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NOTES ON FOOTBALL.
NOTES ON FOOTBALL. BY VETERAN] in the Shropshire and District League Newtown had to be satisfied with one point, and that, too, at home. This is certainly better than defeat, but the home team may consider themselves fortunate in obtaining this result, for towards the end they were outplayed by Newport, and if the forwards, particularly Amos, had taken advantage of the chances given the visitors would have been winners. Although Newtown got two goals in the fiist half up the hill, they did not have much, if any, the best of the play. Newport got down to goal many times, and put in some stiff shets. A little more coolness in front of it, and the teams would in all probability have crossed over on equal terms. During the first half A. W. Pryce-Jonesand Parry showed up very prominently, especially the former, who made several clever and good runs. What little W. E. Pryce-Jones and King had to rlo was done well, but all through this part of the game the right wing was fed very badly. H. F. Mytton, during the first half, played & verv tine game at centre half. and is the best man Newtown have had in this position for some time. He passed very judiciously at times, and his dodging of the half-backs was one of the features of the match. He showed his dodging powers to perfection when he got his first goal, and although the shot which scored was not a very brilliant oue he deserved all the applause he obtained for his clever play. His shot which scored the second goal was a grand one, and it was steered like lightning, well out of the goalkeeper's reach. For a man who probably had never played as centre forward before he did wonderfully well. At times he was a little slow in following up the wings, and thus could not take full advantage of the good shots sent across goal by W. E. Prvce- Jones and his brother. In the opinion of many good judges of the game he will train on and make quite a first-rate, centre forward, as he has good speed and any amount of pluck. Worthen was the best of the half-back trio. Chapman was quite out of form, but both of these used their hands too much in pushing. Dick Jones played a very fine game at times, but should not use his strength so much against his opponents, and although he has a, good baritone voice it would be better if he did not use it quite so frequently. The less talking there is on the field the better. Hamer and Savage defended very well at times, but both occasionally missed their kicks and were lacking in judgment when pressed. Edwards at times saved marvellously, but on the whole his goalkeeping was poor. Three or four times he very unwisely rushed out and left the goal at the mercy of his opposing forwards. On Saturday they did not take advantage of thiu, but against smart forwards, like those of St George's, Shrewsbury, or Oswestry, this would never do. The visitors played a surprising, good game all through, and in the second half, with the hill and two goals staring them in the face, they did not lose heart for a moment. Hallderan and Amos on the left wing were more than a match for the defence on that wing, and time after time they made tracks for the top goal at a great speed. The right wing was nearly as good, and the centre kept well up with them. Almost before the home team were aware of their danger Amos scored from one of the dashes on the left wing with a grand shot. Not long after- wards Ward got an equally good goal by steering the ball through quite a number of legs. Notwith- standing the frantic cries of the spectators, who cheered the home team on in a rare good old fashioned form, the Newport men rather more than held their own to the end. Bennion and Smallman defended nobly and the latter proved himself quite & champion. No better back play than his has been seen on the ground for a long time. The goal- keeper, though only a reserve man, played with rare coolness and nerve, and the half-backs never flagged. The Newport men quite deserved the point they gained, and Newtown will not be the only team to find them a tough lot of customers. I have known the Newport team for many years, and I never saw them play so sound a game as they did on Saturday. The spectators behaved splendidly, and most impartially cheered the good play of the visitors. The gate was a very fair one, and it would have been better if quite a comfortable little party had not utilised the important building at the bottom of the field as a grand stand, and from which position they had a good and cheap view of the game. Probably, however, it was not the game that interested them, bat, with tearful and eager eyes (I am not sure about the first adjective but the second is all right), they surveyed in sadness the frivolous follies of sinful youth. The genial president of the Welsh Association, Mr. Pattison, was present, and quite enjoyed the game. He took great interest in the play and was not long in spotting out all the good points made by either side. Shrewsbury, with rather a weak team, also had to put up with a draw with Whitchurch. The latter have strengthened their team considerably, and on their own ground play a good strong game, so that the performance of Shrewsbury was very credit- able. Oswestry had not a League match on on Saturday, but had a good practice game with Chirk. They were no match for the clever Chirk team, whose short and good passing upset all their com- bination. They received a heavy drubbing, but ought to benefit from the lesson taught them. At present the passing is weak and spasmodic, and nothing like up to the standard of Chirk. Indeed, the Chirk passing and forward play, in the opinion of Mr. Pattison, and other good judges of the game, will bear comparison with that of any shown by the First Class League teams. Thev often fail, though, in front of goal, and much of their skill is thus thrown awav. Three of the other clubs in the Shropshire League were engaged in the 1st round of the Birmingham benior Cup (qualifying series). In this round our friends came out with flying colours. St. George's made no mistake with their opponents—Old Hill Wanderers, and won well by 3 to 1. Ironbridge met Halesowen, and a grandly contested game ened in a draw of 2 goals each. On extra time being played the Men of Iron put on one needful point and won. Wellington had a good team from Stourbndge to meet, and the game was a regular fight for supremacy all through. At half-time the scoring was equal-1 goal each, and the second half also resulted in a. tie of 2 goals each. Welshpool have started the season well with a good victory over Oswestry St. George's of 6 to 1 The new blood m the team is of the right sort and I think the results at the end of the season will be very favourable. H. Davies had the misfortune to hurt his knee, an old offender, and I am afraid will not be of service for some time. Some good practice matches are sadly wanted if the players wish to emerge successfully from the 1st round of of the Welsh Junior Cup tie. I see they are drawn against Caersws, and the latter last year proved themselves no mean exponents of the game. Thev will take a lot of beating on their own ground. The other clubs in this division—Newtown Reserve and Royal