The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

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FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE IN CHESHIRE On Tuesday afternoon, at the Old Church» Woodchurcb, with full choral service, the musical portion being rendered by the choir of St. Stephen's the Martyr, Liverpool, by the kind permission of the vicar, the Rev. R. Cuffe, and in the presence of a large assembly, the church being tastefully decorated with choice white flowers, foliaged plants, and palms, the marriage took place of Mr. Chas. R. Crompton, second son of Mr. George Crompton, of Stanton Hall, Nottingham, and Miss Helena Dennis, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Dennis, of Arrowe Hall, Wood- church. The ceremony was celebrated by the Rev. T. Martyn, M.A. (uncle of the bride), rector of St. Buryan, Cornwall, assisted by the Rev. C. Southey Nickoll, M.A. (brother-in-law of the bride), vicar of Christ Church, Streatham Hill, London, and the Rev. R. Cuffe, M.A., vicar of St. Stephen's the Martyr, Liverpool. The bride was acoompanied by her father, Mr. James H. Dennis, who gave her away. The bridegroom was accompanied by his brother, Mr. William Crompton, as best man. Miss Helena Dennis selected a wedding gown of ivory duchesse satin, with a full court train, falling from the left shoulder, the bodice being trimmed with exquisite old Brussels lace, the gift of the bride's mother. Her fine lace veil covered a tiara of orange blossom, and was fastened with a diamond crescent, which, along with choice bridal bouquet of rare orchids in foliage, was the gift of the bridegroom. There were five bridesmaids Miss Ainie Dennis (sister of the bride), Miss Dorothy Crompton (sister of the bridegroom). Miss Eva Withers, Miss May Withers, and Miss Margery Wigg- who wore (the elder bridesmaids) cream glace silk dresses embroidered with silver passe- menterie, with yokes of mauve, and sleeves and sashes of cream chiffon, and Parisian hats of white felt, with white ostrich feathers and mauve and yellow chrysanthemums. The bride- groom's presents to them were gold curb bracelets set with rubies and pearls, and nose- gays of yellow chrysanthemums in white foliage and white roses. The three children bridesmaids wore dresses of embroidered lisse over white silk, and mauve and yellow sashes, with large white felt hats, with white feathers and lilies of the valley, and carried one lily bloom, and wore diamond swallow brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. There were three pages—Masters Charles Lees, Charles Wigg, and Reginald Withers, attired in white satin breeches, tied with yel!ow and mauve ribbons at the knee; white satin coats, and capes lined with mauve and yellow, with white satin Charles L hats, with ostrich feathers, white silk stockings, and buckled shoes, the gift of the bridegroom being an emerald frog' pin. The ceremony over, and the register signed, the bridal party drove to Arrowe Hall, where the bride's parents held a reception, the musical programme being carried out by the Liverpool Constabulary Band, under the able conductorship of Mr. A. P. Crawley, among those present being Mr. and Mrs. George Crompton (parents of the bridegroom), Miss Crompton, Mr. Francis Crompton, Mr. A. Crompton, of Stanton Hall, Nottingham Mr. and Mrs. Crompton, Miss Crompton, Mr. Gilbert Crcmpton, Flower Lillies, Derby; Mr. and Mrs. Evelyn Arkwright, Beaufort Gardens, London, S.W.; Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Brattleby Hall, Lincoln; the Rev. C. Southey and Mrs. Nicholls (brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the bride), the Rev. R. J. Martyn, Mr. and Mrs. Steele, Dr. and Mrs. Lees, Mr. and Mrs. H. Lees, Miss Wigg, Mr. and Mrs. Wigg, Mr. and Mrs. J. RandleS-Withers, Mr. and Mrs. J. R..Jackson, Mr. Emund D. Speeder, Mr. H. Clarkson, the Rev. R. Cuff, &c., and in the afternoon, amid the hearty congratulations of their assembled friends, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Crompton left for the south of England, where they will spend the early days of their honeymoon, the going- away dress being a tailor-made green coat, and skirt with blue silk front, and a blue straw hat with black plumes and Victorian feathers. The presents, over 300, were handsome and costly, and included articles from a large circle of Cheshire, Liverpool, and Midland friends of the contracting parties.

