The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING." THE interest of our correspondence col- umns has lately been enhanced by contri- butions from Mr Sydney R. Heap, of Mellington Hall. In to-day's issue he has a couple of letters. In the one he answers A Borough Elector that the Tory alterna- tives to the Budget proposals consist of Tariff Reform; in the other he essays a criticism of the manner in which we dealt last week with "A Landlord's Poser" concerning the tak on unearned increment. It will be in- structive to examine his remarkable reason- ing. j." J1 m L'> By way of attempting to justify the Tariff Reform alternative he simply informs us of the great growth of American manufacturers between the years 1850 and 1905, and also the stupendous increase of exports from 6.6 per cent. to 8.2 per cent., while the imports fell during that period from 21.8 to 5.3 per cent. And so he triumphantly concludes that facts are stronger than words." This, then, is the case for Tariff Reform. How can we really answer so overwhelming an argument? We might well resign the task to "A Borough Elector.' Yet to leave Mr Heap in economic darkness even for a week seems unfair. In the first place it occurs to us to tell him that America is one of the largest Free Trade areas in the world. Why should he marvel at the increase of America's trade if he knows anything of her vast agricultural and mineral resources, the enormous growth of her population, the zealous devotion of her people to trade and commerce, and her possession of the best brains in the world? The thing to be mar- velled at is that, on his own showing, during the last fifty years America's exported manu- factures increased only by two per cent. He should also know that America grows most of the food her people require. But what are the effects of Protection? It makes her people pay more tor every other neces- sary of life. It creates those cruelly scandalous trusts and monopolies impossible in a Free Trade country. Mr Heap may wish to answer that if the worker in America is paying high prices for what he requires, he is quite able to do so owing to the high wages received. Is he? Recently the United States Government carried out an investi- gation into the wages paid and the money spent by some 334,000 persons employed in 4,000 different commercial establishments. It was found that the weekly wages of these people were 19.1 per cent. higher in 1906 than in 1896, but that the cost of all com- modities was 35 per cent. higher. Mr Heap, as a Tariff Reformer, finds it most advan- tageous to quote from America, because the special economic conditions, such as no other country enjoys, give a semblance of conviction to his arguments. For our part, we are not particularly anxious that America should adopt Free Trade, which is the Tariff Reform towards which her working people are striving. And why? Because she would by that means become Britain's great rival in neutral markets, and also recover much of her shipping, the loss of which was largely due to Protection. Now, since Mr Heap seemingly rejoices with us over the industrial progress of the United States, he will perhaps accompany us in a review of Britain's industrial ad. vancement during a like period-poor little Britain, the dumping ground for foreign food and most other essentials of existence, the dependant little island into whose ports the ships of the detestable foreigner, or rather British ships which serve him, enter free. In the early part of the 19th century we had taxes on more than 1,200 articles. In 1801 our exports were worth £ 42,000,000. By 1831 they had fallen to £ 37,000,000. Be- tween that* year and 1839 duties were reduced on several hundred foreign articles coming into this country. What was the effect of those reductions ? The commerce of the country increased a full fourth in annual value. Our exports in 1841 were of the value of £ 52,000,000. The following year we further lowered the tariff on 750 articles coming from abroad, and during the next twenty years our trade had more than doubled. Our commerce grew with the abolition of restrictions under Protec- tion our trade would not increase. Now our trade is the largest of any nation in the world. In 1907 it had reached the enormous figure of 426 millions. And how did we stand last year as compared with Protectionist countries ? The following Board of Trade returns, which we have printed before, will show at a glance:— Imports. Exports. Total. United Kingdom. 513 377 890 Germany 409 332 741 France 243 211 454 United States 233 360 593 The British figures are exclusive of 80 mil- lions of imports subsequently exported. All countries suffered owing to a prevailing slump, and the depression was most se- verely felt in America, where the shrinkage was fully 16 per cent. the decline in this country being 10 per cent. Mr Heap might well marvel at the remarkable fact that through all vicissitudes little Britain con- tinues to hold the lead in the world's trad- ing, and outstrips the great and vast America by no fewer than 297 millions. Nor should we omit to inform him that this little Free Trade country owns more than half of the sea-going ships possessed by the world at large. In truth, Britain rules the waves. Rightly Mr Heap philo- sophically declares that, "facts are stronger than words" and that the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

