The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

THE PLOUGHING MATCHES. Ploughing associations are developing forms of agricultural competition other than that of the skilled tillage of the soil, but they are developments which, unlike those incident to the growth of horticul- tural societies, advance along the line of the original purpose. The plough is the farmer's first and foremost implement, and his harvest yield will, setting aside the va- garies of climatic conditions, accord with the manner in which it is employed. We often hear that ploughing, like stack-build- ing, is a decadent art, but that opinion is disproved by the excellence of the work such as was witnessed during the week at Llandinam and the Scafell. Generally speaking, the present race of ploughmen may be less skilled than their predecessors, for the reason perhaps that the great dimin- ishment of our arable area affords less prac- tice. So long, however, as the art is fos- tered by these annual competitions, a good standard will be maintained, and passed on through successive years. In competitions the farm servant naturally exercises infin- itely more care than in his ordinary follow- ing of the ploughshare, but we are inclined to agree with the judges who adjudicated at the Llandinam matches that there is an excessive amount of hand work induced by prize-winning, and also an unwarranted amount of advice and assistance sought and tendered on these occasions. This hint will no doubt, be given practical effect in fu- ture. Some admirable work was also seen at both places in hedging and ditching. Would that we could witness the like of it all over our countryside, and particularly along our rural lanes, where hedgerows are despoiled by careless slashing, and ugly ditches attest both neglect and ignorance.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE SMALL HOLDINGS By a natural transition of thought, Mr Jones attacked the tardy manner in which the County Council are giving effect to the Small Holdings Act, which he recognises as pregnant with great benefits to Welshpool and every other market town in Montgom- eryshire. Mr Jones voices a universal feel- ing of impatience with exceedingly slow progress, which suggests a want of "earn- estness or appreciation of the beneficent possibilities that underlie the Act. The scheme, like every other, has, of course, its critics and its sceptics, who croak of the difficulty of making small holdings pay. The small holder does not expect to make a fortune. All he desires is to make a re- spectable and comfortable living, and to secure a home upon the land from which he cannot be evicted by a capricious land- lord to enjoy security of tenure, so that he may derive the full benefits of his own labour and the reward of his own industry and enterprise. If people are content to live the simple life on small holdings, they can live in comfort, and who can deny that it pays the nation to have a large and in- creasing rural population in comfortable circumstances ? When social and economic conditions strike at the people's growth, these conditions stand self-condemned.

An Explanation by Sarn Schoolmaster. Sir,—Under the heading "Sarn" you bad in last week's issue of your valuable paper a report of the Liberal demonstration at Sarn on the occasion of Mr David Davies' visit here on the day following the declaration of the poll. I must apologise for trespassing on your space, but there is one clause in that account which I should desire to explain. I refer to the words '• that the Empire flag was not flying on the flag- staff of the school playground." Exactly. Surely no one expected a political victory, either Liberal or Conservative, to be mal ked on the flagstaff of the School playground. But for considerable local misrepresentation I should have taken no notice of the matter, but as much capital has been made of the incident, I append the facts, which evidently led to the words above quoted, being included in the report com- municated to you. On the eve of Mr Davies' visit to Sarn I was informed by a prominent local politician of the result of the poll and asked to rua up the flag. I explained that at any time it gave pleasure to honour our respected squire, at whose coursing meeting here the flag is always hoisted, but tl at for either political party's rejoicings, I could not. as it would be associating the school with that party. The local! politician thereupon threatened me that I should hear more about it if the flag was not up on the morrow. Sir, I have lived in dread of the consequences ever since. The Vicar and such of the Managers to whom I have mentioned the matter quite agree with my view and to Mr Davies I have written, informing him that it was a question of principle and not of respect to himself, that was invoived.-I am, sir, yours truly, C. H. RIDDING. The School House, Sarn. February 10th, 1910.