The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

Between CAMBRIAN LINE and Llandrindod, Merthyr, Newport, Cardiff and South Wales Stations. DECEMBER 1ST, AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. WEEK DAYS. a.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.mT~ F P M Cardiff (T.Y.Ry. viaMerfchyr) dep 7 50 10 38 < ] 10 Aberdare „ 7 45 10 14 12 35 Cardiff (E. By., vi» Bargoed) „ 8 40 12 20 fNewport. „ 8 25 1 35 K Rhymney „ 110 | Bargoed Junction. „ 9 22 .( 2 30 .-S Fochriw „ 9 38 2 50 pf Dowlais Top „ 9 46 2 57 • Dowlais „ 9 35 12 5 2 50 Meythyr. „ 9 38 12 10 2 37 H Cefn „ 9 47 12 20 o 2 45 a Pontsticill Junction „ 10 0 12 36 cL 3 14 « Talybont „ 10 32 15 342 a Pontsticill Junction „ 10 0 12 36 g." 3 14 « Talybont „ 1032 1 5 342 ^Talyllyn arr 10 40 1 12 ™ 3 48 ————— ————— —————. ————— 1:1 „i fTalyllyn .dep 7 48 10 46 1 28 45 541 Talgarth. arr 7 58 10 56 1 40 « 4 12 5 52 i Three Cocks „ 8 3 11 6 1 45 4 18 5 57 | Builth Wells „ 8 40 11 55 12 40 2 25 3 40 5 0 6 33 o LBuilth Road „ 8 47 12 5 12 45 2 32 345 6 39 TBuilth Road (for Llandrindod) dep 8 55 12 22 3 5 7 30 „ (for Swansea) „ 9 35 12 53 12 53 4 2 4 2 8 21 Llandrindod Wells arr 9 7 12 35 ••• 3 18 7 43 53 Llandovery „ 10 25 1 43 1 43 4 55 4 55 9 10 (4 Swansea (Vicstoria) „ 12 40 3 25 3 25 6 15 6 15 10 30 Llandrindod Wells arr 9 7 12 35 ••• 3 18 7 43 53 Llandovery „ 10 25 1 43 1 43 4 55 4 55 9 10 (4 Swansea (Victoria) „ 12 40 3 25 3 25 6 15 6 15 10 30 i —————————————————— ————— ■—7 ——-——- ————. ————— ———— Swansea (Victoria) dep 6 30 10 0 L 12 40 J2* Llandovery „ 8 0 11 33 nj 2 13 °8 Llafidrindod Welle „ 5 21 12 35 .3 49 Builth Road (from Swansea) arr 8 49 12 20 b .3.3 l „ (from Llandrindod) „ 5 31 12 48 g "g 3 59 ——————— ————————————— ————— ————-—————— ————— — ————— fBnilth Road dep 8 55 1 5 2 35 6 40 Rhayader arr 9 17 1 27 3 4 7 2 Llanidloes „ 9 48 2 1 3 39 7 33 Moat Lane Junction „ 10 10 2 30 4 0 7 55 Newtown „ 10 26 2 48 4 16 8 10 ffl. Welshpool 11 0 3 25 4 50 8 50 >> Oswestry „ 11 42 4 5 5 40 9 30 fc Ellesmere „ 12 0 4 27 6 57 9 61 Wrexham (Central) „ 12 40 5 0 7 40 03 11 Whitchurch „ 12 25 5 5 10 15 10 15 = Machynlleth „ 1 12 5 1 ■2 Aberystwyth „ 2 15 5 55 cs Towyn „ 2 1 5 59 0 Dolgelley „ 3 0 7 30 Barmouth „ 2 35 6 35 MintTordd (for Festiniog) 3 29 7 36 Portmadoc „ 3 36 7 43 Criccieth „ i 50 7 68 (JPwllheli 4 20 8 25 WEEK DAYS. a.m. a.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. p.m. fPWJlheli dep 6 25 10 40 Criccieth. „ 6 48 n g ,oo Portmadoc. „ 7 0 n 20 Minffordd (for Festiniog) „ 7 5 n 26 iii Barmouth „ 7 50 12 20 I Dolgelley „ 7 35 11 55 Towyn „ 8 24 12 53 Aberystwyth „ 8 25 12 40 « I Machynlleth „ £ & 9 16 133 1 Whitchurch 2b25 g £ 10 5 135 •c { Wrexham (Central) „ £ § ••• 9 50 1 25 | Ellesmere „ 2«55 HS • ••• 10 28 2 7 a Oswestry. „ 3 30 8 20 10 48 2 30 0 Welshpool. )t 4 40 9 10 n 26 3 25 9 55 12 3 4 0 Moat Lane Junction 5 25 10 30 2 45 4 10 Llanidloes „ 5 47 11 0 35 4 30 ^Rhayader. „ 6 23 11 43 3 37 53 Builth Road arr 6 46 12 15 3 59 5 29 Builth Road (for Llandrindod) dep 8 55 12 22 730 „ (for Swansea) „ 9 35 12 53 4 2 8 21 jE Llandrindod Wells. arr 9 7 12 35 7 43 "3 Llandovery „ 10 25 1 43 ••• 4 55 9 10 .•J Swansea (Victoria) „ 12 40 3 25 6 15 10 30 £ 1 Swansea (Victoria) dep 6 30 10 0 12 40 Llandovery 8 O il 36 2 13 Llandrindod Wells. „ 5 21 9 22: 12 35 3 49 H Builth Road (from Swansea) arr 8 49 12 20 33 L „ (from Llandrindod) „ 5 31 9 32 12 48 3 59 £ f Builth Road dep 6.47 9 40 12 25 1 0 4 8 5 30 Builth Wells 6 53 9 45 12 29 1 7 4 14 5 37 i Three Cocks 7 27 10 29 12 58 1 49 4 55 6 25 E j Talgarth. 732 10 35 1 54 5 1 6 30 g LTalyllyn. arr 7 42 10 46 1 17 2 2 5 12 6 45 fTalyllyn. dep 8 0 1 35 2 25 5 20 Talybont. an- 8 8 1 43 2 32 5 28 Pontsticill Junction „ 8 36 2 11 3 2 5 57 j* Cefn .9 5 2 24 3 33 6 18 "3 Merthyr 9 15 2.33 3 42 6 28 Dowlais 9 0 2 25 3 30 6 20 Dowlais Top 8 52 3 25 3 25 6 12 .t8 Fochrhiw j 8 59 3 32 3 32 6 22 gg- Bargoed Junction. 9 11 3 48 3 48 6 40 w Rhymney 12 20 7 10 7 10 7 10 ^Newport. 10 5 4 45 4 45 7 45 Cardiff (R, Rly. via Bargoed) 10 10 5 30 5 30 7 35 Aberdare (T.V.R. via Merthyr) „ 1140 4 46 6 48 8 55 Cardiff „ v „ 11 19 4 21 6 51 8 26 I I

