The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

WESTERN CANADA AND THE TARIFF QUESTION. Since the great campaign about German black bread and horseflesh the Radicals have indulgv?d in no such fantastic mare's-nesting as their demonstrations with Tegard to "Free Trade" and anti-Preference tendencies in Western Cafcada. At first only one Radical newspaper exploited the question, but in a few days the order had gone forth and every Government organ has written it up with amazing unanimity and imagina- tion. Yet nothing new has happened. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has been making a tour in the West and has been met by demands for a programme which has been pressed upon him before. These demands embrace many items, of which lower tariff rates is only one. Public purchase of the terminal grain elevators, the construction and operation of the Hudson Railway by Government, and public ownership generally of the agencies of transportation—for all these things, no less than for lower customs duties, there Is undoubtedly a demand in the West of Can- ada, although it oannot be said how far it represents Western feeling generally. But there is no evidence of any demand for "Free Imports" or of any antipathy to British preference. Speaking to those from whom these demands come, Sir Wilfrid Laur- ier says, "Let me ask whether there is any- one in the audience who thinks Free Trade such as they have it in England could be applied in this country?" So, again, the Liberal newspapers daily repudiate any idea of "Free Trade." The "Toronto Star," for instance, on August 17th says: "No Govern- ment or party has ever seriously proposed to introduce either Free Trade on the one hand or Dingleyism on the other. The political combatants (in England) have talked as if the disagreement were as great as that between Mr Lloyd George and Mr Chamber- lain, when in reality it was a difference of peroentagie." The question is one of the rate of the customs duties; there is no sug- gestion that these should be abolished. And it is a question on which it is not for us to pronounce judgment. The Canadian tariff may require modification and re-arrangement. The people of Canada alone are qualified to, and must, decide that. It is a question of degre.e as to which there are bound to be differences of opinion in Canada, and in the West there are those who favour a lowering of the duties. This is only natural since the West is at present almost wholly agricultural and tho interests there do not to-day derive much benefit directly from the duties, which, on the other hand, for the time being may increase the cost of some necessaries of their industry. It is, therefore, only natural that from the West, although prosperity there seems great as it is, should come a demand that the tariff duties should be lowered. Such a demand represents the immediate interests of those making it; it may be short-sighted and fail to look to the true welfare of Canada as a whole; and it very likely will cease as the West develops and ceases to be so purely agricultural. As we have seen, there is no question of Free Imports, but merely a question of de- gree as to the rates of Customs duties. Sir Wilfrid Laurier expresses admiration for our present fiscal system, it is true, but declares it impossible of adoption by Canada. His position is rather like that of not a few among ourselves who express admiration of another country's training of its citizens for self-defence, but are quite opposed to imi- tating it. Sir Wilfrid, moreover, declares emphatically, that, "We have taken up our stand on British preference, and that we will not depart from. It is, and shall remain, part of our fiscal policy." That declaration comes the day after Sir Wilfrid had been told, "We want you to secure reciprocity with the States." Let us say immediately that we see no reason whatever for condemning those who express this wish or questioning their loyalty. Who are we, who deny Can- ada reciprocity, to take offence? In desiring reciprocity between Canada and the United States there need be no ill-feeling against preference to Great Britain. But there is a danger for us. Doubtless, it might be pos- sible so to arrange it that the preference granted so freely to us by Canada should not be reduced by reciprocity with the States, but certainly there is danger that it would be Tendered less effectual. So the sooner we have reciprocity ourselves with Canada the better. But there is no evidence of a move- ment either for Free Imports or against British preference in the whole business. So far as there is any "Free Trade" motive in tho English sense. in the whole business, it seems to reside in a Free Trade League re- cently founded in Winnipeg. The "Times'' correspondent tells us that, "It has hardly a working organisation. It has a email membership, mostly Canadian and English Liberals. It was organised a few months ago by Mr J. A. Stevenson, a young Scotch Liberal, who went home during the recent British elections and stumped for Free Trade candidates in England and Scotland." Pos- sibly this young gentleman has literary as well as oratorical tendencies of which the Radical newspapers at home avail thcin- selves.

THE LAND TAX RETURNS. We have it upon the intimate Authority of Mr O'Connor that Mr Lloyd George is a reluctant letter-writer—reluctant even to the point of a habitual neglect to answer has r correspondents. That being so, we must al- ways assume that something serious has occurred when the Chancellor takes his pen in his hand. And now—as in the case of his I belated apology to his offended brethren of the Law Society—we must understand by his letter in defence of the land tax inquisition that he is really alarmed at the position which its initiation has brought about. A. regular storm of protest has followed upon the issue of the first batch of "notices to make returns" for the purpose of the new land taxes. One main grievance is of a tem- porary rather than a fundamental nature, but it is none the less serious. It is that these complicated inquisitorial notices are first issued at the season of high holiday, yet with a demand that the victims shall com- plete them within thirty days, under a penalty of £ 50 for default. As to this, Mr Lloyd George seems to have no course but to arrango for a considerable extension of the period. For the rest, the Chancellor seeks in his apology, to pass lightly over, or dis- regard, the ma-in points of objection. His letter is obviously addressed to those whom it does not concern, for it will deceive none of those who are brought into personal contact with the laborious, costly, and unprofitable process which this land inquisition sets up. Mr Lloyd George would seem to suggest that the filling up of the forms is an easy and even pleasant holiday task. If that is so, why does he go on to say that the victims will receive "all passible help" from the valuation officers? And has he consulted the valuation officers as to the limits of their powers to aid and elucidate? His plea that "the complexity of the forms themselves" is mainly for the protection of his victims in no way alteTs—but emphasises—the fact that they eye complex. Mr Lloyd George has rushed early into print in defence of a scheme of valuation which, in the view of many com- petent observers, can never be finished, and would be useless if it were finished. But he is only at the beginning of his troubles.

