County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

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"PUNCH" ON CONSCRIPTION. I "Punch" has often been right when public opinion has proved to be wrong, but it is extremely unlikely that Mr Owen Sea- man will live long enough to find his lines on conscription quoted with general ap- proval. The City Clerk, to whom Mr Seaman addresses his admonition, will be apt to reflect that the German soldier who is presented to him as a model has some- thing of the character of a compulsory lero and that if he had the choice he might possibly prefer to devote the years of his conscript service to qualifying himself in his profession or trade. The fact undoubt- edly is, that conscription is not a plant which will flourish on British soil, and that statesmen and generals who have one eye on voluntary service and the other on conscription are never likely to solve any problem upon which they may be engaged- Mr Seaman may by implication condemn Mr Haldane for saying that the country "will not be dragooned into conscription," but whether he stated the matter happily or unhappily the Secretary of State for War is right in his belief that no popular party in this country will be found to advocate conscription. One recognises the Tatriotism, honesty, and zeal of those who -take a contrary view, but they would be much better advised to devote themselves to the improvement of the army on the present lines of voluntary enlistment. Of course if conscription were necessary for the safety of the country it would be foolish in the extreme to object to it, but there never was a time when there was such an abundance of recruits for the army, or when the stamp of men willing to enlist Was so entirely satisfactory. There is, farther, an almost unlimited number of young men who, if they saw that their Bervices would be appreciated, would be willing to qualify themselves to such an extent in military service that they could be converted into good soldiers in a very few weeks. The policy of the War Office should be to encourage these two classes of men, and if that course is taken, the country will not have to seek for defenders.

Higrheat in Quality. gill Lowest In Price. jSSjB I. HI RFCIR» LIIRJMMXILL I STAAFAAAMMMMI

A FORETASTE OF IRISH HOME I RULE. Replying to Mr Balfour, the Prime Minister said it had been arranged to divide Irish Supply on Thursday between the Local Government Board and Chief Secretary's votes, the latter being taken at 8.15, in accordance with the wish of the Irish Unionists. Mr J. Redmond said the arrangement was made without the concurrence of the Nation- alists, who denied the claim of the Unionist minority to decide what votes should be taken on the Irish Supply days. Colonel Saunderson: We approached the member for Waterford, who refused to have any dealings with us. Perhaps the House and the country will now understand our objection to a Home Rule Parliament. (Laughter.)

I THE EDUCATION BILL. By the descent of the guillotine the report stage of the Education Bill concluded on Wednesday night in the House of Commons. The third reading is set down for Monday.

A New Terror for Motorists. Mr Chandos Elletson, of Porrox Hall, Knott End, was motoring towards Lancaster, on Wed- nesday afternoon, when the car ran into a swarm of bees. The chauffeur, being stung, took his hands from the steering-wheel in order to knock the bees from his face, the result beicg that the car swerved upon the footpath and collided with a lamp-post. The car was damaged, but the occupants escaped injury.

Two Thousand Hauliers Idle. The hauliers employed at the Ocean Col- lieries, Treharris, ceased work on Wednesday, in consequence of the dispute with the manage- ment in regard to the new agreement. The question refers to sixpence per day extra. By the cessation of work- about two thousand men are rendered idle.

Saving on the Naval Programme. In the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Robertson announced the saving of two-and-a-half- millions on the new naval pro- gramme. Mr Robertson declared that the Naval advisers to the Admiralty bad themselves recommended the new programme.

The King and the Iron and Steel Institute. The King, to-day, received a deputation from the Iron and Steel Institute. His Majesty was pleased to accept the Bessemer medal.

The Montagu Suffers from a Swell. As the result of a heavy swell last night, a portion of the stranded battleship, Montague, is now re-, garded as hopeless.

Collision in the Mersey. A collision occurred in the Mersey, to-day, between the steam- i ships Chama and August Muller. I Both were considerably damaged.

Conservative Conference. At the National Conservative Union Conference, to-day, Mr Masse was induced to withdraw his resolution for bringing the Central Conservative Offices under more effective popular control. j

THE UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM. I Mr John Burns, in his statement to the SLouse of Commons, touched upon several aspects of the great question of unemploy- ment, and, although he made only a brief reference to the subject, yet he would appear to recognise the extreme urgency for some permanent measures for the pre- vention of unemployment, the minimising of the unemployable, and the opening up of new sources of employment. It ought to be evident to everybody that when there are six men for every vacant post it is utterly useless to establish labour bureaux, and that very limited advantage attaches to labour exchanges. When employment is scarce in a district it is only too painfully obvious that employers can find all the men they want without reference to a bureau, and, taking the country as a whole, it is a very rare thing to find more places than men in any industry but the agricultural. Until, therefore, new sources of employ- ment can be found, the President of the Local Government Board must content himself with palliatives, and this is what he proposes doing. Concurrently with the right hon. gentleman's official scheme, an effort is being made by the Christian Social Service Union, of which the Earl of Meath is President, to reduce the number of those who are at present unemployable. The enterprise will be watched with some interest, and if it has any appreciable suc- cess people will not be slow to recognise that its promoters merit the public thanks.