AGRICULTURE. THE WKATH FR. The terrible storm of last week was, in the destructive nature of its effects in UII wav infpri, to the great pale of March 24, 1895. But. wiurMi- ii was the midland belt of England and Waks which chiefly suffered two years airo, the fnrv oi the recent visitation Wh8 mostly expended in the western and south-western counties, though tale- of disaster come also from many other parts of the country. Rain fell in torrents, often accompanied by hail, snow, and sleet, and by the middle of the week extensive areas in the midland and southern counties were hidden by floods of turbid water, whilst higher-lying lands were thoroughly soaked. Thus it happens that, just as the heavier soils were getting into good working order, as a result of the fine, dry weather of the latter half of Febraarr, they are thrown back into mueh the same condition, as they were in three weeks before. This means a most vexatious delay in tillage operations and the postponing to an unduly late date of the sowings of Lenten corn; for, despite the high winds, some time must necessarily elapse before the stiff clays again become workable. Even on the light, open, free-working soils business was brought to a standstill, and the light-land farms upon which barley-sowing had been completed before the gale swept across the country are exceedingly few and far between. The havoc wrought where the blast was fiercest is almost indescribable. Trees, particularly elms, were overturned by hundreds, hedgerow timber especially going down before the blast. Main roads were blocked for a day or two, and traffic had to be diverted, to the further injury of fences and fields. Orchards paid heavy tribute to the violence of the yale, and have been ruthlessly thinned at the moment when the apple-buds were almost ready for bursting. Farm buildings and homesteads have suffered equally from the direct fury of the gale and from the failing upon them oi uprooted timber and torn branches, whilst there is a heavy bill of costs for implements injured or destroyed. In the open sheep country the hurdles of the pens were laid as flat, as if a huge roller had passed .over them, chaff-troughs were picked up and hurled considerable distances by the wind, and sheep with their tender young lambs were subjected to much violence. It is fortunate that it was during daylight that the mischief happened; had it occurred in the darkness of the night the sheep would have succumbed to panic, and a stampede at this period of the year would have ended fatally for thousands of lambs, of which we have none too many this season. As it is shep- herds are justifiably apprehensive lest last week's fright should yet be productive of serious results amongst their flocks. Apart from the ruin wrought by the gale and the unfortunate check to the work of sowing Lenten coru, the season appears to be quite forward enough for safety. In gardens the rose trees and the gooseberry and currant bushes are in leaf, whilst the lilacs, the apples, and pears have broken their buds. Elm trees are ruddy with blossom, and the ordorous blooms of the white violet may be found in the hedgerows. Words- worth's flower, the lesser celandine, spreads out its golden petals to their fullest extent to catch the occasional gleams of sunshine, whilst the small green flowers of the dog's mercury on the borders of the copses and the brighter blooms of the daphne in the deeper glades alike tell of the advance of spring. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. In the last week of February 52 outbreaks of swine fever were reported in Great Britain and 698 pigs were slaughtered as diseased, or as having been exposed to infection. In the corresponding week of 1896 the numbers were 118 and 1,590 re- spectively. Of the 52 outbreaks 42 occurred in England, seven in Wales, and three in Scotland. The swine slaughtered included 51 in Cheshire and 41 in Denbighshire. In the week under notice 11 outbreaks of anthrax were reported, including one in Chester and one in Carmarthen. Fourteen outbreaks of glanders were reported, none of them in Wales. Two cases ef rabies in dogs were re- ported from Lancashire, two from London, and one from Salop, together with four cases in other animals from the last-named connty. In con- nexion with the solitary outbreak of pleuro- pneumonia that has taken place this year 24 addi- tional head of cattle have been slaughtered, as hav- ing been exposed to infection—ten in Essex, five in Kent, and nine as far away as in the West Rid- ing of York. Altogether 397 cattle have now been slaughtered as a consequence of this one outbreak. It is evident, therefore, that the authorities are sparing no effort to deal with the matter effectively. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL BUTTER. Three-fourths of the colonial butter season- of 1896-97 are now completed. During this period we have, according to Messrs Weddel and Co., im- ported from oilr colonies and from foreign countries a trtal of 1,550,473 cwt. of butter, as against 1,461,625 cwt. in the corresponding period of the previous season, the increase to date being thus 88,848 cwt. The colonies have sent us 245,872 cwt., made up of 140,391 cwt. from Australia, 68,252 cwt. from Canada, and 37,238 cwt. from New Zealand. From foreign countries we have received dnring the six months 1,304,601 cwt., or more than five times as much as from our colonies. To this large total Denmark contributed 576,687 cwt., France 224,882 cwt., Sweden 156,340 cwt., Holland 112,365 cwt., United States 108,777 cwt., Russia 49,765 cwt., Germany 37,780 cwt., Belgium 19,190 cwt., Norway 9,677 cwt., Argentina 8,532 cwt., and other countries. Current prices for Danish and Swedish butter are 104S to 108s per cwt. for choicest factory, and 98s to 104s for finest factory, these being 8s to V s below the quotations at the beginning of March, 1896. New Zealand choicest factory is quoted at 92s to 94s., best factory at 86s to 90s, 801 d second- ary at 76S to 86S, these being about 4s or 5s per cwt. loss than a year ago. AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATION. A paper on Agricultural Co-operation," was read by Mr Horace Plunkett, M.P., on Monday night before the Surveyors' Institution. At the outset it was contended that the voluntary associa- tion for mutual protection and advancement of those engaged in foreign agriculture is the chief factor in the galling competition from foreign countries in the English markets. Though it is popularly be- lieved that protection, State-aided education, and State-regulated transport of agricultural produce fully account for that cheaper production and dis- tribution which characterise the agricultural im- ports into British markets, this view was, neverthe- less, not accepted. As regards proteotion, the suc- cessful competitiOu of Denmark, a purely agricul- tural and free-trade country, was cited as proof to the contrary, whilst oheap transit was regarded as the direct result of farmers' combination. A dis- cussion of the lessons to be learnt from foreign countries prepared the way for a reference to the case of Ireland and to the dawn of co-operation in the sister kingdom. On this branch of the subject no one has earned a better right to be listened to than Mr Pluukett. Six or seven years ago the Irish dairy-farming industry was passing through a critical stage of its existence. The decline in the reputation of Cork butter was due, however, not to any de- terioration in the quality