Welsh Warehouse, have also to go from 'home, and both have stiff battles before them. Like free and enlightened electors they must at once organise and prepare for the fray. The match on Thursday between Guilsfield and Welshpool was an exceedingly pleasant one, and during the first half capitally contested. The score at half-time was one goal each, and this just repre- sented the play. In the second half Guilstield proved the better men and pressed continually, when time arrived Guilsfield were the winners by 5 to 1. For Welshpool Evans played a very fine game at centre, but in my opinion he would do better at centre half. He is tricky and speedy and has pluck for anything. The two backs were very good, and the goalkeeping of the veteran Dick Evans was very fine and he was not to blame for the goals counted against him. The wings of Welshpool were very weak at times. The same re- marks apply to the outside right of Guilsfield. G. H. Mytton and his brother were a tower of strength to Guilsfield in the attacking department, and once they got well on the ball there was no stopping them—4 out of the 5 goals fell to them, and they were all fine ones. The half-backs and backs were on the whole safe, though they occasionally missed. Peate in goal kept his charge well. ° In 1st Class League matches two of the leaders came down croppers. Stoke have always proved a stumbling block to good teams on their own ground, and on Saturday the proud Villans had to bite the dust to the tune of 3 to 0. Poor Villa. The Championship is getting towards a vanishing point, as far as they are concerned. Sunderland found that most inconsistent team, Bolton Wanderers, in a fighting mood, and had to retire with their first defeat, and a heavy one too, of 4 to 1 against them. The Wolves are improving', and gained two points from the new and unfortunate importation into the 1st League-Liverpool. The Shropshire and District League clubs occupy the following positions up to and including Sept. ZVth. Played Won Lost Drn For AnstPts Shrewsbury 4 3 0 1 15 5 7 St. (,eorge's 3 3 0 0 14 4 6 Oswestry United 3 3 0 0 15 5 6 Wrockwardine Wood. 4 2 2 0 4 8 4 Wellington Town 4 1 2 1 9 13 3 .N-ewtown 4 1 2 1 10 11 3 Hereford. 2 0 1 1 4 5 1 Whitchurch 3 0 2 1 5 10 1 Newport 4 0 3 1 4 14 1 Ironbridge 1 0 1 0 2 7 0 The results up to the 29th are as follows:— Name Goals Played Won Drn Lost F'r Ag. Pts. Everton 6 5 0 0 24 5 12 Sheffield United. 6 4 1 1 14 8 9 Sunderland 5 4 0 1 17 5 8 Sheffield Wed'sdav. 6 4 0 2 13 10 8 Preston North End. 6 3 1 2 12 11 7 Aston Villa 5-3 0 2 8 8 6 Blackburn Rovers 5 2 2 1 13 8 6 Burnley 6 2 2 2 10 11 6 Small Heath. 6 2 1 3 0 13 5 Bolton Wanderers 6 2 1 3 19 10 5 West Brom'h Albion. 5 2 0 3 12 10 4 W'ton Wanderers 5 2 0 3 7 13 4 Stoke. 5 1 1 3 8 15 3 Notts Forest. 5 1 0 4 9 17 2 Liverpool 6 0 2 4 716 2 Derby Countv 5 1 0 4 5 16 2 THE WELSH JUNIOR Cup.-Tlie draw for places in the first round has resulted as follows :—Division 2: Buckley Victoria v. Gresford Juniors referee, Mr. J. Powel', Wrexham; Buckley Victoria Reserve v. Coppenhall, referee, Mr. W. W Hannaby, Rhos; Rhosrobin Institute v Westminster Rovers Reserve, referee, Mr. W. H. Cotton, Rhostyllen. Division 3 Rhos Reserve v Druids Reserve, referee, Mr. F. T. Evans, Wrexham Overton v Brymbo Institute Reserve, referee, Mr. J. Taylor, Wrexham; Rhos- tyllen Reserve v Chirk Reserve, referee, Mr. W. J. Hughes, Minera; Ruabon v Adwy United, referee, Mr. G. A. Doody, Oswestry. Division 4: Wrock- wardine Wood Reserve v Oswestry United Reserve, referee, Mr. R. Marshall, Shrewsbury; Caersws United v Welshpool United, referee, Mr. W. H. J Evans, Newtown Whitchurch Reserve v Newtown Reserve, referee, Mr. R. T. Gough, Oswestry; Oswestry Rovers v Royal Welsh Warehouse, referee, Mr. J. Wilkes, Ruabon Horsehay Albion v Shrewsbury Town Reserve, referee, Mr. A. M. Jones, Oswestry. The First-named clubs have choice of ground., and the ties have to be played off on or before November 24. SHROPSHIRE AND DISTRICT LEAGUE. NEWTOWN v. NEWPORT. Played at Newtown on Saturday last. Newtown won the toss and chose to defend the bottom goal. Newport kicked off and soon made a nice dash down the right, and Savage missing his kick the visitors had a fair chance, but the ball was sent over the line. Newport put on pressure and troubled Edwards, who was safe. Savage landed the ball well up the field, and W. E. Pryce-Jones made a smart run up the hill but lost. The same player and King effected a good run up, and hands against Newport near goal in defending nearly resulted in a goal. The ball was well worked down the New- port right, but Savage returned it. Newport again ran down smartly and gained a corner. Hamer saved well from a rush, and Chapman next robbed the visitors' centre when going well. A foul was given against Chapman for pushing, and A. W. Pryce-Jones received the ball from the free-kick and got away well, but lost as he was about to centre. The play was again down the hill, and the Newport left wing pair gave some very pretty and quick passing. The ball was sent to Hartley at centre, who shot over the bar. From further pressure put on by Newport, Edwards rather clumsily saved, and the Newport left inside had a good opening, but shot very wide. King put in some very good work but kicked rather hard to his partner. Hands against Mytton caused the ball to move downwards, but Worthen stopped the visitors' forwards in fine style. Chapman shortly after did the same. Mytton got the ball and sent in a hot one to the goalkeeper, who coolly sent it back. A foul against Hamer was the next item, but Savage, with a huge kick, sent the ball well up to his forwards. W. E. Pryce-Jones and King worked up well towards goal, but King,, dallied a little too long and lost. Chapman next tricked the Newport forwards and sent on a judicious pass to A. W. Pryce-Jones, but he shot badly. Worthen got the ball from the goal kick and passed it across to W. E. Pryce- Jones, who sent in a beauty, which the goalkeeper rather fumbled but got away. The left wing of Newport dashed down, but Hamer stopped them. A. W. Pryce-Jones got on the ball and ran up cleverly, but his final shot was a trifle wide. New- part took up the pressing, and peppered away well at Edwards, but he coolly fisted all away. A very pretty run was next made on the Newtown left; A. W. when tackled passed to Parry, and this player sent on the ball to E. W. Pryce-Jones, who shot a little on the wrong side of the post. The Newport forwards got down, and Hartley headed a good pass just over the bar. From a free-kick Parry shot over the bar. A. W. Prvce-Jones next put in a grand run. He gave the ball to King, who lost when about to shoot. A foul against Chapman relieved Newport a little, and Hartley put in some good play, which was spoilt by Hallderan getting off-side. Worther fouled, and Hartley shot well into goal, but Hamer saved by a sharp kick. The ball reached Mytton, who dodged beautifully round the two backs and shot just on one side of the goalkeeper, and scored No. 1 for Newtown amid hearty cheers. From the centre kick W. E. showed up well, and so did Dick Jones, but he was a trifle wild. Savage kept off a dash by the visitors and gave to A. W. Pryce-Jones, who kicked out. Dick Jones kicked out to