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. With the flush of Parliamentary victories yet upon them, Montgomeryshire Liberals ought to be in excellent fighting condition for the forthcoming County Council con- tests. The same sacred principles which they fought for three years ago have again to be vindicated, and Nonconformists, we feel sure, will once more rise to the height of their duty. It was hoped that by the time this election came round religious differences in the administration of educa- tion would have disappeared, and that all classes and sects would be working peace- fully and efficiently under a system of popu- ..J lar control, shared alike by Lburcnmen aim Nonconformists. But, thanks to a Bishop- ridden House of Lords, the Balfourian Education Act, for which there was abso- lutely no mandate, remains to block the realisation of that hope. More than 60 Church Schools in Montgomeryshire are battened upon the rates, notwithstanding which no Nonconformist's son or daughter is entitled to take a headship in any one of them. That is a flagrant injustice, which every loyal Nonconformist feels acutely, and which must determine him to maintain the undenominational supremacy on the County Council. In our Parliamentary elections we heard it asserted by many progressive Churchmen that they felt constrained to support the Tory candidates as a protest against Dis- establishment. Such reasoning is under- standable, though we by no means appre- ciate it. Will Tory Nonconformists act on the same impulse at this election ? To our mind, the Tory Nonconformist has always seemed a political incongruity ,but when he votes Tory on a question that primarily tests his religious principles, he is posi- tively indescribable. While, as on the last- occasion, Tories will affect to fight on an economic issue, their main object is to dominate the management of the schools. Extravagance in the maintenance of main roads and in the provision of new schools will be their war-cry in every constituency. Liberal maladministration and reckless ex- penditure will be the charges set up against the Nonconformist majority as best calcu- lated to inflame the feelings of a people burdened by abnormal rates. We shall deal minutely with this indictment when it takes specific shape. It was an intelligent anticipation," no doubt, born of Tory tactics three years since, and of particular criticism passed from time to time at the Council and Edu- cation Committee, that prompted Mr Richard Jones, the other day, to enlighten his constituents in Llanwnog upon financial administration. Mr Jones challenges op- ponents to combat the assertion that while county expenditure has largely increased during the last decade, not a penny has been unnecessarily spent. He also reminds us that the education rate remains at 8d in the E, although great improvements have been made upon schools, new schools erected, and the organisation immensely bettered that with the exception of Rad- norshire, Montgomeryshire exacts the low- est education rate of all Welsh counties, and that as regards road expenditure, the destructive flood of 1908, combined with motor traffic, accounts for much of the in- creased outlay. We are not to say that retrenchment cannot be effected in county finance, but during the last three years or more, conformity with the require- ments of the Education Department, the vital interests of the school children, and numerous other circumstances commanded an exceptional expenditure. The erection of new and sanitary schools, in substitution for unhealthy and comfortless buildings, the restoration of old ones, the provision of water supplies, and efficient equipment, scholastically and otherwise, are all splen- did investments, which will repay the out- lay an hundred fold. We shall, however, reserve an elaboration of this view until the Tory indictment sees the light. It is on dit that the Tories are deter- mined to make another bid for supremacy, encouraged by the apparent lightness of the task of securing four nef gains. Three years ago, it will be remembered that they conspired in secret up to the eleventh hour, and then launched an attack upon 19 Lib- eral seats. A net gain of six would have in- stalled them in power, and although the Liberals retaliated with contests in only three Tory divisions, they fell short of that number by four. Next week we shall be able to give approximately the number of probable contests, but meanwhile it is safe to say that on this occasion Liberals are not to be content with a mere defensive attitude.

NEWTOWN ELECTORAL WARDS. On the eve of another Urban Council election at Newtown, we are reminded that the venerable question of redistributing the electoral wards is still hanging fire. The committee to whom the matter was en- trusted anew a few months back have again failed to fulfil their remit either through lack of interest or want of time. We can conceive of no other reasonable excuse. How much longer is this farce to continue ? Year after year the question crops up like a hardy annual and disappears as quickly as it arises. Successive chairmen have toyed with it, and countless columns of newspaper correspondence have been filled with protests, but the rural members of the Council have successfully resisted every attempt to bring off the final decision. How admirably they have bluffed and beaten their urban brethren. It were time the Ratepayers Association took the matter in hand, and forced a decision. The ap- proaching election furnishes a favourable opportunity for a plain-worded overture.