of the Irish product, but to the immense improvement which had been wrought in Continental butters by the invention of the separa- tor and other dairy machinery, and the geneial substitution of the factory or creamery manufac- ture for THF home butter-making. Consequently capitalists and joint-stock companies began to build creameries in the south of Ireland and made considerable profits, in.which, however, the farmer had no share, there being left to him merely the unprofitable end of the dairying industry. The obvious remedy was for the farmers to organise themselves into co-operative associations, to make up the required capital by contributing what money they could find and what credit they could com- mand, and then to erect the creamery and conduct y the manufacture under their own control, at their own risk and for their own profit. The greatest difficulty to be overcome arose out of the farmers' innate distrust of each other, though not less out of their distrust of themselves. But perseverance conquered, and to-day, after seven years' work, there are in actual operation in Ireland 58 co-operative dairying societies which make butter, and 10 auxiliary societies which separate the cream and send it to be churned and made up by one or other of the 58 societies. The cost of their buildings and plant is estimated at £50,000, their out-put in 1896 was roughly £ 300,000, and their membership embraces some 7,000 farmers. Mr Plunkett quoted a number of instructive details, together with figures relating to prices and quantities, and thus imparted a concrete aspect to the question. But it is not to dairying alone that the co-operative move- ment has been adapted. In non-dairying districts of Ireland societies are formed for the joint purchase of everything the farmer requires for his industry — seeds, manures, feeding stuffs, implements, machinery. They are, in addition, launching out into the joint sale of live stock and agricultural produce, the improvement of live stock, the joint ownership of costly machin- ery, and similar undertakings. The principles so successful in improving the dairying industry are about to be applied by societies for the better cultivation and preparation of flax, and quite re- cently a crisis in the bacon industry has led bodies of Irish farmers to form societies for the oo-opera- tive marketing of their pigs, and even for the con- version of the latter into pork and bacon. Co- proved to be n^.i IX'M.-j 1 j>. I'MPC and are lik«-lv u. >e <t «••«<»•) i: viand. Altogether 1 he l.rvlt ;;t> mer i- a j !y <> t- ci-v.ring that failur,- m combine f >r the i-efiiu-rion .if middie profits upon •very 1 h.r„j- ur mjui> es ft-r the prosecution of his :> Ui-t: v i< <•»! f >«;iii! causes of the high co*t •of ft"ri:.¡¡', l1rn: prodnc i- u at home as compared with tna* of his l>.eSri> rival?. After referring to ihf progress of IIIH Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, Mr Plunkett passed on to the question of agricultural co-operation in England. Joint pur- chase-thp combination of English farmers for the acquisition of the raw material and imple- ments of agricultural production must be in the forefront of the programme. Co-operative production—t he manufacture of butter, cheese, and other milk products, of bacon, ham, aud the numerous subsidiary products of the pig, for example--might be successfully undertaken by associations of farmers and made to supplement the vanishing profits of agriculture. Co-operative distribution and the reduction of freight and carriage per unit by the systematic bulking of con- signments would not- be overlooked. Is there enough of the spirit of enterprise left in English farmers, it was asked, to lead them to embark upon such methods ? Is it true that they will listen to proposals for ventures of the kind indicated, pass resolutions in their favour, promise to support