save when Newport left had a good look in. Mytton dodged nicely and sent a good pass to A. W., who ran up well and centred to Chapman, but his shot went sailing over the bar. Worthen robbed Keeley and passed the ball to W. E., who shot near but over. From a foul against Newport for pushing, A. W. Pryce-Jones got up well and sent a smart pass to Mytton, who muffed a good chance. The Newport right got well down, and a lovely pass across to the left ought to have resulted in a goal, but Amos shot wildly over the bar when he had only the goalkeeper to beat. Hands against Newport ended in the ball being sent on to Mytton, and he sent a lightning shot cleverly out of the goalkeeper's reach and scored a very fine goal. The Newport right wing soon had a good opening, but both players were weak. Mytton tricked and broke away nicely. He passed to A. W. Pryce- Jones, who shot across, and a scrimmage in front of Newport goal nearly resulted in another being rushed through, but Macklin ran out and fisted away. The ball was worked down, and twice Edwards rather unwisely left his post to save, but the Newport forwards failed to take advantage of the openings. At half-time the score stood New- town 2, Newport 0, and with the hill in their favour and this useful lead, the home team felt pretty certain of victory, but from the kick off the visitors played a most determined game. A rush on the Newport right nearly gave them a goal, as Savage missed badly, but Hamer got up in time. W, E. Pryce-Jones and Kins cleverlverot down and sen a close one. From a foul against Worthen Hartley shot well in goal bnt missed a weak return by Edwards. Parry was prominent with a good run but Smallman easily robbed A. W. Prvce-Jones. Newport worked the bail well up the left, and after a short scrimmage Amos sent a beautiful and oblique shot through the goal. A little more life was now put in the game. Hands against Newport near their goal gave Worthen a fair opening, but he shot badly. From mid-field Dick Jones sent a grand dropping shot which took the Newport goal keeper all his time to stop. Newtown pressed, but the position was relieved by a foul given against Parry for charging the goal keeper after he had fisted out. The Newport inside left got away well «g°°,d ™rk was 8Poilt by Halderan getting off-side. Hamer when pressed kicked out A. W. Pryce-Jones, Parry, and Mytton got down well and the latter put in a hot one, whichlthe goal keeper coolly kicked away. Hallderan and Amos worked away on the left, and the latter's final shot was near scoring. Mytton got the ball from the goal kick, and, dodging round Ward and Jones, smartly passed to E. W. Pryce-Jones and he trans- ferred to his brother, who sent a fine shot a little on the wrong side of the post. Parry and A. W. Pryce-Jones again did well, but the former shot out. Smart sent a good shot just over the Newtown goal. The Newtown right wing put in some good runs and centres, but Bennem was very cool and safe. Newtown faced the hill again and got well up to the Newtown quarters, when Ward at half-back steered a regular daisy-cutter between the legs of the Newtown defenders and equalised the game amid loud and hearty cheers. The game now became intensely exciting and fast. A.W. executed a good run and at the proper time swung the ball across to King, \tho headed over the bar. The Newtown right wing got up to goal and another good chance was lost. Chapman put in some tricky work, but sent the ball out of play. Mytton dodged nicely and gave to W.E. and King, and the former tried the goalkeeper with a smart shot. Chapman caused this defender a little uneasiness with a fine long shot, but he kept his head very cool and cleared well. Parry was robbed by Smallman when well up. At the other end Hallderan finished up a good run with a clinking shot, which nearly scored. Ward robbed Mytton, and Pitchford nearly scored from the pass. Savage saved magnificently from further efforts of New- port. Very fine play by W. E. Pryce-Jones, King, and Mytton nearly gave their side a lead, but Bennion averted disaster by grand tackling. The Newport men were playing with great dash and skill. From a spirited attack on the left wing Edwards again foolishly left his charge and the goal nearly fell. From now to the end the game was of an even and exciting character, Newport, if anything, having rather the best of it. When the whistle blew honours were even, after the best game played on the ground since the last great fight for the Welsh Cup. The following were the teams :— NKWPORT. Goal, Macklin; backs, Smallman and Bennion; half-backs, Smart, Ward, and Jones; light wing, Pitchford and T. Keeley; left wind, Hallderan and Amos centre, Hartley. Linesman, Mr. Millward. NEWTOWN. Goal, Edwards backs, Hamer and Savage; half- backs, R. Jones, Chapman, and Worthen; right wing, W. E. Pryce-Joues and King; left wing, A. W. Pryce-Jones and Parry centre, H. F. Mytton. Linesman, Mr. Evans. Referee, Mr. G. H. Jones, Shrewsbury. WELSHPOOL UNITED v. OSWESTRY ST. GEORGE'S. These teams met on the ground of the former on Saturday afternoon, this being the opening match of the home club. The weather was favourable to a degree, and there was a fair attendance of spectators. Footballers' punctuality was observed, a start not being made until half-an-hour after the advertised time for commencing. The visitors won the toss and resolved to defend the canal goal. Even piay followed the kick-off, a corner kick secured by the homesters proving of no great advantage. Later on, Austin made an attempt to shoot at goal, but, unfortunately, the leather went wide of the mark. A visit was paid to the home territory, but it was of short duration, wild play by the visitors giving away a valuable opportunity. Hughes ultimately got away, his shot seeing the ball sailing just over the crossbar, another shot by Austin going the same way a few minutes later. The visitors, however, succeeded in sending the ball over the division line from a goal kick, and matters began to look critical for the home side, but, thanks to Heath's instrumentality, the situation was relieved. Play was next stopped, owing to an injury to Harry Davies's knee, the game being re- sumed on his retiring from the field of play. The resumption was conspicuous for some good play by the home side, who proved the aggressors. The un- successful shot at goal by Austin seemed to be but a prelude to the eye-opener which Hughes gave the spectators, who scored in brilliant fashion, and to the delight of those who witnessed the performance. This was succeeded by some more interesting play, the sterling play exhibited by Mytton eliciting hearty rounds of applause. A well-judged shot of this player's was successfully stopped by the visiting goalkeeper. The advantage thus gained by the home side, in spite of the fact that they were playing one man short, inspired them to better work, and time after time they pressed their opponents. The visitors were penal- ised for a foul, a good attempt at scoring being made, but which did not go through. This was succeeded by a corner to Welshpool, which proved fruitless. Even play followed, and a good centre by Brown enabled Barrett to score for Oswestry, this bringing both sides on a level. Half-time was shortly