win w P w  U60st 1/ —S&?? ?0/ ? U/???  Prevent Merwe Jar and g Wood-Milne Fatigue and Doubtethe? Revolving "eels Creater ? _r.mmrt -M U CC IS ComforL  E":? "? Smarter [AApp'pearance. r. EASILY fIXED. Witlstand 1% moo oldinary wear.  genuine unless stamped B 'Wood-MUne on tb6          = tace.w h Saoreld .imyetrhv.\7 \? WU -SP? ECIAA LOQ.?..ALI

THE PROPOSED CHANNEL TUNNEL. It is announced that a new Bill is being prepared for the construction of a Channel Tunnel, and that it will be ready for pre- sentation to Parliament next year No doubt a good deal of expert evidence will be called in support of the Bill, but the ques- t;:I _"U tion ia really one with respect to which any I person with ordinary common sense is as ¡ fully qualified to form an opinion as the most experienced expert. It is stated that there will be no difficulty in constructing the tunnel on such lines that it would be possible for the officer in charge to fill it with water, and no doubt that claim will be fully justified by the plans which Sir Douglas Fox has prepared. It may also be admitted that the tunnel would shorten considerably in time the journey from London to Paris, and would produce an enormous increase in the traffic. There is, on the other hand, only one danger, viz., that the officer in charge would hesitate to accept the responsibility of destroying some millions' worth of property, and that while he was hesitating, the enemy might seize the Dover end of the tunnel. That is the chief difficulty. and it is not met by the suggestion of M. Sartiaux that the tunnel should be capable of destruction by the British Fleet. If a British ship could destroy the tunnel an enemy's ship could destroy it, and it might even be destroyed without a state of war existing at the time. It cannot be said that the difficulty is in- superable, but the nation would probably not feel quite comfortable about the matter unless they knew that the tunnel was in the charge of a general officer who was known to be a strong man, and that he would not be tried by Court Martial if he erred on the side of safety, however serious the conse- quences might have been. The knowledge that there was one man on each side of the Channel with these enormous powers, might not add to the comfort of the passen- gers, but it would pass the wit of Mr Anstey's oriental magician to meet all the difficulties to everybody's satisfaction.

The Children's Choice A Corn Flour Blancmange with stewed fruit and a wise one too; for this is the pleasantest and most wholesome way of taking fresh fruit, and Corn Flour Blancmange is just the cool, light food that children require in summer. But remember Brown Polson's "Patent" Corn Flour.

The Conservative Party, At a Conference in London, this week, a scheme for the re-organisation of the Conservative Party is being considered, which will undoubtedly have far- reaching results. Sir Alexander Acland Hood, M.P., presided over a meeting of members of the National Society of Conservative Agents from all parts of the country at the Hotel Cecil on Thurs- day, and in his address summarised the neeessary reform in the organisation by saying that what they wanted in their party was the opinion of the voter and the parish, and not the opinion of the club. He believed the only way they could do that was by decentralising the divisions of the National Union, and by having, as far as possible, an organisation by counties instead of by provinces.

A Formidable Otter. In the East of Scotland some otter hounds recently killed an otter weighing nearly 32 lbs., after a nine hours' hunt, during which time he continued to shake off single hounds as if they were merely flies.

Welsh Singers before the King and Queen. On Wednesday, the Rhymney Male Voice Choir had the honour of singing before the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family, at Buckingham Palace. The singers numbered thirty-five, under the conductorship of Mr Daniel Owen, and sang in both English and Welsh. At the close Mr Owen was con- gratulated by the King.

Gruesome Discovery near Rhymney. The dead body of a woman was discovered on Wednesday on the mountain between Tavern- aubach and Rhymney by some women gather- ing whin berries. The police were. informed, and the body was removed to the Travellers' Rest, Tavernaubach. It was identified as that of Sarah M'Kinsey, 41, housekeeper to Mr Edward Stokes, 12, Coronation-street, Tre- degar. She left home on Tuesday afternoon, and it is stated that she was seen going through Tavernaubach the same evening. She was a native of Scotland, but lived for several years at Abergavenny.

Bodmin Election. The result of the Bodmin bye-election was declared on Wednesday afternoon as follows:- Mr Freeman Thomas (R). 4,969 Mr G. Sandys (U). 3,876 Liberal majority. 1,093 This is a reduction of 79 on Mr Agar-Robartes majority at the General Election.

