The Abergavenny Mail

LEDBURY URBAN COUNCIL. I The Insurance of the Rate Collector. I The Isolation Hospital Question. I The monthly meeting of the Ledbury Urban Council was held at the Barrett-Browning In- atitute on Monday evening last. Councillors present were—Messrs E H Hopkins (chairman), A Warren, J Preece, A C Lewis, AT Jones, J E Craddock, W G Davis, H Thacker, W L Tilley, T S S Gardner, C H Bastow, R Lawrence, and the Rev Father Lynch, together with the Clerk (Mr Reginald Masefield), and the Sur- veyor (Mr R G Gurney). CONDOLENCE. I Mr Gardner thanked the Council for their Tote of sympathy with him in the death of his wife, and the Clerk later read a letter from Mr Gardner to the same effect. The Chairman said it was very sad indeed that the pleasure of their meetings should be interspersed with the sadness of having again to call upon them to pass a vote of condolence with their frieud Mr Clarke, to whom a sad bereavement had fallen since their last meeting, which they all deplored. He would ask them to pass a vote of condolence with Mr Clarke and his children. Rev Father Lynch seconded, and Mr Gardner supported, and the motion was carried in silence, the members rising. THE RA.TE COLLECTOR'S INSURANCE. I Mr Jones asked a series of questions relative to the insurance under the National Health Insurance Act of Mr A G Maddox, the rate collector, who has recently been laid up by illness, and was not insured by the Council until as from October last. In the meantime Mrs Maddox has presented her husband with a daughter, and as Mr Maddox had not been insured the necessary six months under the Insurance Act, the maternity benefit of 30s was naturally not forthcoming. Mr Jones Was Mr Maddox a consenting party to his insurance taking place from the 1st of last October'? The Chairman (to the Clerk) Was that 801 The Clerk He was in communication with the Commissioners quite as long ago as that. The Chairman I think I should be quite right in saying that I believe Mr Maddox did agree to that. Mr Jone3: Theu I should like to ask the reason why this Council did not pay Mr Maddox his insurance from the commencement and not agree to commence from the 1st of last October, knowing he must be an insured person ? The Chairman As soon as the Commissioners replied to the effect that they were of opinion Mr Maddox should be insured, then we asked Mr Maddox to let us have the cards so that they could be stamped. Mr Maddox took those cards to Mr Maselield last Friday. Mr Jones: Mr Maddox has had the whole of the cards from the commencement and I was under tho impression that Mr Maddox had pro- duced them to the Finance Committee, The Chairman Mr Maddox did bring the matter before the Finance Committee, but as he was not wholly employed by us, and there was a question whether he had other employ- ment more beneficial than ours, the matter lay like that until a communication was sent to the Commissioners on the subject, and we had their reply. Mr Jones What indemnity is the Council going to pay Mr Maddox through his ill-health ? Mr Preece Arising out of that I should like to ask whose duty it WM to obtain his card ? The Chairman It is Mr Maddox's duty. The difficulty is that Mr Maddox was laid up in the meantime and did not have his medical card. Mr Jones He could not have a medical card until he becama an insured person. The Chairman said he had promised Mr Maddox that he would see Mr Ping, the clerk of the Herefordshire Insurance Com- mittee, about it, and he did so. Mr Ping at once turned up the index slip which had been sent by Mr Maddox's approved society. He (Mr Hopkins) brought back with him a slip which he gave Mr Maddox that day, and it was to say that he was to see his doctor and ask him to put him on his list as from October 12th. Mr Jones: I don't think the doctor will do that and I think Mr Maddox will have difficulty to get a doctor to take him on in his present state of health. There is also the question of the 30s maternity benefit. The subject then dropped. NO PROBABILITY OF A SWIMMING I BATH. Mr Lawrence Is there any probability of the swimming bath being ready for the coming summer ? The Chairman I am afraid I can give no information as to that. Mr Lawrence Then I give notice that at the next meeting I shall raise the question of a recreation ground for children. BREAKING-UP ROADS. I Mr Thacker said in view of the increase in I the rates, due to the cost of the roada, he wished to ask whether they got any benefit from the Gas Co. breaking up the roads from time to Mme. Directly they got a good road the Gas 9. broke it up and they had only to go up Worcester-road to see it. The Chairman I am afraid it is so, Mr Thacker. It has gone on as long as I can remember. Mr Thacker It is a very serious thing. The Chairman On the main roads we have no control over the matter. Mr Gardner (a director of the Gas Co.) said he wished to say it was a benefit to the rate- payers. The Chairman intervened, and the matter dropped. ISOLATION HOSPITAL QUESTION. 