Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

ARMY BILL READ. In the House of Commons yesterday there were 124 questions on the order paper. Many ef them related to the proposed new coal and sugar duties, and were answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the President of the Board of Trade. In answer to Mr W Redmond, Lord Cran- borne said that no representations had been made by the Government to Russia in reference to the occupation of Manchuria. In reply to Mr Black, Mr Brodrick said it wis not proposed to lay any fttrther papers on the table on the subject of the Oeaoe negotiations with General Botha.-The Army Annual Bill was read a third time.—The Budget resolutions were further considered in Committee of Ways and Means.—A proposal to reduce the tea duty from 6d to 4d per pound was discussed at considerable length, and defeated by 221 votes to 140.-The House at 12-40.

THE COCKERTON CASE. Saturday. In the House of Commons on Friday, Dr Macnamara and others called attention to the decision of the London School Board to abandon any further ftpjieal'against the Cocktertpn judgrhfent, and asked for â. statement of the Government's intentions with regard to the situation thus created. Mr Balfour, in reply, said that the Government pro- posed to introduce an Education Bill io that House, probably before Whitsuntide. He declined to state whether the bill would cover the points raised by the Cockertun judgment, advising members to wait Until the bill was introduced. Mr Lough asked whether any steps apart from the bill would be taken to deal with the schools affected by the judgment. Mr Balfour replied that the House could not consider with advantage the necessity for any such steps until they saw the bill.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SALARY. The House went into Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates. On the vote for the law officers' department a discussion arose on the system adopted by the present Government of pay. ing the law officers of the Crown partly by fees and partly by salary. It was pointed out that the system adopted by Lord Rosebery's Government of paying the law officers solely by fixed salary had been abandoned by the present Government and that the cost had since gone up from £19,000 to £ 30,000. A proposal to reduce the Attorney General's salary as a protest against the present system was supported by Mr Asquith and Sir W Harcourt and opposed by Mr Balfour, and Sir M Hicks-Beach, and was defeated by 185 votes to 152 -majority 33. The vote was afterwards agreed to.

THE WAR LOAN. Tuesday. The debate on the resolution for providing a war loan ofJ660,000,000 was resumed yesteiday. Reply. ing to criticisms, Sir M Hicks-Beach *aid the House had given practically unanimous consent to the principle that in the present condition of the Trang- vaal it would be misleading and worse than useless to issue a Transvaal loan guarantee by this country rather than a loan secured on the credit of this country, and that the effect of doing so would be to Middle the taxpayers with a larger rate of interest than they would otherwise have to pay. For the next ten years the loans which they had already borrowed on account of the war would be falling in from time to time, and then would be the time, if possible, to charge the money on the Transvaal. On a division the resolution was carried by 213 votes to 128, and a Bill founded on the resolution was brought in and read the first time.

SUGAR AND INCOME TAXES. The report of the resolution imposing a duty on sugar was discussed. Sir M Hicks-Beach, in reply, said that the duty was calculated to produce some £ 5,000,000 in the course of the present year, and it was useless to object to his proposal and not to suggest anything in its place. The resolution was carried by 251 votes to 148. The income tax resolu- tion was carried by 276 votes to 72. The other duties—excepting that on coal-were agreed to.

SCHOLASTIC MILITARY INSTRUCTION. In the House of Lords a debate took place on a bill for military instruction in schools, drawn up by the Head Master of Eton, with the support of a number of other bead masters, and introduced by Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency. In moving the second reading the Viscount explained that the bill proposed that boys should undergo a course of military instruction as part of their education, that the Government should supply instructors, arms, and ammunition, and that a capitation grant of 10s per head should be paid for every efficient cadet under the age of 17.-Lord Raglan, the Under Secretary for War, said the Government could not support the bill. There had lately been a very KVeat increase in the volunteer forces, and if the increase continued at the same rate we should soon find ourselves in possession of more volunteers than could be employed profitably in the defence of the country. The cost of carrying out the provisions of the bill would, he estimated, be £ 2,000,000 a year, and this War Offtce could make better use of the money.—Earl Spencer regretted the attitude of the Government towards the bill, which he did not believe wotild involve the expense named.—Lord Lansdowrie said that at the present time our military expenditure was advancing by leaps and bounds, and the country was passing through the somewhat sobering process of considering how the bill was to be paid. The second reading of the present bill might, however, be passed, and the measure be examined by the proper departments, but the Government would take no responsibility whatever for its further stages. The second read- ing was then agreed to.

