The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

CRICKET NOTES- Crle^'t Hourlshes at Newtown. In most towns of the size of this there is often great difficulty in securing one good eleven, but here two good teams can be placed on the field at any time. The Otters- poo' team found this out last week on their visit. S.W.W. drahhed them fairly but the Newtown team gave ri,et,i even a sounder beating. The batting of the home team was very regular, no less than six getting well into double figures. W. E. Prycc- Jonea nd W. F. Richards started capitally well fur Newtown. Both played as well as evei they (lid, and to r.iii'ir credit be it said. both seem as enthusi- astic ris of old. W. R. Wood found the bowling to his liking and scored 43 in his best style. C. Parry carried his bat out for 20, and he got them well. Charlie is becoming quice a first rate cricketer and be is without doubt one of the best bowlers in the county. The sooru of 170 proved too much for the visiters. They began fairly well. E. Iiecs21 (good old <tr'i'spool). W.J. Sprott 11 and J. Wilson 14, showing good form, bnt the others fared so badly a.gaill;, the army of bowlers on the other side that the total was only 63, and Newtown won by no less than 102. A capital contest was tlie result of the meeting between Welshpool and R.W.W. on the ground of the latter. Both teams were well represented and the fight was a keen and interesting one. The home team made 87. Ev. Rees was top scorer with a well played 21, and W. R. Wood, C. Parry and A. Marston got double figures, while all scored a few. Hart was in rare bowling form and took 6 wickets for 15. Welshpool started badly, Tallis being run out for 1. Harrison and Hart made a short stand, and Worth with 10 and L. Jones 18 made things -took promising for the visitors, but two more good men were run out. and though Makepeace played exceedingly well for 11 not out, the innings fell short of R.W.W. by 11 runs. The game was a very pleasant one and with just enough excitement to be refreshing. When the Welshpool men arrived at home there was a quiet smoker" at the Oak, and a beautiful bat suitably inscribed was presented to R. F. Parry, who has left the Estate Office for an appointment in Hampshire. The bat will remind Mr Parry of the m,ny happy days he bas spent "with the Welshpool Cricket team. Chirburv. though assisted by Chase Davies and H. Hibbott, were no match for Montgomery on Saturday. C. Williams and A. Eaton were in grand bowling form and got rid of the village team for 28 runs. Barker 11 and W. H. Langford 9 played well but the others seemed powerless against it. C. Williams took four wickets for 12 and A. laton took four wickets for 13. The innings of Iont- gomery reached 89. E. Jones carried his bat for a good and useful score of 23. Harris had a merry inninsrs of 15, and W. Fitzhuirh got a dozen. Agairis: the other bowling of the team Chirbury made 52 in the second innings. The analysis of W. Fitz- hugh i- a line one -4 overs, 5 wickets, 4 runs. Another good bowling performance took place at Oswestry on Saturday when Ellesmere and Oswes- trv met Ellesmere took first innings and were dismissed for 47, F. Brown with 16 not out alone doing well. Codield took five wickets for eight r,ans. Oswestry made such a sorry start that at one time even this smail score seemed to trouble them. When the captain and F. J. Gough faced each other they quickly made their supporters happv. Both played well. Gough's 31 following on'his previous gccd work stamps him as the most consistent batsman in the team. Good form has been displayed by the Oswestry Grammar School in their late matches, the bowling of Parry and Owen being very deadly. In the match against Arnold House, Chester, Parry took all the wickets except one for very few runs. This was a peculiar match. A. Malkin 11, H. F. Thomp- son 10, with extras scored 27 out of a total of 32. The other nine players did not give the opposition mnch leather hunting. Oswestry scored 85. Trevor 22. Harry 17, Edwards 12, and Mason 10 did well with their bat. The second victory was a better one even than this as the opponents, Ellesmere College XI., were much stronger. Owen and Parry bowled splendidly and got rid of a good batting team for 41. The Grammar School scored 75, Mason 15, T. W. A. Jones 11 not out, and T. Ll. Harry 21 being top scorers. The return with Ellesmere College on Wednesday was a grand match, the bowling on both sides being excellent. The College won by 13 runs. scoring 60 to 47. Penn bowled in his best form. He commenced with taking two wickets with his first two balls and altogether got eight for 15. Owen and Parry also bowled well. For quick scoring the match between Wem and .7:1 Salop (really Anthony v Salop) gives us the best example lately seen in the district, but of a total of 149. W. Anthony by batting of the most brilliant description scored 115 not out, and carried his bat right "through the innings. As Shropshire only made 99, Anthony bad the pleasure of beating the County off his own bat. In addition to his good batting he met with fair success as a bowler. The once old Whittington player, G. Galloway, took a team to Park Hall, on Saturday, and had the pleasure of taking down the Park Hall men on their own ground. The innings of Park Hall amounting to the fair number of 136 runs, Clapp, 36, and Brooklield, 34, doing best with the bat; Clapp's career closed with a smart catch by G. Galloway. The visitors were in no wise daunted by having to face this large score, but they started badly, and the first two men were bowled by Baguley before scoring. Beech