HARVEST HOME. The recent fine weather has been on the whole favourable for harvest operations, and the great bulk of the work has now been completed. it goes without saying, however, that all grain crops have been much damaged by the long spell of wet weather we have passed through, and farmers' profits in corn growing districts will be considerably curtailed thereby, as much of all kinds of white straw produce is scarcely marketable. Those who took time by the fore- lock, in July, and were lucky enough to secure their crops before the rain came may congratu- late themselves. Considerable complaint has arisen as to the scarcity of labour. In the South-Eastern division of Essex this has been specially the case. It is stated that in that district there has been a serious decrease in the number of farm labourers during the last 12 months, and as a consequence there has been such a searcity of extra hands for the hay and harvest as has not been known for many years. For- tunately for the farmers, glorious weather prevailed throughout both hay time and harvest, and they were able to gather in their crops with very little labour. If the weather had not been good, if the crops had been heavy and badly laid as in 1894. and with such a dearth of labourers as experienced, the crops never could have been harvested at the proper time. Some of the owners who occupy their own farms, and many well-to-do farmers, have had to doff their coats and fork the hay or stack the corn themselves, and in some cases the daughters have had to render assistance in tying up sheaves after the reaper. This may be a very healthy exercise, even more so than cycling, but it does not always come so agreeable. From Scotland the news is encouraging. The Dundee Courier gives reports collected from farmers in every county in Scotland regarding the yield of the season's harvest. These reports are all of a satisfactory character. The yield of barley is described as much above the average. and the quality is excellent. Wheat and oats were also very good crops. Turnips promise to be exceptionally heavy, though the yellow variety in some districts is suffering from want of moisture. Potatoes are not heavy, but there is not much evidence of disease. Beans and peas have turned out well. Even as regards Ireland a more hopeful tone prevails. A well-informed Irish correspondent writes :—Letters from various parts of Ireland say that the very gloomy aspect taken by the Press of the harvest is altogether overdrawn, and that in many places the crops are very good, and the damage done to them not at all what has been represented. A co. Cork farmer gives his opinion as follows, and as he farms very largely, it deserves respect:—1st. Cattle Better price than for some years. 2nd. Sheep: About same price as last year. 3rd. Hay: A much better crop than last year. 4th. Oats A better crop than last year. 5th. Barley: Ditto. 6th. Turnips: A good crop. 7th. Potatoes: A bad crop. As regards the oats and barley," he adds, "the crops have been difficult to save, but my experience is that the damage done up to the present by the rain is not serious." The Simla correspondent of the Times says:— During the past few days splendid rain has fallen over a very wide area, the Punjab par- ticularly receiving several inches. This not only secures a bounteous kharif harvest, but makes the prospect of rabi assured. This rain may be taken as worth crores of rupees to the country, for it has come exactly at the season- able time for the market. A fall in prices must shortly occur, and India should have a surplus of wheat to export a few months hence, for the crops are exceptionally good. The Government will benefit, as the land revenue will be easily collected during the cold weather. The crisis in the corn trade in Southern Russia (says the Daily News Odessa corre- spondent) has been further enhanced by the influx of some half-score Hungarian Com- missioners, who are purchasing wheat at any price obtainable. The majority of the great grain-exporting houses are in a very precarious position, and a large number of the smaller firms have already collapsed. One large foreign export firm alone will lose at least three millions of roubles in fulfilling its contracts previously made in expectation of a middling crop. With the exception of barley, all cereals ia this southern region are as light as they are scant. According to Dornbusch, the estimates of the world's wheat croo is as follows :— 1897. 1896. Qrs. Qrs. Europe. 157,570,000 192,274,000 America (North and South) 87,500,000 66,010,000 Asia (including India) 29,700,000 34,500,000 Africa 4,600,000 4,600,000 Australasia 5,000,000 2,750,000 Total. 