The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. I MR. BUCKLEY'S HOUNDS WILL MEET (Weather and water permitting) Aug. 23rd, at 7-15 Ynyslas 25th, at 8 Mouth of Camlad „ 26th, at 8.30.Hockleton Bridge

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Y.M.C.A. FOR NEWTOWN—No name being attached, your letter is omitted. LIVE AND LET LIVE (WELSHPOOL).-Held over. D. R. JONEs.-P,eceived too late for insertion. Letters relating to Advertisements or Subscriptions should be directed—"The Manager, Express and Tinies Office, Newtown." Correspondence on other masters should be directed —"The Editor, Express and Times Office, Newtown". Cheques, Postal, and Post-office Orders should be made payable to Phillipd and Son."

THE PARLIAMENTARY HOLIDAY. ON Thursday Parliament assembled for a short time, and was again prorogued. It zn will meet again in November, but it is un- likely that any serious attempt will be made to start with the business to be dealt with before the beginning of next year. Members of Parliament, therefore, who have had a very exhausting experience during the last month will now be allowed a little breathing time in which to recruit their energies, and to prepare themselves for the heavy work to be put before them when the House really starts business. The holiday will come as a welcome relief not only to the members immediately concerned, but to the country at large. Over the whole surface of the country the tendency seems to be towards increasing bitterness in political life. As we have pointed out on more than one occasion, the political ele- ment, which is proper and necessary when kept within its proper confines, has during recent years been pushed forward to absurd extremes, and the mischief resulting from such a policy must be apparent to all who witness it. Instead of awakening the people to political activity, it will soon become necessary to exercise some checking influ- ence, so as to reduce the study and practice of politics to its legitimate sphere, and to arrest the mischievous processes which in many cases are in course of operation. In- stances are plentiful throughout the country of otherwise estimable men resorting, under the exciting influences of political struggle, to practices from which they would in their usual frame of mind shrink away, and which they probably live to regret after- wards. Private friendships are largely in-1 terfered with, commercial concerns are not' infrequently seriously affected, public move- ment fall in many cases to the ground, the! peace of religious communities is seriously disturbed, and many other unfortunate re- sults are witnessed—and all because of this undue political zeal, or rather political bitterness. In this town and county political feeling probably never ran so high as it has done during the last few years. In days gone by the scenes at the election times were undoubtedly more violent, but the feeling subsided with the declaration of the poll, and business and friendship resumed the even tenour of their way. Now we re- gret to say it is very difficult. The political contests are not only bitter, but, worst still, they are continuous, and from the begin- ning to the end of each year partisanship is active and militant. The effect upon public movements is very marked, and equally deplorable. In matters of common citizenship, in which the in- terests of all should be identical, party issues make their appearance felt with the result that if the movement is not wrecked, at least the pleasure of promoters is very much diminished, aud the results, owing to division, much less substantial than they might be. If these results are to be found Z!1 in small areas, the influence upon the country as a whole must be disastrous. That political strife injures the internal commerce of the country is the almost universal testimony of commercial experts based upon their observations of the in- fluence upon national trade of a General Election, for instance. In face of considerations like these, it is gratifying to think that for a short time at least there will be a lull in the political world, and the country will have time to recover somewhat of the equilibrium which it has lost during the election. There are those who argue in favour of Parliament I sitting more continuously than it does at present; but, in the way of realising this end, there are many serious difficulties. While the House is sitting, a Member's life —that is, if he attempts to discharge his duties properly—embraces a good deal of really hard work, and he needs periods of relaxation. A continuous sitting of Parlia- Z, ment would have the effect of excluding many valuable Members from retaining their seats —such as business and professional men who can spare a portion, but cannot give the whole, of their time to Parliamentary work. It would also mean an additional strain upon the national life. Party politics, in our view, already occupy a sufficient amount of public attention, and these occasional re- lapses in Parliamentary work enable the thought country to be turned-with profit, too-to other less exciting subjects of national interest, and allow the heat which political contests always engender to cool down somewhat. We should imagine that the most ardent politician in the land would not begrudge our representatives a brief I rest before the new Ministry takes up the reins of office. The struggle in front of us is likely to be a very severe one, and though we have little doubt as to what the ultimate result will be, we shall have to witness a good deal of agitation aud serious warfare before it is accomplished.