EDUCATIONAL CHANGES. The Bishop of Hereford, in calling attention to certain alterations in the new Education Code, suggested that they went too far in the direction of abolishing examinations.—The Duke of Devonshire replied in vindication of the policy of reducing the number of examinations and substituting inspection for them.

RAILWAY BILL REJECTED. WEDNESDAY. In the House of Commons yesterday, on the motion for the second reading of the London and North-Western Railway Bill-in which among other things, power was sought to remove a num- ber of working-class dwellings in Hammersmith,— Mr Hay moved and Mr Warner seconded the rejection of the bill, on the ground that inadequate provision was made for the families displaced. Mr Ritchie, on behalf of the Government, said there was nothing in the bill which called for its rejection. The clauses relating to re-housing were the usual clauses inserted in the bills of all companies who asked for power to remove working-class dwellings. The Bill on a division was rejected by 210 votes to 202.

SOUTH AFRICAN ADMINISTRATION. In answer to Mr Blacky Mr Chamberlain said the scheme of civil adminstraiion in South Africa would be evolved gradually, as experience was gained of the requirements of the different depart- ments. He did not anticipate that it would be possible on any given date to lay a complete scheme on the table. There would be two legisla- tive councils, one for the Transvaal and one for the Orange River Colony.

RAILWAYS AND STATE PURCHASE. At the evening sitting Mr Hayden called atten- t0 t'ie 8ukJect Irish railways, and moved— That the present railway rates and charges in Ireland constitute an intolerable grievance to the Irish people, and that measures should be adopted this session for the remedy thereof either by amalgamation of the management under State con- trol or by State purchase of Irish railways, so as to reduce the tariffs and further to increase facility of transit by utilising and developing the waterways and canalising certain rivers in Ireland." Mr Banurby moved as an amendment—" That, whilst admitting the importance of developing the facili- ties of transit in Ireland, the time is not opportune for taking any steps which might act as a check to private enterprise and place a burden upon public funds." In the course of the discussion Mr Wynd- ham said he was against the State purchase of rail- ways in Ireland, a proposal which he did not con- sider came within the range of practical politics. On a division the motion was rejected by 152 votes to 90. The amendment was agreed to.

WELSH MEMBERS. LAND AND CHURCH QUESTIONS. Of all the Welsh members, Mr Osmond Williams, the representative of Merioneth, has up to the present been most fortunate in the ballot for places. His Land Tenure (Wales) Bill still retains the second place for Wednesday, the 22nd of May, and this week he has secured a similar position on the previous Tuesday evening for a resolution calling attention to the question of the Established Church in Wales. Welsh members of both parties extended a very hearty welcome to their colleague, Major Wyndham Quin, the Unionist representative of South Gla- morgan, who after "ieveral months' campaigning in South Africa returned home invalided. A sojourn in the South of France has greatly improved the gallant Major's health. ——=—

THE BANE OF TFE WELSH CHURCH. ARCHDEACON EVANS'S OPINION. Archdeacon Evans, of St Asaph, in the course of a charge delivered to the clergy and church wardens at St Asaph on Friday, stated that extreme Ritualism in the diocese of St Asaph was con- spicuous by its absence. He pleaded for free and open churches throughout the diocese, and said that the bane of the Welsh Church was not Ritualism but stagnation. He also touched upon the questions of the maintenance of voluntary schools, the pro. visions of the burials Act, and temperance reform.

Y GOLOFN GYMREIG. LLONGYFARCHIAD Fel hyn y canodd Geufronydd i Deiniol Fychan yn y cyngherdd yr wythnos ddiweddaf. Deiniol sy'n gweled anian—hwn heddyw Sy'n addurn i'n llwyfan; Dyn y dydd a dawn o dan Iachus yw Deiniol Fychan. Mewn dau encyd myn dincian-ffrwyth enaid Ei ffraethineb allan; Nid anhymig wersi gwan A feichiant Deiniol Fychan. Egluraf wr y glorian-a beirniad Heb wyrni yn mhobman Yn gwel'd gwych-ond gwylied gwan Lew-fachau Deiniol Fychan.