and Purgold added 17 and 18 respectively and brightened the hopes of the visitors, but it was left to Galloway and J. C. Jones, to settle matters. The latter played steadily for his good score of 68, while G. i allowav hit away in his best arm tor 54. The total reached 186 on 50 on. Cliff and Baguley bowled well for their respective sides. iianks to a tine not out innings of 30 by Mr tn ir' c -S School defeated Wrexham Wel- come by 5o to 38. Hughes and Home bowled well for the winners, while Simon and Mitchell were equally successful for their side I-lanyn-iynech were only able to place a very weaK side m the field against Knockin. The latter had a good team, and on winning the toss put Llanymynech in. Pugh and Rees "started steadilv and scored 24 for the first wicket. Flick scored 4. f other batsmen failed before the goodfowling of Welsham, Jones, and Eyton. Pugh batted steadily and well for 37 and made some good cuts and leg hits fr>»- i,;c, 1 The total reached 70, and only about an hour re- mamed for play. The bowling of Morris was good for the visitors and run-getting- difficult. Dr Mortis played very well for 11 not out, and so did R. Evton for 10. Score 37 for four wickets.—Mrs Griflitns kindly provided refreshments for both teams, and on the motion of the captain of the Llanymynech club. and seconded by the jovial umpire—Major Conelly-a hearty vote < thanks was accorded to this good lady and the other ladies assisting for their kindness. In first class racket the feature of the week has been big scoring uy Sugg, Ranjitsinghji and others. Sugg's innings of 2 was a brilliant display, and was all the more valuable for the pickle his side were in when he removed danger. Yorkshire have had three slaps at the Colonists, but have failed each time to score a win. The Australians are a good lot notwithstanding their failure in the test match, and it will be no surprise if they do well in the next encounter. Storer's work in scoring 342 for once out will take some beating even in this year of heavy scor- ing, and he is now in the first dozen batsmen with the fine average of 42'12, and a total of 810 runs. FIRST-CLASS AVERAGES. Calculated to Saturday June 27 inclusive. BATTING AVERAGES (11 innings). No. Times Most of not Total in an inns. out. runs, inns. Aver. Abel 22 2 1152 231 57.12 Eanjitsinhji, K. S. 24 2 1214 17F 55.3 Gunn .1 24 5 1003 207* 52.15 Leveson-Gower, H. 11 2 458 93 50. 8 Marriott, 11. H 11 1 486 145* 48. 6 Wcods, S. M. J 19 2 814 158* 47.15 Palairet. L. C. H. 12 2 458 147- 45. 8 Jackson. F. S 17 2 678 117 45. 3 BrowjjJ.T 28 5 1032 203 44.20 poel 16 2 627 210* 44.11 Grace, Dr W. G. 26 2 1065 243* 44. 9 Burnup, -i 16 1 629 95 41.14 13 2 657 201* 41. 1 ^ay-ird 22 5 688 229* 40. 8 HuSt 17 3 561 107 40. 1 Havrnan, H. U 19 3 584 152 38.14 Sir 0 400 137 36. 4 Ovi'iif' 'V. G 16 3 455 105 35. Sig-nifies not out. BOWLING AVERAGES (23 wickets). O. M. R. W. Aver. Hearne (J. T.) S15.4 340 1465 137 10.95 uohmaim 502.4 106 536 39 14.10 Fu,<-dstftrf 181.2 62 398 27 14.20 i!-t 722.2 337 1074 74 14.38 CmEffe, F. H. E. 383.4 127 804 54 14.48 Hallam .d 319.4 124 614 41 14.40 ■Void 515.2 177 1165 76 15.25 i'-I ard^on 777 246 1894 120 15.94 Ham-arc: 350.1 120 786 48 16.18 p.Jviiu 245 77 567 30 18.27 VV^i iwright 471.1 142 1091 58 18.47 ShÎ1. B. d" 261.1 90 666 35 19. 1 PRESENT POSITIONS. PRESENT POSITIONS. One point is credited for a win, one point deducted for a lose, aud drawn games are ignored. W. L. D. Tot'l. Pts. Surrey 11 2 1 14 9 Yorkshire 8 0 4 12 8 I..aacashire 3 1 0 9 7 Middlesex 4 1 1 6 3 Essex 1 2 0 3 -1 Hampshire. 4 2 2 4 -1 Notts 1 2 2 5 -1 Sussex 1 3 2 6 -2 Somerset. 1 4 2 7 -3 Warwickshire. 1 4 2 7 -3 Do-rbvshire 1 4 2 7 -3 Gloucester 1 5 2 8 -4 Leicestershire. 1 5 0 6 -4 Kent. 0 5 1 6 -5 j MONTGOMERY V. CHIRBURY.—The return match between these teams was played at the latter place on Saturday, when Montgomery won by an innings and nine rans. The bowling of the winning team was excellent, A. Eaton in Chirbury's first innings doing the hat trick," and Captain Fitzhugh in the second obtaining 5 wickets for 4 runs. Scores :— CHIRBURY. W R Shaw c Harris b A Eaton 0 b Tomley 2 W H Morns b C B Wil- liams 0 b Fitzhugh 1 W H Langford b C B Williams. 9 b Fitzhugh 0 Chase Davies run out 1 c Williams b Tom- ley. 10 H Hibbott c A Eaton b Williams. 0 b P R Eaton 16 R Barker Ibw b Williams 11 b Eaton 7 E R Morris not out 2 not out 8 C Butler b A Eaton lb Fitzhugh 0 j C E Elwell absent 0 b Fitzhugh 0 E Tudor c P Eaton b A Eaton 1 b Fitzhugh 4 P Jones e Harris b Eaton 0 absent. 0 Extras 3 Extras 4 Total 28 Total 52 MONTGOMERY. A Eaton b Butler 4 R T Harris b Shaw 15 T, Tt Eaton b Butler 5 J E Tomley c Shaw b Batler 9 C B Williams b Shaw 1 E E Davies lbw b Shaw 6 E Jones not OTtt 23 J Tipping b Shaw 3 W Fitzhugh c Davies b Langford 12 T H Evans c and b Langford 1 H H Wood b Shaw 5 Extras. 5 I Total 89 WELSHPOOL V. ROYA r, WELSH WAREHOUSE.— Played at Newtown on Saturday. Score WELSHPOOL. C F Tallis run out 1 H Harrison c Taylor b Wood 12 R F Parry b Wood 2 J Hart c Taylor b Prvce-Jones 8 C W Worth c Taylor b Lewis 10 Lumley Jones run out 18 .J B A(ldic b Parry 0 T F Hiles run out 0 W Makepeace not out 11 H Blackith c Pugh b Parry 4 Extras 10 Total 76 R.W.W. E Rees c L Jones b Harrison 21 W R Wood b L Jones 14 E R Pugh c Harrison b L Jones 3 W G Cannon b Hart. 8 W E Pryce-Jones run out 1 Marston b Hart. 10 A Taylor c Hiles b Hart. 7 C Parry hit wkt b Hart. 10 A 0 Davies c and b Hart. 1 J Bird b Hart 1 H Lewis not out 2 Extras. 9 Total 87 NEWTOWN V. OTTERSPOOL.-This match was played at Xewtown on Thursday week, resulting in au easy victory for the home eleven. The scores are as follows :— NEWTOWN. W E Pryce-Jones b Barratt. 