What sf the Co;wyn Bay School? A correspondent writes:—In the opening sentence of your leader upon the Abergele County School, last week, you suggested that it has now been practically decided to convert the Colwyn Bay Higher Grade School into an ordinary County School. I presume you based your suggestion upon the fact that the Board of Education itself is largely respon- sible for the scheme recommended by the Joint Committee. That scheme, however, also provides that the Abergele County School shall be converted into what is termed "a school with an agricultural bias." But, as you pointed out, the County Council arc em- phatically against putting the school to any such use, and as they are, after all masters of the situation, we are faced with at least two points of no small moment. Assuming that the Education Committee abandon the agricultural school idea, as they will do in all probability, to what other purpose will they put the Abergele School? Again, should they fail to vary the present syllabus at the Abergele School, what is to happen to the Colwyn Bay School? The Board of Educa- tion issued a few weeks ago a peremptory order that children over fifteen years of age must not be taught at the Colwyn Bay School after, if my memory serves me properly, Sep- tember 1st next. If that order is carried into effect, about fifty of the scholars on the register at present will be unable to continue their studies in the school. Of course, the time limit irught be extended, but even so the Education Committee will be in an awkward dilemma, and their troubles only deferred. It would, of course, be altogether unreason- able to deprive Colwyn Bay now of the secon- dary education facilities it has enjoyed for some years, and it remains for the Education Committee and the Board of Education to solve a complex problem. There are some of us who would be content to have matters as they are, because we realise that we now get for £ 1 per annum what would cost us X7 or £ 8 a year if the Colwyn Bay institu- tion were a secondary school in name as well as in work. -Is:-

Words in Current Speech. It is not an unfamiliar fact that the names of various persons and places gradually creep into our general conversation as the most correct forms of expression in relation to certain common things or customary actions. There is, for instance, no necessity to re- I mind the majority that the term boycotting j originated from a certain Captain Boycott, an Irishman, who, in former year, was noted as being the first prominent victim to the system. But few people realise how many words of similar origin are contained in our language and how interesting' it is to trace the connection between the common name, and the personal or place name from which it has been derived. In most cases that re- lationship is obvious enough, and there is hardly any difficulty in attributing such words as macadamise, shrapnel, blanket, ccngreve (rocket) and spencer (an overcoat) to names of persons, and words like holland, galloway, and sedan to those of places. This conversion, however, is not confined solely to names and places in actual history, and some of our newly coined words are supplied to us by fiction. One of the commonest of those, perhaps, is quisotic, an adjective which owes its derivation to Cervantes' immortal and eccentric .hero 'Don Quixote, while Sir Thomas More's imaginary island Utopia, where human nature had developed into an almost perfect state, has likewise supplied us with another equally as common. ———————<&———————

Development of West Llandudno. The Llandudno Council have decided to proceed without delay with the West Shore drainage scheme. The work will cost about zC8000, and there was some little trepidation when the figure was mentioned in the Coun- cil Chamber, on Friday, more particularly on account of other expenditure which will have to be faced in the near future. What- ever the fate of other undertakings, however, it would be unwise to further defer this work. Recent years have witnessed -much development in the West Shore district, and when the area is fully equipped with all the sanitary, lighting, and other machinery in use in other parts of the town, its progress will no doubt be considerably more rapid. Now that the el-metric cars are available right to the shore, visitors appear to be better realising the unquestionable attributes of this beautiful district, and the Council would be blind to their own interests, as well as to the wishes -of tl,?e h4oliday-makers, upon whom the community depend, if they delayed any longer their obvious duty in this matter. The town is, fortunately, in a favourable financial position just now, and the expendi- ture involved should cause no great uneasi- ness to the ratepayers.

Mr Ormsby Gore and Canada. The Hon. W. Ormsby Gore, M.P., the Well-known member for Denbighshire, is contemplating a visit to Canada. His mission in the Dominion, where he proposes a stay of two months, Ts to make a personal study of Imperial preference—that important fiscal question with which Mr Chamberlain's great ideal is so closely connected. There is probably no one amongst the voini°vr section of the Unionist Party in the House of Commons so keenly eensiibie to the necessity for Colonial preference as Mr Ormsby Gore, and his speech on the subject was one of the most striking feature of the young Unionists' demonstration recently held at Belle Vue. It is freely admitted that, in the near future, the member for Denbigh- shire, both as a speaker and as a politician, will be one of the most valuable assets to his party. Mr Ormsby Gore is yet practically a young man, and in age he is next to the youngest member at present In the House of Commons, If

Workhouse Nursing-. Though strongly recommended by the Local Government Board Inspector and the Visiting Committee, the appointment of a superintendent nurse at the Workhouse was "deferred for the present" by the St. Asaph Board of Guardians, on Friday. Under the new Act it is necessary to provide certificated midwives in Workhouses, and it appears that the nurse now attached to the St. Asaph Workhouse is uncertificated, a qualified nurse being occasionally employed. As the nurs- ing staff is numerically weak, it was sug- gested that th.e new officer should be a fully qualified maternity nurse, who would be able to supervise the staff generally. Her salary, however, would be about X40 per annum and her board, and that fact, not unreason- ably perhaps, influenced the Guardians in their decision. It was, however, unfortunate that some other way of circumventing the difficulty was not found, because a public authority should set a good example in this matter, having regard for the public-spirited efforts made by such institutions as the North Wales Nursing Association to educate the people with reference to it.