A LANDLORD'S REASONING. IT is not quite so easy to deal with Mr Heap's arguments against the taxation of unearned increment, for the simple reason that they are difficult to understand. Plain enough, however, is his assertion that our "statements are absurd," because, like Mr Winston Churchill, we ignore the great laws which govern this earth-the law of supply and demand." Such a contention cannot well be described. It cannot be considered as even comical. Every intel- ligent person who has any knowledge of the subject knows that this suggested tax is governed precisely by the law ot supply and demand. Indeed, Mr Heap answers himself in the admission that land is a fixed quantity capable of being cornered and forced up to any price." That is just what is being done, and what the Government propose is to tax the monopoly value. Land, says Mr Heap, is not worth one-half what it was forty years ago, except where there is a special demand-a demand which he forgets to say is created by communal and industrial development. Elsewhere the burdens on land will not be increased. We cannot find space to follow him into a somewhat nonsensical definition of un- earned increment in the marketable value of sheep. The nearest point you can get to it," he observes, is the man with the hoe, and even he but scratches the earth and nature does the rest, yielding an hundred-fold." Do the owners of unearned increment even scratch, that the earth may yield her fruits ? Yes, answers Mr Heap, they work hard, and earn their increment as much as Mr Churchill." Many of them probably do so in estimating and pocketing the thousands of pounds netted without moving hand or foot or brain. One of the Duke of Westminster's ancestors in the time of the Stuarts had the good fortune to woo and wed a cowfeeder's daughter, for through the marriage he came into posses- sion of fields in Mayfair which are now in the heart of fashionable London. Owing to the demand for land to live upon, the value l of this land rose to a fabulous price, but the Duke did nothing to create that wealth which now flows into his pockets. But Mr Heap would say he supplied a demand, and was entitled to his price, as, of course, are all others who have locked up land in the neighbourhood of cities until the needs of industry alone had swelled its value. The tribute of industry to idleness. There is no unearned increment in all the philoso- phy of Mr Heap, and, therefore, -like the great majority of landlords, instead of tax- ing such monopolies, he would find the necessary national revenue by broadening the basis of taxation, under which the work- ing people would pay toll on all they eat and wear-a tax on the raw material of health and strength. What we want, and what the country is determined to have, is more free trade in land which is the raw material oi industry and the central factor in the solution of our most grievous social problems. The farcical outcry of landlords who desire to so manipulate our fiscal system that the taxes will benefit them more than the Treasury, does not and cannot alter the public estimate of a Budget conceived of common sense and justice- a Budget that has caused men to think and to realise better than before the why and the wherefore and the precise purposes of Tariff Reform as the only Tory alternative to the taxation of unearned wealth.

THE EVENING CLASSES. The letter which appears in another page embodies the numerous protests that are being raised against the decision of the Higher Education Committee to abolish the evening schools. We have nothing to add to what was written last week upon the sub- ject, although it may be pointed out that these protests emphasise our contention that the Committee should first of all have made known their intention to abandon the classes unless the attendances were substan- tially increased. The closing of the Llan- fair school in consequence of a decrease of only nine pupils is, surely, a grievous blunder, which the local representatives should endeavour to rectify. It is thought that the discontinuance of the classes for a year will generate a more general appre- ciation of them when they are re-estab- lished. There may be something in that idea, but the wiser plan would have been to consider their reorganisation and better adaptation, if possible, to the industrial and commercial interests of the districts. This will be done when evening continuation schools are universally provided and attend- ance made compulsory, as is likely to be the case soon.

MORE ABOUT EXTRAS." It is an easy thing to criticise expendi- ture in excess of estimate, but in the reno- vation and alteration of old buildings "extras" are inevitable. At the same time, we have no desire to minimise the importance of a close critical examination of how large sums are being expended upon the restoration, reconstruction, enlarge- ment, and equipment of schools, and also upon the erection of new schools through- out Montgomeryshire. Money spent upon such work is a sound investment, but the greatly increased cost of education enjoins a serious regard for the electioneering promise of "economy with efficiency." Pure and abundant water, we have often remarked, is cheap almost at any price as the first communal requirement still, criticism is not unreasonably directed to the proposal to spend as much as E500 upon providing Caersws School with a supply, particularly at a time when the rural dis- trict authority are confronted with the necessity of furnishing the village with a gravitation system. Unfortunately, the Ancient City appears to sit at considera- ble distance from the nearest water tap, whence a suppy cannot be drawn under an outlay of Y.2,500, which is equivalent to a rate of ninepence in the C. The source from which the school could be supplied is not equal to the needs of the village. Hence the problem:. Can the Education Authority continue the school without an efficient supply of water, and will the Local Government Board force the rural authority to adopt their inspector's scheme, which would impose a very heavy burden upon the ratepayers ? Since the pump well water in the village has been condemned, it is un- likely the sinking of other wells would be sanctioned. Yet of necessity water must be