afterwards announced, with the score stand- ing at one goal each. The homesters assumed the aggressive on the change of ends, and made things warm for their opponents; a splendid shot by Mytton just touching the bar; this player was again to the front after the goal kick and a smart pass by him to Austin resulted in goal number two being notched in the home side's favour. On the re-start a rush was made by the Oswestrians on the home goal, but their efforts were of no avail, thanks to the combined play of the home backs. W. Davies secured the ball, and was successful in notching a goal for Welsbpool from a good ground shot. He followed this up by putting in another fine shot. The home territory was afterwards the venue,.but they claimed no advantage. After some give and take play, Mytton secured, and, eluding his opponents in grand style, sent between the posts. It was now left for Hughes to add the sixth goal, and this completed, time was announced with the wore- Welshpool, 6 goals Oswestry, 1 goal. ABERYSTWYTH V. BUILTH. It is gratifying to chronicle the splendid win of the Aberystwyth team in their encounter with Builth, which came off on the Vicarage Ground, Aberystwyth, on Saturday, in the presence of a large number of spectators. Seeing that the home team were without their International Rea, a win of seven goals to one is, indeed, very creditable. The visitors being successful in the spin of the coin, the home team had to face the sun and slope. Before the game was far advanced it was evident that the home eleven meant business, and during the first five minutes shots by Mason and Morris grazed the cross-bar, Howell being a few minutes later compelled to kick a deliberate corner to save his charge. Individual play amongst the visitors' forwards enabled them to break away now and" again, but lacking combination they never looked dangerous. In fact the home custodian was only called to handle once, so erratic was their play. Morris eventually enlivened the game with a fine spurt, and the visitors' territory was besieged, but when success seemed certain, Mason was penalised for contravening the off-side law. The locals were again soon on the offensive, experiencing terrible hard lines in the mouth of the Builth citadel, several shots dropping on to the net, while others went out of play off the uprights, conspicuous amongst them being attempts by Smith and J. H. Edwards. The visitors, with a dash, pounced upon Jack Jones somewhat unexpectedly, but, making use of Trainer's method of clearing in a rush, Jones sayed creditably. A smart run introduced by Morris eventually transferred hostilities to the other end, John Henry forcing a corner. D. Edwards placed the globe with bound judgment, the result being first blood for the locals from a shot by Mason. This infused new life into the visitors, and for a time they buckled to, but failed to keep it up. Garner and Mason worked the leather up their wing neatly, but Garner fotil- ing a pass in front of goal, the opportunity was lost. The ensuing play was somewhat favourable to the visitors, some effective work being done on their right wing, but before auv mischief could be done Tom Rees relieved with a long shot, and getting possession Mason forced a corner. Smith shot accurately, but Garner just headed over the bar. The next item of interest was a scrimmage in dangerous proximity to the visitors' stronghold, but the defence proved too much for the home vanguard. The Builth rights again became conspicuous, and latterly Jones got within easy range, but the custodian was not to be caught napping. D. M. Jones on the local's left then shone brilliantly, and deserved the applause of the crowd for his excellent run. He centered accurately, but Morris being hard pressed shot wide of the mark. Mason, receiving from Smith, troubled G. C. Evans, but he punched away splendidly. A corner in favour or the home eleven having been neutralised, the visitors gained a similar advantage. The globe was placed in an easy position but the chance was mulled. A minute later, however, Thomas sent in a scorcher, which luckily for the custodian, struck the cross-bar and rebounded into play. Some give-and-take play ensued, but enlivened by the cheers of their supporters the homesters again went at it in earnest, and getting possession after Howells had headed out, Morris returned a lightning shot, and brought about the downfall of the Visitors fort. Smith and W. R. showed exceptional fine form in the back division during a rush which followed, and succeeding in clearing before the enemy could accomplish any mischief. Receiving the leather from a goal kick, Morris paced down the ground, and transferring the globe to D. M. play became brisk in the opposite territory, but attempts by Garner and John Henry proved futile. Fred Jones on the Visitors right, together with his comrade, worked strenuously, and got into position, but Jack Jones was equal to the occasion, and averted a calamity by awarding a corner. Morris headed the ball out of the rush, and raced up the ground at a furious rate. Passing to D. M., who returned the leather in an easy posi- tion, Morris sent in a daisy cutter which the custodian manipulated successfully. However, Iorrl s return shot was too much for him, and goal o.3 was registered. Half-time arrived with the score as under:- S^z=: ;r'' On resuming the Visitors played with greater determination, but this did not last, and before many minutes had elapsed they were completely out of it. Morris added a fourth goal from a pass by John Henry. The home backs were now well up the field, and more than once W. R. troubled the custodian with his shooting. The fifth goal was soon registered by Morris, this again being the out- come of a pass by J. H. Edwards. In less than two minutes after this, Mason placed the globe into the net, but this point was disallowed on a plea of off- side. Once more the Visitors buckled too, and Rees had something pretty Lough to contend w ith for a time, but shooting stubbornly they failed to make much of their chances. Morris was able to score goal No. 6 during a scuffle which lasted some time in front of the citadel, this being the fifth time he had accomplished the task. Receiving the leather from Garner, Mason a few minutes later, dribbled around his opponent's back, and notched a very pretty goal. The Visitors again with their characteristic dash endeavoured to make matters warm, and this time their efforts were crowned with success, Sydney Thomas beating the home custodian with a smart shot. Nothing of further interest transpired before time was announced, the score then readim? :— Aberystwyth 7 goals Builth 1 goal The following played for the respective teams ::— BUILTH. Goal, G. C. Evans; backs, A. R. Evans and M. Gwynne Howell; half-backs, J. Lloyd, J. Burns, and G. Hampton; right wing, Sydney Thomas and Fred Jones; centre, George Lewis; left wing, Ed. Gwynne Howell and Harry Jones. Linesman,—Mr. J. Wisley. ABERYSTWYTn. Goal, Jack Jones; backs, W. R. Jones and Tom Rees; half-backs, H. Smith, D. Morgan, and D. Edwards; right wing, J. Garner and W- Mason; centre, Morris left wing, J. H. Edwards and D. M. Jones. Linesman—Mr. W. P. Owen. Referee—Mr. A. J. Hughes.
FOOTBALL FIXTURES. OCTOBER.