The Bishop of Llandaff with the Welsh Volunteers. The Bishop of Llandaff, chaplain of the Welsh Volunteers, is spending the week with the corps in camp on Salisbury Plain.

Markets. NEWPORT, CORN, Wednesday.-Small attendance and business slack. Wheat easier with a lowering tendency. Barley and maize same as last week. Flour (fines) 24s. per sack. NEWPORT, CATTLE, Wednesday.—A large supply of sheep, lambs, and calves, and average number of pigs. Large attendance and good trade. Quo. tations:—Best quality beef, 6-ffld per lb; inferior sorts, 6d to 6Jd; fat cows, 4!d to 5-Ild best wether mutton, S'd; awe, 6d to 7d; lamb, 9d; calves, Old to 8d; choice porker pigs lOa 3d to 10s 9d per score. NEWPORT, CHEBSB, Wednesday. Eight tons pitched and brisk demand. Quotations :-Caer- phillys 468 to 56s per owt, fancy dairies 578 to 598, and Derbys 66s to 66s.

I Property Sale at Usk. I Messrs Marfell and Poole, at the Three Salmon's Hotel, Usk, this (Friday) afternoon, conducted an important sale of valuable freehold properties, I situate in the town of Usk, as follows:— LOT I.-ALL THOSE Three Freehold Cottages and Gardens, situate in Maryport Street, now in the several occupations of Messrs. BLANDERFIELD JONES, and STEAD, pro- ducing a total gross rental of 9s. 6d. per week. Withdrawn. LOT 2.-ALL THAT Freehold well-built Dwelling House, with Garden at back, known as Goytrey Cottage, situate in Mary- port Street, containing two sitting rooms, kitchen, back kitchen, pantry, cellar, five bed- rooms, bath room, and w.c., now in the occupation of Mr. GEORGE EDMUNDS, JUNR., at a rental of iCJ9 per annum. £ 375—Mr. George Edmunds, senr., Usk. LOT 3.—ALL THAT Freehold substantially- built, superior Residence and Premises, known as The Grange, situate in Maryport Street, containing entrance hall, drawing, dining, and breakfast rooms, kitchen. scullery. china pantry, cellar, eight bedrooms, nursery, bath room, with hot and cold water, w.c., lean-to con- servatory. The outbuildings comprise a well-built seven-stalled stable, with loft over; harness room, coach house, lean-to cart shed, large wood shed, slated; there is a lawn in front, and large produc- tive garden at rear, with two potting sheds and summer house; now in the occupation of Mr. GEORGE MUNDY. Withdrawn. LOT 4.—A Plot of Freehold Garden Ground, or Building Site, opposite Lot 1, having a frontage to Maryport Street of 52 feet, containing 670 square yards, or thereabouts. £ 115—Mr. H. Groves, Usk. LOT 5.—ALL THAT Freehold Dwelling House and Garden, with stables, piggery, large wash-house, with loft over, situate in Old Market Street, now void. Withdrawn. Mr. E. Waddington, Usk, was the solicitor.

BKEWERY AMALGAMATION.—The shareholders in Messrs. Allsopp and Sons (Limited) held an extraordinary meeting at the Cannon-street Hotel. London, on Tuesday, for the purpose of dicusing an arrangement, provisionally agreed to, for the acquisition of two brewery concerns at Burton, viz., Thomas Salt and Co. (Limited) and the Burton Brewery Company (Limited.) On a vote being taken the amalgamation was approved by 48 to 13. ————— 1

I THE VILLAGE CHURCH BAND. Previous to the introduction of the organ, Via musical part of the service in our village churches was performed by the old-fashioned band. According to the Rev. F. W. Galpin, the last of these bands was that of Winterborne Abbas in Dorsetshire. There were three per- formers—the thatcher, who was clerk and player of the clarinet; a farm labourer, who played the flute; and a shepherd, who undertook tho bass. When the rector had given out the Psalm, the band struck up in unison a four-note phrase with elaborate variations. This was called "sounding off the tune." When the singing began, the clarinet played the air. the flute took the tenor (an octave above the voice), and the 'cello the bass. In the second verse the clarinet played an octave higher, and at certain places executed original variations. Harmoniums and barrel-organs proved the death of the gallery- men, and onlv very few of the old musicians' galleries remain in their original condition. Mr. Galpin doubts whether the suppression of these village bands has been an unmixed good. The practice of the music provided recreation and occupation for the peasant folk.. and their per- formances brightened village life and cheered the long evenings. —————— A ——————

j ROYALTY'S LETTERS. King Edward receivea daily no fewer than 3,000 newspapers and 1,000 letters, while the Czar and the German Emperor receive each from 600 to 700 letters and appeals. The King, of Italy is troubled by about 500, and Queen Wil. helmina from 100 to 150. All these, however, are distanced by the Pope, who holds first place with from 22,000 to 23,000 letters every day.