obtained, and the obligation, no doubt, rests upon the Rural Council. I BERRIEW'S INSANITARY SCHOOL. Wordy warfare took place at Forden Rural Council on Wednesday over techni- calities in procedure relative to the pro- vision of a water supply forBerriew School. It would have been more creditable to the Council if, instead of marking time by abor- tive sparring, into which some party feeling has been imparted, they had long ago con- demned and closed a scandalously insanit- ary school. This power is possessed, we be- lieve, by the local medical officer of health, and his own knowledge of the state of affairs, added to the unqualified reports of the County Surveyor, certainly justified that course. That was the course which the Council ought to have insisted upon, in the interests of the school children. As trustees of the public health, they are primarily responsible, though hardly less culpable is the inaction of the County Education Authority, who should have ceased to recog- nise a school so flagrantly inefficient. Let us hope that the erection of a new school upon ground generously gifted by Mr Humphreys-Owen will get rid by and by of a most discreditable situation. SANITARY REFORM AT WELSHPOOL. While the Welshpool Town Council are agreed upon the urgency of utilizing the Henfaes estate as a refuse depot, and also upon the erection of an isolation hospital, it would appear that the sewage disposal scheme is to be shunted into the back- ground for the present. The assent of the Local Government Board is asked "to the purchase of the land for the immediate re- quirements of a deposit ground for refuse and an isolation hospital, with the possible addition of the adoption of a sewage scheme, if the necessity for this should arise at a future date." Necessity! Has not the necessity already arisen ? Was it not owing to an inefficient sewage system that the town recently lost the establishment of what might have proved to be a prosperous industry ? There are, we know, in Welsh- pool peculiar people, who view with dis- favour the industrial invasion of a residen- l tial town, but the tastes of such people ought not to be allowed to subordinate its trading interests. Shall the Tradesmen's Guild lie quiet under a decision which must retard industrial development ? Urgent enough, certainly, is the provision of a re- fuse depot, and the clearance of horrible place," which Councillor Hiles describes as infested with vermin and rats and so also is the introduction of a sewage system, for the want of which Welshpool has suffered materially. Besides, if the Council have postponed this part of their sanitary reform indefinitely, the Severn Board of Conservators may now feel constrained to translate their protests into action. MONTGOMERYSHIRE TERRITORIALS. Notwithstanding the fact that certain dis- tricts have responded poorly to the patriotic appeal, Montgomeryshire contrasts very creditably with other counties in the strength of her Territorials, proportionate to the establishment. The yeomanry rank and file actually exceed the establishment numbers, but there is a deficiency of five officers. A reverse position is reported of the infantry, which, while lacking only four officers, still require 64 men. Taken to- gether, the two forces have a .percentage of 77.5 officers and of 92.9 of other ranks. Thus has Montgomeryshire done its part in the organisation of a force for home defence, which is comparatively of far higher value than the old. On this there is universal agreement. The only regret is that the quantity is still below the establishment. No doubt, large numbers of our young men have been waiting to see how the experi- ment worked out before enlisting, and many employers may yet have to be awakened to their duty. Mr Haldane himself has admit- ted that his scheme could only be carried into full effect under a succession of Gov- ernments, but he has already done more than any other man to raise the- question of home defence above party politics. One encouraging sign of the success of the scheme is the way that leading men every- where have flung themselves heart and soul into the work of organisation. Mr Haldane has performed prodigies of energy, and his example has been infectious nowhere more than in Montgomeryshire. A MAGNIFICENT FRIEND OF EDUCATION. In the dispensation of his beneficence, Mr David Davies leans mostly to the causes of religion and education, to which he has been a magnificent friend, indeed. Following upon the splendid generosity and public spiritedness in which he conceived of the appointment of a director of agricul- ture for Montgomeryshire, comes the munificent gift of F-8,000 from himself, his mother, and his sisters towards the erection of a college hall and students' hostel in connection with the University College, Aberystwyth. Particulars of the gift and the conditions attached to its acceptance will be found in Mr Davies's letter to the principal of the college, which we publish in this issue. Such munificence cannot be adequately praised in mere phrases. Future generations of students will bless the house of Plas Dinam. VINDICATING THE BUDGET. Mid Derbyshire, the first of a trio of vacant constituencies to pronounce upon what Montgomeryshire Tories call an "un- constitutional and revolutionary" budget, has acclaimed its justice. The forces of reactionary Toryism in Derbyshire have been routed by the combined strength of Liberal- ism and Labour. A democratic budget has consolidated all sections of Progressives, because it has brought into the clearest light he Tory alternatives for revenue rais- ing, the most notorious of which is the taxation of food. A majority of 2,343 puts an end to all Tory attempts to win this working-class constituency, and ridicules the Protectionist newspaper prognostications of a Tariff Reform triumph.