284,370,000 300,134,000 This table shews, therefore, a shortage this year in the world's wheat crop of just over 15i millions of quarters. Only one country in Europe is likely to have a greater quantity of wheat this year than last. That country is Portugal, whose crop is reckoned at one million quarters, as against 700,000 quarters for the previous year. THE DANISH BUTTER INDUSTRY. A good deal of feeling-we might almost say sensation-prevails in agricultural circles, as well as in the mind of the general public, through the publication by Mr. D. Young, of Edinburgh, editor of the North British Agricul- turist, on the condition of the dairy farms and dairying in Denmark, as contained in a pamphlet entitled A Land Flowing with Milk and Butter: The Truth about Danish Dairying.' Generally speaking Mr. Young's deductions amount to this: Danish cows are very little exposed to the wholesome conditions of pure air and running streams. Extremes of heat and, cold keep them in the byres. These are low- built, pretty nearly hermetically-sealed against ventilation, and instead of being paved with tiles or glazed bricks, thickly coated with straw they provide no bedding for the cows other than the cobble stones with which they are floored, the interstices between which, difficult to cleanse, reek with filth and offensive odours. Moreover, the byres are built about a square, which contains the dungstead, and the pump and well in close proximity." One per cent. of tuberculous Danish cows are tuberculous at birth. The normal death-rate of Copenhagen, which is supplied by a very careful model company, is 48 per 1,000; and typhoid fever is exceedingly prevalent in the country. These remarks apply to 75 per cent of the Danish farms; and farm- ing is the one industry of the country. The United Kingdom imports about 78 million pounds of Danish butter annually. On the other side, the Copenhagen Dairy Supply Com- pany set an example of cleanliness and strict surveillance against disease which is worthy of imitation at home; and the Danish Govern- ment have voted an annual sum of X5,000 toward the cost of having the cattle stocks put through the tuberculin test. Here again the byre system prevents segregation; and the con- clusion is that the Briton should beware of giving his children Danish butter. Against this Mr. F. J. Lloyd, F.C.S., of the British Dairy Farmers' Association, enters a most vigorous protest, traversing most of the items advanced by Mr. Young. We have not space in this column to follow Mr. Lloyd seriatim, but against the statement that. through carelessness in milking, a great amount of filth falls into the milking pail,' and the milk on reaching the Danish creameries has to be run through a fine sieve, which collects a thick deposit of excrementitious matter,' he replies with a tu quoque, the truth of which, unfortunately, is but too self-evident at times in the bottom of our milk jugs :— Those who know anything about dairying in Great Britain know that the last two sentences would be as true of much of the milk produced in this country as they are of the milk produced in Denmark. As regards air space in the byres, it is scarcely possible to compare what is deemed necessary in a country where the winter is com- paratively short and the temperature seldom falls more than 10 deg. below freezing, with a country where the winter is not only longer but more severe, and where the thermometer stands frequently below zero. But the main question is, would such conditions be likely to produce typhoid fever ? It is a remarkable fact that no single case of typhoid fever known to have been produced by the consumption of butter has been, or probably can be, brought forward in confirmation of this assumption." THB DEMAND FOR FARMS. The Rural World remarks:—" It is singular how varied is the demand for farms in different parts of the country. One of our contributors who travels the country widely finds that in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Leicestershire, Rutland, Cheshire, Lancashire, and even far- ther north, there are very few useful farms without a tenant; while in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, Essex, Nor- folk, and even in the rich county of Lincoln numbers of farms are tenantless. Still even where land is tenanted rents have been reduced, and the returns given by the Commissioners on Agriculture corroborate the foregoing statement. But it took the Commissioners four years to find out what every shrewd practical farmer has known for a long time. Commis- sioners on Agriculture need to move more rapidly about their work to do any material good. A few practical farmers would be able to shew as well in a few months what is going on in the farming world as takes the Commis- sioners as many years." AN AUSTRALIAN EXPERIMENT WITH BUTTER. The Australasian relates a qurious transaction in butter. It shews in more ways than one what science can do for us now. This excellent journal relates that" a portion of a consignment of butter, manufactured in the Colonies last February, and shipped to London in March, was re-shipped thence, per the steamer Lusitania, back to Melbourne, was on Monday last submitted to public auction here. The butter, which bore the brand Southern Cross,' was manufactured by the Southern Produce Company, and when opened on Monday its con- dition appeared to be in every way as good as when it was first made. The high prices ruling locally induced the company to order the butter to be re-shipped from London, and a hundred cases of half a hundredweight each were sub- mitted to auction. The price averaged Is. 3d. to Is. 2d. a pound, and this, it is asserted, will leave a margin of profit, notwithstanding the expense of the journey to London and back."

