire when by the lamp station, the boy, Richard Roberts, telling him about it. Wit- ness went at once and saw the fire. He did not see John Kyffin anywhere near. On the previous day witness examined the rock flat about eleven o'clock in the morning, and left work at a quarter to four. John Roberts was the afternoon fireman, and Joseph Green was the night fireman. By Mr Hall He had not examined any lamps that morning or any roads before he heard of the fire. By Mr Glenney: When he got to the fire there was a fall, which had been caused by the timber having been burnt, Simon Pierce, living at Johnstown, said he was a fitter, and worked at the Hafod Colliery. On Friday, February 15th, he was working at the pit. He started at six in the morning, and came up at seven o'clock at night. He was on the surface during part of that time. He was one of the men who went to fetch some ropes from the rock flat at a quarter to six at night. He was accompanied by Alfred Parry, J no. Jones, John Hughes, Wm. Henry Gittins, and \Vm. Roberts. They went from the compressed air engine near the bottom of the shaft, and passed the place where the fire was discovered. When they were at the engine they had safety lamps and a torch lamp, which was being used for lighting the place. It had been used in the course of the day in order to thaw the engine. The torch was put out when they left the engine. Witness put it out, and the others must have seen him do so. After putting it out, he hung the lamp up in its place. No torches were taken with them when they went for the ropes. Witness did not notice any smell of fire, and there was no indication of fire. By Mr Hall: The engineman, Alfred Parry, had a torch lamp to do his work. He had no other lamp. When they went to get out the ropes they each had a lamp, and Parry got his lamp from I Gittins, who had three sa.fety lamps at his engine, | which was down the deep." They were from a I quarter to six to seven getting the rope out. They I brought it to where the fire was discovered. It was I there at the present time. I By the Coroner: To his knowledge no other light, except a safety lamp, was taken to that place that day. John Jones, living at Aberderfyn, and working at the Hafod Colliery, said he was an extra engine man. On Friday, February 15th, he remembered going in company with the last witness to fetch a rope. That was at from six to half-past. He saw the last wit- ness at the compressed air engine. There were other men there. He believed there was a torch hanging up by the engine. He did not see Simon Pierce put out the torch. The torch hanging up was lit, but he did not see Pierce or anyone else put it out. He started to fetch the rope before Pierce, who might have put the torch out after he had gone on before. Witness had a safety lamp and so had the others. By Mr Pierce Parry had a torch lamp at the engine. He had a safety lamp when he went for the rope. He generally got such a lamp from the rope follower. Richard Jones, living at Hafod-view, Ponkey, said he was a banksman, working at the Hafod Colliery. On Saturday, February 16th, there was a little fire in the shaft at about a-quarter past five in the morning. Witness was attending to the men going down the shaft, and a collier coming up reported to him that there was a fire at the top of the shaft. Witness went down with a bucketful of water, and put the fire out. He went back, and the cage was lowered twice. Then someone-he could not say who-told him that there was again a little fire there. That would be at about twenty-five minutes past five. He then went down on the cage, and threw three or four bucketfuls of water on the fire, and that put it out. There was a little blaze under the bearer. He saw a few sparks go down the pit. By Mr Hall: He had been banksman all through the bad weather. The fire grate might have been burning a week before that morning. The fire grate was standing in an iron tram so that it could be moved about on the plates. Eight feet was the nearest point to the shaft that it was brought. To witness's knowledge it bad not set fire to anything before that morning. In putting out the fire he stood on the top deck of the cage, and the water was handed to him by another man. He used about five buckets of water altogether. By Mr Pierce He did not know when the deceased was brought up. He was at his breakfast, to which he had gone at about eight o'clock. George Harrison, living at Bank-street, Ponkey, said he was banksman working at No. 1 pit Hafod Colliery. On February 16th he went off duty at five o'clock that morning, and he saw no fire nor had he heard of any fire. He was on duty all night. By Mr Hall The grate was about three or four yards from the piece of timber which was burnt at the top of the shaft. Witness could not say how the timber got on fire. The last time he put coal on the fire was at four o'clock that morning. John Hughes, living at Ponkey, said he was a fire- man, and worked at the Hafod Colliery. On the morning of February 16th, he was near the lamp station, when a little boy, Richard Roberts, told him of the fire. He went and looked at the fire, and then got buckets, and fifteen or twenty men were put on to get water there as fast as possible. Witness was sent by the roadman to go and see the deceased. The hooker had told the roadman that deceased had said that he wanted someone at the furnace. Witness went to the furnace, and found deceased about six yards from the furnace. He was lying on his face on the road leading to the furnace. He took hold of him, and shook him. He could not rouse him, and found he could not stay any longer, and ran for help. He fetched the manager and