PERSONAL. Lord Penrhyn has arrived at his shooting box in Gla.n Conway for grouse shooting. <s The Squire of Vaynol (Mr Assheton-Sriltb) is yachting along the Irish Coast. ■ The Hon. Violet Douglas-Pennant spoke at a Primrose League meeting at Plasnewydd, the -.eat c is f the Marq-,i' )f Aijglciey, yesterday. < £ » Mr Orrnsby-Gore, M.P., will preside at the opening meeting of tho Welsh National Eistedd- fod at Colwyn Bay, on Monday, September 12. 1 "■ Sir Herbert and1 Lady Ellis have taken up their residence at Rhyllech, Pwllheli, until the end A the year. £ • On Sunday Mr R. O. Roberts, Conservative candidate for Anglesey, left for Germany to make a personal investigation into the trade conditions which prevail in that country. ——————<$.—————— Lord Cochrane, of the Scotch Guards, who left England last week to attend the centenary celebrations in Chili, will return to Gwrych Cattle, Abergele, in the second week of October. —<3> Sir George and Lady Dallas have been stay- ing with Sir Savage and Lady Lloyd Mof-vtyn., at Mao.s.y-Nu-nt. Lady Dallas is a eister of Lady L'oyd Mosiyn. The Marquis of Anglesey left the Mcnai Straits yesterday for the North of Scotland, whore he will reoruit for a. short time. His magnificent yacht, which employs a crew of seventy, excited much interest while an- chored in the Straits. + Among those who sent wiroaths for the funeral of Mi Si) Florence Nightingale on Saturday, were Mrs Lloyd Verney, of Clochfaen, and family, Mr Harry Lloyd Verney, Mr and Mrs Gerald Fanshaw, and Miss Ruth Vern-ey, a god- daughter of Mis3 Nightingale. t. Lord and Lady Northcliffe, accompanied by Mrs Algernon Douglas-Pennant and Dr. P. Seymour Price, left on Saturday for Newfound- land. They expect to return towards the end of November, after a short tour in Canada and the United States. Lord and Lady Harlech last week entertained Lord Kenyon, Sir Waiter andi Lady Corbet, Colonel and Mrs Radcliffe, Mr and Mrs Percy Chubb, Mr William Jameson, and Mr Henry Callander, at Brogyntyn. Tho gentlemen shot over the Ruabon Hills on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and had excellent sport. 0 The marriage arranged between. Mr J. Wynn Lloyd Langford-James, barrister-at-Iaw, youngest son of the late Captain F. Ll. Langford-James, D.L., Carnarvonshire, and of Mrs Langford- James, of Twyning Vicarage, Tewkesbury, and Miss Beatrice Clough, fourth daughter of the Rev. John and Mrs Clough, of Wilford Rectory, Nottingham, will take place in Calcutta in November. Mr Lloyd George, after a fortnight's holiday in Wales, left London on Saturday for the Continent, on a motor tour through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. He propoccji to visit Obarammergau to oo the Passion Play, and he will return to England in the r-eoon-d week in September; in time for the Welsh National Eisteddfod.

THE LIVING OF KINNERLEY. The Vicarage of Kinneaiey, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. B. Meredith, has been ac- cepted' by the Rev. George Rees, senior curate of Oswestry Parish Church. Mr Rees, who is a grauuato of Pembroke Col- lege, Oxford, was ordained by the Bishop of St. Asaph in. 1899, and was curate of Bagillt for two years before coming to Oswestry in 1901. The living of Kinnerley is in the patronage of the Earl of Bradford, and is returned as of the value of L244 gross and B170 net, with a house.

PENRHYN RUR.4L DEANERY. A ruri-deoanal conference was held at Bala on Saturday, the Rev. W. Hughes, rural dean, presiding. The bishop's letter was discussed on the subject of Sunday School organisation* in the diocese. On the motiom of the Rector of BaJa, seconded by the Rector cf Llanfor, the "?_v. -1 re resc?,-ita- p N?. I ughes was cl?- 1 p tive, and Mr D. L. Evans, Bala, lay representa- tive, of the deanery, to attend the conference on the subject of Church Sunday Schools to be held at the Church House, Wrexham, next month.

SANITATION IN FLINT- SHIRE. SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT OF "WHOLE TIME" MEDICAL OFFICERS. Co.mmu.'x.cations have been received from the Local Government Board drawing attention to the reports of their Inspector (Dr. Manby), in which that official recommends the appoint- ment of a whole-time medical officer of health for the borough of Flint, the urban districts of Buckley, Connah's Quay, Holywell, Mold, Prestatyn, and Rhyl, ana7 the rural districts of Hawardetn, Holywell, and St. Asaph (Flint), and requesting the authorities for the districts reamed to consider the question) of the joint ap- pointment of a medical officer of health to take effect at the expiration of the present appoint- ments.

GENERAL WELSH HOLIDAY The scheme for organising a general holiday along the North Wales Coast on the first Wed- nesday in October is developing, and the Pres- tatyn Council ha3 now parsed a resolution to fall into line with other towns, and to proclaim a general holiday in their district. The idea put forth by the railway company is that if ail the coast towns fix a general holiday for one day instead of holding their holidays on separate days they can arrange for excursions to such places as London, Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool, and Birmingham. Prior to last year each town worked on its own account, but last October a general holiday was arranged for, and Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, and Llandudno organisel large ex- cursions.

COLWYN "B AY-COL WYN LIGHT RAILWAY. Tuesday night's "London Gazette" states that the li--ht Ital,N?,-ay C?omm-"s-ioner,3 I)avo uub- -rniat m,t?L??d to the P?oard of Orado f(,r coo-fi, ]<)n under the Light Railways Act, 1896, an order made by them authorising the construction of Lght railways in the urban district of Colwyn Bav and Colwyn, being an extension of the undertaking authorised by the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Light Railway Orders, 1893 to -1907. Any objections to the confirmation of the order should be addressed to the Assistant Sec- retary (Railway Department), Board of Trade, London, S.W., on or before the 15th September, BBXi