♦ The students of Welsh dialects are well aware that in Mid Wales-that is, in the counties of Merioneth, Montgomery, and Cardiganshire—there is a curious delimitation of the use of certain vowels and consonants. This subject has been closely studied by Mr Thomas Darlington, His Majesty's inspector of schools in the district, and he proposes to submit the result to a meeting of the Honourable Sooiety of Cymmrodorion, which will be presided over by Principal Rhys. j

WALES AND THE ROYAL ARMS. The Council of the Powysland Club, of which the Earl of Powis is president and Archdeacon Thomas chairman, have decided to petition the King to recognise the historic position of the Principality of Wales in the Royal Arms, an honour enjoyed during the reign of His Majesty's Tudor predecessors. Failing that, they pray that His Majesty will be pleased to order the Arms of the Principality to be duly inserted in the Arms of the Prince of Wales on the revival of that title.

TOURIST BOOKINGS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS Tourist Tickets, available for two months, will be issued from the Principal Stations to all Health Resorts on the Cambrian Railways, also to Water- ing Places in England, North Wales, English Lake District, North-East Coast, &c, &c, during the Winter Months. Tourist Tickets, available for two months, will also be issued from the Principal Stations on most of the other Companies' Hues, to the various Tourist Rjaorts on the Cambrian Railways.

SHROPSHIRE SENIOR CUP. [VLNAT, TIE.] WELLINGTON (HALitERs) t OSWESTRY UNITED. These teams met at Shrewsbury on Saturday before a large gate, in the final for the Shropshire Cup. Dtuids, whom Oswestry beat in the Welsh Cup final, beat Wellington the previous week by 6 goals to one, and the prospects of the United's suc- cess were particularly rosy. Wellington were the first to appear, and the cheers of their supporters were drowned by the hooting of hundreds of spec- tators who were not from Oswestry. The United received a hearty reception on their appearance. Mr Scragge was the referee and the teams lined up as follows i— WELLINGTON. Goal, Leese; backs, Poole and Trevitt; half-backs, J Jones, Duckers, and W Jones; forwards, Kendrick, G Davies, Gwilliam, Scarrott, and Adams. OSWESTRY UNITED. Goal, Tracey Morgan; backs, J Edwards and H Jones; half-backs, G Richards, Jarman, and Butter- ton forwards, Hodnett, D Davies, Watkins, T Parry, and Goodrich. Wellington won the toss and placed Oswestry to face a brilliant sun. The first run of note was made on the Wellington right and the pair got close to the United goal, H Jones, however, followed up and the ball was passed behind him to Kendrick, who was off-side. Following the free kick a smart bit of work between Goodrich and Parry forced the Well- ington defence to fall back on their goal. Parry, however, was foully brought down. The free kick led to a sharp attack on the Wellington goal, but the defence cleared their lines and Gwilliam get- ting away placed wide. Parry secured the ball and shot over to Hodnett who ran in, but Trevitt shot into totich. Following throw in Parry placed the ball wide. Hodnett was cionspieuotls for a good run, but D Davies shot the wrong side. Soule cap- ital work by Diickers enabled Wellington to get in, but J Edwards was in good form and sent them to the right about. Leese having to clear from Watkins, Goodrich returned the ball and a danger- ous scrimmage took place in the Wellington goal. A corner was conceded but this was cleared. In the next minute Goodrich forced another corner from which Parry placed wide. Oswestry were having decidedly the best of the argument, and the Wellington defence had to go for all it was worth. They were very sound, however, and staved off some dangerous attacks. After all this pressure by Oswestry, Wellington had a couple of breaks away in one of which Butterton gave a cornei and Duckers headed a goal after 25 minutes. Back and fore the ball travelled, but the Oswestry halves seemed off from. A capital run through was made by Adams who scored a nice goal which might have been avoided had Tracey run out to meet him. Up to now the score did not at all represent the play, but this must be said in favour of the Welling- ton forwards that they made no mistake when they had an opportunity. Oswestry tried hard to retrieve their position, but the Wellington backs now kicked the ball out and Trevitt particularly came in for a lot of hooting. A swift run by Wellington caused Tracey to handle. Following a free-kick for fouling Parry, Leese gave a corner in clearing and another scrimmage resulted in the Wellington goal, but the defence got the ball away. Wellington made a smart run to the other end and Tracey cleared when Gwilliam jumped on him. Tracey resented this and paid Gwilliam back with interest, for he got hold of him by the leg which he held firmly while Gwilliam kicked with the other leg, face downwards, much to the amusement of the spectators. Oswestry again showed up well and forced four corners in Buccession from the last of which Hodnett scored, and at half-time the score was 2-1 in favour of Wellington. On restarting Wellington held the upper hand. Changes in the Oswestry front rank brought about no improvement, and there was a lack of crisp combination. At length Parry changed the venue and another scrimmage took place near Leese, who saved a hard shot from Richards. Soon after Wellington looked like increasing their lead for Tracey fumbled the ball; but unfortunately cleared with Gwilliam close oh him. A good centre was put in by Hodnett which Parry placed over the bar. Mid-field play followed, and play towards the end became slow and uninteresting, the Wellington backs kicking the ball out. Wellington then got away, and from a corner Tracey cleared in fine style, Hodnett getting away with Watkin and Parry, but they could not penetrate the defence. Just before time Weilington again scored, and the final was 3-1 in their favour.