MIDDLEWICH AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The annual show of the Middlewich and District Agricultural Society was held in favourable weather near Middlewich Station on Wednesday. This society is now about forty years old, and under the presidency of Colonel France-Hayhurst it receives the cordial support of all classes interested in the land. Springing from very small'* beginnings, it has made great headway, especially in recent years, but there is still ènty of scope for its operations to be extended, and the pro- moters may reasonably hope to see the dimensions of the show increase still further as years roll on. At present it is a compact and admirable little show in every way, favoured with an excellent site, and under the management of a very capable committee, thoroughly representative of the district from which the entries are drawn. On the present occasion the latter numbered about the same as last year, 1,260, and in every section, whether in horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, dogs, cheese, or butter, some really superior quality was displayed. Prizes to the value of £480 were offered, and when it is stated that ten years ago the money given amounted to only JE154, it will be seen what wonderful strides the society has made. The following gentlemen officiated as judges Cattle, Messrs. J. Parr, W. Coomer, and J. Lea; light horses, the Earl of Enniskillen, Major Tomkinson, and Messrs. G. Smith, and J. E. Reiss; turnouts and jumping, Colonel C. H. Franee-Hayhurst, Major Tomkinson, and Mr. C. Kay; heavy horses, Messrs. J. Bourne and J. Stuart; sheep and pigs, Messrs. J. E. Bourne and J. Farish; cheese, Messrs. J. C. Griffiths and F. Barratt; butter, Mrs. M. Blackshaw; roots and corn, Messrs. C. B. Davies and T. Balmer; fruit, Messrs. W. Nield and Fletcher; poultry, Mr. G. Furness; pigeons, Mr. A. M'Kenzie; dogs, Mr. T. H. Stretch. The secretarial duties were again efficiently dis- charged by Mr. Thomas B. Manley. Dealing first with the cattle, there were 54 entries, forming a capital collection all round. The dairy cattle were exceptionally strong in merit, and if there was one weak spot in the section it was only the cottagers' cows, which were but a mediocre lot. The championship for the best beast in the yard was carried off by Mr. Samuel W. Gould, of Lymm, with a grand dairy cow, which won equally high honours at the recent Cheshire Show at Crewe, and had not a very difficult task in overcoming the opposition it had to face. Mr. Gould was also first with a two-year-old bull, and a pair of yearling heifers, which thoroughly deserved their success. Mr. Thomas Parton, of Weston Hall, Crewe, was also well to the fore with his magnificent stock, securing two firsts, one for the best pair of dairy cows, and the other for the beat pair of two-year-old heifers, the latter being a superb pair, which were victorious at Burton, and were awarded two firsts at Crewe. In yearling bulls, though he had gained distinction at several shows this year, Mr. Parton had to give way to a last year's winner in the pesreon of Mr. John Hobson, Nantwich. Mr. Richard Clarke, Warburton Park, carried off a first prize with a bull calf, which shewed particularly good quality in type and character, and the remaining classes contained some very useful animals. There has been a wonderful improvement in recent years in the stamp of horses bred in the district, and many of the animals exhibited were good enough to compete at any show in the country. The entries numbered 145. The heavy section was well filled with animals suitable to the ordinary farm work, a special feature being the substantial nature of their build, and their general quality. In the open class for the best pair of horses for agricultural purposes, the winners belonging to Mr. Penning- ton, Bollington, were a splendid couple that had previously won honours, and were of a con- siderably more weighty stamp than the second pair. Mr. Schwabe, Altrincham, outdistanced the five other competitors who opposed him in the class for agricultural mares or geldings with a big mare possessing many praiseworthy points. The two-year-olds were not so conspicuous in merit, but in the yearlings a very smart filly that has previously achieved distinction, belong- ing to Mr. Thomas Hardy, Knutsford, again led the way, beating for second place a finely bred filly of a rather lighter stamp. An old favourite in the shape of a nine-year- old matron by English Pride, owned by Mr. Schwabe, was the best of the cart mares with foal at foot, beating Mr. Hardy's representative, which is not quite as accurate in conformation. Mr. Hardy, however, came out victorious in the foal class with a well- developed youngster. Passing to the light horses, which numerically were very strong (num- bering 105), the hunters, as might have been expected, were a fine lot. Mr. Geo. Hodson, Nant- wich, obtained a first prize with a well-sprung yearling