MUSICAL NOTES. By Peter Edwards, Mus. Bac (Pedr A law), Rhyl. FORM OR DESIGN IN MUSIC. In his first public lecture at Dublin Uni- versity, Dr. Dudley Buck said it was often asked by those interested in music, but not technically conversant with its developments, what was the main battle-ground of the struggle now going on between the old and the new? It was undoubtedly the question of what was known as "Form" or "Design." There is a passage in De Quincey's "Essay on Conversation," which will illustrate the direction of this contest. He is contrasting the different methods of setting forth a sub- ject, and takes, as his two typical exponents, Johnson and Burke. With Dr. Johnson, he says, you feel that the scheme of presenta- tion had been so carefully thought out that, when the statement is finished, there has been said nothing which was not in the speaker's mind at the outset. That is, in music, of course, the method of the accepted classical model, Beethoven. With Burke, on the other hand, we have the method of flash- ing improvisation. Starting with a given topic, and with perhaps a definite precon- ceived attitude towards it, Burke would throw a brilliant searchlight on to one fact of the subject after another, until some over- poweringly eloquent climax was reached, making the Whole organic by the fact that each thought followed the last in logical sequence, but giving the impression "that each burning sentenced had been welded on the spur of the moment, and that the creation had taken place in front of you, not, as in the case of Dr. Johnson, before even the preamble. That, said Dr. Buck, he took to be roughly the method of Tchaikovsky. No doubt, theorists were in the last century too narrow, in that they de- manded an almost servile obedience to the methods of Dr. Johnson and Beethoven, and are now right in recognising the logical structure in the other process. A QUEENSLAND EISTEDDFOD. It appears the Eisteddfod held a short time ago at Ipswich, Queensland, was the most successful ever held there, but to my mind it was a. most disappointing one inasmuch as Welsh Choral Music was ignored For provincial and factory choirs, the test pieces were "Thy Voice, O harmony (Webbe) and "Oh, peaceful night" (German). For church choirs: "Josu, Word of God Incarnate" (Gounod), and "When will Thou save the people." For ladies' choir: "Waken, Waken" (Mac- kenzie). )( Second choral competition Test pieces: "Then Tound about the starry throne" (Han- del) and 'Gather ye Rosebuds" (Blumen- thal). L Iiief c -horal competition Tests: "Hark, the deep, tremendous voice" (Haydn), "My lovo dwells in a Northern land" (Elgar), and "Come, pretty wag, and sing" (Parry). It is to be hoped the Welsh choirs, who sang in the variou&,oompetitions, had not lost the Celtic fire which is so well-suited to the expression of. Welsh music—and a good deai of other music. • • • • MR CHARLES MANNERS. This gentleman, who lias done so much for opera in Great Britain, was bom in Lon- don in the yea>r 1858, and his early career was varied and interesting. First he studied for the Army, but failed to pass his examina- tion. Then he tried civil engineering, and afterwards entered a Dublin stock-broker's oilloe. While in Dublin, a well-known teacher of music heard him sing, and recom- mended that he should study tho art. This advice was followed, with the best results. Mr Manners gaining a scholarship and being appointed a member of the tuition staff of the Dublin Royal Academy. The following year he entered the Royal Academy of Music in London, and afterwards completed his studies in Florence. Upon his return to England he appeared in the chorus of "Claude Ruval" and other comic operas, and subsequently created .,e r veral paxts in conuc oj>er,a. The n he secured an engagement as principal bass with the famous Carl Rosa Opera Company, and, later, went to Covent Garden, under Sir Augustus Harris. Mr Manners then struck out for himself, and has for several years past toured his own companies, known as the Moody-Manners Opera Companies. One of the "stars" in the principal company is the Welsh baritone—Mr Lewys James. SCHUMANN. Mr F. Corder is very severe upon Schumann's Orchestration. Those, he says, who know a good deal of Schumann's musio can hardly fail to notice certain characteristica. in it which are unorchestral. The uniformity of method, the almost perpetual full harmony and want of in- terest in the lower parts, etc., are features which almost preclude successful orchestration. Again, as with the pianoforte, so with the violin and other instruments though many lovely ideas are given them to utter, the composer seems to have "ttto for instrut-?cntal -i'fect. 11' A Is M, ?n-or Vict?,-i S?onat-- could b,? 1-)Iavcd Nvith b?--t- ter effect on a viola, and all his pieces for clarinet or oboe sound just as well as anything <Ioo! In "Paradiecf a,ad the Peri" tho first vio- lins only go outside the treble staff about once in ten pages, and indeed the gravest weakness of his orchestration is that not only is the melodies outline confined to a very narrow space, but the entire musical outline is rarely allowed to spread to the extreme octaves. The result of this is that tho instruments of high and low pitch are never considered, and only double the principal part an octavo higher or lower. The amount cf perfunctory "doubling" in Sqhurnan's Orchestration is enormous! Yet, Mr Gorder further says, we get glimpses now and then of delightful orchestral effects which seem to indi- cate that, if be could have been .induced to turn his thoughts towards technical matters, he would have written very much better. In the sym- phonies, particularly those in B flat and C, the beauty of the themes makes one disregard the total absence of passage-work and consequent poverty in the string parts, but the E flat sym- phony might be played through without any wind instruments at all, the entire work being practically in full harmony for strings. What little to6hni 'uo Schu-,narm 'had, grad?Ll?tll'y -%I-Iln0d i'4 a?-,id fadcd as his brain suc,iirnb,,d to disease, until his last compositions dwindle.d to character- less pieces of four-part harmony. Miss Fanny Davies gives a deservedly high place to Schumann's Pianoforte Music. She points out that in him we find tho beginning of that new style-of pianoforte music which has been called "Romantic." He created a new genre of pianoforte literature, relating, as he did, stories in music, portraying people and everything that went en in the world at his time. His portray- ing was spiritual and emotional, ngt photo- graphic. In playing his music, as that of any other great composer, one has, of course, to fol- low the simple law of adapting oneself to the stylo and type of composition. His three great pieces—which are stories about ivrittp 'Tl (?arrc-,?pomdin.- c,iiil<ffi<)Od and _n w!T simoicity ani; 4i,?recters, shot,,IJI be witb ,?mplicitv and directness- Yet, as A'I'iss Davlos points out, how often these little pieces are ren- dered in a most offensively sentimental and melo-dramatic style! < < w TRINITY COLLEGE, LONDON. In the seventy-fifth half-yearly examination, the following names appear in: the Pass List: — Licentiates in Musio: Arthur E. Davies, F.R.C.O. Associates in Music: John Howells. Matriculation John Howells. Licentiates—Pianoforte: Elsie M. Thomas, Edith M. Davies. Associates—Pianoforte: Annie E. Jones, Mar- ion M. Jones, Jolm J. Thomas, Sarah C. W. Thomas. Higher Certificates: Dorothy T. Davies, Gwenllian M. Johns. 9 THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. There is to be one mooting during" the Eistedd- fod week at which musicians can meet to dis- cuss musical matters. This is a great opportu- nity lost.! Nv'h.atove-r ,,<)od may be. de-rived from ',Ociet WeL-It Folk-,Ror?g v that -1-ocicty dtals only with a very riiitli part of that wli-?ch shouldi interest tl-ie musical people of Wales. Each1 year we seem to be moving within a circle. The poet&or at least several of them—are "entertained" right well; an attempt 1 is mode to keep up the dignity and eacredness of the Gorsedd; and thus the poets hold fast to their ancient Eisteddfodio privileges, whilst the 11 11 Eist?e&dfod is kept as a g c?ern m.uv,icians, who Nave to !7?:ftx' them.%Ives! Surely one or two meetings should be reserved for the delivery of addresses by musicians upon various subjects connected with the art, and for discussion them-on- Y GUlag musicians would thus look forward each year to such helpful meetings, and a stimulus would be given to Welsh musio. Is it not time to form a Welsh. Musicians' Society, one of its objects beimg to help Welsh musio forward in tho way just men- tioned ? Could' not such a Society be of much more use to tho art of musio in Wales than the Eisteddfod itself ? The latter encourages good singing by increasing its prizes—which is de- cidedly not helpful to music as an art. It is time to think seriously of these things, and to arrange our plans acordingly.