SHROPSHIRE JUNIOR CUP. [FINAL.] TRENCH VICTORIA v BRIDGNORTH. At Shrewsbury a Saturday in nice weather. Within about 10 minutes off time the score was one all, but Trench got the lead which they increased before time, and thus won by three goals to one. ♦

MARKETS NEWTOWN GENFCRALJ TUESDAY.^Eggs 20 to 0 for Is; butter Os Od to ig 3d per lb; fowls 3s 61 to Os Od chickens 4s 6d to §s 6d; ducks 0s Od toBsOdi rabbits, Os Od toJLs^d per couple. I WELSHPOOL GENERAL, Monday.—Wholesale price: Butter, Os Od to Is 3d per lb; eggs, 20 to — for Is fowls, Os Od to 3s 6d; chickens, 4s 6d to 5s 6d • ducks, 0s Od to 6s Od; rabbits, Is 6d per couple. LIVERPOOL CORN, TUESDAY. — Wheat, slow' at about Friday's pricep. 1 Californian, 6s 21d to63 3d; 1 Northern Spring, new, 5s 10id to 6s Oid; Boston Spring, 5s lid. Beans, Saidi, 29s Od to 29s 9d. Peas, 5s 61d. Oats, unchanged, white, 2s 7d to 2sl0d; yellow 2s 5d to 2s 8d; black, 2s 6d to 2s 8d. Maize, quiet, tarn lower, new mixed, 4s 5id to 4s|Sjd. Flour, deafef; LONDON HAY AND STRAW, TUE^JJAY,—Price! Good to prime hay, 80s to 95s Od inferior to fair, 50s to 70s good to prime clover, 85s to 100s inferior to fair ditto, 75s Od to 80s mixture and sainfoin, 70s Od to 90s Od; straw, 26s to 36s per load: LIVERPOOL OATTLE MARKET, MONDAY.-NU u-i bers: Beasts, 587; sheep, 2,944. QuotationsBest beasts, Od to 6f d second, 6d to 61d third, 5d to 51d; best Scotch sheep, Od to 9d other sorts, 7d to 8Jd lambs, Od to lid per lb. The supply of stock was smaller than last week, showing a decrease of 342 beasts and a decrease of 807 sheep and lambs. Fair demand for all classes at about rate rates. BIRMINGHAM CATTLE, TUESDAY. — Short sup. plies, all round, and demand quiet. Prioes ruled as follow —Beef, Herefords, 6td to 61d shorthorns, 6d to 6jd bulls and cows, 2;d to 5id calves, 5d to 8d wethers, 8d to 8id; ewes and rams, 5d to 6id lambs, lid to Is per lb. Bacon pigs, 10s Od to 10s 6d; porkete, 10s 6d to Os Od I sows, 8s 4d to Os Od per score. SALFORD CATTLE, TUESDAY. — At market Cattle, 1,854, with better demand sheop and lambd) 8,576, a fair trade calves, 257, trade worde; Quotations :—Cattle, 5d to 61d sheep, 6id to 8M j lambs Is to Is Id calves) 5Jd to 8id per lb. CORK BUTTER, Thursday.-Primest, —e prime -s; firsts, 96s; seconds 87s kegs, —s thirds 78s kegs -s fourths 65s; fifths -s; choicest-s choice —s; superfine —s; fine mild 91s kegs O. mild s choicest boxes —a choice boxes, —s. 94 cwt of fresh butter; A, 98s to 97s B, 84s tc 83s factory seconds, —. Total number of firkina. 52. OSWESTRY OORN MARKET, WEDNESDAY. — Tbe following were the quotationsWhite wheat (oM) Os Od to Os Od white wheat (new), 3s lOd to 4s Od per 751bs red wheat (old), Os Od to Os Od red wheat (new ), 3s lOd to 4s Od per 7blbs old oats, Os Od to Os Od new oats, 12s Od to 13s Od per 2001 bs; malting barley, 17s Od to 18s 6d; grinding barley, 13s Od to 13s 6d per 2801bs; OSWESTRY GENERAL MARKET, WEDNESDAY.