THE CAUSE OF THE TOWNWARD DRIFT Slowly, but nevertheless, surely, the pro- gressive spirit is asserting itself in Welsh- pool. There men are no longer afraid to identify themselves in speech and action with striking departures from an old social and political manner which savoured of ob- sequiousness and semi-independence. The conservative atmosphere of the place is be- ing clarified by a forward movement, which originated in a wholesome restiveness with a sort of feudal survival. One finds an il- lustration of this in the admirable pro- gressive speech which Mr Alfred Jones de- livered at the social gathering of railway men the other evening. It requires a Pool- onian with no little courage to declare that the only cause of rural depopulation is the power of the landlord to refuse to let his land in as many cases as he likes, and to exact too high a rent in many other cases." But Mr Jones does not stop even there. He has nothing save scorn for the owner of land who adds farm to farm, in order to avoid personal trouble, or lives be- yond his rent-roll to an extent that is visited upon his tenantry in the form of neglected holdings. The farmhouse be- comes a wreck, the land is let to the neigh- bouring farmer, who has not sufficient capital to farm it properly, and you have the result of one family getting a living where two families existed before." That, says Mr Jones, is what has happened in scores of instances around Welshpool, with the result that the competition for small holdings gives rise to prohibitive rents. That is what has happened all the country over that is the sort of thing which is responsible for the human drift from coun- try to town such is the selfishness that has destroyed the old nurseries of rural labour, and desolated many a country-side once teeming with a happy and contented people anxious to dwell upon the land where they were born and reared, but com- pelled to flit for the comfort of a home worthy the name.

A FEW IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERATIONS. Small holdings provide for industrious and thrifty farm servants a permanent home, and the prospect of material advancement. At present they have but temporary dwell- ings varying circumstances force them to migrate -from district to district. One child is born here and another there, and when the family grow up there is no com- mon tie which attaches them to the spot they can call home. This constant move- ment is bad for the children morally and educationally. Moreover, life on a small holding breeds a spirit of healthy inde- pendence, encourages thrift, and develops individual resources. These are some con- siderations that might well stir a progres- sive County Council like ours to exploit the utmost benefits of the Small Holdings Act. But, as we have asserted a score of times, to make the Act a real success in Mont- gomeryshire the aim should be to group small holdings as much as possible, in order that they may be worked on a co-operative plan, for which the Act has made special provision. In Denmark, which has no dis- tinct advantage as to soil and climate, the prosperity of the country dates from the introduction of co-operative methods. Small holdings have for long existed on the continent, but it was co-operation which made them a success.

STRAIGHT HITTING. Speaking to the toast of the "Town and trade of Welshpool," Mr Jones stepped aside from the beaten track of the optimist who seeks to be happy in postprandial de- liverances, often, no doubt, at the expense of his own convictions that there are wrongs to be righted and remedies applied to so- cial ills and industrial grievances before his optimism can be realised. As a tradesman, Mr Jones laid strong hold of a spurious patriotism, and an equally inconsistent form of Protection, which are particularly mani- fest in Welshpool. Referring to the custom of well-to-do people in dispensing their household patronage afield, Mr Jones made no reserve of his feelings. There are many of these gentlemen," he remarked, who glory in British patriotism. but there is another patriotism which they can exhibit-a service which they owe to their neighbours—and that is by making their purchases at their neighbour's shop, and thus by circulating money locally, help to give employment to those who are en- gaged in the distributing trade of this dis- trict." A neatly worded and trenchant re- buke to the flamboyant Protectionists of Pool. Nor was Mr Jones sparing in his criticism of a Council which shows an amount of indifference to the "moral and intellectual development" of the community through the imposition of almost prohibitive restrictions upon the public use of public buildings. Democracy is not yet powerful enough, or, rather, not assertive enough, in Welshpool to break down the old conserva- tive domination, but there are unmistaka- ble signs of its growth. It will grow under the influence of men like Mr Alfred Jones, and, therefore, it is with pleasure we pub- lish the full test of his rousing speech in to-day's issue.

THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION. Friday's meeting of Mr Asquith and his ministers disposed of all the idle rumours concerning Cabinet dissensions. The Min- istry are absolutely united upon principle and policy, and enthusiastic in their un- swerving devotion to a brilliantly capable chief. Contrary to widespread opinion, the passage of the Budget occupies the premier place in the Government's intentions. It was upon the character of the Finance Bill that the Lords forced a. dissolution, and now that the country's verdict has been pro- nounced, its acceptance by the Peers will be a matter of form. A short debate will j suffice to send the Budget aloft," and fol- lowing its passage the question of the Lords' veto comes naturally in succession. Spec- ulation is busy with the probable attitude of the Irish party, based upon their demand for Home Rule. We cannot believe that Mr Redmond and the Nationalists are such consummate fools as to deliberately attempt the overthrow of a Government in sympathy with Irish needs, and so bring about a Tory regime under which they might be consigned to another prolonged sojourn in the political wilderness.