1 The Clerk read the interim report of the Committee appointed by the County Council to enquire into the question of isolation hospital accommodation in the rural and urban districts of Ledbury, Ross and Leominster, and also read a communication from the Ledbury Rural District Council inviting the Urban Council to send two delegates to a conference at Hereford 6n the question. The Chairman said when that report was sub- mitted at the County Council he asked the Chairman (Colonel Decie) if the Ledbury Urban Council were now in a position to complete the-I negotiations with the Hereford Rural Council and he assured him that they were now at liberty. Those negotiations were jointly with the Ledbury Rural District Council and the arrangemeBt was to subsidise beds at the Here- ford Rural Council's isolation hospital at Credenhill. There was no reason at all why those negotiations could not be re-opened and settled, and he was entirely at a loss to under- stand why the Ledbury Rural District Council should be so anxious to go in for a larger and more expensive scheme. Mr Bastow said they could not complete the negotiations without the Rural District Council. Mr Davis said they should take steps to complete the negotiations, and he suggested a small deputation from that Council to meet the Rural Council representatives at the former conference. It was unanimously decided to get into com- munication with the Ledbury Rural District Council at once, and the Chairman. Mr Bastow and Mr Davis were appointed a deputation in the matter. ELECTRIC LIGHT. On the motion of Mr Bastow, seconded by the Rev F C Lynch, it was decided to affix the seal of the Council to the electric lighting agreement, whereby the Ledbury Electric Supply Co., Ltd., agree not to charge the maximum price per unit stated in the Board of Trade Provisional Order except under certain circumstances. PROPOSED INFANTS" SCHOOL. The Clerk read a communication from Mr J Wiltshire (County Education Secretary) enclosing a copy of the notice issued by the Local Education Authority of their intention to provide a new public Elementary School for about 200 children at Ledbury. P.O. TELEGRAPHS. A letter was read from the Postmaster- General making application for permission to lay an underground cable in High-street and Bye-street. The Council offered no objection to that portion in Bye-street, provided no pole was erected there, and the Chairman said application should be made to the County Council with reference to High-street. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Chairman presented the report of the Finance Committee which showed that the sum of 2171 19d lid had been paid to the treasurer since the last meeting. Bills for payment amounted to £ 271 Os 2d. The Committee had received a letter from Mr Gorin with reference to the charge for water, asking the Committee to give consideration to the matter, and the Committee decided to recommend the Council to make Mr Gorin a special allowance of 22, equal to 16,000 gallons of water at 28 6d per thousand. Respecting the lighting of the clock at the Barrett-Browning institute, he thought when the bill for 2 months lighting was P-5 5s Id that the time had arrived when they must deal with the matter. The fittings and burners for the lighting were not working satisfactorily, and although the attention of Mr Garrood had been drawn to it, yet nothing appeared to have been done. The Committee thought they were justified in recommending that unless some alteration was made in the burners to help in checking the wanton waste of gas at the present time, the Committee had no alternative but to cut off the gas as from Monday next. If they would put in new burners they would get over the difficulty. Mr Gardner seconded. Mr Lawrence Would not electricity light it ? The Chairman Yes, but that is a question for the Institute. We have nothing to do with the fittings. We pay for the light. Mr Lawrence: There would be no waste from a by-pass then, as it would simply be a case of a switch. The report was adopted. STREETS COMMITTEE. Mr C H Bastow presented the report ot the Streets Committee as follows :— South Parade.—The Surveyor reported that his estimate for putting this road into such a state of repair that would warrant the Council in taking it over was JS150. Bank Crescent Road.—The letter from Mr Pritchard to this Committee was considered after discussion and the Committee recommend that a deputation of the Council meet the members of the Building Society. Bye-street.—Mr Davis called attention to a dangerous place in the footpath in the upper end of Bye-street and it was decided to repair it at once. New Road Brush.—The Committee recom- mend that application be made to the Roads and Bridges Committee for the provision of a road sweeping machine for Ledbury Urban. Mr Bastow, in proposing the adoption of the report, said the Surveyor's estimate with regard to South Parade had been sent to the people who petitioned the Council with reference to it. With regard to Banir Crescent they hoped some- thing would be done to bring this matter to a close by a conference. If passible, he thought they ought to try to get the thing settled. As to the question of the Bye-street footpath, that would have to be left until the telegraph cable was laid. Referring to the proposed purchase' of a road-sweeping brush, Mr Bastow said that now they had the streets tar-painted it would be a vast improvement. To run a scraper over the roads must do harm and at certain times a rotary sweeping machine would be a vast im- provement and they would have the streets cleaner. Mr Lewis seconded, and the report was unanimously adopted. The Chairman, Mr Bastow and Mr Davis were appointed a deputation to meet three directors of the Building Society with reference to Bank Crescent-road. SANITARY COMMITTEE. Mr Gardner presented the report of the Sanitary Committee which contained nothing of public interest. j REPORT OF MEDICAL OFFICER. I The report of the medical officer stated that during the past month three births and five deaths had been notified. One case of scarlet fever had been reported.