37 W F Richards c Rees b Armistcad. 24 H Hibbott b Wilson 7 W R Wood c and b Armistead 43 H E Breese b Armistead 1 E C Morgan c Chapman b Sproft 0 T Worthington Ibw b Barratt 14 C Parry not out 20 H Morgan b Armistead. 14 P W Jones lbw b Armistead 4 Harper not out 1 Extras. 5 Total 170 OTTERSPOOL. E S Thornburn c Richards b P W Jones 1 E Rees b Hibbott 21 W J Sproft c P W Jones b Hibbott 11 J Wilson c and b Pryce-Jones 14 A Barrett b Pryce-Jones 4 D Nieto c Hibbott b C Parry 0 W Hough c C Parry b Pryce-Jones 5 T Armistead c and b Pryce-Jones 4 J Hennin c Harper b P W Jones 5 R Armistead not out 1 G Chapman st Breese b Pryce-Jones. 0 Extras. 2 Total. 68 KNOCKIN V. LLANYMYNECH.—Played at Knockin on Saturday. Scores:- LLANYMYNECH. J Pugh b Eaton 37 C E Rees b Wilshaw 10 Flick b Evton 4 G Pitt b Jones H. 0 R Morris b Jones 2 W Coleman c and b Jones 0 G. Davies c Roberts b Wilshaw 9 R Brown b Eyton 0 D Jeffries b Eyton 0 B Sockett not out 2 B Smith b WiJshaw H, 0 Extras 6 Total 70 KNOCKIN. W Williams run out 3 W Davies c Pitt b Flick 7 Dr Mortis not out 11 R Eyton b Morris 10 1 Wilshaw b Morris 0 J J ones not out 0 Extras. 6 h Total 37 R t-k Ilereditb, W Wells, E Bill, J Richards, and E Richards did not bat. on sltwdly V' Score :ME* 0swestr*V n TT T ELLESMERE. H Lea c F J Gongh b R T Gou«-h 3 G Inglis c Corfield b R T Gough. 8 Boot (pro) c Corfield b F A W How"" 4 G Tabor e and b Corfield 7 RHPhmipps outfit bPAWHow 7 F Drown not out T P Jones b Corfield Rev L M Owen c Campbell b Corfield' n H Skellore b R T Gough ^ortleW 0 Extras Total 47 OSWESTRY. F B Corfield b Boot g W K Minshall b Boot 6 F A W How c Lea b Boot 0 R T < lough 1 b w b Moot 2 Capt Hav hurst France b Boot 18 Capt av lUr 3 F J Gough b Boot 31 F C Campbell b C Tabor 4 W H Ellis 1 b w b Boot 0 N E Tidy c Boot b Tabor 0 H Gough c Inglis b Boot 4 G Whitfield not out 6 Extras 7 Total. 87 OSWESTRY HIGH SCHOOL V. WREXHAM WELCOME Played at Oswestry on Saturday. Score :—- WREXHAM WELCOME. Fisher c Horne b Ben Held 4 Mitchell b Horne 2 D M Jones runout 0 Simons c Waterhouse b Horne 10 Poole b Hughes 4 C Prescott b Horne 0 J E Hughes run ont 0 Hayes c Waterhouse b Hughes 8 Rowlands not out 3 P Davies b Hitght-,s 4 Roberts b Horne 0 Extras 3 Total. 38 OSWESTRY HIGH SCHOOL. Bentield not out 30 Horne b Simons 0 Wheldon b Simons 0 Hughes b Mitchell 3 Mills c Mitchell b Simons 2 Kersiake b Mitchell 0 T J Jones b Simons 0 Waterhouse c Jones b Mitchell 9 Lew-is c Hayes b Mitchell 0 R A Lewis c Prescott b Simons 4 M W Davies run out 2 Extras. 5 Total 55 PARK HALL v. ASH.-Played at Park Hall, on Saturday. Park Hall won the toss, and commenced batting with Clapp and Charles, to the bowling of Cliffe and Purgold. Ash commenced rather badly. losing two wickets for six runs. Beech and Pur- gold made a useful stand, but the feature of the innings was the fine batting of Jones and Galloway, who carried the score from ninety-three to 176 before they were parted, thus winning the match. Scorc PARK HALL. A E Clapp c Galloway b Cliffe 36 J Charles c Purgold b Cliffe 14 W Sanderson b Manley 10 E Bagnley c )[anloy 13 Cliffs 15 W Jones c Galloway b Manley 2 S Brookfield c Jones b Cliffe 34 T Copper b Cliffe 0 W Williams run out 0 H Youens c Wootton b Mitcheson 3 H Reed c Wootton b Cliffe 2 J Jones not out ••• 2 Extras 10 Total. 138 ASH. A H Manley b Baguley 0 W Davies b Baguley 0 W Beech c Williams b Charles 17 A D Purgold b E Baguley 18 j T Wootton b E Baguley 7 H Mitcheson c and b W Sanderson. 5 J C Jones b Baguley 68 W Porter c J Jones b Baguley 5 G Galloway c Clapp b Charles 54 ".Iui-phy b Ba,uley 0 W W Cliff not out 1 Extras. 11 Total. 186 — ♦ — CRICKET FIXTURES. (All matches played on the ground of the Club.) JULY. 4- Welshpool v. Oswestry 4—Oswestry 2nd v Chirk 4—Montgomery v. R.W.W., Newtown 8 Ellesmere v. Oswestry Grammar School 8-Oswestry High School v. Ruabon Grammar School 11—Ruabon v. Oswestry High School ll-Ellesmere v. Overton 11—Shrewsbury Schools x. Oswestry 11—Wem v. Ellesmere College 11—Oswestry 2nd v. Gobowen 11—Montgomery v. Welsbpool 18-Ellesmere College v. Oswestry 13-Ellesmere v. Hanmer 18-Tedsmore v. Oswestry High School 20—Montgomery v. Meole Brace 20—Oswestry High School—Past v. Present 24-Llanidloes, v. Montgomery 25-0swestry v. Nantwich. -+- n_

COUNTY CRICKET. The great feature of the Lancashire innings at Bristol on Friday was the brilliant batting of Frank Sugg, whose score 220 is the highest he has yet made in county cricket. The Lancashire total was 389; and Gloucestershire have lost four wickets for 157. being now 99 runs behind with six wickets to fall. At Derby the Yorkshire innings closed for 416. Derbyshire promised well, but towards the con- clusion of the innings Brown performed the hat trick," and the score at the close was only 281, towards which Storer had contributed 100. Follow- ing on in a minority of 135, Derbyshire have lost one wicket for 19. At the Oval Middlesex defeated Surrey by 205 runs. For the visitors Rawlin and Hearne bowled unchanged throughout both innings, and O'Brien gave a fine batting display for 137. At Nottingham the Australian first innings closed for 246, or 23 behind Notts, who in their second innings have scored 74 for the loss of three wickets. M.C.C. with 483 in their second innings (Carpenter 161) put a different complexion on the Cambridge match. The University, requiring 507 to get to win, have scored 98 for two wickets. Sussex at Brighton were all out for 198, and Oxford in their second venture had put together 150 runs for four wickets when play ceased