NEWTOWN REFUSE DESTRUCTOR. An unusually interesting special meeting of Newtown Council is summoned for Friday evening next, when chief of the subjects set down for discussion are the Medical Officer's report and the expert pronounce- ment upon the proposed refuse destructor. The latter; was evolved of a wise recom- mendation by the Ratepayers' Association, based upon first hand evidence, and having particular regard to strong opposition laid against the erection of the destructor within the gasworks' ground. This opposition has been upheld by the Wrexham expert, who advises the Council to abandon the idea of the river bank's site, for the reason that the working of the destructor would be liable to create a nuisance to people resident in its immediate neighbourhood. This central position was suggested by considerations of economy-the utilization of the gasworks' chimney, which the expert says would have answered admirably," and the saving of cartage costs. Can the Council still hold to it in face of that authoritative report? If they cannot, then to the estimated cost of the destructor there must be added the expense of con- structing a new chimney, and if the new site can only be acquired at some distance from the town, it may be impossible to re- duce the cartage expenditure. Mr England condemns the insanitary method of tipping public refuse in the open field, and as strongly advocates the provision of a des- tructor, so adapted to the needs of a small town that it can be worked continuously in- stead of intermittently. There are other important suggestions in his report which surround the question with additional fi- nancial difficulties, but we hope the Council may see their way to surmount these, and equip the town with this desirable innova- tion in sanitary administration.

MACHYHNIiLETH AGRIOULTURAL SHOW. THE SECRETARYSHIP. The annual meeting of the Machynlleth Agricultural Society was held on Wednes- day afternoon at the Vane Hall when there was a large attendance. Dr A. O. Davies presided over the first part of the meeting, and Mr John Jones, Glanmeherin, after- wards. The Secretary (Mr T. Parsons) submitted the balance sheet, which showed a balance in hand at the end of the previous year of Y.38 18s 4d. Subscriptions were received amounting to £ 79 19s 8d entry fees, £ 90 6s 6d gate money, £ 113 Os lid all the receipts totalling £ 376 15s 5d. In prize money was given F-189 17s 7d, the total ex- penses being £ 310 17s 7d, leaving a balance of P-65 17s lOd. Mr R. Jones, Towyn, proposed the adop- tion of the balance sheet, and considered that the Society was in a satisfactory finan- cial position. The substantial balance would be an encouragement for next year's show. The balance had been increased by over £30.. Mr Henry Evans, Escuan, seconded the proposition, which was agreed to. Mr F. M. Campbell, in proposing the re- election of Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest as president, said they all knew how much the whole district, and the show in par- ticular, was indebted to his Lordship, and the active interest he took in local welfare (hear, hear)) Mr Henry Evans seconded the proposi- tion, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr David Davies, M.P., was also re-ap- pointed vice-president. On the proposition of Dr Davies, seconded by Mr Richard Jones, Ynyshir, it was agreed to appoint Mr David Evans, Wern- iago, vice-chairman, as chairman of the Committee for the year. Mr M. E. Francis, Cemmesbychan, was elected vice-chairman, Mr Jones, Ynyshir, declining to accept office. Mr R. Jones was re-appointed. hon. veteri- nary surgeon. Mr Campbell proposed, and Dr Davies seconded, the re-appointment of Mr Parsons as secretary. Mr J. Matson asked whether Mr Parsons was willing to continue as secretary. The Secretary said it would give him great pleasure if the Society wished him to do so, but if the Society did not wish it he pre- ferred not to be appointed. Mr David Evans proposed an amendment that the post should be advertised, and was seconded by Mr John Jones, Dolgai. Nine voted for the proposition and twelve for the amendment, which was carried. It was then decided to advertise and offer the same salary, namely, £15. When considering the appointment of the Working Committee, the Secretary pointed out that only subscribers of 5s were eligible, according to rules, to act. He was sorry to say that some of those non-subscribers had voted against his re-appointment as secre- tary. Dr Davies said Mr Parsons had brought forward an important point. If anyone in the room had voted it was not fair, and the matter should be looked into. Replying to Mr Matson, the Secretary said that non-subscribers were appointed on the Committee last year through an over- sight. Mr R. Jones agreed that it was not right for non-subscribers. He asked whether their names could be ascertained? The Secretary replied that he could fur- nish the names if necessary. Mr Edward Hughes We do not want another split about this. The Secretary intimated that he would remain a member of the Society whether he was re-appointed or not. Mr J. G. Jenkins pointed out that the rule applied to voting in the Working Committee and not in general meetings. Mr Matson said if the voting was irregular with regard to the secretaryship it was also irregular regarding the previous business. After further discussion, it was decided to re-appoint all the members of the Working Committee, provided they subscribed. Mr Jones, Ynyshir, explained that he was not a subscriber, because he considered that he was sufficiently fined in the amount of entry fees be paid. In Merioneth subscri- bers were not charged entry fees. He did not intend subscribing so long as he was a competitor in the show. Mr Richard Gillart said that was a general grievance among farmers who considered they were penalised in having to pay entry fees and subscribe. There were others, how- ever, who neither subscribed nor paid entry fees. It was a matter which ought to be considered. Subject to the President's approval, it was agreed to hold this year's show on Wednesday, August 17th. A vote of thanks was passed to the President, on Mr Camp- bell's proposition, and a like compliment was paid to the Chairman and other officials on the proposition of Dr Davies. It was I agreed to allow an honorarium of El Is to Mr J. R. Leighton for auditing the accounts.