J. W. STEPHENS, collector of FINE, j ANTIQUE FURNITURE, China, Plate, etc. -26. Church Street, Hereford Near Cathedral I North Porch}. :c=I

HEREFORDSHIRE TEACH ERS'STRI KE Ii I REMARKABLE SCENES AT LEDBURY I I Girls take Command ef School. We Want Our Coverness Baok Again. Monday last was the first day of the Hereford- j shire teachers' strike, and some remarkable scenes were witnessed at the Ledhury Girls' School, where a Miss Creasey, of Knebworth, j Herts., one of the" strike-breakers" secured by the Herefordshire County Education Com- mittee, was placed in charge of the school. The girls' and infants' schools adjoin, but the latter was closed, consequent upon the resignation of the whole staff and the inability of the Special Committee to procure teachers to take up the work. At the girls' school the headmistress and three assistants had resigned, leaving only one assistant, Miss Ballinger, who was recently appointed, and Miss Creasey, the headmistress who was appointed over the heads of the local body of managers. The average attendance at the girls' school is 165, but there were less than a hundred present when the school was opened in the morning. At the outset the scholars were obedient enough and marched into school, but during the morning trouble developed among the girls and there were some lively scenes. I GETTING OUT OF HAND. Before play-time some of the girls became unruly, and a desk was pushed over, and ink- pots emptied, while strumming on the piano was indulged in. There was some difficulty in getting the registers marked, as the proper key could not be found. The keys were, of course, all given np by Miss Henley, the headmistress- who has resigned, on Friday afternoon when she left school for the last time, and out of the vast number of keys, which were all on one- string, it was naturally difficult to find the right one. Added to this difficulty was the fact there were only two teachers to do the work of six, necessitating the pressing into service of older ,girls as monitresses, who however, quite failed, naturally enough, to keep the children in order. The girls did as they liked. It was a beautiful morning and some ot them had a stroll up Dog Hill and along the Green Lane, along Back Homend, and others went dowu town. At playtime the trouble began in earnest. The old teachers of the two schools, Miss Henley, Miss Adams, Miss Lee, Miss Hardwick, and Miss Underwood were in the vicinity of the schools at the opening at 9 o'clock, but none of them interfered in the slightest with the children. Miss Hartland went up at 10 30 a.m., but only stayed a few minutes and left before playtime. This was the last time any of the teachers on strike were in the vicinity of the school, with the exception of Miss Underwood, who passed by about two o'clock, but did not stay- a minute. SCHOLARS WANT A STRIKE. I At play-time, one girl, the ringleader of her class, instead of marching into school, marched out of the playgronnd with 30 or 40 other girls. They subsequently returned, and chalked on the school doors and walls, H We want our governess back again and we mean to have her," 4t On Strike," and We want a strike." When the school broke up at dinner-time Miss Creasy did not leave immediately, but when she did go was immediately escorted down Church-street, and across the bottom of the town, by a yelling crowd of schoolgirls, who alternately cheered and jeered. The lady, how- ever, took the whole business very good- humouredly and smiled on her would-be tor- mentors. I AND THEY HAVE ONE. I But it was when the girls assembled for afternoon school that the chmax came. Sunrely never has the playground of the girls' school held such a shrieking, passionate body of girls assembled there shortly before 1.30 p. m. The girls were evidently divided into two camps, one set who were determined to make matters uncomfortable for somebody, and the other body content to act in a quiet, orderly manner. And the girl "strikers did go it, to be sure. They had made up a composition on the subject which was agitating their minds and they sang it to the tune of For he's a jolly good fel- low"- Miss Henley's a jolly good mistress, Miss Henley's a jolly good mistress Miss Henley's a jolly good mistress And we want her back again. We'll have her back again We'll have her back agailt Miss Henley's a jolly good nistress Miss Henley's a jolly good mistress Miss Henley's a jolly good mistress And we want her back again." And they did not stop at this. There were fights-nothing much, of course, but still some of the girls were at it, though they did each I other no harm to speak of. Just turned half- ) past one the news went round that Miss Creasey wis coming. As she entered the play- ground some of the girl" strikers" met her and one, the ringleader, was understood to demand the keys. The "strikers" packed the front door, but Miss Creasey did- not approach it, and for some time held parley with the I strikers" at the infants' end of the play- ground. One girl climbed up to the window, and essayed to get into the school that way, but was unsuccessful, and then the back door key was procured, and a number of the girls went in school. The piano was heard going, and one girl pulled down the blinds. Another got at the lobby window and started throwing out the articles of wearing apparel that the girls had left at school in the morning. Then there was a call for the bell, and this was brought and rung at the window by the girl standing thero, and when she got tired she handed it down to the other ringleader and she rang it for a time. The strikers," in soue cases urged on by the mothers, seemed possessed, and one or two of them were white with passion, as they told the "strike-breaker" that she was not going into the school that day. And she did not, either. t SCHOOL ABANDONED. One father who was watching the scene— there was quite a crowd, on the opposite side, by the way, including a good many mother?