gelding, which, when furnished, will make an excellent animal for cross-country work. In the two-yr-olds a brown gelding, the property of Mr. John Prescott, Middlewich, that has never been beaten was an easy winner, and vanquished for first place an animal that would have been more fittingly placed in the hackney class. The roadsters were as usual a little unsatisfactory, though an improvement was evident upon previous years. In the tenant farmers' class the winner was a chestnut mare owned by Mr. Thos. Bennion, of Barthom- ley, that gained a first at Crewe. She is a thick well-developed mare, but when shewn with her foal at foot, she only took second place, as her movement was not quite up to her usual form. A novice in the show ring was Mr. J. Chesworth's bay by Marengo, but he went well, and deserved the second place. The silver cup for three-year-old hunters was borne off by Mr. J. Prescott, with his stately brown mare Matilda, by Fenrother, a mare with a splendid shoulder, grand back and loins. She was first at Crewe and Tarporley. In ponies some sur- prise was expressed at the defeat of Mr. A. S. Day's well-known Lady Langford, but she failed to please the judges to the same extent as Silver Bell, a tightly-barrelled chestnut, with stjlish action and ability to travel. In cobs Mr. G. F. Brown, of Northwich, won comfortably with Wbitesocks II., who, like his sire, abounds in quality and style; and in weight-carrying hunters Mr. H. M. Wilson, Holmes Chapel, carried all before him with his chestnuts Sugar Stick and Pitchfork, who exhibited a fine turn for speed. Captain Featherstonhaugh, Tilstone House, Tarporley, also scored a triumph with a neat and well-balanced bay gelding, which beat Mr. Wilson's Blackie and Mr. Buckley's Safety, another taking gelding which captured the silver cup for ,rour-year-olds. In this class, as in several others, the competition was so keen that the judges had to test the qualities of the animals by personally riding them round the ring. Some excellent jumping formed the centre of attraction during the afternoon, the grand stand being well filled with the gentry of the district, and the enclosure being thickly lined with spectators. There was unfortunately a falling-off in the number of entries of cheese—40—and this is certainly one department of the show which we should like to see more flourishing. To com- pensate for the deficiency of numbers, however, the judges reported that the quality was better than had been seen for many years. Coloured cheese took the precedence, and this class contained the exact article re- quired by the general public, and therefore one commanding a better market price than the uncoloured. It was a notworthy coincidence that the first prize in each section went to Mr. Hobson, of Nantwich, with some rich, meaty cheese of good keeping character. Mr. Hopley, or Little Budworth, also won a first with an equally meritorious exhibit. Butter, too, was higtier in quality than at previous shows, the winning specimens being exceedingly firm and good in texture, and with the exception of about two lots which betrayed slight traces of rancidity, the whole of the butter was well made. The first prize' pats,' made by T. B. Manley, Middlewich, although only one point ahead of the nearest competitor, were distinctly the best butter. In sheep Mr. Parton swept the boards with his noted short-woolled rams and ewes, which accounted for four firsts. There was a remark- ably fine display of fruit, and an increase had to be reported in both dogs and pigeons. In the latter Mr. Joseph Lewis, of Cotebrook, Tarporley, of Crystal Palace fame, was, as usual in the front rank. THE LUNCHEON. A large company sat down to luncheon under the presidency of Colonel France-Hayhurst, who was supported by the Earl of Enniskillen, Mr. Christopher Kay, Mr. J. E. Reiss, Mr. George Egerton Warburton, Mr. John Birkett, Mr. George Garfit, Mr. James Tomkinson, Mr. Waldegrave Griffith, &c. In the course of a short toast list, the President proposed the toast of Prosperity to the Society.' He remarked that it was founded about forty years ago, and had sprung up from very small beginnings. Ten years ago the entries num- bered only 285, and the prize money amounted to £ 154, so it would be seen how the society had grown during the last decade., Referring to Mr. Gladstone's speech as to the tremendous sum expended upon imported butter and eggs, he said he thought it was a scandal and a shame that our farmers and poultry growers should allow some twelve or fourteen million pounfls sterling to go every year into the pocket of the foreigners. It seemed that unless British farmers took more kindly to co-operation, they would suffer grievous loss in competition with. the foreigner, backed up and protected as he was by his own paternal Government. As to cheese, in the face of the desire of the British public for long-keeping cheese, surely the Cheshire farmer was sharp and shrewd enough