IT is reported that. Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, M.P.. has been elected a member of the Carlton Club. THE Right Hon. Lord Sudeley and party are stay, ing at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel for the shooting season. Canon T. Warren Trevor, vicar of Machynlleth, and Rev. Thomas Edwards, rector of Llanfyllin, have been elected proctors for the diooese of Bangor "THESE LITTLE ONES." IN to-day's issue we report fatal accidents to two little children-one aged three years, and the other one-and-a-half. The former was a, little boy, son of Mr. BENNETT, a French polisher, residing in Stone-street. Newtown. While playing with two companions on Kerry-road, on Saturday week, and in the act of crossing the street he was caught by the Bear's Head 'bus, and sus- tained injuries which, in the course of a few minutes, terminated fatally. The latter was a baby put out to nurse, near Bishop's Castle. While its foster-mother was washing it com- menced playing with a pot of boiling water which upset, and scalded it in sev. ral places. Such remedies as the guardian could think of were applied, but they were very crude, including the application of turpentine to the wounds, and a resort to a local charmer. After lingering for a few days, this little child also succumbed. In both cases death was the result apparently of pure accidents, and the juries found no fault with anyone. THE LLANBRYNMAIR CHAPEL DISPUTE. To-DAY we give further particulars respecting this now notorious dispute, from which it will be seen that Mrs SEYHQUR-DAVI.ES seems quite determined to go on with the action, and assert her legal rights. Messrs WILLIAMS, GITTINS, and TAYLOR, of Newtown, who have charge of the defence, have been served with a writ, and the document is accompani-d by a letter setting forth the position of Mrs DAVIES, in reply to the com- ments which the Welsh Press have made upon her action. These comments are at the present juncture extremely unfortunate, as they render the task of coming to an amicable understanding, which is not at all out of the question, much more difficult than it otherwise would be. If it can possibly be arranged, it would be much better to avoid a fight, which cannot but engender very warm feelings, and may produce injurious results which it will take a long period to efface. THE COUNTY COUNCIL ACTION. IN to-day's issue we publish a lengthy series of correspondence which passed between the County Council of Montgomery and the owners of the Public Rooms, relative to the use of this building for certain county purposes. The points in dis- pute, as our readers are aware, were argued out in the Court of Queen's Bench, and in the Court of Appeal, and on both occasions the Council failed to establish their claim. The mat er has now been finally settled. It is not, as Mr POWELL points out, a desirable thing, as a rule, for litigants to discuss their disputes, after these have been officially determined, in the public press. The present correspondence, however, can hardly be described as of a controversial character. It is published merely with the object as far as we can gather, of putting before the public the points in dispute, and enabling them to judge of the merits of the case, and the attempts to effect a conciliation which were made prior to the trial. HARVEST PROSPECTS. IN another column, a tenant farmer, who is well qualified to speak with authority, details, in the course of an interview with one of our representa- tives, his estimate of the harvest of 1892. His general conclusion is that, although in some cases certain kinds of crops have not turned out so well as might be wished, on the whole there is every reason to anticipate a good average harvest. The strange point in the interview is our informant's contention that although the present harvest is admitted to be satisfactory, the position of the farmer is worse to-day than it has been within the memory of the present generation. This, how- ever will be explained more fully in a second interview which he proposes to give our represen- tative. THE CLERGY DISCIPLINE ACT. THIS Act which raised so much opposition in certain quarters, will come into force next month, and, in view of the grave charges now pending against clergymen of the Established Church, Ily comes into force not a day too soon. The tedious- ness, uncertainty, and expense of ejecting from otice a criminous clerk have been so great as to practically prohibit any attempt to eject him, and to enable numbers of persons, thoroughly unworthy of the sacred office,to retain their livings in defiance of their parishioners and their ecclesiastical superiors. It will now be possible for bishops to deal effectually with such characters, the new mode of procedure being simple, brief, and decisive. The Ecclesiastical Courts may now take account of and officially act upon the decisions of the civil courts. In case of conviction," we are told, by a temporal court the certificate of such con- IC viction is forwarded to the Bishop, who will immediately pronounce sentence of deposition, in his Consistory Court. When there has been no conviction in a temporal court, the Bishop him- self tries the case with, if demanded, five assessors to