— fetched his two girls out of the playground and sent them home. And so the scene went on for an hour-and-a-half, until at 3 o'clock Miss Creasey left the playground. Coming up the lane leading to the school she met Mr E H Hopkins, County Councillor and a member of the Education Committee and the Special I Committee which has had the teachers' question in hand, and Mr H Vernon Smith, corres- pondent of the local body of managers. There was a conversation between Mr Hopkins and Miss Creasey, and the upshot was that Miss Creasey continued her way, and Mr Hopkins telephoned to Mr Wiltshire and informed him of the state of affairs. As a result two additional teachers were drafted to the school on Tuesday morning. I NO TROUBLE AT THE BOYS' SCHOOL. At the boys' school the only teachers on duty were Mr G W Paul (headmaster) and Miss Paul (uncertificated assistant), who have not resigned, and Mr Burston, an uncertificated assistant: who was recently appointed by the County Education Committee to fill an ordinary vacancy. There was no trouble. Some of the infants' came up to the school on Monday morning, not knowing it was closed, and one little fellow was in tears at the prospect of no school, but soon dried his eyes. During the morning the N.U.T. pickets, Mr Campbell (Yarkhill) and Mr Bolton (Ashperton), two headmasters who are strikers, visited Ledbury and called upon Mr and Miss Paul and Miss Creasey, but without result. I ALL QUIET ON TUESDAY MORNING. On Tuesday morning all was quiet at both schools. Mr E H Hopkins and the Rector (the Rev F W Carnegy) visited the girls' school, and the Rev Father Lynch had in the meantime had a few pointed words with some of his flock, which effectually put an end to any trouble on the part of Catholic children. Below we give particulars of the position at I the various schools in this distriet, culled from the I' Hereford Times LEDBURY. I Mr C E Baker, Mr F M Draper, and Mr E W Reed have all resigned from the boys' school, and one appointment has been made-an assistant from Bath. So far the school is being conducted by Mr Paul, the new assistant (Mr Burston), and Mr Paul's daughter. The infants' school is closed, Miss E Adams (headmistress), Miss C L Lee (who has been away owin g to illness), Miss L E Hardwick, and Miss K Underwood, having all resigned. Many of the children commenced to cry and could not understand the position of affairs at all when told there would be no school. In the girls' department there is only one un- certificated teacher of the old staff left, and Miss Creasey has taken over the headmistress's past. Those who have resigned are Miss Henley (headmistress), Miss Hartland (certificated), Miss Hart and Miss Lloyd (uncertificated). Miss Creasey had some considerable bother, because they could not find the books for the children to commence work. M'ss Creasey is not a member of the National Union of Teachers, and at the time she heard of the vacancy she was taking a holiday, so was able to come at once. She thought Ledbury would be a nice place in which to spend the remainder of her holiday, for she was only at the school en supply. Miss Creasey hopes the schools of the county will go on satisfactorily, and that the teachers will get the best terms possible. She is not out against the teachers at all, according to a statement she has made, and on Monday told the children she was only there until Miss Henley returned. COLWALL. I At the Col wall girls' school Miss E A Smith (the mistress) does not leave the school for another six weeks, but Miss Stokes (certificated) is out, and her place has been taken by a lady from North Wales. She has not been a teacher for some three years, but has been headmistress of several schools. The boys' school is open, for the resignation of the headmaster (Mr Waters) does not expire until the end of March. The whole staff was working as usual. CODDINGTON. I Mrs M A James is a member of the Union, and has tendered her resignationi which should have taken effect on Monday, but she opened the school as usual. She had not been teaching long, however, before she fell to the lfoor in a faint, and the children had to- be sent home whilst the unfortunate mistress was taken to the Vicarage. It was not expected that the school would be open this week. MATRON. I Mathon school is closed, and Mr and Mrs Jackman showed no signs of giving in. So far no appointment has been made. Mr Jackman has been at the school for four years, and was given a rise of jS5 last year, and was offered 25 more when the Education Committee recently considered its salaries' list. His wife, who is ancertificated, was paid as a supplementary, and although she held the same qualifications, a teacher next door is getting 520 a year more. The house goes with the school, and they have been asked by the managers to give it up. CRADLEY. I Cradley is probably one of the most yp-to-date schools in the county. The buildings are spacious and well adapted, whilst there is a school garden near at hand, two runs of poultry, and a number of beehives. The children are given practical instruction by the master, Mr B G Abel, and the parents set great store on it. The school was closed on Monday, but about 130 children turned up at nine o'clock. The Rector eventually told the children that there would be no school until further notice. Mr and Mrs Abel, the latter being certificated, are both on strike, as well as Miss E K Haines (uncertiifcated). The managers have had two applications for positions sent to them from the Hereford Education oflices, but both have been refused. All the teachers are very popular in the parish, and, a concert given by the children last week was highly successful. BISHOPS FROME. I This school, with an average attendance of 60, was closed, and Mr and Mrs W A W Turner having resigned. Mrs Turner is a certificated teacher. No. appointments have been made, and it is understood that the managers have stated that they do not wish to appoint. CASTLE FROME. I Mrs Atkinson does not leave school until next I week, her notice only then expiring, but so I far as is known no new appointment has been I made. YARKHILL. I Mr Campbell, the headmaster at Yarkhill, was on picket duty on Monday. He had not heard of an appointment being made, and did not think anything in this direction had been done. His wife had resigned with him, and the notice sent in by Mr J E Edwards, the assistant, also terminated that day. Thus with the exception of Miss Lewis (supplementary) the whole staff was away, but as it was perfectly natural that Miss Lewis could not look after 118 scholars by herself, the