them if successfully launched by a philanthropic landlord, but will not subscribe to the required capital or take part in the management, and still less in, rust the management to their fellows? Even if this be so, it only expresses the difficulty that has been overcome iu Ireland, and which the advocates of agricultural co-operatiou believe it is possible to surmount in England. A TRIP TO IRELAND. We learn from that interesting monthly Agricultural Times that it is proposed to organize a trip to Ireland during the first week in August, for j Members and Honorary Members ,of the Dairy j Teachers' Association. Visits will be paid to the tIlndel Farm at Glasnevin, Dublin, and to various Creameries in the principal Dairy Districts in Ireland. As this is the first trip of the Association, all Dairy Teachers and Honorary Members who wish to join the party are requested to write as soon as possible to J. Marshall Dugdale, Llautyllin. The cost of the trip and the route will, of course, greatly depend upon the number of persons who wish to attend. DESTRUCTIVE WOOD PIGEONS. Can nothing be done to keep down the huge flocks of wood pigeons which infest the country ? writes the Editor of the gricultur(il Times. In Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, I have seen them by hundreds. Some years ago a whole field of rape in my farm was cleared by them as it came up. This year about five came to a rape field on a Monday, and by Thursday there were quite 100 there. After about 20 had been killed the rest disappeared, and I was informed they had found a clover field about a mile away, belonging to a neighbour. We killed on the farm 1894, 119; 1895, 108; 1896, 86. THE BIRMINGHAM SHOW. The twenty-ninth annual spring exhibition and sale of shorthorns was held at Bingley Hall, Birming- ham, 8n Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The entries numbered 517, compared with 434 last year. The awards included the following :—Heifers, be- tween two and three year old—1, Jessamine by Sherlowe Baron, exhibitor and breeder, Captain D. H. Mytton. Heifer calves between six and twelve months old-Reserve, Cambridge Rose Princess, exhibitor and breeder, Messrs P. A. and G. T. Evans; be, Mr A E. W. Darby's Mistress Gwen; c, the Earl of Powis's Jargonelle and Coral. Bulls between twenty-one and thirty months old-3, Golden Minister by Palmerston, exhibitor and breeder, Mr Darby. Bnns exceeding fifteen and not exceeding twenty -one,mouths old-be, Mr F. B. Owen; c, Mr Darby. At the sale conducted by Messrs Lythall and Co., Mr E. K. Bickley's Stella was sold for 28gs., Captain Mytton's Jessamine for 37gs., and Mr Darby's Golden Minister for 60gs. Lord Powis sold Nicholas for 30 guineas, Mr J. Naylor, Leighton, Baron Stowell II. for 35gs., and Messrs Evans sold Prince Royal for 33gs.

« MARKETS FARMING AND THE CORN TRADE. Messrs W. L. Brown and Co., report from Shrews- bury on Saturday, March 6th, as follows:— Trade has been restricted during the week. Sellers of wheat have been disinclined to accept less money, and buyers have hesitated to increase stocks, not- withstainding the moderate range of prices now ruling. Barley has moved slowly. Good oats have been firm in value, but secondary ones have been quiet. Flour has met with a better enquiry. Offals have been slow. ———— SFITTJTWSBURY CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—Quo- tations: New white wheat 4s 4d to 4s 61, per 75 lbs; new red wheat 4s 2d to 4s 4d per 751ba new oats lls 6d to 13s 6d per 2251bs; barley 3s 6d to 4s Od per 701bs; new peas, lls 6d to 12s Od per 2251bs new beans, 13s Od to 14s Od, per 2401bs. WELSHPOOL CORN, MONDAY.—There was a poor attendance of buyers, and trade was exceptionally slow. Quotations :-Wheat, 13s Od to 13s 6d per 2801bs; barley, 13s Od to 15s Od per 280lbs j oats, lis 6d to 13s Od per 2251bs. W ELSHPOOL, Monday.