ASSAULTING A MOTOR. NEWTOWN MAGISTRATES REPROVE YOUNG POLITICIANS. The smashing of the windows in a motor- car on the Pool-road after the declaration of the Boroughs' election poll provided a sequel at Newtown Sessions on Friday. The hear- ing lasted from 6-30 until 9-30. The Bench was occupied by Messrs R. Lloyd (presid- ing), W. P. Phillips, A. Ford, and John Humphreys. Stuart Edwards (16), John Arthur Ben- nett (16), James Pearcey (20), Owen Blayney (19), Marshall Phillips (15), George Williams (20), Edward Andrew (16), Harry Bolton (19), were charged by D.C.C. Williams with hav- ing done wilful damage to the motor-car of Mr Edward Jones on January 22nd. All the defendants pleaded not guilty one after another, and were defended by Mr Sydney H. Jarvis (of Messrs Powell and Jarvis). The first witness was Mr Martin Woosnam. He said he remembered on the 22nd of January coming in a motor-car belonging to Mr Edward Jones, Maesmawr Hall, from Montgomery. He sat on the front of the car on the knee of Mr Thomas, of Cardiff, Mr Edward Jones, his wife, three children, the governess, and the Deputy Chief Con- stable were on the car. Just after passing the Cemetery at about 2-30 p.m., there were a number of young men ranged on the right hand side of the road. As soon as the car came opposite these young men they com- menced to throw mud, and, as events turned out, half- a brick. He recognised Williams and another among the defendants in Court. There must have been a score on the right hand side. One of the windows was broken on the left hand side and one on the right. Mrs Jones and the governess were very much frightened. After proceed- ing 30 or 40 yards the car stopped. He threw his coat on the car and went to try and catch the boys. He first came to town on the car and then ran back after them. By that time they had disappeared like a mist Cross-examined: He could only identify two of the defendants that day. He had pointed neither out to the deputy, and did not even know their names at the time. Some of those who were not summoned were not present that day. He could not point to a ringleader. The car was going slowly they slowed down considerably after pass- ing the cemetery. He did not suggest that it was because he was on the car that the mud and stones were thrown. THE CHASE. D.C.C. Williams said that on the day in question he was inside the car. When the car was opposite Jarman's building he saw 20 or thirty boys interfering with a gentle- man on a bicycle. He noticed them stoop- ing down and picking something up. He got up to get out of the car, but found the door was locked. He then tapped the win- dow to let the boys know he was in the car. The only boys he recognised were Stuart Edwards and Pearcey. There were several with their hands up. Some of the clods and mud came through and struck one of the little girls under the eye. The two windows on the right of the car were broken. They stopped opposite the first cottage on Pool-road. He got out and saw the boys running, and some of them on the rope walk. He went across and caught two of the boys, and Mr Edward Jones brought up another two. The boys whom witness caught gave their names as Jack Hanks and Erny Woodhouse, while Mr Jones caught Harry Jones and Sydney Evans. None of these boys appeared as defendants. None of the stones were found in the car, only mud and clods. Cross-examined by Mr Jarvis: Stones were thrown at the car, though none were found inside. He found out who the gen- tleman on the bicycle was whom the boys were trying to get off. Stuart Edwards was about the middle of the crowd. He did not suggest that Jack Hanks and the other little boys had been throwing stones, but he caught them running away. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. Erny Woodhouse (13) said he lived with his aunt in Stone-street, and was on the Pool-road with a gang of other boys when Mr Edward Jones' car came up. In the gang of boys who went down the road he saw Stuart Edwards, and he mistook another boy for John Arthur Bennett. Bennett was not there, as he had told him (laughter). He did not see anybody ac- tually throwing stones. Cross-examined: He saw Stuart Edwards and the boy he mistook for Arthur Bennett after the motor car had passed. By the Bench: He changed his mind in the belief that he had seen John Arthur Bennett that same night. Jack Hanks said he remembered going down Pool-road with other boys. Jim Pearcey, Owen, Blayney, and George Wil- lianls were in the company, when Mr Ed. Jones' motor car came up. He saw the windows of the car going in he could see that some of the boys were throwing some- thing. He