Xilanbrynmair Rainfall. June 3-001 June 23-0"48 „ 5—0-11 „ 24-1"03 „ 25—0-03 „ 15—013 „ 26—0-55 „ 16-001 „ 27—003 „ 19—0.11 „ 28—0-02 „ 20—0-22 „ 29—0-18 „ 21—0-18 —— 22—0-46 Total 3'58

A Costly Kick. Richard William Ryder, of Upper Farm, Garreg, Buttington, tailor, claimed compensation from Evan Owen, of Halfway House, Westbury, timekeeper, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906. An award was made by bis Honour Judgfe William Evans at Welshpool County Court on Wednesday. It appeared that the applicant was injured whilst leading a foal which had been purchased by the respondent at the Buttington Hall sale on October 2nd, 1908. The applicant claimed to b'\ entitled to compensation a* a casual employee, and the solicitor to the respondent wrote to the Registrar (Mr G. D. Harrison) that their claim waq prepared to submit to an award of 9s. per week during total incapacity, and 6d. per week thereafter. Mr Woosnam (who appeared for applicant) stated that he was anxious to safeguard his client's interests bv having a continuing award. His Honour: That will be alright, Mr Woos- cam. Mr Woosnam: Of course the award will be subject to review by your Honour. His Honour signified his assent.

AFTER 2.000 YEARS. A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT CITY. There was another field-day at Caersws on Thursday, and this was the occasion on which the Powysland Club paid its official visit. The notice inviting attend- ance by the members of the Club con- tained the following interesting particulars: The result of the preliminary excava- tions of this Roman station is quite satis- factory and of great interest, and it has been decided to undertake an excavation on a larger scale. For this purpose money will be required. It will be proposed at this meeting that a further sum be contributed from the funds of the Powysland Club. Professor Bosanquet, writing about the experimental work which has been recently done, says: The camp covered 7! acres. There was a range of stone buildings across the centre three of these, which I take to be the Pretiriurfi, a granary, and possi- bly an official residence, have been located, and should be cleared. The roads are well preserved,; and it should be possible by tracing them to recover the outlying plan even of those parts of the camp in which there wsre no stone buildings.' 1HE VISITORS. Mr Simpson Jones, the hon. secretary of the club, was present on the field, and the small company which came from Welshpool and the neiglbourhood was" met by Pro- fessor Bosanqiet and Dr Rees, the local savant, at the railway station. The party, in addition to the Secretary, included the Vicar of Wdshpool (Rev D. Grimaldi Davis), Mrs Willans, Mr Bancroft Willans, Dr Humphrtys, the Ven. Archdeacon Thomas, Rev 1. Evan-Jones, Newtown, Rev Wilym Jones, Meifod, and the Rev and Mrs McCormic;, Wrockwardine Wood. Mr Richard Jones, later described by one of the company fS the Mayor of Caersws, joined the part' en route for Pendref fields. Already on the spot was the gallant Colonel, examining the early Roman citadel, and smoking one d his notable cigars. The Colonel was accompanied by two friends from Egypt—M' Mortimer, of Cairo, and i Colonel Jacksor, who was the hero of the Fashoda incideit, when Major Marchant, the French commandant, had to retire. The Colonel Wif in great form throughout the day, and 'ften caused the company, which was bein; continually augmented, to explode with laughter at his ready wit. The visitors w £ e shown by the professor the four road srvices which had been dis- sected, and led out of the camp, which, of course, like all Roman camps, was a square one. The extraordinarily solid foundation could be seen, and below were two 'feet of puddling. All Ionian camps are so similar, that the profesOr, when he had found one or two land mirks, was able aferwards to put his finger tpon every part of the camp. WHAT THE CHURCH PLUNDERED. Every excavati," has evidently been made in the exact sr)t, and the scientific precis- ion of the whol, process is most patent even to the unversed visitor. The barrack room was exhibited y) the Powyslanders, and the red clay reddened by fires and pieces of charcoal. The Professor showed how much the main btilding had been disturbed. Around the Ptfitorium, which, of course, marked the f -,OerLI's quarters, there had been a colonnale of freestone, which had been carried aJ the way from Welshpool— the nearest qutry. Of this stone had the corner posts ben made, and many other parts, but anI; fragments of it could be seen now. Wiere had it gone ? It had been plundered explained Professor Bosan- quet it is tnt that a few odd pieces were to be found in he old house of Pendre, but the principal robbers, plunderers, and spoillators wert the Church. Of course, the spear was beig turned into the pruning hook, when thcfreestone, instead of forming part ofan alitl hostile camp, was incor- porated into a iative church, but still for a' that the fact TPains. Pieces of oof tiles were also to be discerned lyiri;|ufaout in the trenches which had been dug, and in the museum which has been fitted up in the Village Hall some of these tiles lave been cleverly fitted to- gether to form. t roof, and the original nails actually used ii some instances to fix them. The excavation show most clearly the line