building was not opened. During the course of the day the Rector paid Mr Cam p- bell a visit, and said that they could do nothing, because no appointments had been made. Mr Campbell was offered an increase of JB20 in his salary on the occasion when the Education Com- mittee gave the increases of £1.300 and that made his annual income up to 2140 as master of the school. STRETTON GRANDISON. I Mr and Mrs Osborne have resigned, and so far as can be ascertained no appointment has I been made by the managers, and the school is closed. ASHPERTON. I Ashperton school is a rather large one, thare being an average attendance of 104 scholars. Mr Bolton is the headmaster, and he has made himself very popular with his pupils, joining in their games and encouraging them in all kinds of sport. He has also offered to give silver medals to the scholars who attend through out the year without missing, and of course there is keen competition in this respect. During Mne week every available scholar was present three and a half days. A Mr Dry, who has not been a member of the N.U,T. since 1905, has been appointed headmaster, and has with him Miss Morgan (uncertificated assistant) and Miss N Watkins (pupil teacher). UPTON BISHOP. ( At Upton Bishop there are two schools. Gayton school was going on as usual, Mrs Lyndon, who has been in charge for nearly fourteen years, is not a member of the N. U.T., although she was formerly, and consequently she has not resigned. There are 27 children on the books. The larger school was open, but neither the headmaster (Mr F W Davoll) nor Mrs Davoll, the sewing mistress, were at their accustomed places. They had both resigned. Mr and Mrs Davoll have been at the school for 22! years. There are 54 children on the register, 28 below what it used to be and 45 were in attendance on Monday, the teaching being conducted by the two supplementary teachers (Miss Griffiths and Miss Williams). No new appointment has been made. TARRINGTON. j At Tarrington on Monday everything was going quite smoothly, although Miss Wooton, an assistant, has resigned, and no one appointed in her place. Mr Jabez Toyne is the master, and he has not sent in his notice, although he is a member of the Union. He will not resign unless developments make it more necessary, although he is not altogether satisfied. His great difficulty is that there is no other house in the place that he could take and he could not leave the school without sacrificing a good d0-.1. Since he has been at Tarrington he has not been given an increase, and has not asked fer one. At the present time he has two assistants in the school, and although inconvenienced by bei ng one short, he is able to manage. MUCH MARCLE. I Mr T Wilding, master of Much Marcle school, has sent in his notice, but it does not expire until the end of March. Mrs Wilding (supple- mentary) will also come out at the same time as her husband, unless a settlement is reached by then. Mrs Park, an uncertified teacher, is also likely to resign, but if she decides to do so her notice will not expire until the week the headmaster is due to leave. Nothing has been heard of any appointment. WOOLHOPE. I At Woolhope Mr G D Dawson has been head- master for 30 years. On the school register there are 80 children. Mr Dawson has carried on the school, with the assistance of his wife as sewing mistress, two supplementary teachers, and a monitress. Both Mr and Mrs Dawson have resigned. A new headmaster-Mr H Coates, who returned a few months ago from India, where he had been eight years, has been appointed. He has been under the London County Council and at Southampton. His salary will be E120 per annum, including house, with a promise of 910 if the school reports are satisfactory. This is B10 below the revised salary offered Mr Dawson. Mr Coates duly opened school on Monday. He stated that while not antagonistic to the National Union he was not of its members. —

Hooting at Ashperton. ,I, 1 Rector's Appeals Ignored. 'I At Ashperton the children struck on Monday morning. They attended, as usual, but there- was hesil 4ney on their part to enter the school premise They were met at the door by the Master, (ewly appointed in the place of Mr Bolton, w ho, it appears, has won the affection of all the'scholars. Two of the elder girls acted as spokesmen, and they asked where Mr Bolton was. The newly-appointed Master said he was no longer their Master, but a new Master was in charge, and he begged them to go into the school. "nd he would teach them as they ought to be t might. "No, no," they shouted, "Mr Bolton we want, and we will I have no other Master.' After he had exhausted his persuasive powers. in the effort to influence the children, they commenced to hoot and bawl, and one of the elder girls shouted, You are only a blackleg. Three cheers for Mr Bolton." Cheers were- accordingly given. As the children of Canon Froome attend this school and as they are affected equally with. the others, the Rector of the parish, as school- manager, arrived on the scene and tried to exercise his influence to get the children- into. school. But his efforts. were unavailing. Another manager also endeavoured in the same way to persuade the children to go into school, but it was useless. The Rector at last took the key of the school. The children gambolled about in the road and a little group of the scholars held a mock school there. On Tuesday the Rev L G Hunt (Rector of Munsley and Canon Froome)* addressed the. following letter to the parents of children attending the Ashperton and Canon Froome School:— Munsley Rectory, Ledbury. 3rd February,. 1914. To the parents of children attending the above school. On my visit to the school yesterday morning I found the majority of the children on sympathetic strike. Nobody sympathizes more with the adequate pay meet of efficient teachers than do the Managers of Church Schools, but the Managers have, First: the interests of the parents and children at heart, Second the interests of the Teachers whom they wish to retain in their posts, A sympathetic strike on the part of the children is strongly opposed to either of these interests and the children's refusal of going to school is doing the Teachers whom they want back positive harm. L G HUNT. I Deputy Chairman of the Managers.