—Butter Is 2d to Is 4d per lb; eggs 00 to 2C for la fowls.39 6d to 48 6d per couple; chickens, 4s Od to 5s 6d ducks, 4s 6d to 6s Od per couple; geese, 5s 6d to 6s 6d each; turkeys, 5s Od to IN Od each rabbits Is 3d to Is 6d per couple potatoes, Os Od per cwt. NEWTOWN GENERAL, TUESDAY. — Eggs, 15 to 16 for la butter, Is 2d to Is 4d per lb; fowls, 3s to 38 6d per couple; chickens 3s 6d to 5s Od; ducks 5s Od to 6s Od per couple geese, 5a 6d to 6s 6d each; turkeys 5s Od to 9s Od each; rabbits Is 3d to Is 8d per couple. LIVERPOOL, CATTLE, MONDAY.—The supply of cattle was larger than last week. Demand good for all classes. Prime quality made an advance in price, while middling fully maintained last Monday's quotations. Sheep supply larger, demand slow, prime quality made the full rates. Other sorts more difficult to dispose of. Prices; Best beasts 6Jd, to 5d, lb best Scotch mutton, Bid to 7d Irish mutton, 8d to 6d per lb; lamb, Od to Od per lb. Numbers Beasts, 1,121; Sheep 4,137. BIRMINGHAM CATTLE, TUESDAY.—Fair supply all round, with a fair trade for pigs; The business transacted in cattle and sheep was of a rather dull character. Prices were as follows: Beef, 4d to 7d; mutton, 6d to 9d per lb; lamb, Od to Od per lb; bacon pigs 8s 6d to Os Od per score; porkets 8s 6d to 9s Od sows 5s 9d to 6s Od per ftore. SALFORD CATTLE, TUESDAY.—At market, 2,436 cattle, 8,493 sheep, and 256 calves. Quotations Cattle, 5d to 6Jd sheep, 6!d to 9Jd and calves, 6d to 7d per lb. There was a fair demand for cattle, but trade in sheep was rather slow owing to high prices. There was a full demand for calves. LONDON HAY AND STRAW, TUESDAY. Good supplies and trade' was dull, at the following prices:—Good to prime hay, 60s, to 88s Od; inferior to fair, 40s to 55s; good to prime clover, 70s to 96s Od new ditto, Os to Os inferior to fair ditto, 45s Od to 65s mixture and sainfoin, 50s Od to 85s Od new ditto, OOs to OOs; straw, 20s to 38s per load. LIVERPOOL CORN, TUESDAY.—Wheat, moderate trade, about halfpenny under Friday's prices.—1, Californian. 6s 7d to 6s 8d; Chicago Northern, 6s 3p to 6s 71d; Kansas, 6s 2d to 6s 4d. Beans 3d over Friday-Saidi 24s 3d to 24a 6d. Peas, unchanged 3s 3jd. Oats, quiet, unchanged—white, 2s 4d to 2s 8d. Maize, slow trade, tending lower— new, mixed, 2s d to 2s 7d; old 2s lOd to 2s 1. Flour, unchanged. ELLESMERE, TUESDAY.—White Wheat 4s 8d to 4s 8d red 4s 4d to 4s 6d per 75 lbs; new oats Os Od to Os Od; old oats, 2s 9d to 3s Od, per 50 lbs; malting barley 4s 6d to 4s 9d per 70 lbs; eggs 18 to 20 for Is; butter Is Od to Is 1d per 16 oz fowls 411 Od to 5s Od per couple ducks Os Od to Os Od per couple; geese Os Od to Os Od per lb; turkeys Os Od to Os Od per lb; rabbits, 0s Od to Is 8d per couple; apples, 4s Od per 90 lbs; beef 6d to 7d per lb mutton 8!<f to 9d per lb; veal 7d to 8d per lb.; bacon pigs, 8s Od to 8s. 6d per score; porkets, 8s 6d to 98 6d per score. WHITCHURCH, FRIDAY. Wheat, 4s 4d to 4s 6d per 75 lbs; barley 3s 6d to 4a Od per 701bs; oats, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per 50 lbs eggs, 16 to 18 for Is; butter, IsOd to Is 2d per 16 ozs; fowls, 4s Od to 4s 6d per couple; ducks, Os Od to Os Od per couple; geese, Os Od to Os Od per lb; turkeys, Os Od to 08 Od per lb; potatoes, Os 6d to Os 8d per score; beef, 6d to 8d per lb; mutton, 7d to 9d; lamb, Od to Od per lb.; veal 7dto 9d per lb.; pork,5d to 7d per lb; rabbits 2s Od to 2s 6d per couple; apples Od to Od per lb. The Post Office authorities have decided upon accepting female clerks at an earlier age than hitherto. In future a clerk will be admitted at any age between her sixteenth and eighteenth year—a fact which has induced the authorities to change their description from female olerks" to girl clerks." The authorities have also resolved to de- mand a higher qualification from the olerks a foreign language having been added to the subjects of the examination.