™ Quotations Butter, Is Id to Is 2d per lb; eggs, 17 to 18 for Is; beef, 7d to 8d per lb; mutton, 71 to 9d lamb, Is to Od veal, 7d to 8d pork, 6d to 8d fowls, 4s Od to 5s Od per couple ducks, 5s Od to 6s Od; rabbits, 2s 2d to 2s 4d per couple; potatoes, Od to Is per score; carrots, Id to l^d; rhubarb, 2d per bundle; chestnuts, 2d per lb radishes, lid per bundle; celery, 2d to 3d per stick cabbages, 2d to 4d each brussel sprouts, 2d to 21d per lb watercress, lid; spring onions, 2d per bundle encumbers, 5d to 8d each apples, 2s to 38 per 100. OSWESTRY WEEKLY OATTLE FAIR.—There was a good average supply of stock at the Smithfield on Wednesday, there was a good attendance of dealers. Beef was a slower trade and pigg were down, butother fctock averted previous rates. Messrs Whitfield and Sons sold 294 cattle and calves, and 924 sheep and pigs; Messrs Hall, Wateridge and Owen gold 57 fat cattle and a number of aheep and pigs; Messrs Whitfield and Batho sold a lnrge quantity of stock, as did also Mr T Whitfield, Junr. Prices ruled as follows:- Beef, 6d to 6 £ d' per Ib; veal, 6d to 8d per lb mutton, 7<1 to 8d per lb lambs, 25s to 35s each pork pigs, 8s 6d to 9d 0d bacon pigs, 8s Od to 8s 6d per score. ELLKSMERE, TuEsbAY. —Quotatioha as follows Wheat (new) 12s 3d tc 12s 6d f,e. 225 lbs; malting barley, 18s Od to 20s Od per 280 lbs; oats (new) 12s Od to 12s 6d per 200 lbs b it ier, Os lid to Is id per lb; eggs, 17 to 20 for Is; fowls, 3-. 0 1 t.» 4* 0 1 chickens, 4s Od to 6s; rabbits, OJOI fcojOsOJ per couple. d WHITCHURCH, FRIDAY. — Wheat, 4 0d to 4¡;¡ 2d per 75 lbs; barley, 4s Od to 4s 6d per 70 Ibf; oat., 2s 8d to 3s Od per 50 lbs; eggs, 19 to 20 for Is; butter 0s lid to 0s 0d per 16 oz fowls, 3s 6s to 4s Od • ducks, 4s Od to 4s 6d per couple potatoes! Is per score beef, 60. to 9d i nntton, 7d t09d; lamb, Od to Is; veal, 7d r.o 9d; p )rK. 7d to 8d per lb rabbits, Os Od to 2s Od pei couple apples 3d to Id per lb. BRADJORD WOOL. THURSDAY There is certainly a more cheerful tone about the wool trade, even if we cannot report a material increase in the turn. over. It is only on a few favourite staples of English wools that any weight of wool is changing hands. The low and inferior grades still drag at very low prices.

At a meeting of the creditors of Mr E T Hooley on Monday the trustee said he expected to pay a further dividend of Is 6d to 2s in the pound.

THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS COMPANY -L issue FIRST CLASS 1,000 and 500 MILE TICKETS, the Coupons of which enable the pur. chasers to travel between stations on the Cambrian Railways during the period for which the tickets are available, until the Coupons are exhausted. The price of each ticket is £ 5 5s 1,000 miles, and 17s 6d 500 miles, being about ljd per mile. Application for the 1,000 or 500 mile tickets must be made in writing, giving the full name and address of the purchaser, and accompanied by a remittance, to Mr W. H. Gough, Superintendent of the Line, Cambrian Railways, Oswestry (cheques to bemadejpay- able to the Cambrian Co. or order) from whom also books containing 100 certificates for authorising the use of the tickets by pur chaser's family, guests, or employes can b obtained, price 6d each book, Omittance to accompany order. C. S. DENNISS, General Manager