Disorder at Ross. I At Ross Council schools on Monday morning there was much disorder in the boys' depart- ment. The girls and infants were told when they dispersed on Friday that there would be no school on Monday, and consequently did not turn up. When, however, the bell was rung calling the boys together there was general uproar, the boys cheering and shouting, and eventually the whole of the boys in the upper classes ran from the school and paraded through the streets, shouting and singiag. During the whole of the morning they refused to be taught and threw missiles at the windows. The mauagers were summoned, but when they were told that their power had been taken out of their hands they declined to act. The smaller boys were eventually marched into school about 9 30, and lessons were commenced. The staff provided by the county authority was not nearly sufficient to manage the whole boys' school, which numbers over 200 boys. Strike, boys, strike," and various other legends were chalked all over the school walls and in the town. In the district round Ross great interest is taken in the strike. Only a few of the schools were opened this morning. At Hope Mansell, near Ross, a mistress had been appointed temporarily. The schools at Weston- under-Penyard, Linton, Walford, Bridstow, and in fact in most of the parishes in the Ross district were closed, greatly to the delight of the children, but very much against the wishes of the parents. South of the county town are many village schools which have closed their doors Fownhope, Brockhampton, Linton Church of England, Linton Gorsley Endowed, Aston Ingham, King's Capel, and Little Dew- church. At Brampton Abbot the Rector assisted the one supplementary teacher who alone turned up to open school. A new 'master presided over the Mordiford Council School. The attendance of children was small. The teachers appointed by the County Com- mittee who have taken up their new posts are comparatively few. In one case, according to Mr Nicholls, of the National Union, a master who entered upon his duties on Monday morning approached the strikers in the dinner hour, and in classic language explained that his poverty and not his will consented to take up the position of strike breaker-a role he was quite prepared to abandon if the N.U.T. re- imbursed him for his expenses

LATER REPORTS. I LEDBURY. I The strike of school children at Ledbury came to a sudden end on Tuesday. On Monday evening Father Lynch visited certain districts of the town, where some of the ringleaders live, and porsuaded them to return to school. Tho rector of the Parish, Rev F W Carnegy, who is one of the school managers, visited the girls' school half an hour before it opened on Tuesday morning, and as the children arrived in twos and threes beckoned them into school. By this means he prevented the children from collecting in groups, and at nine o'clock, when the teacher who was unable to gain admittance on Monday called the roll there about 100 out of some 200 pupils present. The County Council sent two extra teachers to the school on Tuesday evening. The infants' school remaius closed owing to lack of teachers. ASHPERTON. I There were no scenes at Ashperton. although there were many absentees from school. At Ashperton, on Monday, only 14 children out of 120 entered the school doors. There was a larger number in the class-room, but at neither Ross nor Ashperton was there anything resembling the average attendance. AN M.P. MEDIATOR. I Mr H Fitz Herbert Wright, M.P. for North Herefordshire, in a letter to the Hereford Times, suggests a scale of salaries which he suggests might meet with the approval of both parties. Mr Wright was for many years chair- man of the Derbyshire Education Committee and has therefore a wide experience of the difficutlties of administering an area which con- tains a large number of small village schools in agricultural districts. As Parliamentary repre- sentative he is well acqtiaiuted with conditions in the county, and it would be difficult to find one better qualified to act the part of mediator. The scale of the National Union he thinks would, if adopted, put the teachers of Hereford- shire in a privileged position as compared with their fellows throughout the county, and he suggests another scale as one more equitable So the ratepayers, while establishing for the teachers the principle of payment by scale for which they are striking.

Teachersp Denial. We have received the following letter from Mr C E Baker with reference to last Monday's disturbances ;— Sir,—I beg to ask the favour of a little space to put right just one or two things connected with the so called strike. Of course, at such a time as this rumours circulate quickly and much is added in passing from one to another. Several remarks have been made which are so far from the truth that on behalf of my fellow teachers I wish to state, for the re-assurance of our many friends, that we were in no way responsible for Monday's disturbance, and no word regarding the strike was mentioned by. the Headmistress to her girls. With regard to the Daily Mail" photograph, I may state that, having been notified of the intending visit of the Union's representatives at 9'o'clock, the lady teachers assembled outside the girls' school after the scholars had gone into school, and Mr Tilley snapped the group. They were not there to picket as was stated under the photograph. Thanking you in anticipation, Yours, etc, Ledbury, CHAS E BAKER. 1 Ledbury, February 5, 1914.