in his own business to pro- duce that article, and so hold his own against Cheddar, Stilton, American, and other makes. Bad seasons had no doubt been experienced in the north, but he said without fear of contra- diction that the Cheshire farmer did not really know what agricultural depression was. Farmers in the midland and eastern counties did possess that knowledge to their cost, parti- cularly in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where they had been practically ruined. The Cheshire landlords were doing, and would continue to do in the future, everything they possibly could to aid their tenant farmers, and that was why such an undeniably good feeling existed between them in the eounty. He was sure Lord Ennis- killen, who had known the Cheshire farmer for many years, would join him in hoping that the time might come when the Cheshire farmer would be in a position to say he was ready and willing to have a good day's fox-hunting with the Cheshire Hounds, as he used to do in the days of old. (Applause.)—Mr. Reiss, whose name was coupled with the toast, suitably responded, referring to the excellent work accomplished by the society in the improvement of stock in the district. A great deal of good would be done in the neighbourhood—and it would be a kind of acknowledgment from those bunting gentlemen who did not spend a copper in the county-if they would only sell to the farmers at a cheap rate broken- down mares, which, while no longer suitable for cross-country work, were free from hereditary disease.—Mr. James Tomkinson, in submitting the health of the President, remarked that everyone knew that there was no estate upon which things were more splendidly carried out and on which advantages were more liberally given to the tenants, than upon the estates of Colonel France-Hayhurst. (A pplause.) Atter the President's reply, Mr. John Birkett proposed the healths of the judges.-The Earl of Ennis- killen, in acknowledgment, said the class of horse now bred by the Cheshire farmer was one of which he might well be proud. He had observed an exceedingly marked improvement during the past 28 years. When he first came among them, there was not a horse in the county bred by a farmer worth a row of pins- (laughter)—but now he could challenge any- body to point to a county where such beautiful home-bred horses were to be found. He con- cluded by expressing the hope that they should have a jolly good hunting season.' The following were the principal awards :— HORNED CATTLE. For the best bull, two years old and upwards: 1, Samuel W. Gould, Foxley Hall, Lymm; 2, William Furber, Baddiley Hall, Nantwich; 3, Richard Hull, Edleston, Nantwich; r, T. Parton, Weston Hall, Crewe c, John Prescott, Kinderton, Middlewich. Best bull, under two years 1, John Hobson, Coole Lane Farm, Nantwich; 2, Thomas Parton; 3, John Siddall, Oakhanger Hall, Crewe. Best bull calf, under one year1, Richard Clarke, Warburton Park, Heatlay, Warrington; 2, Thomas Parton 3, John Siddall. Best pair of dairy cows, in milk or in calf: 1, Thomas Parton; 2, George Moreton, Kinderton Hall, Middlewich; George Cooke, Clayley Hall, Chester. Best dairy cow in milk: 1, Samuel W. Gould; 2, George Cooke; 3 and h c, George Moreton c, Thomas Parton. Best pair of two-year-old heifers, for dairy pur- poses 1 and 2, Thomas Parton, Weston Hall, Crewe h c, William Bowers, Nantwujh. Best pair one-year-old heifers, for dairy pifirposes 1, Samuel W. Gould, Foxley Farm, Lymm r, George Bell, junr., New Tree. Farm, Lower Peover. Best pair of heifer calves, under one year: 1, Samuel W. Gould 2, Richard Hull, Edleston, Nantwich. Extra prize given by Mr. E. H. Moss, for the best bull calf, under one year: 1, John Prescot, Kinderton, Middlewich. Cottagers' Cla.ssesBest cow, in calf or milk: 1, George Byrami Wim- boldsley, Middlewich; 2, W. Buckley, Wimbolds- ley; 3, Edwin Meachin, Moston. Best heifer, under two years old: 1, Alfred Garner, Tetton, Middlewich; 2, Thomas Owen, Paradise Green, Church Minshull; h o, Edwin Meaohin. Best fat pig 1 and 2, W. Dickinson, Yatehouse,Middle- wich; h c (twice), W. Ankers, Middlewich^. HEAVY HORSES. Best pair of horses for agricultural purposes 1, N. Pennington, Spode Green Farm, Bollington 2, John Richardson, Home Farm, Bradwall. Best mare or gelding for agricultural purposes: 1, C. Schwabe, Arden, Altrincham;, 2, Exors. of Mary Littler, Three Greyhounds, near Knutsford; 3, William Thompstone., Siddington, Chelford; c, Samuel Trelfa, Weaver Wood, Winsford. Beat two-year-old mare or gelding: 1, John Owen,dive, Winstord; 2, John Richardson, Hill Top, Warm- ingham, Sandbach; 3, Mrs. A. Ravenscroft,the Cape, Plumbley, Knutsford; c, John Barratt, Love-lane, Bechton, Scholar Green. Best one- year-old mare or gelding 1, Thomas Hardy, Mere Hall Farm, Knutsford 2, A. Pennington, Bollington, Altrincham; 3, Mrs. A. Ravenscroft; h, c, W. Shore, Byley, Middlewich, and Thomas Hardy. Best cart mare, with foal at foot: 1, C. Schwabe 