fireman, and several others, and they got deceased out as soon as possible. By Mr Hall: He did not think that a quarter of an hour elapsed before witness went to the furnace after it was stated that the deceased wanted help. He could not get the deceased out, because he could not stand the atmosphere. He was an ambulance man, and all that could be done was done for the deceased. By Mr Pierce: When he got there, there was no fire in the furnace, and the lamp was also out. Wit- ness thought it was smoke he smelt and not black damp He could not say what time it was when they got the deceassd up to the surface. The manager did not say, For God's sake, chaps, don't say anything." Witness did not hear the manager give orders to any young man who took the deceased's body home. By Mr Glennie: By the time he reached deceased, he was perfectly exhausted and could not stop in the place. Joseph Green, living in School-street, Rhos, a night fireman at the Hafod Colliery, said he was on duty on the night of February 15th. He did not examine the rock flat that night. They were only supposed to examine the rock flat now and then-two or three times a week. By Mr Pierce: None of the men would have to pass through that district to their work that night. William Henry Griffiths, living at Johnstown, said he was a ropeman at Hafod Colliery. On Friday, February 15th. he was working in the rock flat from about nine o'clock until half-past ten at night. He was, with another man, putting trams of coal in the place. Witness had a safety lamp, and the engine- driver, who was working with witness, had no lamp. They noticed nothing unusual. By Mr Hall: They put about fifty trams in the flat that night. By Mr Pierce: Witness was at the colliery at five o'clock on the morning following. He did not hear about the alarm of fire. He had left before it was given. ByMrGienney: The work was his usual work. He bad worked there about two years. He had never seen a naked light used there. They had special in- structions not to use a naked light there. Thomas Jones, living at Mount-street, Rhos, said he was a horse-keeper, and was working at No 2 pit at Hafod Colliery on the night of the 15th ult. He was going to the horses at about half-past two on the Saturday morning, and he thought he could smell something burning. He made up his mind to tell the fireman in the morning, and ask him to look at the flue, and see if there was anything wrong. When he was going up he was told by some day-men that a plank was burning at the top of the shaft, and he took it the smell came from that, and did not trouble any further. Edwird Jones, living at Smith-street, Rhos, a hooker, employed at the colliery, said he was working there at the time the fire started. At about a quarter past six he first heard of the fire in the pit. The road-man came and told him about it. Witness knew the deceased, who called down to him. Wit- ness was at the pit bottom, and deceased was at the entrance of the shaft leading to the furnace. Deceased said he could smell some- thing. He also said that they had better send some one there. Witness then told the roadman to tell the manager, and some of the firemen to go to him. At that time, witness had not beard of the tire in the pit, but two or three minutes afterwards they heard about it. A fireman went to deceased about ten minutes after deceased had called out. Witness told deceased to stay where he was until someone came to him. If he had done so he would have been safe. Witness and others went to deceased when the fireman came away, and they found the deceased between the rails near the furnace. By Mr Pierce There was a man named Kyffin there. Mr Jones said he did not know what to do for the best thing. Witness went up with deceased. They were down with him a long time, trying to revive him. It might be about eight o'clock before they got him up. John Cronin, pulleyman, living at Gutter-hill, Rhos, working at the colliery, in answer to Mr Hall, said he had to attend to the pulleys from the pit bottom to the east yard. He had to go in further than the lamp station, and carried a safety lamp. On Friday, the day before the fire, he used a torch lamp under the cylinders of the compressed air engine, between the pit bottom and the lamp station, to thaw them. The level engine beyond the lamp station also froze, but no naked light was taken to that. It was poked with a rammer. John Kyffin, living at Alexandra-road, Wrexham, said he was a roadman working at the Hafod Colliery. In answer to Mr Pierce, witness said he knew the deceased. He saw him on the morning of the 16th, and he said there was something different to usual. It would be, he thought, at about a quarter-past six. Witness said, Stop there, and when the mamager or fireman comes down I will send some- one around to you." Witness went to the lamp station, and found John Hughes, the fireman, andtoldhim. The alarm of fire was given just as he was telling him. When Hughes came back, witness went with the fire- man and the other ifremen. They found him on his face. The manager said Out with him as quick as possible," and added that he would go up and see for something for him, and get the doctor. Witness bad not told anybody a very different tale as to what Mr Jones said. He had never told anyone that Mr Jones said For God's sake, chaps, do not say anything. Let's get the old man on top and send him home as soon as possible." It would be about a quarter to eight when deceased was got to the top. "W itness did not take deceased to Wrexham, and did not hear Mr Jones, the manager, give any orders to the young man who did do so. John Davies, a son of the deceased, in answer to Mr