TREASURY LOANS ON LOCAL RATES AND PRO- PERTY. A return issued by the Public Work Loan Board gives particulars as to the amount .advane,ed by them to local authorities and the balance of principal outstanding on the 31st March, 1910. From this we collect the following relating to this immediate dis- trict:— Loans under the Education Acts.—County Councils: Carnarvonshire, amount advanced X153,517, balance outstanding on the 31et March, 1910, < £ 11,875; Anglesey, < £ 54,362 and £ 35,604 respectively; Denbigh, £ 162,534 and £ 101,961; Merioneth, £ 78,411 and £ 43,620; Montgomery, < £ 41,479 and £ 26,069; Flint, £ 87,078 and X'64,431; and Wrexham Corporal tion, X31,167 and £ 26,901. Welsh Intermediate Education Act. An- glesey County Council, X6295 and £ 4882; Denbighshire County Council, £ 11,635 and £ 8955; Merionethshire County Council, £ 1500 and 1072; and Montgomeryshire County Council, X5590 and E-4239. Poor Law Acts.—Bangor and Beaumaris Union, X2007 and £ 1227; Carnarvon, X2945 and £ 2288; Conway, £ 5687 and £ 3902; Cor- wen, £ 1344 and £ 673; Festiniog, X9000 and £ 5855; Anglesey, X305 and .£221; Holyhead, £ 1480 and £ 1055; Holywell, X6410 and £ 4202; St. Asaph, .£õ700 and £ 44-65; Mach- ynlleth, £ 400 and £ 160; and Llanfyllin £ 1402 and £ 1154. Electric Lighting Acts.—Bangor Corpora- tion, £ 21,130 and £ 14,330; Wrexham Cor- poration, X1180 and £ 732; Colwyn Bay and Colwyn Urban District Council, X1564 and < £ 839; Llandudno Urban Council X18,24,5 and £ 10,215. Light Railways Act.—Denbighshire County Council, X3000 and £ 2362; Llanfyllin Rural Council, X3000 and £ 2400; Llansilin Rural Council, c £ 3000 a/nd < £ 24001 exkL Montgomery- shire County Council, £ 8500 and £ 7806. Lunacy Acts.—County Councils: Denbighshire, E2977 and £ 2141; Carnarvonshire, P.99 999, avd £ 15,537; Merionethshire, 97977 and £5497. Public Health Acts.—Corporations: Bcaumaris, C5500 and £1100; Carnarvon, JS3440 and £ 2200; Conway, £ 22,671 and £ 9010; Denbigh, £ 15 800 and £ 13,802; Pwllheli, £ 8280 and £ 2299; We'lsb- pool, £ 2744 and £ 1276; Wrexham, £ 81,670 and £ 54,298. Rural District Councils: Conway £ 21,823 and £ 14,952; Dolgelley, £ 5450 and £ 4609: Holywell, £ 8996 and £ 5826; Llandyssil, £ 700 and £ 498; Llanfyllin, £ 804 and £ 758; Llangollen, £ 1300 and £ 151; Llansilin, £ 997 and £ 929; Wrex- ham, £ 58,060 and £ 39,017. Urban District Coun- cils: Abergele and Pensarn, £ 5361 and £ 3522; Colwyn Bay and Colwyn, £ 48,213 and £ 22,442; Festiniog, £ 25,229 and £ 17,960; Llangefni, £ 7150 and £ 4111; Llanrwst, E8303 and £ 5852; Mold, B3955 and £ 3526; Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn, £ 6000 and £ 2340; Rhyl, £ 41,652 and £ 25,979; Conway and Colwyn Bay Joint Water Supply Board, £ 70,595 and £ 47,070. Public Libraries Acts.—Wrexham Corporation, E1140 and £ 829 Festiniog Urban District Coun- cils, E550 and £ 311. Small Holdings Act.—County Councils Angle- sey, £ 3600 and £ 3552; Carnarvon, £ 4436 a:.d £ 4070; Denbigh, £ 6865 and £ 6815; Merioneth, JE600 and £ 597; Montgomery, E3350 and E3060. Loans under other Acts.—Carnarvon Corpora- tion, E7237 and £ 4619; Conway Corporation, C4567 and £ 2673; Denbigh County Council, C1463 and £ 961; Merioneth County Council, JS2500 and £ 1806; Corwen Parish Council, IC1000 and £ 925 Festiniog Urban Council, P,1000 and £616; Llan- dudno Urban, £105 and £31; Rhyl Urban, £ 12,496 and E-8511; Newtown, £ 35,000 and £ 27,200.

WELSH CHURCH COMMISSION. CHURCH OF ENGLAND HAS THE LARGEST INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP. I hear, says the London correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian," that through these pleasant days the Welsh Churoh Commission, in the persons of its staff, is working harder than it has ever worked before. In addition to its secretary and assistant secretary, twenty check- ers, most of them. young university men, have been engage to examine proofs of church statistics and suchlike work. The efforts now mado are understood! to guarantee the appear- an of the report at Christinas time, and only GT can. prevent 'rh(l mr-Irncralida le thin. which individual Commissioners may present up ru till October 1 may call forth countsr-memorand'a, and1 how long these counter-memoranda 'will tako to prepare nobody knows. Apart from this eventuality, the report will certainly be given to the public at Christmas. I hear that tho result will show that, as was expected, the Eda blished Ohurchhas the largest number of members of any individual church ?, tho Princ,;Pality. Tlio Con,,re,at-*c-naJists will n come second, the Calvinietic Methodists third, and thc. Ba?-)ti?t, I b23ieve, fourth. The on- tk,m tog.(,,tbor -,viU, of eD??"e conf<)rmast bod?:es t? L,.r,-ely ;?-- E,,stabli--hcd Church. Churchmen, however, I learn, will make the fact that they have proved themselves the larg- est denomination, the chief ground for meeting a disestablishmeart bill with an absolute non posguimus ad for starting" a vigorous campaign. Curiously enough, the treatment of Monmouth- shire as part, of Wales has, I believe distinctly helped the Church and weakened the Noncon- formigt Yet, the Ncnconforiiii.ts -%vc?,,na mc,st an fg to includo ?NIoumouthsliire in the x_:ou mquirv an,l, Ohii:rdlimen to exclude it. The r-eport. -ivill,al.?<) show, I arn told, how ;T-k%t Arch.d,ac,on' Evan, Of gral?nling -%vith figures has helped the CShturch.