for the day. Some remarkable batting performances were seen in the Cricket field on Saturday. The result of the match at Bristol was a foregone conclusion. The Gloucestershire second innings closed for 238. Grace being not out 102, and Lancashire therefore won by an innings and 18 runs. Roberts actually batted for 35 minutes without scoring, being caught im- mediately after the champion had reached three figures. Derbyshire played a wonderful innings against Yorkshire, and succeeded in making an even draw of the match. When stumps were drawn on Friday night, Derbyshire, with one wicket down, were 116 behind. On Saturday, by brilliant cricket they ran up a score of 450 for eight wickets, and then declared their innings closed. Of this large total Bagshaw was responsible for 115, and Evershed for 85, while Storer, not out, added his second hundred in the same match. Only forty minutes were left for Yorkshire to play in, and at the close they were 279 behind, with nine wickets to fall. Notwithstanding the excellent ap- pearance made by Notts against the Australians earlier in the week, the county were beaten on Saturday by six wickets. At Brighton Oxford de- clared their innings closed at 292 for nine wickets, leaving Sussex 339 to make to win, and three and a half hours to bat in. Sussex made a brilliant attempt to achieve a victory, llanjitsinliji scored 171 not out, and when stumps were drawn had scored 329 for six wickets, or within 10 of victory. At Lord's the Cambridge team, who bad been set 507 runs to win, actually succeeded in scoring them for the loss of seven wickets, Marriott and Druce each contributing 146. Winchester defeated Eton by eight wickets. Lancashire met Middlesex on Old Trafford ground on Monday, and some pretty cricket was shown. Lancashire scored 250 (Baker 94), and Middlesex had made 150 for two wickets when play was suspended. At Bradford Yorkshire were again unfortunate. The Australians batted first and scored 224, aud Yorkshire had lost five good wickets for 112 when stumps were drawn. Surrey met Hampshire at Southampton and scored 259, Hants replying with 88 for four wickets. Grace contributed 186 towards the score of 392 put together by his county against the Somerset bowlers. Somerset had one wicket down for 13. Oxford sent a very unrepresentative team to Lord's, the result being that M.C.C. did what they pleased with the bowling. Their total of 583 for seven wickets included 100 by W. G. Druce and three scores of 80 and over. At Leicester Storer (not out) contributed 142 out of a total of 396 for the Derbyshire, this being his third hundred in successive innings. Derbyshire batted all day. Essex with 140 for three wickets had an advantage over Warwickshire, who were disposed of for 168. Notts were all out for 283 to Kent, who had scored 21 for two wickets when plav ceased for the day. When stumps were drawn at Old Trafford ou Tuesday, Middlesex were set 220 runs to win with all their wickets standing. At Bradford Yorkshire were all got rid of for 145, and the Australians stating on their second innings with a lead of 79 mns, added 239 for the loss of nine wickets, Ireaale batting well for his score of 114. Derby- shire defeated Leicestershire by an innings and 147 runs. Gloucestershire won a rather unexpected victory over Somersetshire by an innings and 83 runs. The Kent first innings finished off for 198, or 85 runs behind Notts, who in their second innings were dismissed for 146. Ken-c with an innings to play require 232 to wiu. Hampshire were unable to reac Surrey's total in the first innings, and the champions followed up their lead of 90 runs by scoring vio/tor four wickets, Brockwell contribut- ing 116. At Lord's the M. C. C. declared their in- nings closed at 583 for seven wickets, and in the course of the day dismissed the Oxford University team tw1Ce winning by an innings and 109 runs. -CiStfex beat Warwickshire by six wickets. Middlesex defeated Lancashire at Old Trafford on Wednesday by four wickets, thanks mainly to a splendid innings by Mr Stoddart. At Bradford the Australians defeated Yorkshire by 140 runs. Notts beat Kent by 19 runs, and Surrey secured an easy victory over Hampshire by no fewer than 380 runs. The Australians began a match at Old Trafford on Thursday against an eleven which was adver- tised as representing the North of England." although Gunn, Shrewsbury, and all the Yorkshire ciacks were absent from unavoidable causes. The Colonials scored a first innings of 195, and five N orthern wickets went down for 82 runs. Cambridge batted first in the University match at Lord's C, 1!1 putting together 319 runs, of which Burnup and Wilson each contributed 80. Oxford had only a few minutes' batting, and scored five runs without loss. In the return fixture between Yorkshire and Derbyshire at Bramall Lane the home team scored 298 (Denton 113), and Derbyshire had one wicket down for 33 when play ceased. -+-