Pierce, said he had heard what Kyffin had been asked. Kyffin told him that on the morning of February 16th, he had an alarm from witness's father and that, with others, he afterwards went in search of him, and that, when they found him, Mr Enoch Jones said, For God's sake, chaps, don't say anything. Let's get him from here as soon as we can, and get him home. Kyffin, from the back of the court, said he said nothing of the sort. I In answer to the coroner, witness said Kvffin told him this in the bottom kitchen in the Fleece Inn on Monday night, February 18th. Kyffin's brother, Pryce, was present at the time. There was a com- panion with witness also present, but he did not pay much attention to the conversation. Kyflin may have had drink, but he was not drank. In answer to questions asked by the jury, Mr F. Morrish said he was telephoned for at a quarter to eight on the morning of February 16th. He went straight to the colliery, and found the deceased had been brought to the surface. He made all the arrangements for sending the body to Wrexham, and about ten minutes after it had left the doctor arrived at the colliery. Mr Enoch Jones said the suggestions as to what he said were untrue from beginning to end. They tried to restore Lhe deceased, and he did breathe once. Then he left him in the care of others, and went up and saw that the doctor was sent for. He did all he could for the deceased. The Coroner summed up, and the jury retired. After an absence of about ten minutes, they returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was suffocated by the smoke and noxious fumes from a fire at Hafod Colliery, but as to the origin of the fire they were unable to come to any decision. The Foreman (Mr 1. T. Davies) said that the jury asked that they might be exempted from serving for twelve months. The Coroner said he left the matter entirely to the police, and no doubt they would take it into con- sideration. Mr Morrish said that Mr Enoch Jones was anxious to hear what the jury thought about what had been said about him. The Foreman said they did not take it into con- sideration. Although the fire is not yet out, it is gradually being got under, and it is hoped that before long work will be able to be resumed.

To the Editor of the Wrzxham Advertiser. SIB, At the inquest, which was held at the County Buildings, oi Friday, March 16th, Mr Hopley Pierce seemed to lay great stress on the sentence, For God's sake, chaps, dou't sa.y anything about it." I wondair whether he wished to impress on the jury that the manager intended to conceal the body, and hush the thing up unawares to anyone. It was acknowledged that the manager said that he would go up to see about a doctor, and get something to send the body home," and it is very natural that he should send some of the others down to call the men out at oace. when he saw that the furnace was out. Now what would be the result if the men and boys in the workings were told Come out at once, there is a man smothered at the furnace, and the furnace is out? Is it not probable on haariag such an alarm that men, boys, and horses, would be driven to such a confusion as to cause a panic. If tha manager had said For goodness' sake, don't say anything about it," it would have been what every sensible man would do under the circamstauces. Men who are always ea the smrface and in a safe place cannot comprekend the difficulties which a colliery manager Has to over- come. Rhos. MOBRIii KTFFIN.

To the Editor of the Wrexham Advertiser. SIR,—On behalf of the Hafod Colliery workmen, Rhosllanerchrngog, who hava been thrown out of employment in consequence of the great fire which has broken out in the mine, and renders it too dangerous to work in, I beg you to allow the follow- ing appeal to your numerous readers to appear in your valuable paper.—I am, &c., IOAN T. WILLIAMS, Agent. LADIBS AND GENTLEMEN,—It is with a feeling of reluctance, but yet of necessity, that we now appeal to you with a view of obtaining pecuniary assiatance to relieve the workmen in their critical and unfor- tunate position. They have been thrown out of work as stated above through the mine taking fire, and it is not known when they will be able to return to work again. As your readers are aware, it is the largest colliery in the district, and through the sad affair over twelve hundred hands have been compulsorily idle fo: several weeks, and consequently great distress is felt in the neighbourhood, and a great number of families are suffering severely, especially families where there are six to eight children depending entirely upon one earner, the father, for their living. We have been given to understand that in many cases when the little ones are crying out for the necessaries of life, that the parents are unable to give them any to relieve their needs, inasmuch as their cupboards are empty, and there is nothing more heartrending to a father and mother than to see their children in want. And, indeed, the effects of the disaster being under- stood by everyone that possesses the least feeling of humanity and the suffering and distress that prevails in the neighbourhood, we earnestly and confidently appeal to your sympathising readers for their help, feeling quite sure that our confidence will not be mis- placed. Should any of your readers feel inclined to assist, will they kindly forward their subscriptions to the secretary, loan T. Williams, miners' agent, Copperas- hill, Ruabon, made payable to the treasurer, the Rev. Thomas Pritchard, Vicar, the Vicarage, Rhos, to be placed in the general relief fund for the relief of all cases of great need and urgent necessity.—I am, &c., Iois T. WILLIAMS, Agent.