aid in determining questions of fact." THE DRINK BILL FOR 1891. WITH the view of enabling the public to realize something of the fearful extent of the drink traffic in Great Britain, the National Bulletin publishes the following astounding figures :—One hundred t', 13 11 and forty-one millions two hundred and twenty thousand six hundred and seventy-five sovereigns spent in intoxicating drmks during the year 1891. An increase of nine millions in two years. Its weight in sovereigns-1,106 tons-would load six trains of 35 waggons, 5t ton each waggonload. Its acreage, sovereigns laid edge to edge, 16-1 acres, would cover a road 30 feet wide 4t miles long; or would cover a railway "four-foot" way for a distance of 29i miles. Its length, sovereigns face to face, 131 miles, or make a cable reaching from Belfast to Blackpool. Its time to count without ceasing, Sundays excepted, one sovereign per second, 5t years. Its amount for each letter in the Bible, J339 12s. Its amount per head cf population, £3 14s lOd." Who will not say, after this, that in the presence of the great drink question, every other question is dwarfed, and comparatively of remote importance ? IS THE VOTE DEGRADING TO WOMAN ? The Woman's Herald, referring to a letter which recently appeared in our columns, says :— A lady signing herself Eve," writing to the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor limes, and of a different type from the Welsh ladies gener- ally, says: In my opinion it is degrauirg* to women to go to the polling booth. I went once myself to give a municipal vote, but the feeling of shame I then felt going among a lot of men made me feel it was the first and the last time I would ever vote." Now we once voted municipally too, and came away with the idea that we could have voted for a parliament man quite well. But the cream of "Eve's" letter is yet to be skimmed: I think we can safely leave the voting to the men, for they were made to protect women, and to be put between her and every unpleasantness." Here we must again join issue on every one of these counts. We cannot leave the voting safely to the men. We advise Eve to read up the legislation of 1873 and see if the Acts passed in that year made for woman's safety and security. Our views of what are popularly known as "Women's Rights" are already well-known to our readers. We have always held the absolute equality of men and women in matters of citizen- ship; but many who hold these views wrong!v assume that equality meaus similarity. No amount of legislation can make man aud woman identical there must ever be in the main different spheres of action, and different types of activity if the special gifts of the two sexes are to be properly employed. It is possible, however, to acknowledge, as fully as nature herself doe", this essential differ- ence, and yet, at the same time, to allow perfect justice and equality to prevail as regards che position of both men and women. We have no sympathy with those who would obliterate the distinctions which have grown up and are both natural and proper. Two of the greatest anomalies that can be witnessed is the effeminate man and the masculine woman. The former will rarely fail in earning the contempt of women; while the latter can always rely upon being cordially detested by men. Referring recently to a case in France in which a woman attired as a man got into a hospital, a correspondent of the Telegi-aph says "it is common in the district for robust women to don men's garb in order to obtain remunerative employment as navvies, porters, farm labourers, road menders, or assistants to bricklayers, masons, and builders. It has long been established that the average Frenchwoman of town or country has as great a capacity for work either in counting- houses, shops, fields, or farms as her lord and master has for lolling in the cafes, playing dominoes and smoking cigarettes." MR. JOHN MORLEY OUR FUTURE M.P. THE nominations and objections in the New- castle election are to be received to-day, and the polling takes place on Thursday. The interest in the fate of Ir. JOHN MORLEY is very great throughout the kingdom, but to the electors of Montgomeryshire the event is likely to be one of special moment, if a rumour which was current on Saturday has any truth in it. This rumour states that a private arrangement has been come to, whereby,should Mr JOHN MORLEY be defeated, as is not at all unlikely, Mr STUART RENDEL, the present county member, will be elevated to the peerage, and Mr MORLEY will be invited to take his place as member for this county. Mr MORLE Y, since his declaration to Mr RENDEL from Leeds some years ago in favour of the Liberal party making Disestablishment one of its active objects, has been a consistent friend to the cause Wales has so much at heart, and his appearance in the l'ole of a Welsh Member would be a great distinc- tion to Montgomeryshire, and an additional guarantee of the Church question being dealt with at the earliest possible moment. At the same time this county will much regret to part with Mr STUART RENDEL, who, since he redeemed it from the thraldom of the WYNNS, has been a faithful representative, and has proved an exceptionally effective servant of the general cause of Wales.