'I CYCLING. [BY "PUMP HARD E R There are no lady cyclists at Montgomery, and the only reason I can assign for this is the fact that the necessary gallant young gentleman is con- spicuous by his absence. Welshpool is a great deal befiter off in this respect. One well-known ad- mirer of ladies has recently blistered his hands in teaching a lady to ride. That can recommend the gerrtlemen as one who will teach a lady to.mount, steer, and dismount in less time than it takes to talk, who is so elated at the honour that he makes no charge whatsoever, and who makes no objection to age. If there is one thing more than another calculated to annoy him it is the absence of lady cyclists. Cyclists who l'epetedly seek the Bois de Bou- louge for their morning's spin should take warning from the misadventure which befell a young lady, and not strike up too close an acquaintance with the first comer on a Vheel. Recently there were to be remarked in the wood two brothers, who, irreproachably clothed according to the cyclists' notion of the latest fashion, and astride of machines of first class workmanship, attracted much attention by their elegant bearing. They speedily created an impression on a young and pretty widow of independent means, who, finding the strangers very gentlemanly in their behaviour, invited them to call on her. The invitation was accepted with alacrity, and the trio were soon on very friendly terms. Unfortunately for the widow, her charming guests were none other than two in- dustrious members of the burglariag fraternity, and when they gazed round on the elegant fittings and valuable knicknacks of the sumptuous apart- ments they felt that such an opportunity for busi- ness should not be allowed to slip by. To make the job easier, the elder brother purloined a latch- key, and it was arranged that the other should get their hostess out of the way whilst the flat was being ransacked. Suspicions, which were after- wards confirmed by snatches of a conversation she overheard, rose in the widow's mind, and she had I an interview with the police, who told her to leave the matter entirely to them and say nothing. A morning's shopping in one of the big magasins and lunch afterwards at a well known restaurant was considered to be an excellent bait, and the intended victim, knowing full well that all would come right, demurely allowed herself to be taken out. Meanwhile one of the thieves, gaining admittance to the flat, went through all the drawers and cupboards, removed the contents of the numerous jewel boxes, and then, laden with a nice little pile ot plunder, and being on the point of departure, walked into the arms of two police- men, who had been watching his operations with much interest. The younger brother was arrested later in the day. On one of the prisoners was found a bottle of chloroform, and helremarked that if they had not succeeded in obtaining the latchkey they had the intention of drugging and then robbing the charming widow. On inquiry it was ascertained that the two rogues were mechanics by trade, and their chief business was carried on with stolen bicycles. This, interesting couple are now safely lodged at the depot, The fafstest rider in the English amateur ranks is at present a foreign visitor—Diacoff, the Russian, to wit. He has scored so consistently in open races as to thoroughly confirm the correctness of the form he displayed when he won the 25 miles N.C.U. championship. He wisely rides Dunlop tyres, upon which all his victories have been achieved. They were lying on the deck of a small yacht off Brighton, watching the foam as it drifted astern. Funny things, yachts and cycles," remarked one, lazily puffing his cigarette. How so ? inquired his companion. Why, a yacht holds the wind when she goes on a tack, whereas a cycle loses it," returned the other, and the silence was so dense, you could have heard a whale cough. The Philistine" who does not cycle is never tired of gloating over the mishaps of wheelmen. Even newspapers report cycling accidents with a certain amount of exultation, and usually wind up with the steoreotyped phrase—" The bicycle was smashed up." Now, I have had a pretty fair personal experience t f accidents on the road, and I have witnessed a few more; but I have never seen a machine, however jerry built, that got smashed up as the result of a fall or riding accident. I am, therefore, led to the conclusion that these vivid descriptions we are so often treated with are mere vagaries of the journalistic mind, attributable, perhaps, more than anything else to the big goose- berry season. Much has been said and written in condemna- tion of The Scorcher.' He is invariably held up as an object of detestation. Hard names and scant courtesy are liberally bestowed on him often on very little provocation. Now I will confess at once that I dearly like a good scorch, and on a quiet country road. I know of no exercise so exhilarat- ing to a man with a sharp eye and a steady nerve. The sensation of feeling the warm air play on one's cheeks and face as they rush along is most pleasing. Of course in a town or where there is considerable traffic such a thing is not to be thought of; But far from the busy haunts of men' on a nice downgrade country road it is magnificent. But the would-scorcher should never lose sight of the fact that he has no monopoly of the road, and he should keep a good look-out ahead. It is those who fail in this respect that bring discredit on the pastime. Only the other day I saw a would-be scorcher coasting down a hill not far from Aber- ystwyth, with head bent and coat-tails flying, utterly oblivious of the fact that a flock of sheep were in front of him, until, without warning, his machine stopped dead, and he flew over the handle- bars, landing right among the sheep, whose soft woolly backs probably saved him fiom severe injuries. What the sheep thought of it I know not, but I heard some of the shepherd's thoughts audibly and forcibly expressed. As for the cyclist --well, he looked rather foolish. Communications for this column should be addressed to Pump Harder," County Times, Office Welshpool, not later than Thursday in each week, to ensure publication in the current issue. Secretaries of clubs will oblige by sending their fixture lists as soon as possible.