THE BIJOCICIE-PELL ARC LAMP COMPANY, LIMITED. This company, which was formed about six months ago, appears to be making considerable progress. They have workshops and warehouses in Tabernacle Street, Finsbury, and careful inquiries lead us to believe them to be established on a sound L basis, with every prospect oi being a profitable i, vestment. The two practical managers, Messrs. 13rockie and Pell, who, dmTug- the past fourteen years, have developed their unique invention and bnilt up the business, are highly trained and thoroughly experienced as mechanics and elec- tricians, and the success their invention has achieved is due solely to its iuti-ir:-ie merits. It is no small tribute to the sin oriority of their I illuminating apparatus that Dr. John Hopkinson, the late president of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, should havy recorded his testimony in the following unqualified terms I know of De lamp better adapted for street lighting." Sir David Salomon, Bart., too, a gentleman whose opinion carries weight in electrical science, and who has no financial interest in this or any kindred undertaking, affirms that the lamp has no equal for steadiness, simplicity, and efficiency." The high estimate of the undertaking formed by authorities in the elec- trical world is shown by the composition of the Board of directors. This includes Lord Suffield, who is chairman of the Westminster Electric Supply Association, and the Hon. Reginald Brougham, a director of the London Supply Corporation. It is installed in the streets of Hammersmith and Shoreditch, and has for some time been in full operation in Upper Regent Street. The London and North-Westeru Railway have quantities of these lamps, and they have been delivered to many other railway companies and to some of the dock dbmpanies. The Edinburgh Post Office has one of the largest installations in that city, consisting of thirty-six arc lamps; and the Corporation of Glasgow is reported to have recently decided on its adoption in their streets after- a trial extending over more than half a year. Contracts are in hand for the supply of Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa, and negotiations arc pending for the sale of patent r ghts in Germany, which are expected to yield a large bonus to the shareholders. The Brockie-Pell lamp claims to have completely overcome the difficulty experienced by other arc lighting systems in regulating with precision the distance necessary to be maintained with uniformity between the carbon points and in securing a maximum of economy in the consumption of carbons. The capital of the is XSO,000 in .£1 shares, which were quoted yesterday at I It is stated that the net income fro 'ti the manufacture of lamps alone should enable the company to pay handsome dividends from anv advantage to be derived trom the sale of patunis abroad.-Bultionist, Feb. 20th, lSy?. [Advt. — CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.— Approximate return of

traffic receipts, for the week ending March 7th. 1897. Miles open, 250. Passengers, parcels' horses, carriages, dogs, and mails, fl,656; mer- chandise. minerals, and live stock, £ 2.669; total for the week, E4,325 aggregate from commence- ment of ifalf-year, £ 39,445. Actual traffic receipts for th:* corresponding week last year Miles open, 250. Passengers parcels, &-(-, £ 1.644 merchandise, minerals, &c., 22,390; total for the week, £ 4,034; aggregate from commenceinelit of half-year, £ 37,398. Increase fcr the weeR, passengers, parcels, &c.. JE12; increase, merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 279 total increase for the week. zC291 aggregate increase, passengers, parcels. &(t., £ 92; aggre- g-ate increase, merchandise, minerals, &c., il,955 aggregate increase from the commencement of half. year, £ 2,047. Epps's COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING.— By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected COCOA, Mr. Epps has provided for our, breakfast and supper a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame."—Civil Service Gazette.—Made simply with boiling water or milk, —Sold only in packets and pound tins, by Grocery laoolled-" JAMES Epps & Co., Ltd., Homoeopathic Chemists, London."—Also makers of Epps's Cocoaine or Cocoa-Nib Extract: A thin beverage of full flavour, now with many beneficially taking the place of tea. Its active principle being a gentle nerve stimulant, supplies the needed energy without unduly exciting the system. LADIES! LADIES REQUIRING ASSISTANCE and RELIEF in all FKMALE AILMENTS, IRREGULARITIES, SUPPRES- SI< >N8, and OBSTRUCTIONS can obtain the most valuabte info-mation whereby difficulties are overcome, no matter how Obstinate or Long Standing. This EXTRAORDINARY MEDICINE is compounded from a recipe of one of the moat EMINENT FRENCH PHYSI IANS, and has met with immense success in THOUSANDS OF CASES after all others have failed. If you have tried everything else, do not give up until you have given this a trial. Testimonial* and letters of gratitude from all parts of the world. Abandon not hope; here you will find a gennine SPECIAL- ITY and CURE. Failure impossible. Serd stamped addressed envelope for particulars to A. DASMAIL, Box 607, Langdale House, Walthamstow, London. LADIES! A PRIVATE CAPITALIST, Member of a well- known wealthy Firm, having a considerable sum 01 Uninvested Money, is prepared to ADVANCE the same, in sums of not less than £10 to f.51000, to Persons of undoubted respectability in town or country (distance no object), on their own Promis- sory Note, without asking for sureties or security, or prel.minary charges or fees whatever, at a low and Reasonable Rate of Interest, for short or long petiods. Strictly private and confidential. As this advertisement is not connected with any Loan Society, it is requested that Habitual Borrowe will not apply. For full particulars, apply personally or by letter. direct to the Lender. W. SPENCER, ESQ. 1, WELLINGTON BUILDINGS (SOUTH) 2, LITHERLAJCD ALLEY, SOUTH CASTLE STREET, LIVERPOOL. THE OLDEST ADVANCE OFFICE IN SHREWSBURY. ADVANCES made privately and confidentially insums of E10 up to 9500 UPON PROMISSORY NOTE ONLY, At much lower interest than usually charged. Repayments arranged to suit borrowers' require- ments. Genuine and extensive business done Ifor 25 years past. NO BILLS OF SALE TAKEN. Apply personally or write for terms to GEORGE PAYNE, ACCOUNTANT, 5, TOWN WALLS, SHREWSBURY. OSWESTRY BRANCH—1, Cambrian Buildings Oswald Road (next to Cambrian Railway Station) MON y MONEY. MONEY. ESTABLISHED 1869. CASH IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED, FROM £ 5 to £ 1,000. To Farmers, Gardeners Carriers, Cowkeepera, Shopkeepers, Dairymen, Tradesmen, Clerks, Clergy. men, Lodging-house Keepers, Private Householders and others, without Bondsmen, ON THEIR OWN SECURITY, On Note of Hand alone, repayable by easy instal- ments, or arranged to suit Borrower's own con- venience. All communications are received and kept in strict confidence. No genuine application ever refused, and honourable and straightforward transactions guaranteed. NO ENQUIRY FEE. Intended Borrowers are invited, before applying elsewhere, to apply to J. A. RENNIE, 25, CHESTER STREET, SHREWSBURY. WBDNESDAys-AT 14,KING STREET,OSWESTRY. N.B.—Town or Country distance no object Letters immediately attended to. Mr. R. can be seen any day at Aberystwyth b, appointment MONEY. SPECIAL NOTICE. NK TO £ 500 LENT 8AME DAY AS OWO APPLIED FOR To all classes of respectable Householders, Farmers, Tradesmen, and others (Male or Female) ON THEIR OWN NOTE OF HAND, With or without Sureties, at LOWER INTEREST AND EASIER PAYMENTS Than ever offered in Shrewsbury. Information free and strictly private. Distance ne object.—Apply to the actual Lender, S. M. REDHOUSE, 17 DOGPOLB, SHREWSBURY. Wednesdays at 41, Leg Street (Salop Road) Oswestry.