OCTOBER. 6 Ellesmere Rangers v Criftins Victoria, at Elles- mere. 6 Aberystwyth v Llanidloes, at Aberystwyth. I 6 L, Oswestry v Wellington St. George's, at St. George's 13 Ellesmere Rangers v Druids Reserve, at Ruabon. 13 Oswestry v Aberystwyth, at Oswestry 20 Ellesmere Rangers v Whitchurch Victoria, at Ellesmere. 20 Aberystwyth v Newtown, at Aberystwyth. 20 L, Oswestry v Wrockwardine Wood, at Wrock- wardine 27 L, Oswestry v Hereford, at Oswestry 27 Aberystwyth v Wellington St. George's, at Oakengates. (Welsh Cup Tie.) NOVEMBER. 3 Aberystwyth v Swansea, at Aberystwyth (South Wales Challenge Cup.) 10 L, Oswestry v Newtown, at Newtown 17 Oswestry v Wrexham, at Wrexham 24 L, Oswestry v Hereford, at Hereford DECEMBER. 1 L, Oswestry v Wellington Town, at Oswestry 8 Oswestry v Wrexham, at Oswestry. 22 Oswestry v Tranmere Rovers, at Tranmere 26 L, Oswestry v Wellington St. George's at Os- westry 29 L, Oswestry v Shrewsbury, at Oswestry JANUARY. 26 L, Oswestry v Newport, at Newport FEBRUARY. 9 Oswestry v Westminster Rovers, at Oswestry 23 Oswestry v Aberystwyth, at Aberystwyth MARCH. 14 L, Oswestry v Newtown, at Oswestry 16 L, Oswestry v Ironbridge, at Ironbridge 23 Oswestry v Westminster Rovers, at Stansty Park APRIL. 6 L, Oswestry v Wellington Town, at Wellington 13 L, Oswestry v Whitchurch, at Oswestry 20 L, Oswestry v Shrewsbury, at Shrewsbury 27 Oswestry v Tranmere Rovers, at Oswestry
LIBERALISM IN THE MONTGOMERY…
LIBERALISM IN THE MONTGOMERY BOROUGHS. Almost anyone familiar with political organisa- tion, says the Manchester Guardian, would have thought that as Wales returns only two Conserva- tive members to Parliament, and as the majorities obtained by those two were the smallest obtained throughout the Principality at the last election, there would have been no difficulty in finding Liberal candidates for both constituencies. But the assumption would have been quite at variance with the facts. For some time past the Liberal party both in the Denbigh and the Montgomery Boroughs has been endeavouring, but without suc- cess, to discover a suitable leader. At the contest in 1892 and for some time afterwards the former constituency had an admirable one in Mr. Howel Williams. Mr. Williams fought Mr. Kenyon, the present member, in 1892, and reduced the Conser- vative majority from 211 to 98, the smallest margin by which any Welsh member was returned in that year. It was confidently expected that on the next opportunity he would have succeeded in restoring the Liberal representation of the Boroughs. But the state of his health made it necessary for him to relinquish political work, and up to now his party has failed to find a successor. The Denbigh Boroughs, however, now stand alone in this respect. At a meeting of the Montgomery- shire Central Liberal Association, which was held on Tuesday at Newtown, the offer of Mr. J. W. Willans to contest the representation of the Mont- gomery Boroughs in the Liberal interest was unanimously accepted, and the decision puts a happy end to a long series of negotiations which at one time seriously threatened the unity of the party. To understand the character of the constituency and of the task which Mr. Willans is undertaking we must look a little into the history of the seat. For nine years after the passing of the first Reform Act the boroughs of Montgomery returned a Liberal member. Subsequently, up to 1863, they were represented by Protectionists or Liberal Conservatives, as they were called. In the latter year the Hon. C. Hanbury-Tracy (the present Lord Sudeley) regained the seat for the Liberals, and held it till 1877, when he succeeded to the peerage. His brother, the Hon. F. Hanbury- Tracy, defeated Viscount Castlereagh in the by. election which ensued, and sat for the constituency up to 1885. In the general election of that year Sir Pryce-Jones, who had undertaken the Conser- vative candidature prior to 1880, was returned by a majority of 83. A fierce reaction followed this unexpected triumph, and in the summer of the following year Mr. Hanbury-Tracy was reinstated with an increased majority. The Conservative success was repeated, however, both in the elec- tion of 1892 and in the trial of the petition against the return of Sir Pryce-Jones which followed. The constituency must, therefore, be classed as a "wobbler." In the past its decisions have con- founded the safest prophets; still, for the benefit of those who may yet wish to prophecy, the facts may be briefly stated. The contributory boroughs are six in number. Newtown was formerly the Liberal stronghold. It may be so still, but its strength is more retiring, at any rate, than it used to be. The Conservative member resides and has his business there, and the slackness in the staple trade of the town has probably made the inhabitants wise in their genera- tion. Llanidloes, the home of Chartist traditions, is still Radical to the core. But with the. decline in the local mining industi ies the population has gone down, and with it the Liberal voting power. Welshpool, which lies in the shadow of Powis Castle, has been Tory from its youth up, and promises to be so to the end. The smaller remaining boroughs of Montgomery, Machynlleth, and Llanfyllin are supposed to be about equally divided in their political views. The constituency is widely scattered, and each of the constituent towns repre- sents a new variety of political, religious, racial, and linguistic conditions. Mr. Willans has done wisely to make himself personally acquainted with each place before coming to a decision. He is practically a stranger to the county. So was Mr. Stuart Rendel, but the fact did not prevent him in the first engagement from wresting the county seat in 1880 from Mr. Charles Wynn, whose family had held it without a break from 1832. It may be the same with Mr. Willans. He recently purchased the Dolforgan estates, near Newtown, and took up his residence there. He is a Nonconformist, and though an Englishman has shown in his addresses a full understanding of the questions which specially affect Wales. The letter in which he announced his willingness to contest the seat reveals the spirit in which he proposes to conduct the campaign. It is to be "atightbetween parties rather than leaders," and his determination is that principles shall once more prevail agains privi lege, and progress against obstruction. n recen years personal considerations seem to have entirely overridden political principles. It was the only ground upon which the Conservative candidate, having shed the Radical beliefs he once held, could hope to successfully appeal to the voters. Mr. Willans has set his mind upon changing all this. He will find it no easy task to recover the ground his predecessor lost, but those who know the boroughs best are pretty confident that it can be done if only the rank and file share the temper of their new candidate.
SHROPSHIRE AND AGRICULTURE.