WELSH UNIVERSITY. THE RE-SET EXAMINATION. In the re-set French examination of the University of Wales, tho results of which arc being published in instalments, the following candidates satisfied the exami-ners:- FACULTY OF ARTS. SPECIAL. Hannah B. Anthony, Bangor; Thomas Bir- besck, James C. Carpenter, Annie Charles, Edith Charnock, and Ellen L. Clutterbuck, all of Aberystwyth; Helen S. Cohen, Cardiff; Cecile M. Davies, Clara A. Elton, Maud Isabel Findlay, Catherine Fisher, Hilda C. Gauntlett, Elsie M. Gearing, Lewis Griffiths, and Rhys T. Harry, all of Aberystwyth; Ethel M. Herbison, and Florence K. Jones, Cardiff; Gwladys M. Jones, Aberystwyth; Gwladys S. P. Jones and Ivor W. Jones, Cardiff; Katie E. Jones, Bangor; Margaret E. Jones, Cardiff; William Jones (Peny- graig) and Per A. Lewis, Aberystwyth; Myfanwy Llewelyn (Pontypridd), Caidiff; John Lloyd, Gwladys M. Loveluck, Deveraux, R. J. Mack, Robert H. Peacock, and Mar- g.aret Price, Aberystwyth; Frances May amd Wilfr.' J. Richard- ?d Cardiff; Gladys M. Rigg; Aberystwyth; Jane H. Row- lands, BangOir; Mabel Shaw, Aberystwyth; Albert Smedley, Bangor; Elie C. Stephens, John H. Ta):nlyn, and Margaret A. Tainlyn, Aberystwyth; Gwendoline M. Thomas, Car- diff; Stanley F. Thomas, Aberystwyth; Edith Williams, Cardiff; Edward E. Williams and Ida S. Williams, Aberystwyth; Luned Williams, Bangor; and Marion V. Wilson, Aberystwyth. HONOURS CANDIDATES AWAR.DED A PASS OF SPECIAL GRADE. Florene R. David, Cardiff; Martha R. Da- vies, Aberystwyth; and Deborah A. Parlby, Margaret G. Rowlands, and Margaret Gwsn- hwyfar Ware, all of Cardiff.

An account of the Exchequer receipts from April 1st to August 21st this year shows that receipts from revenue amounted to Y,84,353,661, as compared with £ 49,990,578 during the corresponding period of 1909. Considerable secrecy is being maintained as to the hour at which the "Megantic," on which Crippen and Miss Le Neve are return- ing to England, will arrive in the Mersey, and as to whether the prisoners will be landed from a tug or direct from the liner.

CARNARVONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. (By a Special Correspondent.) The sitting of the Carnarvonshire County Council on Saturday last possesses exceptional interest. The fact alone that a special meeting should have been summoned at short notice, in the middle of the holidays, and within a month of a coming ordinary quarterly meeting, was significant. No less so was the exceptionally good attendance at so exceptionally inconvenient a time. The number, variety, and importance of the matters demanding the attention of the Coun- cil, afforded, however, ample justification for the action taken in summoning the meeting, and illustrated in very striking fashion the ever- growing weight and importance of the adminis- trative burdens cast by the legislature upon our local Parliaments. • • • 4 The Selection Committee. The County Council must have been delighted with the result of its first experiment in ap- pointing a "Selection Committee." Hitherto the constitution of all committees has been decided at a party caucus. In response to a somewhat pitiful appeal from the Conservative minority, the Council granted them a voice, though a small one, in the distribution of the sweets of office and of the honours of committeedom. Now it had been the habit of the Radical caucus to take care of No. 1 by appointing members of its own body on every important committee. How diffi- cult it is to break with bad habits was shown by the action of the Selection Committee appointing nearly all its own members on the Development Committee, which is charged with the prepara- tion of schemes under the Development Fund and Town Planning Act. It must be gratifying to everybody concerned that the Selection Com- mittee have such confidence in themselves—even if that confidence on the part of others concerned be not justified! < t < iftemodying a Defect. The happy-go-lucky manner in which much of the work of the County Council is, unfortunately for the public, carried on was exemplified by the cool manner in which the new Development Committee, inspired by the example of its creator, the Selection Committee, proposed to monopolise the powers of an Agricultural Committee as Nen. To this the prompt action of Mr Ellis Davies, M.P., put an effective stop. The Member for South Carnarvonshire, when he can divest himself of his political obliquity, is, we must admit, far- seeing. He at once saw that a committee, con- sisting as docs the Development Committee, of four lawyers, four doctors, an auctioneer, a builder, a tailor, and a tea merchant, however well adapted to sit as a town-planning committee, was not altogether qualified to act as an Agri- cultural Committee. He at once proposed, and succeeded in electing, a committee of practical farmers to undertake this new and important work, dealing largely with the improvement of live stock in the county. • « • ■ The Conference of Surveyors and Road Improvement. It appears that it is the Development Com- missioners, rather than the County Council, whom wo have to thank for the very sensible action of calling in expert assistance in the mat- tor of planning road improvement schemes for the county. A statutory conference of surveyors, to which all the surveyors of every town, Urban and Rural Council in the county, was invited, had sat, and will in the future sit, to advise the Council as to the particular road improvements which are, and will bo required in the county. Such a step ensures two very desirable results: first, that every part of the county shall be heard and considered when schemes are being drafted; and secondly, that men who are not only experts in road-making, but who are personally acquainted with the locus quo in every instance, shall prepare these schemes in the first instance. • » » • The Committee's Mistakes. And yet, notwithstanding all this, it is to be feared that the Committee of Experts has com- mitted mistakes which may well prove fatal to the scheme. In the first place they have, in their scheme, taken too many small bites at their cherry. The scheme, which originally contem- plated an expenditure of some E.25,000, but which was whittled down to less than a third of that amount, contains a large number of small items, varying in amount from £50 to 9150--t-hree items alone in the list exceeding the last named amount When it is remembered that the object and in- tent of the Road Commissioners is to establish great trunk roads throughout the country, one can hardly think they will regard with appreciative approval the request for a grant of JE50 to cut off an awkward corner in an existing road, however desirable that improvement may be for ordinary traffic. The second error committed was adopt- ing a resolution tabooing any and every proposed road improvement unless the land for the pur- pose be given free. This is not only a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate landlords, but puts it in the power of any individual crank who owns land to forbid an improvement for which there exists a universal demand. < it < Enormous Increase in Expenditure. Mr T. W. Griffith, Llandudno, took away the breath of the Council when he reminded them of three essential facts. These were (1) that during the past twenty years the legislature has passed 22 measures, each of which adds to tHe financial burdens of local authorities; (2) that within the past five years the cost of maintain- ing main roads in Carnarvonshire has gone up 50 per cent.; and (3) that not a penny piece of additional grant has been made by the Treasury to meet these enormously increased demands on the county fund. The Council, of course, passed a pious resolution containing an "appeal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer" that he would de vise some means For easing the weight of those burdens. Mr Lloyd George, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, will thus receive an appeal from the County Council of which he is an alderman. The situation is that depicted in the Gilbert- Sullivan Opera. Our great Welsh Pohh Bah will, in his capacity as Chancellor, metaphorically kick himself as a Carnarvonshire alderman, downstairs in Downing-street! • • • Hard-Hearted Landlords. We have heard much of recent years about the hard-hearbedness of Welsh landlords. On Saturday the County Council proved how true is the charge—the guilty landlord, however, proving to be the County Council itself A poor tenant farmer who had bought his iittlo holding, and to enable him to do which the County Counoil had advanced him as loan four- fifths of the purchase money., was actually two months behind hand with his last half-year"s in- stalment in repayment of that !oan! The money-lending County Council was shocked. It impulsively instructed ite offictiala to take imme- diate proceedings for the recovery of the amount due! Even the seared conscience of eo extreme a Radical as Mr J. R. Hughes was touched, and he cited out: "Why. any private landlord would give a man more than two months' grace!" His appeal fell on deaf ears, and the primitive re- solution was adopted nem oon. I • • « • The Lessons of the Incident. The incident above recorded has valuable lessons for the public just now. The resolution to take proceedings in this the first case reported must either be taken Ds indicating what the policy of the County Council i going to be in the future, or it must have direct relation to something in the past. If it indicates the future policy of the Council, it must be a very poor outlook indeed for those who 'are, or who may vet become, tenants' of the County Council. For. if a man who is only two months in arrear with the repayment of a loan whioh is fully se- ouTe4 in th,& 1 *1 (>f tho farm it&eli, is to I)e !Gl proceeded against by process of law, what is to be expected by a County Council tenant who is a couple of months behind hand with hlis rent? There is hardly a landlord in the whole country who would dream of pressing a tenant for pay- ment in full within to short a, period of rent falling due. The action of the County Council in this matter, however, fully justifies, the special articles recently published in the "North Wales Chronicle" on "The County Council as Land- lord." < w Why was it Done? !But why was this drastic action fo promptly taken by the County Council? To understand the situation, it must be remembered that there are just now before the country two rival poli- ties in respect to Small Holdings. One, fathered and fostered b- .y the Radicals, cont?emplates o universal system of municipal ownexship ac, w P-,elirnin&r? ?tep towatds the nationali6ation of the land, which is their ultimate objective. The other policy is that of Mr Balfour, Sir Gilbert Parker, and the Unionist party generally, and aims at the creation of a largely extended sys- tem of peasant proprietorship. Under the former the tenant would pay year by year the fully rental value of his farm to the County Fund without drawing a step nearer to ownership. Under the ,ittex -every L,,alf-vear's payment ii-oul-d br;-T, 11-irii so much tilo n"??r-or to b?ecom- ing h,"9 own land!<)rd, and E-,s cin?ldrcn co- so- q-aentiy fmcd fr the ol-,Ii.gatic-,n of p ay'l'n g C'M rent. The promptness with which the County Council decided to take legal proceedings against the farmer in the present instance must be read as a direct discouragement to small farmers who might be contemplating becoming their own! landlords. w w How ths Difficulty Arose. The investigation may be carried still further. and the question be asked how and why this poor farmer fell into arrears. A reference to the fres of the "North Wales Chronicle" some two or three years ago will supply the answer. Our contemporary published an article giving1 the exact figures showing (1) the price paid for the farms acquired by the tenants under the Act of 1892; (2) the rental of those farms; and (3) the amount which would be required in the form of ar.nuaJ instalments in repayment of the four-fifths loan advanced by tho County Council It was shown that. in most cases, owing to tho exorbitant rate of interest charged, tho annual instalments in repayment of the four-fifths loan would actually exceed the rentals then being paid. If a farm- er found a difficulty in meeting the demand for rent, he would assuredly findl still greater diffi- culty in meeting the demand for the annual in- stalments. We venture to express the belief that, had the name of the farmer in this case been divulged, it would have transpired that he was one of those respecting whom that predic- tion was made in the "Chronicle." « The Remedy. How then does the matter now stand ? Is t failure of this individual peasant proprietor to meet his legal obligations to be read a.S damirins: the proposed oneation of a universal system of peasant proprietorship ? By no means-, It only emphasises the need for the Government] tq show same consideration, for the Wdso farmer as it has already and repeatedly to the Irish peasant. Let loans be advanced to Wejm farmers for land purchase purposes on as easy terms as is now, and has in the past boen, granted to Irish farmers, and the annual re- paymcJits will be made comparative!y This is tho crux of the whole situation. I" shows Welah farmers the lines upon which ":he1- should now agitato. Mr Balfour's policy had struck such alarm into the Government's heart that its supportets are trying to do all they CIO to discredit the Unionist plan and to discourage all tendency to accept it. The action of thØ Carnarvon&hsre Council is only one proof of that* The one effective reply is: Get loans for farflV era at low interest! • • • Madryn Castle. The Small Holdings Committee is to be cofft* pli--iented, on the &Seroti<)n it Eho-,J'40KI ill re- fusing to be rushed into estalaialiing an agf2' cultural school at Ma4ryu Cast?le. Any ,,cli unjl* 'fled, action on its part would have been ;list. aj It is no part of the functions of the Sul Holdi n'g?3 C?ammitte?e to establi6h or carrn' ("? sk scbpol of UM-V k-in<i. That ?s a duty pex'?tLill"'gl to tli-e Education Committee, "4d tb-6 Mucation Comra-itt" alone. In saying, this we pa-ss no judgment and off?er no CPinioli -upon the pro-posal to cetavi-?oh an ag-r,eultuxsl. f,hood even at Madryn, Ca,-Llo. It will be ti"" CTI?(yugh to d<) that when the oo-my)?-etc) scheiii-e i.4 befc-,re us. One tliin,q, however the -ill i rrsist upcn,amd th?t is that if established no part of the cost of its shail fall upon the rates!