Our Rhos correspondent writes :— The reports from Hafod Colliery respecting the fire are much more reassuring than they were last week, a.nd hopes are entertained that work may be resumed within the next fortnight. The men working at Bersham and Vauxhall Collieries, as well as those who used to work at Hafod Colliery, met at the Public Hall, Rhos, on Wednesday evening. Mr Benjamin Davies, checkweighma.n at Bersham Colliery, wis elected chairman.—The Chairman said he would do his best under the circumstances. It had been said there was good feeling among the men of Bersham and Vauxhall Collieries towards those thrown out of employment by the fire at Hafod Colliery. They all knew what it was to be out of work ior a month, especially those who had large families dependent upon them. He felt it was their duty to assist their fellow-workmen. The purpose of that meeting was to cosider the ways and means of attaing that end.- Mr Lewis Humphreys wished to know if their good feeling extended to non-unionists as well as unionists ? He was in favour of assisting all in want. Mr John Bowen said a movement had been set on foot by Mr loan T. Williams, miners' agent, and others, to establish a fund for the relief of all out of employment. He (Mr Bowen) understood the agent was communicating with other gentlemen in the dis- trict with a view of securing their assistance in the matter. (Cheers.) At this point Mr 1. T. Williams came to the meeting, and said he had not known of the meeting until he came to Rhos. He had come to Rhos that evening for the same reason as that for which that meeting had been called, namely, to devise means to relieve distress among those thrown out of employ- ment by the tire at Hafod Colliery. Narrating what had been done in this direction, Mr Williams said the district meeting, held at Wrexham, had decided to send collectors to all collieries in the Wrexham and Ruabon districts. The representatives of the colliers working at all these pits who were present at Wrex- ham had promised to do all they could to assist the collectors. Some of the most prominent tradesmen in Wrexham had also expressed themselves in favour of establishing a relief fund, and he was very pleased to tell the meeting that the Rev. T. Prichard, vicar of Rhos, had agreed to become the treasurer of the fund. (Loud cheers.)—Mr Williams next read a circular letter, which it was intended to publish for the pur- pose of soliciting assistance.—Mr Daniel Davies, Hall-street, wished to know by whose authority that meeting had been called. He could see Hafod men present, and thought it would be better if they (Hafod colliers) were to abstain from voting. It was a question for Bersham and Vauxhall colliers to de- cide whether a grant be made out of the union funds. —Mr Joseph Phillips, Erw Gerrig, said he, as one of the men working at Hafod, wished to say that Hafod colliers had not come there to insist upon having the money. They who were thrown out of employment would accept their decision, and be thankful for the good feelings shown by Bersham and Vauxhall col- liers.—Mr Thomas Hughes, Campbell-street, hoped Hafod men would abstain from voting. He was pre- pared to vote for a grant of XZ50, but advised that all the men working at Bersham and Vauxhall Collieries be given an opportunity of having a voice in the matter.—Mr Thomas Jones, Hall-street, wished the meeting to come to the point, and decide if the matter was to be placed before the colliers on the pit banks the following day.—Mr Daniel Davies said he was in favour of granting union money for union men only. He was glad their agent was taking steps to obtain funds to relieve non-unionists as well, but he maintained that the grant should be made to those that had contributed to- wards the fund out of which it was drawn.— Mr Lewis Humphreys again said a word in favour of relieving non-unionists. Mr Thomas Thomas, Pon- key, was of a contrary opinion. Union money, he considered, should go to relieve those who had con- tributed towards it.—Mr I. T. Williams, miners' agent, counselled as a means of safe guarding the union, that all Bersham and Vauxhall colliers be informed of the proposal to grant another S250 out the funds of the union, and be given an opportunity of deciding the matter by ballot.—Mr E. P. Jones, Hall-street, wished to grant nOO. His proposal was defeated by a show of hands, a majority being in favour of fixing the sum at £ 250. Several persons were then appointed to meet the Bersham and Vauxhall colliers as they came up from the pits on the following day, and ascertain their views upon the question of making a grant. Before the meeting was over, reference was made by several speakers to the money paid by the colliers to the Bormg Company. I and it was resolved to make inquiry what had been done with that money.

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