of wall of the granaries and the three but- tresses along i. The granaries, of course, are very lare, as it is two and a half times the size of the camp at Gelli Gaer, and is, of cone, the largest Roman camp in Wales. TrB CANTEEN. In reply to ne reverend gentleman, the genial professc- explained that the exact site of the cateen which was frequented by the soldiel lay almost exactly under the goods she< of the Cambrian Railways. They called i1 their bath-room, explained Professor Bosaquet, for their chief delight and recreatio was indulging in Turkish baths. Visionsof local "terriers" planting their sixpence;down on a bar counter, and instead of two" pints," ordering two Turk- ish baths, wa not very easily conjured. up. In a, ditin, the canteen, as in some instances noAIS-ays, served the purpose of a general recreaon ground. In one part f the excavations, solid lead has been unei-thed. What the lead was used for and fm where it was brought has been the subbt of considerable surmise. In one cornei'ioo, a considerable quantity of bone has b8' unearthed ;whether or not it is human tne is a thing that will be difficult to dhover, but Dr Humphreys, of Llanfair, s|l he thought the shape of one bone wdch was lying in the clay might very p^ably be a human tibia or shin bone. From the "lq,h-west corner a ditch can be seen ,and fcre is a rise in the ground which may be second rampart or a road. If so, it woul undoubtedly connect the baths and cantn, which would appear to be outside theramp, with the main road leading to Maiynlleth. Excavations in this quarter, l'wever, have not yet been carried on to y extent. Following thqead of the professor, the party next adjirned to the garden of Mr Jones, of Gwyn. This gentleman had very astutely noticed.hat not very far below the soil he had stjck something more than usually solid, -e communicated with Pro- fessor Bosanque and a splendid section of a Roman road Is been revealed. The road is intact, and tb ruts caused by the wheels of the chariotsire as plain as daylight. The distance bEveen the ruts is 4ft. 6in., which was the mal distance between the chariot wheels. THE COLONY'S FACETIOUSNESS. At this junc're the Archdeacon ex- plained tha.t tha is an idea current that Caersws was tha;ity of the district before Newtown took 5 place to which the Colonel added tit there was also an idea prevalent that Fple were going now to Caersws for evening. The Colonel then moved a vote (>f anks to Mr Jones for al- lowing his gardeIto be excavated in this fashion, and th was seconded by the Archdeacon. In ply, Mr Jones promised that he would 1\:t\ it open for sight-seers, and would have (ore uncovered if neces- sary. While the visits kept poring over the old road, the ColoIl continued his musings. "Yes, we get a 10of ideas from Caersws," he said. No doll Mr Richard Jones gets his inspiration 011 k main roads from this." (To b'continued.)

Another Tory ^oiuise for Wales. The Conservative irty are credited with a strong desire to get &onting in Wales, and they are said to be pi-ep^l with several bids" in order to gain the fr^tion of Welsh constituen- cies. A few day Rivelt was rumoured that, they might evpn be willivg., concede the disestablish- ment of the Church 1 Wales "on terms." To- day I am informed (Ves a Parliamentary cor- respondent) that tne tsponsible leaders of the Opposition are ready give an assurance, also presumably on terl11' t when they are returned to power they will ^"prevision for a Secretary for Wales.

DISGRACE to WELSHPOOL. More About the Refuse Disposal. "Let Them Take Action Shunting the Sewage Scheme. More about Welshpool's unsatisfactory insanita- tion was heard at the monthly assembly of the Borough Council last Thursday. The printed minutes of the June meeting recorded that, when the Council went into com- mittee, the draft agreement with Mr Sidney R. Lowcock, the sewage disposal engineer, with reference to his remuneration was considered. On the motion of Councillor W. A. Rogers, seconded by Councillor Richard Jenkins, it was resolved that inasmuch as the Council are advised that the time for the exercise of the provisional contract for purchase of the Henfaes Estate expires this day, June 17th, the Vicar of Welshpool be asked to extend the limit for a further period of six months, pending negotiations that in the meantime the Town Clerk be instructed to put himself in communication with the Local Government Board and, if need be, invito the co-operation of the County and the Borough Members, with the view of ascertaining whether the Board would be willing to give assent to the purchase ot the land for the IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS of a deposit ground for refuse and Isolation Hospital, with the posaible addition of the adoption of a sewage scheme if the necessity for this should arise at a future date; and that Mr Lowcock be instructed to take no further action, and that his suggested con- tract be deferred for consideration at a future special meeting to be convened by the Mayor.