THE HARVEST IN MONTGOMEKYSHIRE. INTERVIEW WITH A LOCAL FARMER. We are enabled to give this week the substance of an interview a representative of the Express and Times had with a local farmer, who has had quite forty years' experience in his craft, has carefully followed the course of agriculture during the whole of that time, and has devoted special attention to the difficulties which a lengthened course of depression in prices has made it neces- sary for him and his brother-farmers to face. Inquiring, in the first instance, as to the char. acter of the harvest, our representative received the following reply:— Clovers this year were cut and harvested in good condition. The crop of Meadow Hay was in most instances a light one, although, person- any, I had some meadows with an average crop. The whole, however, has this year been harvested well, except, perhaps, by those who were in too great a hurry, and carted it too soon. Was the harvest at all late ? It commenced late, but it was finished earlier than last year on account of the better weather, which, although good, was not forcing weather. On the average farms the harvest finished about a fortnight or three weeks ago, but in the outer districts it was, as usual, later, because growth on the more rural holdings is so much slower. As to the Grass Keep ? The grass keep, I am afraid, is very scarce, and the creatures have not recovered from the thin state in which they went out in May, and they are not likely to do so this summer. Feeding cattle are putting on little or no flesh, and the cows milk badly. Is there any particular reason you can assign for this ? Nothing but the cold husky dry weather, and the fact that this season we have had far less than the average rainfall. Now as regards Roots ? Well, in the first place, there are no 3Ianyolds grown in this neighbourhood. With regard to Sivedcs, the earlier sown did well, and will be heavy crops. The later ones are very gappy," and will be very small. Common Turnips are doing well. Potatoes appear healthy, and likely to produce an abundant crop. Then the grain harvest-how is thzz likely to turn out ? There was but little Wheat sown in the autumn on account of the excessively wet weather con- sequently the acreage of wheat must appear very much less than the average. The prospects I should say are fair; probably the Times estimate will be the correct one—" 12 per cent. under average." It is very backward, and there will be very little cut until September. It will probably, too, be late in that month, as most of the fields as yet are green. Barley ? There are some good crops of barley, the cutting of which has been already commenced. There will probably this season be some good samples. Oats ? Oats is a good average, and appears likely to yield well. The greater part has been already cut, or will be in the course of a few days. Peas are a good crop also, and with a fortnight of good weather, will be harvested well. They are not grown for sale, but for home feeding. Ecans are not grown much in this neighbourhood. Is the cultivation of grain still falling off ? There is undoubtedly a reduced area under cultivation-due to the low prices it now obtains and the increased cost of labour. Will it be a good season for Fruit ? No; on the contrary, fruit is again a failure. Bush fruit did fairly well, and plums are expected to be good but apples and pears are practically a failure. We have really had only two good fruit years in the last twelve. What about the prospects for the coming winter as regards keep, etc.? In consequence of farmers being over-stocked keep is likely to be rather scarce, especially if we have a hard winter and if roots should not yield satisfactorily, we may have a repetition of last winter's experience. Is there any particular reason for the largeness of the present stock ? Well, the reason is that a few years ago store cattle were at a premium, which caused farmers to breed largely. Now they are unsaleable and remain upon their hands. The cause, shortly stated, is over-production on the part of the farmers and scarcity of grass keep on the part of the buyers. We have more and they want less. Consequently those who are compelled to sell have to take very low prices, as those who have attended the recent local fairs unfortunately know too well, and we are not likely to have any improvement until the early part of next summer, even if then. May I say that on the whole you have had a good average season ? Yes, I think you may, considering the character of the seasons. You must bear in mind that there 1 has been a distinct retrogression in the character of our seasons for the last fourteen years. Since the disastrous season of 1S79, they seem never to have returned to what taiy were before that period. We have scarcely a day now without thick clouds, cold chilling east winds, alternating with occasional sunshine and warm sultry weather. "N e have scarcely any of that hot clear weather, which we enjoyed previously. One portion of the day we have warm, sultry, developing weather, and then the growth is blighted by cold weather afterwards. Of course, there are some kinds of I grain which do better in humid rather than clear hot weather. For instance, oats has done better, but generally there has been a decline from the time I have mentioned. Once again, on the whole you have had and will have a good harvest, so far as you can judge ? Yes, a good average harvest. Then I suppose you farmers v.