SHROPSHIRE AND AGRICULTURE. At a time when the prices of nearly all the pro- duce of tho farm fail to reach the cost, it becomes a very serious matter, says the Shrewsbury Chronicle, not only to farmers, but to all the numerous classes depending upon them, to encourage paying crops. Wheat was freely selling in many markets last week at 18s and 19s per quarter, and for the first time for centuries the average price in all the markets of the country, 196 in number, fell below 20s per quarter. Barley as a consequence has become the best paying crop. Last year the high honour fell to Shropshire of securing the champion prize at the International Barley Show in London. This success, due to the efforts of Messrs. Wm. Jones and Son, maltsters, Shrewsbury, as much as to the excellence of the barleys grown in our county, is being followed up by a step that must tell in favour of our barley-growers. Our esteemed Mayor has joined in adding to the prize list of the forthcoming Brewers' Exhibition iu London a series of special prizes for Shropshire and Montgomeryshire barleys, to be known as "The Browne-Jones Prizes," given by Messrs. W. L. Browne and Co. and Messrs. William Jones and Son. The importance of this generous policy to all barley-growers, and, indeed, to many others, can- not be overrated. The cost of entry is small, and, with the great series of prizes, any corn that is at all useful should repay the trouble aijd outlay, whilst first-class barley is bound to secure a good return. Our county won the greatest distinction ever given to a single exhibit last year, and with the stimulus now given, combined with the favourable conditions of the growth and ingathering of the crop, it is to be hoped that it "may achieve the unique honour of carrying off for two years in succession the Champion Cup and all the other distinctions that fall to the best sample of the year. It is to be noted that the exhibition covers seed barleys as well as malting qualities indeed, at this show a bushel of barley may obtain over £50 in prizes, the Champion and Mark Lane Express Diplomas, the Liebmann Silver Cup, a gold medal, &c. Messrs. Jones Carter and Co., London, and Messrs. Webb and Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge, give special prizes, Mr. H. Boby, manufacturer of barley and malt-cleaning machinery, Bury St. Edmunds, gives a prize value £10 in cash or plate to the winner of the Champion Prize, providing it has been prepared by machinery manufactured by him. The London brewers also give prizes amounting to fifty guineas for corn grown in Southern and Eastern England. Entries must be made to the Secretary of the Brewers' Exhibition, 24, Wellington Street, Strand, London, not later than Monday next, October the 8th. For each entry the exhibitor has to state what quantity of the barley he has, the description of seed corn sown, dates of sowing and harvesting, the description of soil, the preceding crop, the cleaning machinery employed, the manures used, and the price of the barley if for sale. The climate and soils of this part of the country are specially fitted to grow barleys of the finest quality for brewing purposes. This has been demonstrated by the fact that for 16 years the champion prize at this exhibition has been given to English barley, notwithstanding very strong com- petition from Chili, California, New Zealand, Algeria, Persia, Asia Minor, Russia, and Germany. Even Saale barley has never yet won this prize. The Browne-Jones Prizes," offered by Messrs W. L. Browne and Co. and Messrs William Jones and Son, are for barley grown in the counties of Shropshire and Montgomeryshire :—First prize, silver cup value £12 12s.; second prize, silver cup value j66 6s. third prize, silver cup value £2 2s. With such inducements offering there will no doubt be a large number of entries. We hope to see many Shropshire and Mont- gomeryshire farmers competing for the valuable prizes now announced, for the enterprise thus shown by our leading local barley merchants should be widely appreciated.
THE GARDEN. -
THE GARDEN. BY A PRACTICAL MAN. BUSH FRUITS. Bush fruit are propagated by means of the finest of the cuttings of the young wood saved from the prunings for the purpose. They should be collected •md tied in bundles or laid m by the heels until Wanted then lift and make into cuttings, 10 inches or a foot long. All buds on the bottom half or as fir as they are intended to be inserted in the ground, should be removed or they will produce suckers, which should be avoided. The ground for their reception should be trenched and manured, and the cuttings in lines a foot apart and three or four inches asunder in the rows, or the cuttings might be put in as the ground is being trenched. Spring lettuces might be grown between the rows. Gooseberry and currants may also be increased by means of layering. Young branches should be selected for the purpose, their points should be cut off and the branches kept in the ground by means of wooden pegs, slightly covering the part layered with soil. When they begin to grow, shoots push from every joint, and no sooner than they attain a length of six inches give another good earthing up. In this condition allow them to remain throughout the summer, keeping them clear of weeds. In October the layers may be lifted and divided, leaving two or three shoots to each, and trans- planted into beds to remain another year before removing them to their final fruiting quarters.— Rural World.
[No title]
The Town Council of Oswestry, at their meet- ing on Monday, adopted a rate of 2s. in the pound. There is little prospect of a winter service of boats between Cardiff and Weston being arranged this year. A scheme is on foot, says a contemporary, to dam the Irish Channel. Passengers have been doing it daily for years. If a well could be dug to the depth of 46 miles, the air at the bottom, it is assumed, would be as dense as quicksilver. Bamboo shoots are eaten as a vegetable in China, Ile and bamboo chow chow is pigeon English for corporal punishment. Wasps are the most inveterate enemies of flies. Reaumer says he has known one wasp to kill a thousand flies in a day. A paraffin lamp upset on Monday morning at Burnham Cement Works, Rochester, and Walter Bass, labourer, was burnt to death. The French police have arrested an official of the Western Railway Company, who for gambling pur- poses embezzled 80,000 francs. A Gladstonian paper states that Mr. Gladstone is now as fit for political and intellectual work as ho was when lie too-k office in 1882. The Queen is expected to remain in Scotland till about the middle of November, when the Conrt will leave Deeside for Windsor Castle. To prevent lamp chimneys from cracking put them in a kettle of cold water; gradually heating it till it boils, and then let it as gradually cool. The day after a snowstorm the atmosphere is un- usually clear, because the snow brings down with it most of the dust and impurities of the air. Until some forty years ago it was customary among the Japanese to vaccinate on the tip of the nose. This rendered a written certificate a super- fluity. It is only by labour that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought that labour can be made happy and the two cannot be separated with impunity. A gentleman farmer named George Hunt well known throughout Kent, was on Saturday fined -620 for assaulting a married woman who acted as his housekeeper. Rev. Canon C. J. Thompson, D.D., vicar of Cardiff, states that there have lately been dis- covered near that town on the Ely racecourse the remains of a large Roman villa. The snipe has nerves clean down to the tip of his bill because he digs for his living, and, not being able to see his food, has these nerves provided to enable him to ascertain its presence. The mulatto Norton, who duped French politi- cians by his clumsy forgeries of English despatches, has died in prison at Poissy. His real name was Veren, and he was a native of Mauritius. A new Government tax of one mark on each cat kept as a house pet has been imposed in Dresden. Thousands of the animals have been destroyed by owners desirous of avoiding the cat tax." A curious incident has occured at the mouth of the River Yealm. A yacht anchored there for the night, and on Saturday merning the owner found on the deck a salmon which had leaped on board during the night. At Ramsgate a little girl named Fisher, the daughter of a fisherman was playing in Parker's Lane, when she accidentally fell into a vat of boiling liquid nsed for dyeing sails. On being taken out she was found to be fearfully scalded. The lines of no two human hands are exactly alike. When a traveller in China desires a pass- port the palm of his hand is covered with fine oil paint and an impression is taken on thin, damp paper. This paper, officially signed, is his passport. A German doctor has been publishing the results of a long course of visual examination. He finds that only in one case out of 15 