—It was further resolved that the Mayor (Dr. Thomas), Alderman Harrison and the Town Clerk (Mr C. P. Yearsley), together with the County and Borough Members, wait upon the Local Government Board for the purpose of applying for their consent to the pur- chase of the land for the purposes mentioned. Last Thursday the Mayor said that since then they had had correspondence with the Local Government Board. But he did not think it would be any good to read it at this stage. Nothing definite had been arranged. The Town Clerk remarked that they had the co-operation of the County and the Borough Members. Councillor Pryce Jones: I suppose you will go as socn as you can ? The Mayor: We shall go as soon as they will receive us. Councillor Richard Jenkins: Do you think you will have a visit within the life of Mr Pryce Jones, if he lives to the average age of man ? The Mayor: I didn't quite he,-it what you said. Councillor Jenkins It's alright! I only wanted to say something to Mr Pryce Jones (laughter). The Mayer I see Later, Councillor T. F. Hiles mentioned the correspondence with the Local Government Board, and the Mayor gave the further information that they had replied to the letter which the Town Clerk was authorised to send, but the REPLY WAS SIMPLY EVASIVE —it meant that they would consider it if the Council applied for the loan. He (the Mayor) hid consulted with the Town Clerk, who wrote again. Councillor Hiles: The Vicar has given three months. Here's a month already gone. Is there no method by which we can approach this sluggish Board ? I The Mayor: I shall be glad if you can find means to whip them up. Time is going. Councillor Hiles: I am speaking on behalf of the people who liv. near the horrible place, where they keep the stuff in the boats on the canal. It's always there—vermin and rats infesting the place! The tenants are complaining very loudly, and it is a disgrace to our town to have a thing like that kept there at all. The Mayor.- I quite agree with you. But I am sure Mr J. D. Rees is doing the very beat be can —he is putting himpelf to much inconvenience to interview them at the Local Government Board. We are pushing the thing as fast as we can. Councillor Wm. Humphreys Several residents down there have been complaining to me as regards the nuisance. I shall be pleased to have it abated. Councillor Jenkins: Let them take action In reply to the Council's request that he should defer taking any further steps with his siirvey, Mr Lowcock had written that the plans are nearly all completed, and all that remains to be done is the preparation of the estimate.

Alleged Housebreaking near Kerry. At a specsil sessions on Tuesday at Newtown Police Court, before Mr Richard Lloyd, John Thomas was charged by P.C. Hopkins with having feloniously broken into and entered the dwelling house of William Lewis, Blaen-Cwmydalfa, Kerry, and stolen a jubilee two shilling brooch, and two money boxes, containing the sum of 1O. Francis Mary Evans, wife of William Evans, Blaen-Cwmydalfa, said that on the 1st of July she left the house about 10-30 in the morning. One of her children had gone to school and the other went with her. Witness's husband was working out. She intended being cut all day. All the doors of the house were locked. Witness bolted the back door and came out through the front door, and took the key with her. She returned home before her husband, about 6-30 in the evening, when she found the back door broken open. She did not go in as she was afraid. She immediately went down for her husband and they returned together. When they went into the house they found that two money boxes were missing; they were a wooden and a tin box. The wooden box was locked, but the other was not. The front part of the chest and drawers was broken off. Next morning she missed a jubilee brooch. There was 10s in the wooden box and 2d in the tin box. There was no other damage done except to a writing case which had been torn. Witness had never seen prisoner before. Tho brooch produced was hera. William Evans, who is a farm labourer, said he went to work that day and did not return until he was fetched by his wife. He went to work about 7 or 8 in the morning. He corroborated the evidence of his wife. Witness saw defendant that day about 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning at Mr Challinor's, Penarron. He looked as if he had been sleeping in the straw, and witness said to him Good morning, I thought I heard someone in the straw," and prisoner replied "it was me." Accused then sat down on the shearing bench for a few minutes. Mr Challinor came into the barn, and prisoner went out with him. Witness did not see him again. Penarron was about two miles from Blaen-Cwmydalfa. Albert Howells, game keeper at Penylan, said that on the day in question he vas shearing at Skillwch, near Kerry, until about three o'clock. When he got to Blaen-Cwmydalfa he noticed a man, whom he thought to be defendant, going towards the Anchor, about 300 or 400 yards in front. He could tell defendant by his peculiar gait, as he had seen him before. William Jones, a farm labourer, said he helped to send some cattle to Newtown. He only went to the top of the Vnstre. When ho got to Dol- forgan back gates on his return, he met prisoner going in the direction of Newtown. Accused asked him, How are you off for 1 d for a drink ? and gave him gd. Witness had seen the man before. Charles Davies, innkeeper, Anchor, said that on the 1st of July prisoner called at his house about six or seven o'clock and asked for some bread and butter and a pint of beer, which his wife supplied him with. Prisoner paid 6d for