saw the car stopping by "Johnny Pilot's," and ran up the rope walk. Cross-examined: Pearcey, Blayney, and Williams were together on the road. He last saw the boys when he was by Pilot's field, but he did not see them after there- fore when the car was being smashed he did not see Blayney, Pearcey, and Williams there. Harry Jones (13) said he was with Sydney Evans at Mr Roberts' gate, and among the boys who walked down the Pool-road he identified Williams, Pearcey, and Blayney. He saw the car pass, but did not know what happened to it. The gang of boys ran away, and among the boys he say the three he had named. Cross-examined: He had not seen the boys throwing at the car. FLED FROM MISCHIEF. By the Bench: All the boys, to the num- ber of about nine, ran away when Mr Ed. Jones' car passed. He heard some windows in the car breaking. Marshall Phillips was also among the boys running away. Sydney Evans (12) said he was by Jar- man's gate when he saw the motor-car coming. He saw the windows going in through boys throwing clods. Among those boys he saw Marshall Phillips. Cross-examined: He always ran away when mischief was about. By the Bench: He saw some of the boys throwing stones and clods. Griffith Jones (17), a youthful woolsorter, said that in consequence of seeing the win- dows of a car smashed, he had chased boys down the Pool-road and across the fields by the Parson's Bridge. He got within 100 yards of some of the boys, and recognised Harry Bolton and Andrew. He chased them over the Parson's Bridge to the tow- ing path. The two mentioned turned round, and that was how he knew them. Cross-examined: He first saw the motor car at Jones Bros. it might have been half-past three. This might have been an hour after the windows were broken. Leslie Bright said he also gave chase three-quarters of an hour after the car was smashed. He recognised among some of the boys on the towing path Bolton and Andrew. Mr Frank Jones, ironmonger, assessed the damage done to the car at three guineas. Two of the windows were broken, and also the frames of the windows. The car also appeared to, have been hit by stones on the outside. MR. JARVIS'S SUGGESTION. Mr Jarvis then addressed the Bench. He said that he would like to suggest a way out of the matter. He would ask the Bench to give the boys a severe talking to, and allow him, on behalf of Colonel Pryce-Jones, to pay the cost of the damage done and the costs of the proceedings. A fine levied upon the boys would not be so serious a matter for them as for their parents. Three of them had no father, and they were supporting I large families. He did not wish to condone the conduct of the boys for a minute, but he wished to associate himself with what Mr Woosnam had said earlier in the day, that it was a great pity that so much personal bitterness in the Boroughs election should exist, and if they could do anything to put a stop to it they would all be only too thank- ful. He thought in the first place that the fault lay with the elders, for if there was not bitterness among them there would not be bitterness among the children. Mr Jarvis also contended that the evidence against Bolton and Bennett was not sufficient to convict. The Chairman Are we to take it from your remarks that you have no defence to offer for the other six boys ? Mr Jarvis I think it would save a great deal of time if your Worships could accept the suggestion. The Chairman, after consulting his three fellow magistrates, then addressed the eight offenders, who stood up in line, and im- pressed upon them the seriousness of their offence. They might have caused some per- manent injury to the occupants of the car, who might have been maimed for life or lost their eyesight through the glass flying into the car. The Bench were satisfied that they could not have realised the seriousness of what they were doing. Nevertheless, the offence was the same, and no defence had been offered for some of them, which was practically an admission that they were there and had taken part. He did not know whether they knew that a very heavy fine could be imposed upon them or they could be sent to prison. After carefully going into the matter they had come to the conclusion that they would let them go, and dismiss the case on the payment of the damages which had been incurred and the costs in the case. The costs in each case came to 7s 8d, and the damage done £ 3, which, when divided among the eight, came to 7s 6d each. To Mr Jarvis Do you undertake to pay the money ? Mr Jarvis Yes, I undertake to pay all of that, sir. The result was received with suppressed applause in the body of the Court.