are both eyes in good condition. In seven cases out of every ten 'people possess one eye which is stronger than the other. Foremost among the sanitary principles which ought to control usage of our hats are two the avoidance of any but the lightest pressure, and the admission through the texture worn, or by special apertures of sufficient air for free ventilation of the •pace around ebead. What is probably the most important transaction in the market for brewery and licensed property since the beginning of the year is reported from Wigan, where a Bolton firm has purchased, for X175,000, the Wigpn Brewery and Wine and Spirit Stores, with 86 freehold and leasehold hotels and inns in Lancashire. He was an honest collier (says the Swansea Post), and had been advised by the doctor to eat more animal food. But lie got no better, and told the doctor so. I have gone in strong for animal food," he said. I can manage the bran and meal very well, and don't dislike the oats but I can't take to chaff at all." A brilliant surgeon in Pittsburg proposes to build bumps on people's noses so that they can carry glasses on them with greater ease and safety. He says he can do it so that the glasses will con- ceal the bumps and there will be no disfigurement. By and bye, if his plan is generally followed, children will be born with the necessary bumps an surgery will be unnecessary. A paragraph is going the rounds about tion meetings held by the clerks of the England to protest against the employment ot ladies by the establishment. On mquny don corespondent of the ^indat'ion. RN R* FO,-TL;° T „+ +v,„ ladies do not come into simple reason that the jaaieo «. competition with the clerks at all. It is inteiesting to learu, in reference to the oft- made suggestion that children should be taught to write with both hands, that at least one prominent man has set us an oxample in the matter. This is Mr. Michael Davitt, who early in life lost his right arm in the machinery on the mill in wkich he was employed. In after years he readily adopted, in the case of his own children, the practice which he had heard prevails in the Japanese schools—that of teaching the pupils to nse with equal facility both hands. A Frenchman has invented a new way of ac • ing an umbrella. He has compiled statistics show" ing that nine men out of every ten have loJ umbrella, but that no man has ever an having found one that is not his. On a t0 therefore, this ingenious man stands in n J 7' and stopping the first man who come »1 0rvvay> politely, "I beg your pardon, Sir but havo g' 8ays' my umbrella." In nearly e'verv ° got pricks the man so addressed and v,Q conscience umbrella to the daring claimant surrenders the just died at Lensing^am^n^'sLlf'1^ queathed the residue of her nr™ ,eaford> taa be- £ 12'°°0"^ w KS; at a member of thlT° 4daj'T'11'11"1 gether with his wife commit"?^ "d' wa8 to" hard labour each fr.'r tv one month's eight children! the Wllf,il neglect of their reSTnd^tSn' recovered from his Archbishop's House'West +°n M°nday in tho meeting of the rlZ'r n miD3ter' at the inaugural third session. ^HistoricalResearch Society's Mr. Joseph°Ruthw Rfu1S1°,U Court ifc came out tliat wrongf.Hy witn7« °r°Ugh maKist™te, had claim TL I! the s f?n;lture on a Liberal claimant h»f PurPortecl to be that of the claimant, but was, m fact, only that of his wife. ed'that^'twJ^0 m'?gisfcratea have recommend- those memV.n y"^ve Sa'neas be distributed among special durin6^8 ° police who had discharged sessions Tif co?"oc^on with the annual licensing suggestion. °h Committee adopted the thJ^J?^ 9.°nstable of Anglesey (Mr. Prothero), Homo <s rni^tl0n °t' whose appointme*t by the „ e?j: has been some months in abey- i 0n on<3ay entered officially upon his duties, Men^aBridgSent monthly Petty Sessions at it was reported at a meeting of the Council of the North Wales Miners' Federation, which was held on Monday, at Wrexham, that the Home ^ad sanctioned a proposal that Mr. a ihews, the assistant inspector of mines for the distinct, should reside at Chester. At North London Police Ceurt, on Monday, Mr. Lane, Q.C., presented to Constable Pipes, who recently showed great courage and resolution in a struggle with a burglar, whose arrest he effected, a sum of X25 10s. 6d., subscribed for him by members of the public. Sir Evelyn Wood has taken up his official duties at the War Office. The Walton lock on the Ship Canal at Warrington was formerly opned on Monday. The death is announced of Sir Sanford Freeling, K. C. M. G. He was born in 1828, and was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. For the second time this year Lold Bolton has granted a remission of 25 per cent. in the rent of his tenants in the neighbourhood of Kingsclere, Hants. At Runcorn, on Monday, Benjamin Moores, of 22 Mason Street, was setenced to three months'' hard labour for shocking neglect of his four child- ren. The Indian carpet made for the Queen in the Agra Central Prison arrived at Windsor Castle on Monday. Tha roll weighs three tons, and is about 40ft long. Police-Constable John Robinson lost his own life at Newcastle on Tuesday, in unsuccessfully endea- vouring to save a man who had fallen overboard into the Tyne. Mrs Oliver, lodging at Glanadda, Bangor, fell down-stairs on Sunday night, and in spite of tha-assi- duous efforts of Dr. Richard Jones, died a few hours afterwards. Joseph Akarley, lavatory attendant Bangor Railway Station, was found dead on his premises, at Upper Bangor, on Sunday night. He was about seventy years of age. At Arundel on Tuesday, George Holland, a young labourer, previously convicted of killing sheep, was committed for trial charged with killing a lamb belonging to an Angmering farmer. Accused admitted cutting the lamb's throat, remarking that he wished to see blood run, and felt better afterwards. The Russian Marino Department has just ordered at the Nevsky Mechanical Works ten torpedo-boats, costing about £ 17,000 each. A first-class ironclad of 8,800 tons capacity will be commenced this autumn at the new Admiralty works at St. Petersburg after the launch of the ironclad Poltava. This month the flag which King Humbert gave to the Italian ironclad Umberto I. will float at her mast-head. It measures nearly 10 yards long and 6 wide. The silk of which it is made is of Italian manufacture. The sowing and embroidery of the Savoy arms was df.no by the Industrial Girls' School called Duchessa di Galliera." The estimate of X130,000 as the damage done bY the great fire at Mr. Alf. Cooke's works, Leeds, b been verified by further calculations, and this loS* will not be completely covered by the insurance. Mr. Cooke hopes to find employment for a consider, able number of his workpeople next week, and the premises are to be at once reconstructed. Another ambitious undertaking was entered upon by the Blackpool Corporation on Tuesday. Three large estates to the north of Claremont par, embracing The Cliffs and over 160 acres of laid are to be purchased at a cost of £ 32,590, and it intended to coustruct a new promenade aD, carriage drives, with a view to adding a new a°d extensive suburb to the town. Mr. Mollor is not the only member of the pre- sent Parliament who has had a narrow escape death by railway accident. Lord George ton, M.P., the First Lord of the Admiralty in late Government, was with his mother, tb0 Dowager Duchess of Abercnrn, in the Irish mail oll the occasion of the dreadful collision at Aberge e, North ^Vales, in 1868, when about thirty personJ including Lord Farnham, Sir N. Chinnery, and Judge Berwick lost their lives. A wedding arranged to come off on Monday Newry, between a young man named M'Keown a girl named Iieilly, had an unexpected ment. The bridal party were proceeding to churc^ when the bridegroom's sister had an altercatlO- with [the bride. A regular stand-up fight re, suited. The other members of the party tried effectually to separate the bleeding combatan t but this task a policeman had eventually to Vet' form. The marriage has been indefinitely P°9 poned. During the voyago of the Pacific steamer Soraw which has just arrived in the Mersey, from Valpa* raiso, a little girl aged five years, daughter of wealthy American couple, died on the passag The mother passionately protested against t child being buried at sea; and accordingly twelltl five cases of whisky were purchased from the sli stores and emptied into a cask, in which the wm placed and brought to Liverpool. The bo^OT will be conveyed to New York for interment. will be conveyed to New York for interment. Sunday closing iu Wales is a capita ffn" the railways and livery stable keepo*»;, -ff peoP may not take their modest quencher at Home Sundays in Cardiff, they travel aa miles to Monmouthshire for » d"n "> a^d havi » taken so much trouble, consider ^emselveg fied in changing the i persons last Sunday swarmed into Monmouthshire, and the roadways e beershops blocked with men and women waiting for a drink. -+--
EARLY WELSH AGRICULTURE.