it. The next morning he came in about seven o'clock and asked for a bottle of stout and a pint of beer and im- mediately afterwards he had a breakfast of cold meat and tea. He paid 11 -1 for it. The next time he called on Friday afternoon there were three or four other gentlemen present and one of them paid for him a drink. Accused came again on Sunday and had another pint of beer. Prisoner had paid with a 2 piece and other silver. On the 6th of July P.C. Hopkins and he searched the till, and found a 2s dated 18S9. He examined it and found it was soldered. P.C. Hopkins said that at Blaen-Cwmydalfa he examined the premises, and found that the bolt on the back door could be shot back by a piece of wire There was a hole in the door. Mrs Evans told him all that was missed and he proceeded to the Anchor Inn. With Mr Davies he searched the till and found a 2s piece which had been soldered. Prisoner, in answer to the charge, said "I will say nothing, but I threw the frame and boxes into the brook." P C. Hammonds said that on Monday afternoon fbout three o'clock he was on duty in Broad-street in plain clothes, and there apprehended Thomas. Defendant having nothing to say in answer to the charge, was committed to Quarter Sessions,

GASSY STREETS. Talk About Looking After the Property Owners!" A Welshpool Company Indicted. 0 Many a hundred thousand cubic feet of coal gas, which left the premises of the Welshpool Gas Company, has never been accounted for after- wards. Eut something was heard about this leakage at the Borough Council meeting last Thursday. Councillor William Humphreys asked the Town Clerk had he received any communication from tradespeople as to bad smells. The Town Clerk (Mr C. P. Yearsley) No. Councillor Humphreys: Have you had a letter from Messrs Brown and Co ?-No. All the letters that I receive come before the Committee. Councillor Humphreys: There is a terrible nuisance from gas in Bioad-street. The Borough Surveyor (Mr George Snook) said they had received a letter and both Mr Wynne (the Sanitary Inspector) and himself communi- cated with the Gas Company, and it promised to see to the matter. Councillor Humphreys: I may say I have asked the Surveyor with regard to this. He says the nuisance is caused by gas. I move that we ask the Gas Company to abate the nuisance by Brown and Co's., in Broad-street; it is very offensive. Councillor John Pryce Jones: I second it, I because I think throughout the town there is no end of nuisances—public nuisances—through the gas escaping and getting into the drains. I BELIEVE SEVERAL DEATHS have occurred in Broad-street! Councillor Humphreys We shall certainly be in trouble, if it isn't seen to. Councillor Pryce Jones: The Gas Campany ought to renew their mains. The Town Clerk said that, when down at the gas works, he heard something had been said about it by Brown aud Co., but he did not bear that in his capacity as Town Clerk. The Gas manager had seen the shop manager, who said he wonld clear the cellar out and see whether the nuisance did emanate from there. The Surveyor: Gas is escaping on both sides of the street, by Mr Galloway's in one place and by the boot shop on the other side. Councillor Humphreys It's a terrible nuisance you know. I move that the Town Clerk write to the Gas Company as regards this and get the nuisance abated. The Surveyor said he bad spoken to Mr Robert Owen (secretary of the Company) and also to the Gas manager. The Mayor: When did you have this letter? Last week ? The Surveyor Yes, some time last week. The Mayor (sharply): Why didn't you bring it forward at the Committee ? t' ouncillor Pryce Jones seconded Councillor Humphreys' proposal. Not only in this place," he said. but at the back of Mr Wyke's there's a public drain there adjoining The Mayor: Let's keep to one thing. Councillor Pryce iones: It all comds from the same thing The Mayor: No! Councillor Pryce Jones: These poor people suffer in this street. I called the attention of the offidals, but they took no notice. Talk about looking after the property owners! We are creating a nuisance ourselves. People have to put STONES ON THE GRATINGS. The Mayor: Keep to the point: Councillor Pryce Jones I am ou the point! Tha Mayor: I must call Mr Pryce Jones to order. We have no letter here. You are clearly out of order. Mr Snook's duty was to bring the letter before the Committee. The discussion is not in order. Councillor Hiles: I move that on the verbal report of the Survey or- 'Councillor Prjc.Jones That's it !] — that a letter be Eent to the Gas Company calling attention to the nuisance caused by gan escaping by Mr Galloway's and Messrs Brown's. 1'he Mayor Are you agreeable, gentlemen ? Councillor Pryco Jones Alsc) in Stanley-street, There's a great deal of nuisance there. Alderman Wyke: While on the gas question, one second, I was Councillor H/les Are you going to move any- thing ? Alderman Wyke: Yes. There was an escape in Berriew-otreet. I happened to go to the Lion —on business-I smelt it quite distinctly in the house. I mentioned the matter and I saw the Secretary of the Gas Company. They were doing their utmost to find it out. So far they have failed. I think the Gas Company are not to blame. As soon as possibly they can, they will stop it. The Council then decided to write the Gas Company 809 per Councillor Hiles' resolution.