Newtown Urban Council Election. Sir,—To compromise or not to compromise- that is the question which many people are asking in connection with the Urban Council election next month. Heretofore the Liberal and Conser- vative Associations have ruled the roost by decid- ing, without authority from the ratepayers, who shall be chosen to sit on the Iwats of onr local Parliament by compromising with each other. I say, sir, they have no right to arrogate to them- selves such authority, and I am surptised that the general ratepayers have tolerated this treatment. Compromises render it very difficult to success- fully run independent candidates,, and these are just the kind of men we need un our Council. I trust that the Ratepayers' Association will rustrate the action of these political bodies at this election by nominating, if it thinks fit, candidates of its own. Hoping you will print these few lines, I am yours, &c., VOTER.

Wanted, a Field Club. Sir,—The formation a few years ago of a Welshpool Field Club, of the success ot which I know nothing, must have suggested to the minds of many in this district the possibility of starting a similar club at Newtown. Although Mont- gomeryshire is none too well stored with arch- aeological remains, what we have has been dili- gently exploited by the Powyslan Club in their transactions known as the Montgomeryshire Collections. Thus we have a Norman Arcade (1100) in Kerry Church, some transitional work (1150) in Bettws Church, early English Columns (1200), and the beautiful rood-screens in the Churches of Llanwnog and Llananno (1500). Then besides the Roman Camp at Caersws recently excavated, there are the earth-works known as the Gro Lumps, Newtown, the Cloddia, Llanllwch- aiarn, the Giant's Bank, Llanmerewig, Cefn Carnedd, and the Moats, Llandinam, all of great antiquity. Kerry Parish, too, derives its name from the numerous forts and castles within its borders. Montgomery Castle and Church, Dol- forwyn Castle, Mitchell's Fold on Corndon, and tbe Chained Library at Chirbury, are all worth visiting. Ancient houses abound, such as Gre- ynog, Park Pen Pryse, Upper Bryn, the Gwestydd, Cwniydalfa. and Penygraig, Mochdre. These, and similar objects further atield. would repay a visit, and those learned in such subjects would tell us of the Flora, Fauna, and geological formation of the different places. When at home I should be only too pleased to get up the his- torical and archaeological point of view, and doubt- less others could be found willing to contribute their share. A general meeting might be held, officers appointed, a programme for the coming summer drawn up, and, if need be, a small sub- scription fixed to pay for printing expenses, etc., for it would be well to advertize the fixtures in the local press as hunting engagements are now treated. If such a Field Club already exists, it does not make itself sufficiently known.—I am, yours, BASIL EVAN JONES, The Vicarage, LlanllWchaiatn, Feb. 11th, 1910. NEWTOWN PAVEMENTS. Sir,—I see from your account of the Urban Council that the members of the Streets' Committee were good enough to give attention to my complaint about the dilapi- dated state of the pavement opposite the coal wharf. But I do regret that they dis- miss the question by merely repudiating liability. It is not, they say, within their jurisdiction. Whether this is part of the main roads for the repair of which the Council get so much a year from the County Council, I cannot say-you, sir, will per- haps be able to inform me but whether or not that portion of pavement is within the town, I contend that it is the dutv of 'r the Streets' Committee to see that this dan- gerous hole is made good by apprising the County Surveyor of its condition. Suppose the Streets' Committee saw that the Long Bridge was in a dangerous state. Would they simply be content with the knowledge that it belongs to the County Council, who would be responsible for any accident ? They may tell me that this is the duty of the Newtown representatives on the County Council, but that is not enough. The Streets' Committee surely have a duty, and they ought to have summoned attention to this bad pavement.—Yours truly, A RATEPAYER.