EARLY WELSH AGRICULTURE. Another session in the history of the University College of North Wales was opened on Tuesday, when Professor J. E. Lloyd, M.A. (the registar), delivered the inaugural lecture, which was entItled "Early Welsh Agriculture." Principa Reichel presided over a large gathering ? Mr. Lloyd pointed out that "holders of land mediaeval Wales inio-hM^ A- 01 looBpS, the free tribesmen divided into two c|ass> dent Taioca.n ? descent, and the depe mer were a^governhi SUrv'lle cultivators. The fo latter, no doubt rf fi £ hting class, while th conquering race fn» ^e"ted .m a large m?aSUa in possession of ,v -v fading Britons Son was01;^ 6 S0iL A]1 ^«led oCCU?Z death of tl en^a^ed, and its disposition on X of S ™ plated Ey well different ;-i i-v! system of inheritance land nnri case of free and villein or "taiog neither ° Set ru'es bad its interest. nrivaif C;n,° dici of the old English tho -<T land did not pass to tho eldest son 0 youngest, nor was it equally divided among wh SuU!- Iu tL* taiogtref, every one of the trefs o ad attained the age of 14 was recognised a laving an equal claim to landed property, aD when an owner died, his land went into the common l'itock and was equally divided among all the members of the tref. In a free tref, on tho other hand, kinship was carefully taken into accouP At the death of the last of a family of brothers, fl the land held by his great grandfather was divide equally amongst the descendants of the great grand- father, that is, amongst the dead man's children* their cousins and their second cousins. It was not surprising, when they remembered that this genera partition took place once in every generation, tha the Welsh should have acquired a reputation for re, membering every distant relationships. (Laughter)- Of course, all this division and redivision would have been impossible in practice had the old Welsh holding been like the modern one. TIIO nearest thing to a modern owner's exclusive right over the land was the ownership exercised by the holder over his tyddyn or homestead. This was a piece of ground (the Welsh law allowed four c acres for the purpose) on which stood the dwelling- house, cattle or cow-house, sheep-fold, pig-pen, barn, and rickyard. Oats were the chief crop* though wheat, barley, rye, and flax were also grown. Root crops were quite unknown. It was only during the last century that the cultivation of turnips became general in England, and in mediaeval times there was always a great scarcity of winter fodder for the cattle, so that the custom was to slaughter the greater part of the stock in the late autumn and salt the meat for the consumption of the household during the following six months. The system of cultivation appears to have been simple. They ploughed but once in the year, and that for oats in March and April. The arable land of each "taiogtref" was ploughed by a joint arrangement. The plough was provided with eight oxen, for it was forbidden to yoke horses to the plough in cotillage, and the great team of eight was necessary to go through the clayey soil of the country. After describing with much interesting detail the manner in which cotillage was carried on, Mr. Lloyd proceeded to state that in the case of free landowners there was no evidence that the system of joint ploughing of waste land was a usual one. On the contrary, it would appear as if such owners often attempted to improve their plots of land by manuring and otherwise preparing them for certain tillage. Ploughing was duly followed by sowing and harrowing, a horse being employed for the latter. On the 1st of May there was a migration to the hill pastures, where temporary summer houses were put up for the ensuing three months. On the 1st of August the family moved down to the corn- fields, where their temporary houses served for their shelter until the crops were safely housed in the barns. The agricultural class were a popular section of the community in old Wales, and their prosperity and continuance was predicted. The attempt to reproduce in these days the land system of their forefathers would be the merest folly. The old land tenure was as absolete as the plough team of eight oxen.
MR. HUMPHREYS-OWEN, M.P.,…
MR. HUMPHREYS-OWEN, M.P., ON WELSH POLITICS. The Manchester Guardian reports an interview with Mr. Humphreys-Owen, M.P. Inthecourse of a conversation the hon. member said agricultural depression meant two things-first, low prices of the main artiole. produced- by fsurmei-s, and conse- quently a diminution in their profits and secondly, a diminution of landlords' rents. Both the owner and the tenant therefore hesitated to embark skill and capital in what they regarded as an unprofit- able business. Production, therefore, was less, and the nation suffered. As regards the farmer, obviously the first remedy was a reduction of rent to such a point as would give him interest on his capital and remuneration for his skill and labour in carrying on the farm. Then he should be en- couraged to make the best of the altered circum- stances by being secured against capricious eviction from his farm, and by being provided with adequate compensation for all improvements he might make during his occupation. Further facilities should be given him for taking his produce to market by the construction of light railways in exactly the same way as had been done already in Ireland. Oh that head he should like to mention that he was at that moment writing a paper on light railways for the international Railway Conference which would meet in London next year. Finally, there was the important subject of education. That touched the future rather than the past and the present. Intermediate schools had been actually started, and the local bodies were fully competent to mould the course of instruction so as to make them useful and valuable to farmers' children. If the local bodies did their duty, and he had every reason to believe that they would, the Welsh farmer would have almost at his door an even better practical education than that which the Scotch farmer had enjoyed for so many generations. Referring to the question of re-afforesting in Wales, Mr. Humphreys-Owen said that it ought to be very carefully handled, and it should be remembered that re-afforesting meant shifting of employment, and that might cause great and un- merited suffering. Well managed planting in well- chosen places would be beneficial to the country but the substitution of woods and woodmen for sheep and shepherds should be gradual, and on just and even liberal terms of compensation to labourers on and occupiers of slieepwalks. Coming to the subject of Disestablishment and Disendow- ment of the Church, he expressed his opinion that the Cabinet really meant business during the next session. Asked as to the support to be expected from the English Liberals, he said that they could not expect the Liberals of other parts of the country to take quite the amount of interest m the questlon that Welsh Liberals did. But that the Eng Irish, and Scotch were heartily m tavour of WeM, Disestablishment he was quite convinced. ^turaUy enough each nationality thought its own measure was the most important, and there was a v competition for the first place. Bu e ment has pledged itself emphatically o g first place to Wales, and he bebeved that the Cabinet was thoroughly in earnest. The favour te tactics of the Tory party had been to' the Liberals never intended passing bat he could say ihey were Disestablishment. convinced friends of Wels