Views of the Vicar of Bosbury. I We have received the following letter from the Vicar of Bosbury Sir,—With the offer by the Local Education Authority of increases in salaries and their annual revision, many friends of the teachers feel that for them now to hold out on strike, merely for a scale, is to create unnecessary strife, and thereby alienate the sympathy hitherto felt for them. Surely they may now leave themselves with confidence in the hands of the Committee, secure of justice, if not of generosity. The case of the Head Mistress of our Girls' School, if it represents a common experience. may explain and justify the action of the strikers. She came here direct from college, and has spent over 36 years of devoted service in the work of the school, raising it to a high state of efficiency. Her reports have been uninformly excellent. It is one of the sdhools selected for the training of young teachers. When it passed to the Local Education Authority some 12 years ago, she was receiving a salary of j391 10s, and has continued at the same rate till this month, when it has been raised to JE105. According to the statement of salaries now being advertised by the Local Education Authority the minimum for this school is £90, rising to a maximum of 2115. It appears, therefore, that, at the rate of increment the Committee have adopted in this case, this teacher can never hope to reach the maximum before age compels her to retire altogether from her work, since after 36 years she is still little more than half way to the goal. If such a teacher, who, although a member of the N.U.T.. has not gone out on strike, through devotion to a school in which she has spent her life, is thus treated by the Education Committee, can we expect those teachers who have struck to be content with the bare assurance that worth and service will al ways be carefully considered and adequately rewarded ? Is it surprising that they should require a definite statement, not only of the minimum and maximum salary attached to a school, but also of the increment, so that they may judge the possibility of their life being long enough to secure it ? Tours truly THOS W HARVEY. Manager Girls' School. Bosbury Vicarage. February 4th, 1914.

LEDBURY BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The fortnightly meeting of the Ledbury Board of Guardians was held at the Board-room of the Union Workhouse on Tuesday morn- ing. There were present—Mr W L Pritchett (Chairman), who presided, Revs A G Jones,. A E Green-Price, and A H Knapp, Miss Holland, Alderman J Riley, Messrs T Calder, H Bray, T S S Gardner, L J C Riley, H Co well, M J Powell, J J S Powell, A G Bunn, H Kodges, T A Pedlingham, with the Clerk (Mr R Homes), the Master (Mr J Johnson), and the Relieving Officers (Mr A G Smith and Mr T Thompson). THE WORKHOUSE. The Master reported that the inmates in the House the last week numbered 107, against 93 for the corresponding week of last year, an increase of 14. The vagrants relieved during the fortnight numbered 111 against 137 last year, a decrease of 26. He reported that he had received a parcel of magazines from Lady Fanshawe, and a parcel of illustrated papers from Coddington Club. FINANCE. The Clerk reported that the balance in the bank amounted to £ 1,758.2s lid. CHILDREN'S CARETAKER. The Chairman reported that he thought he had at last secured a children's caretaker and needlewoman, in Miss Eva Annie Barnett, 31, of Stonehouse, who has been housekeeper and and matron of a college at Stonehouse. On the motion of Father Lynch, seconded by Mr Gardner, Miss Barnett was appointed. This was all the business.

HEREFORD MARKET. (Special Farmers' Union Report). The fair to-day was a largo one and the trade throughout good. HORSE FAIR. There was a good supply of horses, which were generally in good demand. CATTLE. There was a good supply of store cattle, for which there was a good demand at very satis- factory prices. BEEF. A moderate supply, for which trade was very firm. Best beef 7d to nod per lb. Fat calves very dear, lOd to lid. SHEEP. A full supply, with recent rates barely main- tained. Best teg mutton 9d to 9|d per lb. Best wether mutton 8d to 9d. Other qualities, 7d to 8id. PIGS. A good supply. Stores in good demand. Keen inquiry for small bacons. Porks, 7d to 8d per lb. Bacons 6d to 7d. Heavy-weights 5d to 6d. CORN. A moderately busy market with prices un- changed. Wheat per 62 lbs, 3a lid to 4s. Okd. I Oats per 40 lbs, 2s 6d to 3s. Malting barley per 56 lbs, 3s 6d to 4a. Grinding barley per 56 lbs, 3s to 3s 6d. Beans per 651 lbs, 48 to 4s 2d. HAY TRADE. (Juotau ns are tor good quality in stack:, seller to < Oliver on rail. Best hay 50s to 55s per ton. Second quality hay 458 to 50s. Clovers (good) 50.i to 55s. Good wheat straw 40s to 45s.