I THE BonEs. I Mr. A. C. Benson, in the Corn-hill Magazine, describes the dull-dogs. He says: I know several people of very great intellectual power who are models of dulness. Their memories are loaded with what is no doubt very valuable informa- tion, and their conclusions are of the weightiest character; but they have no vivid perception, no alertness, they are not ope to new ideas, they never say an interesting or a suggestive thing; their presence is a load on the spirits of a lively party, their very facial expression is a rebuke to all light-mindedness and triviality. Sometimes these people are silent, and then to be in their presence is like being in a thiok mist; there is no outlook, no enlivening prospect. Sometimes they are talkers; and I am not sure that that is not even worse, because they generally discourse on their own subjects with profound and serious conviction. They have no power of conversation, because they are not interested in anyone else's point of view; they care no more who their com- panions are than a pump cares what sort of a vessel is put under it—they only demand that people should listen in silence.

I TINY SCEEWS. I The smallest screws are those used in watch factories. They are cut from steel wire by a machine. The jewel screws of a watch are barely visible to the naked eye; the magnifying-glass, however, reveals a screw with 260 threads to the inch. Such a screw is 4-1000ths of an inch in dia- meter, and the heads are double the size of the shank. An ordinary woman's thimble will hold 100,000 of them. I

I MOTHERS' MILK FOE BABIES. I Mr. T. C. Horsfall, writing in the Contem- porary Review, says: It is well known to all per- sons who study the conditions needed for the health of communities that children who are Buckled by their mothers have, as a rule, not only better health in infancy, but also stronger constitutions all their lives than children who are not so fed. In Germany, where observations have been made carefully and on a large ec-aie, it is found that amongst artificially-fed babies the rate of death in the first year varies at dif- ferent seasons from el( len to twenty-one timeo the rate for breast-fed children. Norwegian Btaiistics shew clearly that the high degree of immunity from disease possessed I by naturally- fed ohildren in their first year is kept for life. In Norway, happily for that country, it is the al- most universal habit, it has become the fashion, for women to suckle their babies; and one of the results is that notwithstanding the damp- ness and severity of the climate and the poverty of a considerable part of the population, the rate of infantile mortality, that is the rate of mortality for children under one year of age, is only 100 per 1,000, as compared with 145 per 1,000 in Great Britain, and 250 per 1,000 m Germany.

I ANCIENT MARINE INSURANCES. I Marine insurance dates back to the time or the Caesars, Claudius Caesar having been the first to ]Lnsur,e vessels. During a famine he issued a pro- clamation that all vessels engaged in the carriage of foodstuffs meeting with an accident would be replaced by the State, and by so doing largely increased the fleet of merchant vessels.

I INFLUENCE OF SCENT ON ANIMALS., I An interesting illustration of the influence of scent on animals, and a curious use made of it, is related in the Straits Times. Being short of labour for tapping the trees, the manager of a rubber estate hit upon the plan of rubbing the trees with valerian. Tigers, it is said, attracted by the scent, came and scratched the trees, with the result,that the rubber flowed out freely. Now, whether this story be true or not, it is an un- doubted fact that valerian has a remarkable at- traction for oats. Valeriana officinalis, in fact, is known as cat's valerian, and is said to produce in these animals a sort of intoxication. But it is to the common red valerian of the garden (Centranthus ruber) that the oat seems most often to resort, disfiguring the clamps by rolling on them. n <

King and Queen to Visit Spain. Paris, Friday. A San Sebastian teJegram to the Echo de Paris, says King Edward and Queen Alexandra will possibly spend several days there with the King and Queen of Spain in September.

Anxiety at Kronstadt. Paris, Friday. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Petit Parisien, states that great anxiety again prevails at Kronstadt where the revolt of the garrison is momentarily feared.

The Kirtlebridge Disaster. The Board of Trade report on the Kirtlebridge disaster on the Caledonian Railway, comments on the dangers of express goods traffic under existing conditions.

Cricket. Essex, out, 209. Surrey, 179 for 3 wickets. Hay- ward, out, 76. Surrey, 211 for 5 wickets.

Weather ^Forecast  Thundery weather, improving later predicted, i i Rainingheavily in London. 5L Printed and Published by "THE COUNTY OBSERVER," NBWSPAPKK and PBIKMNO COMPANY, Limited, by JAMBS HBNRT CLAitir, at their Offices, Bridge Street, tTøk, in the County of Monmouth, Saturday, July 28th, 1906. J

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