SEEN AND HEARD. Netbiag extenmate, nor set down aught m malice. 8m KESFBA&a. Some of my intimate Conservative friends, though taking their defeat with exemplary grace, yet affect to derive a tankard of satisfaction from the thought that the Lib- eral Government is existent upon the will of the Irish Nationalists. In other words, they claim a moral victory, and that not- withstanding in all England the Tories have a majority of only something like a baker's dozen. An unlucky number Colonel Pryce- Jones thinks, but there it is. They decline to calculate the majority with the Irish included, in which event they forget that the elections in England, Scotland, and Wales gave the Government an excess of over 60. But whatever way it may be looked at, they claim a moral win. Self deception can be carried to a pretty extent when one is resolved to get around a displeasing fact. You remember how George IV., who never witnessed anything more dreadful in warfare than a sham fight, latterly got it into his head that he led the cavalry charge at Waterloo. My Conserva- tive friends similarly imagine that they have won. You may recollect, too, how Napoleon used to deceive the Parisians when fortune was going, against him. But the Parisians had not the ready means of ascertaining the truth. Here we have the Tory defeat em- blazoned for all who read, and Mr Cham- berlain himself has written the lamentation of a Tariff Reformer. Peers versus People, and Protection versus Free Trade were the issues set up for the country's pronounce- ment, and Liberalism has triumphed with a majority of 124. That is what my Tory friends claim as a moral win. Well, all that occurs to me to say is that Liberal- ism can stand a long succession of such misfortunes. What do you think ? I never quarrel with any man's ideas about religion and creeds, unless they are demon- strably narrow. In their narrowness they may be tolerable enough so long as they are not aggressive, because most of us have narrow conceptions of particular things, at any rate in the minds of our friends. But religious opinions are to me insufferable when that narrowness assumes a captious criticism, a righteous arrogance which frowns upon and rails at anything and every- thing that takes the least license with orthodox piety. Orthodoxy I have a mind to reach down my volume of Burns or Carlyle and show you its insufferable nar- rowness, and the inconsistencies that are practised in its name. Orthodox is the nom de plume of a correspondent who writes me a sneering epistle upon the P.S.E," which he descries as not in the truest sense religious," because "it appeals to the young people more as an entertainmeilt than a devout institution." What unmitigated nonsense this is The waste paper basket by my side yawns to receive it, and will have it by and by. Almost every innovation in religious life is assailed by the croaker who, whatever he may be in commercial life, wears an ortho- dox Sabbath face and points the reproachful finger at all on whose countenances there sits anything but dismal piety. If the P.S.E." is but an entertainment, it is one that has my heartiest sympathy. If it is not in the truest sense religious" it is good enough for me, and I daresay it serves religion better than, many other stereotyped orthodox forms. Narrowness is a form of moral blindness or obliquity, and I hate it as heartily as I hate every form of vice. There are pftrns creatures who squirm to hear a band play "Lead, Kindly. Light," on a Sunday. Such as they would deny me the ineffable joy of looking through nature up to nature's God" on the Sabbath, and they would be shocked to be told that some- times I write on the Sabbath what they feel interested to read on the Monday. Verily, we are a family of queer people, but the queerest of all are the narrowest. Con- tinued success to the" P.S.E. which reaches and impresses and holds many an imperfect soul, to whom the stereotyped prayer and the droning sermon are a weari- ness of the flesh. A Newtown friend of mine, as truthful as he is observant, reports having seen the Daylight Comet" from the crest of the Bryn. This mysterious visitant, whose head is reputed to be as big as the earth, he sighted close to the horizon, in strong twi- light, at about N.S.W. The head appeared rather brighter than Mars, and in the tele- scope was found to be composed of a well- defined planetary nucleus, surrounded by a nebulous envelope, the tail shining conspic- uously, making an angle of something like forty degrees with the vertical towards the south. I note that Sir Robert Ball says that this comet, which was first discovered at Johannesburg, is "most certainly a new comet, and one of those which pass our system once, and after a brief sojourn dis- appear, not again to return." The birds have burst forth in their con- nubial melodies, the early spring flowers are responding to the touch of the strengthening sunbeam, the gardener is busy preparing his beds for the good seed, and awaking nature once more rejoices us with the thought that winter is passing, and with the contemplation of another season of warmth and beauty. The ploughman catches the inspiration of spring, and whistles cheerily in the rear of his glossy-coated team in the meadows the kine rollick with the joy of their new-found freedom in the open, while the monarch of the herd stands like an amused spectator of their daftness, but ready to summarily dispel any unautho- rised intruder on the hillsides the fleecy flocks are bleating the prelude to their domesticities, and the shepherd and his faithful collie keep watch for the coming of the tender little lambs the river is giving up that bluish winter colour, which speaks of snow and cold, and mirrors the golden furze that rambles along its twining shores. There's no time like Spring, When life's alive in everything, Before new nestlings sing, Beiofe cleft swallows speed their journey back, Along the trackless track. Luim SxLjzpjL

May (Violet) Charlesworth and her mother Miriam Charlesworth, appeared before the Derby Bench to answer charges of fraud and fraudulent conspiracy, preferred at the instance of the Public Prosecutor.