2, .Thomas Hardy; h, c, W. Lea, Minshuil Vernon, Crewe. Extra prizes given by Mr. E. Moss, of Ravenscroft Hall, Middlewich—Best cart foal: 1, Thomas Hardy 2, W. Wilding, Teddon, Middlewich; r, C. Schwabe; c, John Beckett, Betchton Stud, Rode Heath, and John Owen, Clive, Winsford. Extra prizes given by Mr. H. M Wilson, the Hermitage, Holmes Chapel-Best mare, served this season by Dunsmore Cupid 1, Samuel Trelfa, Weaver Wood, Winsford; 2, Mrs. A. Ravenscroft; 3, I, Rutter, Little Budworth, Tarporley. For the best foal by Dunsmore Cupid; 1, I, Rutter; 2, T. G. Yarwood, Kinderton Lodge, Middlewich. LIGHT HORSES. Best gelding or filly over one year and under two years 1, George Hodson, Marsh Farm, Nantwich 2, Richard Leach, Leftwioh Hull Farm. Best two- year-old gelding or filly 1, John Prescot, Kinder- ton 2, John Knowles, Lostock Gralam; r, H. F. Pilling, Mere Brow, Weaverham. Best gelding or filly over three years old and under four years old 1, Wm. Hesketh, Cholmondeston; 2, John Prescott, Kinderton; r, George Piatt, Oak Tree Farm, Eaton, and Mrs. Betsy Jones, Cholmondeston. Best roadster of any age, mare or gelding, confined to tenant farmers only: 1, Thomas Bennion, Cherry Tree Farm, Barthomley; 2, J. Chesworth, Yew Tree Farm, Acton; r, Alfred Charlesworth, Wettenhall Cottage, 'Winsford. Extra prizes given by Mr. W. Jones, of Blakemere, Northwich—For the best mare suitable for breed- ing hunters, with foal at foot: 1, Richard Leech, Leftwich Hall Farm. Extra prizes given by Mr. J. E. Reiss-Best three-year-old mare or gelding suitable for a hunter 1, John Prescot, Kinderton; 2, Mrs. Betsy Jones, Cholmondeston, Winsford h c, William Hesketh, Cholmondeston. Beat four- year-old mare or gelding, suitable for a hunter: 1, John Buckley, Rose Cottage, Worleston 2, Samuel Trelfa, Weaver Wood, Winsford; h c, John Ravenscroft, Calveley. Silver medal given by the Hunters' Improvement Society Best roadster, mare or gelding 1, Seymour H. Munro, M.D., Nantwich 2, George Rodger, Newton Bank, Preston Brook; h c, James Laithwood, Alcumlow Farm, Astbury. Best mare for road purposes, with foal at foot: 1, W. H. Norbury, Rode Heath; 2. Thomas Bennion, Cherry Tree Farm, Barthomley. Best pony, not exceeding 13! hands, mare or gelding: 1. E. Noden, Seabridge, Newcastle 2, Alfred S. Day, Berkeley Stud, Crewe; h c, J. Leah, Willaston, and Seymour H. Munro, M.D. Best oob over 13| hands, but not exceeding 14J hands, mare or gelding 1, G. F. Brown, Brook Bank, Northwich; 2, Captain W. H. France-Hayhurst, Bostock Hall, Middlewich. Best hunter, mare or gelding up to not less than 14 stone: 1 and 2, H. M. Wilson, The Hermitage, Holmes Chapel; 3, W. Marshall, Mere House, Weaverham. Best hunter, mare or gelding under 14 stone: 1, Captain Fetherstonhaugh, Tilston House, Tarporley; 2, H. M. Wilson; 3, John Buckley, Rose Cottage, Worleston. Jumpers (open): 1, T. Roberts, Ranelagh-street, Liverpool; 2, H. Jagger, Moorehead Stud Farm, Emley, Wakefield; 3, Jerome, Sutton Coldfield. Jumpers (local); 1, G. P. Hodson; 2, W. H. Astles 3, Lewis, Oakmere. Turnouts (open).-I, Seymour H. Munro, M.D., Nantwich; 2, George Rodger, Newton Bank, Preston Brook; h c, E. Noden, Seabridge, New- castle. Turnouts (local): 1, W. Marshall, Mere House, Weaverham; 2, Seymour H. Munro, M.D.; h c, George Rodger. Turn- outs (Tradesmen and Farmers): 1, Joseph Chesworth; 2, Joseph Lewis, Cotebrook, Tar- porley h c, Thomas Bennion, Cherry Tree Farm, Barthomley. Cob Turnouts: 1, George Bodger, Preston Brook; 2, Joseph Lewis, Cotebrook, Tarporley; c, G. F. Brown, Stapley House, Nant- wich. Pony Turnouts 1, Alfred S. Day. Berkely Stud, Crewe; 2, Seymour H. Munro, M.D., Nant- wich h c, J. B. Price, Crewe. PIGS. Brawn, over 12 months: 1, A. L. Goodson, Knutsford; 2, J. Barratt, Betchton. Brawn, under 12 months: 1, H. D. Mariott, Cranage; 2, J. Barratt. Sow and pigs 1, J. Johnson, Nantwich 2, J. Barratt. In-pig sow 1, J. Prescott; 2, H. D. Marriott. Pair gilts, littered since January 1, 1897: 1, J. Barratt; 2, S. Charlesworth, Crewe. SHEEP. Long-woolled ram, any age 1, J. Cheers, Barrow; 2, J. E. Ward, Crewe. Short-woolled ram, any age 1 and 2, T. Parton, Crewe. Three long-woolled ewes, any age 1, J. Cheers; 2, J. E. Ward. Three short-woolled ewes, any asre 1 and 2, T. Parton. Three long-woolled ewe lambs 1, J. E. Ward; 2, J. Cheers. Three short-woolled ewe lambs 1, T. Parton. Long-woolled ram lamb: I, J. E Ward: 2, J. Cheers. Short-woolled ram lamb 1, T. Parton. CHEESE. Best four coloured cheese, any weight: 1, John Hobson, Coole Lane Farm, Nantwich; 2, John Dutton, Swanley Hall, Nantwich; 3, Joseph Ankers, Cholmondeley; r, John Dutton, junr., Bridgemere Farm, Nantwich v h o, W. B. Clarke, Towns Green Farm, Alpraham; h c, Peter Dutton, Hoofield Hall, Huxley; Samuel Holland, Wood- hey Hall, Nantwich; and William Houlbrook, Wettenhall. Best four uncoloured, cheese, any weight: 1, W. H. Astles, Swanlow Farm, Darn- hall 2, T. Charlesworth, Baddington; r, Harry