The "LEDBURY REPORTER." The People's Paper. Everybody reads it. • KYNOCHS CARTRIDGES K?'f NO -M AD- 8/6 per 100. 9/6 per 100. 10/6 per 100. ELEY'S CARTRIDGES Smokeless 8/6 TOO (Pink Case). Diamond Grain 10/6 „ (Blue Case). 'Smokeless Diamond' Cartridges (Curtiss & Harvey's Loading), 9/6 per 100. Ceoone H ili& Sotox vS/ The Cross, LEDBURY*

PLEASING PRESENTATION BY BOSBURY SCHOOLGIRLS. On Wednesday fhe girls of standard- T attending Bosbury Girls' School gave an enter- tainment, entirely got up by themselves, in, the school at 330 p.m. The two girls responsible for the management were Rbse Reynolds (who. took the combined offices of stage manager, treasurer and Chairman in a very business- like manner), and Violet Jones, who gave valuable assistance in other ways. They had requisitioned the services of a few lower stand- ard girls, and the whole number of performers was ten. There was a good audience present, both of adults and children, and all seemed to really appreciate the difièrent. items set before them by the youthful performers. These con- sisted of several sketches in costume, two dances and various songs and recitations. The last sketch was made up by Rose Reynold and it was arranged so that the end of the sketch should include a tea scene, to which their school- mistress, Miss Arrowsmith (who was one of the audience), should be invited. She acceded to their request, greatly wondering as to what part she was to take. On seating herself at the table a covered saucer was placed before her, with the intimation that the contents were a present to her from the school girls, being th& proceeds of the emtertainuient, and that the performers wished her to, buy a present for herself with the money (which amounted to jBl). The misti ess expressed her thanks to them for their kind thoughts, and, said how very pleased she had been with the entertainment. The vicar (Rev T W Harvey). then made a speech* and said how thoroughly pleased he was with the performance and that he had been specially struck by the very good tone of the various sketches and recitations, and he gave a special word of commendation to the very capable stage-manager, Rose Reynolds, who although only a schoolgirl of 12: years old, showed wonderful ability in actingand managing, and who also undertook the arduous duties of Chairman." Cheers were then given for the head-mistress (Miss Arrowsmith), the Vicar, the performers, the visitors, etc. When the audience had dis- persed the mistress and the two assistant teachers (Miss Griffin and Miss Gibbs) were, invited to tea with the performers, and a very pleasant evening was spent afterwards. The girls indulged in games, dances, etc., till 8 30 when light refreshments were handed round, and after singing the National Anthem, the pleased and happy company dispersed. The programme of the entertainment was as follows Piano solo, Miss E M Griffin. Song, Poor little Joe," Six Girls. Song, Ivy's Visit," Violet Jones, Beatrice Chadd, Lily Goodchap. Sketch, The Lost Pencil," Annie Nutt and Nellie Russell. Recitation, "Lucy Gray," Phyllis Box. Sketch, "Disobedient Dolly," Rose Reynolds, Violet Jones, Gertrude Hill. Recitation, Who are we Nellie Russell, Rose Jones, Annie Nutt, Rose Reynolds. Recitation, 41 John Maynard," Beatrice Chadd. Play, Forgive and Forget," Six Girls. Dance, Eiyht Girls. Game, Fairy Ring," Five Girls. Recitation, 44 The Cripple Boy," Violet Jones. Dance, Violet Jones and B Chadd. Song, 44 Trouble," Mabel Hill. Pianoforte solo, Miss Griffin. Sketch, The Gipsy Girl," 10 girls. Presentation. "God Save the King."

I NEWENT. SCHOOL MANAGERS.—The monthly meeting of School Managers was held on Tuesday at the office of Mr Or Price, the official correspondent. Canon W H Connor presided, and there were also present Mr H Davis (vice-chairman), Miss Hutchinson, Rev. Kenfig Morgan, Mr Crisp, Dr. Campbell, and Mr Golding. The business was of a routine character. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—Mr T H Hulls pre- sided over the fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians, in the absence of Major W P Thackwell through indisposition. The Master reported the number of inmates 59, last year 70. Tramps relieved during the fortnight were 133, a decrease of 49. The following gifts were kindly acknowledged Tea, sugar, sweets, buns, and tobacco from Mrs Conder apples from Mr T B Holloway oranges and nuts, Mr C Thur- ston cider, the Rev H L Whatley papers and periodicals from Mrs Beechey, Miss Dyke, Miss Newbury, Mrs Thackwell, and Messrs W J Cook and Sons. The inmates were invited to.. the Pictures on the 27th ult. by Mr H Davis. The New Year's treat was held on the 29th ult., and was voted a great success. The Master was indebted to Messrs E Wood and C Thurston for assistance with the stage.—Mr A E Jones wrote thanking the Board for- their vote of condolence on the death of hia father. Printed and Published for and on behalf of the EXECUTRIX of the late TIIOMAS VAUGHAN, by WILLIAM S. BOWES, Manager, at the Printing Works, New Stras$, Ledbury, ia the County of Hereford,