-L -+ PARLIAMENTARY. M 0 N D AY. In the House of Commons Mr. Chamberlain in- formed Mr Labouchere that. the resignations of Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Beit, aud Dr Rutherford Harris had been tendered and accepted. Answering Mr Labouchere, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said the only extra expense incurred by the Treasury in consequence of the military operations in Rhodesia was a small sum for the transport of 600 men from Capetown and Natal to Mafeking. General Good- enough and Sir F. Carrington had been informed that the Government were prepared to send any reinforcements they might think necessary to re- lieve the British Colonists in Mashonaland, but, they agreed that no more troops were required at present. The Government proposed to keep the Cape garrison at its full strength, and would supply the places of any troops that had been or might be sent to the front. For that purpose a battalion of the King's Royal Rifles had been ordered to the Cape from Malta. Mr Balfour, in reply to Mr Cog- hill, gave the terms of the reference to the Com- mission on Old-Age Pensions, and, in reply to Mr Channing, the terms of the reference to the Com- mission which is to inquire into the incidence of local and Imperial taxation. In answer to several questions as to the course of business, Mr Balfour stated that the resolution with reference to the Uganda railway would be taken the next day. Then the Coal Mines Bill would be taken, and afterwards the Light Railways Bill. The Finance Bill would probably be taken on Tuesday next. Replying to Mr J. Wilson (Falkirk), Sir M. White Ridley said he hoped the House would read the Coal Miues Bill a second time, and in Committee he I would propose to omit the checkweighing- clauses. The twelve o'clock rule was suspended, 206 voting for the motion and 116 against, and the House re- sumed the consideration of the Agricultural Land Rating Bill. Mr. Lloyd-George moved an amend- ment with the object of appointing an independent authority to value the agricultural land in each parish, but this w-as rejected by 220 votes to 112. Mr. Lloyd-George next proposed to omit the words enabling the Local Government Board to amend a certificate of payment, and after some debate the Government agreed to accept words limiting the power of amendment to the rectification of errors. The sitting, which began at three o'clock in the afternoon, was continued until a quarter past eight on Tuesday morning, when the report stage of the Agricultural Rating Bill was concluded. The closure was moved by Mr. Balfour at two o'clock, when the sixth clause was under consideration. The motion was agreed to by 245 to 92, and the clause was added to the bill by 253 votes to 94. Mr. Balfour again moved the closure at twenty minutes past three, and it was agreed to by 246 votes to 98. A few minutes after four o'clock Mr. Balfour moved that the question that clause 7 stand part of the bill be put. This was carried by 234 votes to 89, and the clause was added to the bill by 234 votes to 90. A number of other amendments were briefly discussed, and eventually the third reading was fixed for Wednesday, TUESDAY. In the House of Commons, on the motion for the consideration of the Great Western Railway Com- pany (Additional Powers) Bill, Mr J. H. Roberts proposed an instruction to allow the Committee to whom the bill was referred to receive evidence as to the expediency of modifying the tolls, rates, and charges which the Company was authorised to demand for the conveying of passengers, parcels, and merchandise over the lines of the Vale of Llangollen, Llangollen and Corwen,' and Corwen and Bala Railway Companies. After an explana- tion by the President of the Board of Trade, the motion was negatived. Replying to Mr Brookfield, Mr Brodrick said the commanding officer in South Africa had at present at his disposal 5,230 Imperial troops of all arms. Sir Matthew White Ridley, in answer to Mr II. D. Davies, denied that any" scene" took place at the recent triple execution at Newgate. Mr Chamberlain. replying to Mr F. W. Isaacson, said both the Cape and Natal Governments had offered to assist in suppressing the disturbances in Rhodesia, but up to the present the authorities on the spot had not advised the acceptance of the offers. Mr Gosclien informed Mr. E. Robertson that the statements as to the misconduct of British seamen on the occasion of their recent visit to Rome which had been published in some Continental papers were absolutely untrue. In reply to questions as to the order of business, Mr Balfour said he hoped the third read- ing of the Agricultural Land Rating Bill would be taken on Wednesday. The Uganda Railway Bill would be taken on Thursday and the Foreign Office vote on Friday. WEDNESDAY. In the House of Commons, oii the order for the third reading of the Agricultural Land Rating Bill, Mr Asquith moved that it be read again that day three months." He said that after the Biil had been battered about on the sea of criticism, escap- ing shipwreck only by being converted from a per- manent to a temporary measure, the Bill was no longer described as a measure for the relief of agricultural distress, but as the first ster of a root- and-branch scheme of the reform of the whole system of local taxation. He suggested that the Bill was in fact a measure to compensate the landed interests of the country for the Finance Act of 1894. Mr Cripps supported the Bill. Sir H. Fowler denied that the Bill w,mld relieve agricul- tural distress, or that it would reform lacal taxa- tion. So far as the real distress was concerned, the Bill was an idle mockery, aud where there was no distress it would lead to the simple squandering of public money. Mr G. Whiteley said that in his judgment the success of the Government in carry- ing this Bill and the Diseases of Animals Bill would in the long run be more disastrous than their failure to carry the Education Bill. He had over- whelming evidence from the county in which he lived that the Bill was entirely repugnant to the majority of the electors in the towns and urban dis- tricts. If any member representing those districts desired to put that assertion to the proof he would resign his seat along with him, and they could take the feeling of their respective constituencies. Mr Chaplin said that when the time arrived for him to go before his constituents to justify his position in regard to the Bill he should be quite ready to do so, because he believed he should meet with a favour- able reception for the course he had pursued. Before the debate closed Sir W. Harcourt delivered a speech in condemnation of the measure, and Mr Balfour replied on behalf of the Government. The motion for the third reading was carried by a majority of 152 THURSDAY. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, in answer to Mr Maclean said Sir F. Carrington was solely responsible for advice to the Government in regard to the forces required to put down the re- bellion in Rhodesia. Before the rebellion beuan the Imperial Government had taken over the sole responsibility for the maintenance of peace and order in Rhodesia. The Loid Advocato (Mr A. G. Murray) in asking for leave to introduce a bill for Scotland similar to the Agricultural Land Rating Bill for England, said the object of the English bill was to redress the inequality existing between personalty and realty in the matter of local taxa- tion, and the application of relief to the agricultural class, which most suffered. In applying that relief to Scotland they could not follow the lines of the English Bill, because the Scotch system of rating was so different, and they were therefore driven logically in the Scotch case to the principle of an equivalent grant. They proposed to give L214,E 00. The relief would be applied not directly to the rate but to the valuation on which the rate was levied, and that valuation would be reduced to three- eights of the present sum. Sir G. Trevelyan stated that on the second reading and afterwards a great deal would be said about the Bill. The Bill was then brought in and read a first time. In Committee, Sir M. White Ridley, in moving the second reading of the Coal Mines Regulation Act (1887) Amendment (No. 2) Bill, stated that the particular difference between his bill and that in- troduced by Mr Asquith last year was that he did not propose the constitution of a central board. Neither did he propose that there should be dis- trict boards. He bad, however, adopted the pro- posals contained in the bill of last year with regard to ft the special rules. The other provisions had reterence to dealing with abandoned mines, inspection, and the use of explosives. In accor- dance with the promise he had given, the clause as to checkweighing would be withdrawn. After a long discussion the bill was read a second time and referred to the Grand Committee on Trade. The House afterwards proceeded with the consideration of the Light Railways Bill as amended by the Standing Committee. In the Houseof Lordson Thursday, Lord Herschell raised the question of the form of trial in the case of Dr. Jameson and his fellow-defendants. He said that if any question of Jaw that might arise would be conclusively dealt with by the majority of the three Judges before whom the trial took place, it seemed to him to be a very serious question whether it was expedient it should be by means of trial at bar. The Lord Chancellor replied that the question of how the trial should take place was in the discretion of the Attorney General, to whom the law had accorded the right, if he thought it proper, to demand a trial at bar. He understood that the Attorney General had asked for and the Court had made an order for trial at bar, and the question, therefore, whether there ought to be a trial at bar had already been determined. The Government had nothing to do with the question. Personally he thought the case was eminently one that ought to be tried at bar, which was in reality a trial by the whole Court of Queen's Bench. Lord Herschell thought that in the case of a prosecution of this kind the Government conld not antirely detach itself and say the whole matter was for the determination of the Attorney General. Lord Salisbury said Lord Herschell seemed to lay down the doctrine that wherever Parliament had entrusted special functions, perrogatives, or powers of dissent and assent to the Attorney General the Cabinet as a whole was responsible for all he decided. Against such a doctrine as that he must enter his protest. The discussion then ceased. The Agricultural Land Rating Bill was brought up from the House of Commons and read a first time.

-+- ITEMS FOR LADIES. Seldom has dress been more beautiful than during the present season, but its beauty is of a kind which evaporates under the process of descrip- tion. To attempt to set down the details of a costume made in the season's latest fashion is to deprive it utterly of its charm, for the characteris- tic of the present style is a delicious confusion, a blending of colours and materials which gives a strong and instant impression as a whole, but the details of which can seldom be distinctly appre- hended. The dresses this year resemble nothing so much as flowers they seem to curl over like the petals of a rose, and puff themselves out around the wearer like a newly opened snowball or a white carnation. The head-let us hope it is a pretty one —is shaded by a large hat thickly trimmed with roses, and the throat is encircled by a billowy mass of the softest muslin and lace—the inner row of petals, as it were; the sleeves of the half-trans- parent bodice are petalled over with frills of printed muslin, grass lawn, or thinnest silk, each edged with lace. It is only gradually that one arrives at the plain severity of the skirt, which, after all, is in keeping with the bodice by being of a flowered pattern, or of grass lawn with silk stripes, or of printed cotton or some other speckled or flowered material. In the hot, finD weather of the last few weeks the lightest and gauziest of materials have had the best of it in the coni petition- -and what a competition it has been! The commonest, cheapest fabric is enriched with silken strands, the flowered devices on plain cotton stuffs are infinite in variety and excellent in effect., while gauzes and embroi- deries and coloured laces and every form of applique and insertion serve to carry out the scheme of the costume down to the smallest detail of finish. The result is an opulence in what one may call dress effects which has probably never been equalled. The weather has come gallantly to the aid of the fashions, and brought out their most attractive features. The free use of pink is one of the most pleasing features in the present style, and there is absolutely nothing so becoming to the young and fair. These pink-clad damsels whirl past in hansoms, leaving on the eye a coafused image of muslin and lace and general airiness and lightness, as of something that the wind might blow away. Or they are met in the gardens of those happy persons who, though living almost in the heart of London, can yet ask their friends to afternoon tea upon the lawn under shady trees. There one has time to look at the gauzy con- fections which bewilder one in the street, and discover the manner of their crafty construction, for crafty the dressmaker must be to combine her profusion of materials to the best effect. She has a free hand, and may do almost entirely as she pleases. Here is a very simple dress of which the effect was excellent. A plain silk skirt, white with narrow pink stripes, and a bodice also plainly made, with tight sleeves, finished at the elbow with a deep frill of tiie silk. A large fichu of white chiffon over pink silk with long ends covered the shoulders, and the plainness of the dress was thrown into a sharp relief by a, large toque of white silk, with a touch of green at the back, a bunch of white ostrich feathers at the side, and a mass of pink roses stuffed in tightly at the same point and falling behind the ear. It was a dress of the later Marie Antoinette time, well suited to the slight fig-ure of the lady who wore it. Many cool and pleasant-looking- white dresses are to be seen, a few in the jacket and skirt style, of whice pique, alpaca, or serge, but for the most part in the striped and spotted muslins of which there is such endless variety of choice, and made with full blouse, bodice, and plain skirt. Perhaps the very freshest looking dress of this kind in the Row on a sunny morning is a white costume relieved with pale green and crowned with a rose-garlanded hat. The combination does not suit everbody, but when judiciously used it gives a touch of piquancy to the costume. Sometimes dresses appear to be arranged with a view to combined effect. As I sat in the Park the other day a carriage whirled by in which sat four ladies all dressed in shades of mingled blue and green, with sunshades to match. I cannot recall the details cf their dresses, but the effect was most