Denson, Poulton v h' c, Mrs. Watson; Breaton Park, Hargrave; Richard Hull, Edleston, Nant- wich and John Hobson; h c, Thomas Greenway c, Evan Langley, Ridley Bank, Tarporley. Best four coloured or uncoloured cheese, not exceeding 401bs. weight each: 1, Henry Hopley, Little Budworth: 2, Seymour A. Bonnell, Coos Farm, Audlem; 3, Joseph Platt, Tilston; r, Samuel Evans, Woodhouse Farm, Tattenhall; v h c, Henry Brett, Burwardsley, Tattenhall; h c, Samuel Greenway, Eaton, Tarporley. BUTTER. Best 41b. butter, 16ozs. each slightly salted 1, T. B. Manley, Newton Fields, Middlewich; 2, Mrs. France, Spurstow; 3, Mrs. G. Harding, Spurstow; 4, Thomas Harding, Alley Bank, Alpraham; 5, J. Barratt, Love-lane, Betchton; v h c, Thomas Jackson, Near Schools Aston, Iuxtra, Mondrum; and Mrs. C. Stubbs, Moss-lane, Leighton h c, H. B. Clarke, Alpraham and. Miss S. Kettle, Tilstone Fearnall.; o, Mrs. Barnes, Alpraham.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE.— Viscount Cobham, chairman of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, speaking at Droit- wich on Saturday, said he had noticed with surprise and regret that the report of the Commission had been generally regarded as giving a very gloomy view of the present condition and prospects of agriculture. Nothing was further from their minds than to discourage farmers and frighten capital from the land, and he thought that must be apparent to any but hasty and superficial reading of their report. Personally, he thought that, given a sound discretion in the choice of a farm, trained intelligence,, and sufficient capital, a farming career at the present time offered inducements in the shape of independence, varied and healthful occupation, and reason- able expectation of profit such as combined could be found in scarcely any other business.

MANCHESTER POLICE SCANDAL. ♦ WATCH COMMITTEE CONDEMNED, A private meetmg of Manchester citizens was held on Tuesday to discuss the action of the Watoh Committee of the Manchester Cor- poration in regard to the recent police scandal. On the motion of Mr. Percy Glass, seconded by Mr. E. Tootal Broad hurst, the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That the recent report of Mr. Commissioner Dugdale, Q.C., upon his inquiry into the management and discipline of the Manchester Police Force confirms the grave suspicions of the public, and justifies the demand which was made for a judicial inquiry that the report establishes the fact that there has been a very serious mismanagement of the police force, that the responsibility for this mismanagement rests. upon the Watch Committee, that the eonduct of the Watch Committee in not at once resigning on the receipt of the report, and its action since, reveals its incapacity to appreciate the gravity of its position, and arouses apprehension in the public mind of further and unrevealed irregu- larities. It is the imperative duty of the citizens independently of all party considera- tions to pronounce an emphatic condemnation of the Watch Committee by refusing to return to the Council on November 1st next any of the implicated members of the committee or other candidates who do not pledge themselves to oppose in the Council the re-election on the Watch Committee of any of the implicated majority." A resolution was also unanimously passed forming a committee for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing resolution.

MR. LABOUCHERE AND THE. MONEY- LENDING SCANDALS. « The Exchange Telegraph Company states that Mr. Labouchere, having expressed a desire to serve next session on the Money-lending Committee, it is probable that the hon. member's name will be added to that body when the formal motion for the reappointment of the committee is brought forward on the reassembling of Parliament next year. It is uncertain at present whether the committee will prolong their inquiries to any great extent into the practices adopted by the money-lending profession, which were attended by so many dramatic scenes in the ease of Mr. Kirkwood. There is, however, reason to believe that the relations subsisting between some members of the fraternity and certain insurance offices (the existence of which was established by an incidental disclosure in the course of last session) may not improbably form the subject of investigation at an early period. This will practically close the case for the prosecution, so to speak, and the committee will thereupon turn their attention to the remedial measures which it may be found necessary to recommend, finally presenting their report to Parliament before the close of the session. In regard to this last branch of the inquiry, the Exchange Telegraph Company has ascertained that evidence will be tendered on behalf of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society and the Agricultural Banks Association to prove the efficacy of the system which has been adopted with some considerable degree of success by both these bodies.