PLAIN TALKS ON TARIFF REFORM. LIFE AND LABOUR IN 4GERMANYs (By S. SKEJuHORN.) The old saying runs, "Seeing* is bei-ievin&i- and this may be said to sium up the impreasioos of the British working-men who haw Germany to i,eo for themselves the condition their -fellow-workers itn. that country, and w reports have been published' by the Tariff form. league. The second volume itssued week makey interesting reading, and is vukuatbte information about the social tLHO trial condition of Germairuy at the present tJme- SEEKKRS AL?TM TRUTH. Tii,3 parL?,? c?onzdsted of bona-fide seieuted, f,r<>in ail paxtsof the oountr-?-, aid -?ice".A (juit-o Irrespe-,tiv,? of poL-'tic-al bias. Shoeuiakel*' catpentc-rs, postmen, ?u?ners, oo,-Dpositoj.s, Iryo. work-ero, eto., J*Olxled in thee,- toul?,s as ,?e l?,,Dro after trutb. I'hcy ivere L perfc&Y f reo hand- to go where they Iake4 or mak, Vhat"Ver ex,tlldries th.(.y thou,-fit fit. The only colliltioll imp<)sod upon dk-m was, that on their tlley &htculd f 'tlif,ul?ly x?-pcrt to the?c 3, w<),rke,rs at lic?m,o as t<) what thV had fc?en 4" rned at first liilnd, amd this condition aL' them lias fulfilled. "FRJBZE TRADE'' FICTION. f, And what do we learn from their Have) they returned to repeat tjhe jairgon of Freo Trade hirelings? Do they say the German workman is underpaid that he upon carrion and offal and dirty black bread; that he lives in a hovel, and that ho lias greiUuit difficulty in finding employment? 0° the contrary, they have difze-overed that these are shameful and spiteful libeds make for party puI- ipoees and without any foundation. Turn tO whatever page of tho reports you will; ijuobe from them at random, and you will find that I these Freo Trado "inexactitudes" are denied bi* the delegates to a man. One writer < bierves* "Horseflesh is very little eaten, and the paft5;; who seills it is almost penalised." The b'acK' bread "bogey" ho calls "a pure tunadiliter'1 inythj." Another writes, "They (the GerinaJ? workers) all seemed wall fed and well clad, an<* looked prosperous. A third says, "I went out) as a Free Trader, but with an open mind. AftoT what I saw, however, I could oome to no otih^ conclusion tham that the working-man has much- to gain and very little to lose by a scientiiio sys- tem of tariffs." But buy the book and read .i.i carefully yourself. A "FREE TRADE" PROPHECY. Free Traders may now admit what working-men tourists say as to Labour Condi* tiouls in Germany, still: they may contend than Germany's px<>gra?s ?s not due to tllo ta,.riff-, But, at amy ra-te, the taxiff 'has nolb P,Cve,"tea? thi, great 7pro,re,3s. Acc?Dr.(En,- to "Free 'frado theores, tLe ,uia,'Jest niea,-ure of Taritr 11,?e-fOy'ul i*s more or le-;o ruinous to a nation-Sir I,Y?l" PlayfoiL- caid, in 1890, "If the Amer,,c-ans ?-be xight? in pirinc?ple, and if Lhey -bo waooessful in PrO?.; tice, WhcLle 'T??L-cy of tile UTJ?ited Kin,,dDm fo,,indcd on a gi,-antio error, and rnust 1-d t, ics, our Tul?r? as an i,-i.&mgtrial- Da,6oii." WIla:'? aP tui to Amenca -ivll aMI3- also t<) G-onnoz- G-orman_v and the Un-i,?ed States have, proved the soundness ctf ther fi?cal pirincipl(?s, and provei:? ,it in the mcgt oon?etusive, way, 4,arnedy, by thcit industrial proprrees and success.

MUSICAL SUCCESSES BY THE PUPILS OF MR BRYAN WARHURST, A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M. (RHYL)- Royal Academy of Musio Examination, July 1910:— Pianoforte Playing (Higher Division) s: Blodwen Jones (Prestatyn), Jennie Jones (A gele). Organ Playing (Higher Division): Char- lotto Mc-Cl<?neiit (Pe-n'Tlalv".) Mabe.l Roger-' (Abergclt). San.nng (iligher Division): C,<Yn- f,t,a,ioo B-Anks (P-tatyn), Grace Mi?l,?,,r (St- C?on.-v--nt, HolrveD). E:Ieamn'texv Nvi-I honours) Thoiiiae? ,r,,on-PimTtof,orti3 (. (C,ol-,vyn Bay); (Pa,-z), J<Yhn V. Jov-s (iihyl). Primary Divisioll-Plan<)-forte: Eurfro;n Willia-iiis (Rby]), Malld R?olortg (C-ty Selic-ol, Rhvl)- ,rr, t.y Colit- hou.-u?s) liii"? gf-- of i\,Iusio (TI-ry M. ,,ara,h Bainiaw (Tr?ofarth, Bottws), Mary Williams (Rhyl). Royal Academy of Music (Local Centre Exaanination held at Chester, April, 1910)-Inoomnedw-te Grade (Pianoforte Playin,): May Eleanor Jc?nes f 'LlaAm-nefy<.Id). In- 'et c,D,r[rorate,t -v of Musicians' Fxa.Tni-naEong j.ui,y, 1910-Pi-an<)fcrte, Grade 11. Jc,lic I-lilm- phrey, Wilton, House School, Colwyn Bay. Mr. Warhurst will be pleased to supply particulars^ etc., foil all recognised musical examinations.

There is an appalling death roll as tho result of the forest fires in America. The number of victims is said to be 150. It is declared that the fixes were started by squat- I ters seeking to revenge thems-elvcs on th4i forest rangers, with whom they are con-, tinually at war,