striking. A milder example of combination was shown the same day when the Princess of Wales and her two unmarried daughters drove past, dressed in black, with black and white ruffles at the throat, finished with a rosette of mauve ribbon, and holding mauve parasols. Dress in carriages is, of course, less light on the whole than that for walk- ing, and one sees plenty of the heavily trimmed, beaded, and sequined silk bodices which are among the least pleasing features of the season's fashions. There have been times when the style of dress, rigid and severe, favoured the dowager, but this season the younger ladies have the best of it. All the same, I saw an old lady driving in the Park whose lace and dress have left upon me as strong an impression as those of any of her girlish com- panions. Her features were strongly marked, but they had a delicacy which does not always belong to the typical old lady of the upper classes. Her hair was quite white, her bonnet regardless of fashion was made with a good sized poke front of brown silk of velvet a bunch of black ostrich feal,hers was placed at the side, with some pink roses and just a touch of white lace. She wore a lace ruffle and a dark cape, and was certainly the lady of the most distinctive style and dignity that I saw in my wanderings 011 that dav. There has so far been no gayer week in the London Season than this. Balls wer} night, some of them graced by the presence of Royalty, garden parties nearly every day, and fetes, bazaars, and shows of various descriptions in many places, at which Royal personages and people of high degree have worked hard in the sacred cause of charity. Add to this several fashionable weddings, and it will be seen that the week has been a full one. In spite of a small thunderstorm and some refreshing showers, dress has everywhere been of the most charming description. At one garden party, a tall stately, fair woman wore a lovely gown of palest grey silk. The bodice was of silken muslin, in folds and tiny tucks, the latter edged with deep cream-coloured Valenciennes lace; these bordered a kind of pointed vest of accordion-pleated white chiffon with inserted designs in lioniton lace. There was a folded girdle, drawn down slightly below the waist, of pale Chartreuse green satin ribbon shot with gold, and straps of similar ribbon over the shoulders, caught with lovely paste buttons. The hat was of crumpled green straw, the brim sown with white Scotch roses, and high green ostrich feathers placed at one side. Verv attractive also was a dress worn by a tall young Countess, in a bright pale shade of apple-green silk. The bodice was made with sleeves of chiffon veiled by cream-coloured lace, and bad folds of chiffon drawn down the front and back and caught under a. closely-swathed girdle of green silk drawn into a diamond buckle at one side. A toque of rough black chip was worn, trimmed with black tulle, and with a high aigrette of black arrti pale green ostrich feathers at one side. Although dress is so varied and often so complex that it is difficult to describe, novelties are getting to be rarities it is then a pleasure to have observed one in an up-to- date gown worn at a very smart party by a lady whose up-to-dateness in dress can only be com- pared with her taste. The novelty is that the veil- ing of black striped canvas over her carnation pink shot glacé silk dress was most gracefully and fasci- natingly caught up a good deal at one side so that it took pretty lines in its fall again at either side. The skirt was finished with a pinked-out ruche of the silk and the black veiling was caught up with a pink shot silk rosette. The bodice was of similar silk, quite tightly fitting, without the faintest sus- picion of a blouse about it. It had rows of tucks ,across the back terminating with a tiny frilled edg- ing of Valenciennes lace and the sleeves had a small puff of Tudor shape quite at the shoulder, and were tight thence to the wrists. There were at in- tervals bands of tucks with the one last tuck of frilled Valenciennes edging like that on the bodice. The front was finished with a yoke-like band of tucks and edging and a perfectly plain waistband and collar to correspond. A high crowned and somewhat broad brimmed hat of rose hued shot straw was worn, trimmed with black velvet bands round the crown and high black ostrich plumes at one side. What was most striking about this charming costume was the way in which the thin black overskirt was uplifted. Of course it is but an old fashion back again, but ;i:■ in most cases when such touches from the days of yoro revisit the glances of the sun, they come back to us in a new, revised, aud altogether more charming form. Garden party dresses begin to have a special interest to ladies, now, for there are well- authenticated statements being circulated as to a very grand entertainment of this description one of those entertainments when every woman is on her honour, as it were, to appear to the best possible advantage in order to show hoi-appreciation of having been included in so distinguished an assemblage. Many frocks are being thought out for this longed- for even:, and not a few are being prepared for if invitations do come, as frequently is the case, at a very late moment, and a new gown cannot be obtained, the calamity would be simply terrible. Grass lawns, in pure white and pale shades of blue, green, mauve, aud pink, are being embroidered in pretty designs with silks and baby ribbons, and these are to be made up over silks of their own colour, or else over cream-colour or white. Then there arc some white gauzes, printed with little flora-l designs in pale and charming shades with bright foliage, that have found favour in the eyes of several ladies, who say that absolutely they must wear them somewhere. One is white ground, with garlands of miniature, but very bright red roses, with shaded foliage, ft is to be made up over white silk, with touches of the bright red in either satin or miroir velvet, and most lovely it will look. Indeed, though dress of the day seems now at its brightest and best, depend upon it that, if nothing prevents this special, party from coming off, the iugenuity, of loyal British womenkind will contrive that for it there will be a culminating point of loveliness, brightness, and delicate beanty.

POOL QUAY. ORGAN RECITAL. Through the kindness of Mr R. Vinen. Stanley. organist of St. John's Church, Barmouth, and Miss Beatrice Pallister, a great musical treat was afforded the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Pool Quay on Wednesday last. The beauties and excellency of the organ were brought out to the best advantage by the brilliant performance of Mr Stanley. Miss Pallister, though suffering from a severe cold, sang her two songs in excellent style, and which were greatly admired by the large Compahy present. The following was the programme :—Hymn 319 in Church hymns Andante and Allegro (F. E. Bache) Communion in A (Deshayes); Vocal Item, Angelus," Miss Pal- lister (Barri) Minuotto in F (Claussman); Ber- ceuse (Delbruck) Tocatta in G (Theo. Dubois) Vocal Item, The, refuge of the soul," Miss Pal- lister (Jones' Serenade (C. M. Widor) Finale in D (hen!mens) Hymn 379 A. and M.

SELATTYN. Or TING. Mrs Tnrvin, of Xantissa Hall, gave the members of her sewing class an enjoyable outing to the Glyn on Thursday. After viewing the charm- ing scenery of the neighbourhood a bountiful tea was partaken of, to which full justice was donüc Mrs Tnrvin was heartily thanked for her kindness.