SEEN AND HEARD. Nothing extenaate, nor set down aught in maliee. m Sil-KESPEARR. Our gallant Fuziliers are doubtlessly busily burnishing their buttons and smooth- ing out the creases in their khaki in a praiseworthy determination to maintain under the searching eye of the Brigadier- General the reputation of the old Dandy Fifth." There is, I hear, mixed opinion regarding the choice of Abergavenny for this year's camp. The inlander, naturally, favours the sea, and vice versa, and memor- ies of Conway, Minehead, and Porthcawl whet the desire to again sojourn by the briny. But the country-side around the seashore is not always found suitable for the manoeuvring of troops, which is, per- haps, the most valuable part of the annual training. For this purpose the mountainous environs of Abergavenny are admirable, and to that fact its selection may be ascribed. One learns from ordinary guide books that Abergavenny derives its name from its situation at the confluence of the Gavenny and the Usk. A properous market town of some 10,000 souls, supported both by agriculture and mining, it claims antiquity as the supposed site of .the Roman Goban- nium. Not the least important feature of the place is the old castle, once an import- ant Norman fortress, and we read that it. occupies the site of a still older fortress. It was in the 12th century the scene of a treacherous massacre of Welsh chieftains invited to a Christmas feast by William de Braose or Bruce, in revenge for which out- rage their kinsmen surprised and burned the castle, to be rebuilt by the Norman op- pressors. In the last century, Abergavenny had the reputation of a health resort, when goat's whey was recommended as a cure for consumption. From the mountainous slopes that sur- round the town a magnificent panoramic prospect is to be obtained. Little Skyrrid affords a fine view of the valley of the Usk, while from the summit of Skyrrid Fawr (1,600 feet), or the Great Skyrrid, a grand picture, I believe, is presented of the valley of Monnow, the Forest of Dean, the heights above Bath, and the hills beyond Severn. Upon this mountain some interesting works of the convulsions of nature are to be wit- nessed. There is a legend that the rocks were thus rent -at the Crucifixion, hence the Skyrrid (Sacred), and its name of the Holy Mountain. Its very soil is said to have been reverenced by devout Catholics, who had it brought away for burials, as Jordan water was esteemed for baptisms. There are also the Blorenge (1,800 feet) and the- Sugar Loaf (2,000 feet) mountains, the latter taking its name from its conical shaped head. From these heights an extensive prospect, ranging from the Bristol Channel to the Malvern Hill, is assured. So of ex- cellent manoeuvring ground Abergavenny is abundantly possessed. I hope the Fuziliers will enjoy the place, with the fortune of fine weather, and win fresh laurels for all-round efficiency and soldierly conduct And yet, at the risk of having my patriot- ism suspect, I would rather live in a world where never a rifleman vvao- ^eii nor a war bugle heard. I hesitate not to number my- self among the protagonists of the time when nation shall not lift up the sword against nation, derided though they be as flabby sentimentalists mere doctrinaires carried away by poetic fancy, dwellers in a world of fantastic ideals peopled by soft-hearted philanthropists. The jingo elevates pride of race and world-wide domin- ion into a religion he pins his faith to muscularity, brute force, and big guns, and by these means, according to his concep- tion, the world is to be saved. The man in whom the spirit of Christian- ity is a real inspiration, not a mere fetish to be invoked in the day of battle, regards war as the most futile and the most ferocious of all follies." To him every in- dication that nations are drawing together and forging the bonds of mutual esteem and understanding is a harbinger of that brighter and happier day when the great- est mundane aspiration of the faith ne preaches shall be realised. Such indica- tions are, happily, not wanting. Leading men of all nations are linked in an earnest endeavour to seek peace and ensue it. In the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannermair's fine phrase, "War, with its tawdry triumphs. scatters the fruits of labour, breaks down the paths of progress, and chills the fire of constructive energy into destroying force." Who can deny this ? And follow up the reflection by a thought of the colossal mil- lions spent year after year in these times of Christian grace and enlightenment to prevent Christians from gettipg at eacii, others throats. What a commentary upon Christianity! As neighbours, as business people, we settle our differences and disputes in the bloodless way the law has provided. Why should it be otherwise in international dis- putes ? Let the sphere 'of arbitration be widened to include every international difference. The limitation, at least, of armaments would lift a terrible load from the back of the toiling people, and remove a provocative to hostilities, while the ex- tension of arbitration would inaugurate the full reign of international law and speed on the time When the war drums throb no longer and the battle flags are furled, I:> In the Parliament of man, the federation of the world. The fact has just struck me that next year the Express' attains its jubilee. Looking over the old files during a period long, long beiore niy humble pen impressed the pages, I find an immense store of local his- tory, the reproduction of which would prove of great interest to the younger generation. I'll see what can be done to have these old stories retold. Which undertaking reminds me of another that is still unre- deemed. In easy moments it was I prom- ised a series on Characters I have Met." Circumstances have conspired against the fulfillment of the promise, but some day soon I shall get at it. For the nonce poli- tical characters engage me too closely for attention to others more congenial. But the political dog days are coming, and with them what is called the silly season," when the journalistic pen is permitted special license. LUXE SHARPE.