-ill now cease to grumble and be satisfied ? Cease to grumble and be satisfied Why the prospects of farmers (speaking with an energy which somewhat alarmed tile present writer) were never worse within the memory of the present generation. But doesn't that seem somewhat of an incon- sistent position to take up ? Here you have had. as you freely admit, a good average harvest, and anyone would naturally presume that this meant a satisfactory state of agriculture generally. If anyone does presume that, then the pre- sumption, like many another, is entirely a mistaken one. If you can spare me a little time I will very soon convince you of the truth of what I say. In the first place-- My agricultural friend was about to give me a lengthy dose of statistics and arguments, for which I was not just then prepared so, gently declining to be convinced at that moment, 1 left, promising to call in a day or two to take for publication a few further notes as to "1 he general position of the farmer at present," which shall appear next week. LW e shall be glad if any other farmers will favour us with their opinions on the points dealt with above.—ED]

MR. BUCKLEY'S OTTER HOUNDS. On Saturday la,t the meet was at Pool Quiy, and bounds were laid on about a mile below the station. The Severn at tbi- point winds about a great deal, and considerable time elapsed before the Pool Quay weir was reaclied. All the way up to this point there was not. much scent, though here and there it was a bit fresher. About two pools above the or rather I should say the place where the weir used to be, the hounds found an otter in a willow bed and ran him into the wat-;r withoat anv of the field viewing him and hunted him up and down the pool for some tim, lie made Severn! attempts to pass down the river int) be pool below, which was a Ion? one and difficult to huat an otter in owing to the busnes on the banks, but was prevented by two or three of the field who had been placed in the shallow water between the two pools. At iength, however, i-,e m,.ina-,ei to pti.,s without bei:.g viewed and was bustled about by the pack at the top end of the pool. Some verv pretty hunting then took place nearly all the hounds in lull cry swimming him up and down the pool, occasionally he was viewed by one of the field as he vented under a bush and showed signs of having had enough of it. At length he came out under a bash au to It shelf of mud a:;oat two feet wide, and was immediately pinned by one of the terriers and a young: hound. The rest of the pack were soon on him and in order that he should not slip into the water, which at the edge of the shelf was about ten feet deep, the master era vied along under the bush and got hoid of him by the leg. and having made the hounds let^go was assisted by one of the hunt up the bank, xiere the usual ceremony was gone through, the poie being- given to one of the ladies who was in at the kill. The hunt lasted about an hour and a quarter, and was much enjoyed by all present. Ttie otter weighed 15; los. VENATOR.

CORRESPONDENCE. THE BOROUGH PETITION. To the Editor of the Montgomery shire Express and Radnor Times. Sir,-Referring to your editorial remarks in this weeks' issue, you say As our error was one which several of our contemooraries also 1D.1r!e, it disposes of the unkiud suggestion made by our esteemed correspondent, &c." Will you kindly give me the names of your con- temporaries who made the remarks Wore ven. g.;d I will apologise for the sting" I am pleased to see that you appear to have discavered two p-titiona against the sitting members; now would you be surprised to hear that those two ae not included in my four! Together we now have six cases where the sitting members for the Montgomery Boroughs have been petitioned against. Do you reaiiy doubt my word that I know of four other petitiülB than the two you refer to in this days' issue r—Yours truly, AN ANTIQUART. -Our friend has made an error himself, and yet he is not only unwilling to excuse ouvs, but also wishes to visit the sins oi other people upon our heads. We do not doubt his word," notwithstanding hia mistake.-ED.

B EBB'S WEDDING, CHRISTENING AND JglRTHDAY QAXES. Quality unequalled Style of Ornamentation unique. Evan Bebb, Confectioner, Newtown. c647 HENRY MORGAN IS OFFERING THE WHOLE OF HIS SUMMER STOCK OF DRESSES AT AN Immense Reduction DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. FIRST-CLASS DRESSMAKING. CROWN SHOP, -NEWTOWN.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS. DEATHS. DAVIES.-21st inst., Thomas Davies, Llywarch's Court, Park-street, Newtown, aged,59 years. JONES.-12th inst., aged 60 years, Elizabeth Jones, daughter of the late John Jones, bootmaker, Rhayader. JONES.—ISth inst., aged 25 years at Brynffynnon, Machynlleth, Mary, daughter of the late William Jones, Cwmbiga, Llanidloes. OWEN.-15th inst., at Llandinam Hall, Hannah Selina, the beloved wife of John Owen, aged 33 years. REES.—13th inst., aged G9 years, Mary Rees, widow of John Rees, Water Lane, Rhayader. TILSLEY.-13th inst., aged 51 years, Daniel Tilsley, Cyll Farm, Trefeglwys. I IVILLIA-IS.-Ilth inst., aged TO years, at Park Cottage, Xewtown, Owen Elias Williams, formerly schoolmaster of Plasgwyn National Schools, Pwllheli.

MORRIS & SONS, WESLEY STREET, NEWTOWN, SUPPLY THE BEST QUALITY MONUMENTS AND HEADSTONES AT LOWEST PRICES. SKETCHES SUPPLIED. IMMENSE REDUCTIONS IN TRIMMED & UNTRIMMED MILLINERY, MANTLES, CAPES, JACKETS, BLOUSES, SKIRTS, SUNSHADBS, AND ALL SUMMER GOODS during the Month of AUGUST. GREATLY REDUOED PRICES. HENRY MORGAN. CROWN SHOP, NEWTOWN