The Brecon Radnor Express Carmarthen and Swansea Valley Gazette and Brynmawr District Advertiser

Notes and Notions. Several Newbridge soldiers were home for Christmas. Torrential rain, accompanied by hnil, fell at Llanfiliangel-Talyllyn on Friday afternoon. Mr Owens (Glamorgan Constabulary), Tirabad, Llanwrtyd, has just enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery. Pte. H. Ringro&± (5th Welsh), who was killed at the Dardanelles, lived at Old Tramway, Hir- wain. Alderman M. W. Morgan, J.P., Bryntawe, Abercrave, has gone to Las Palmas to recuperate during the winter months. Private Glyn Blythe (son of Mr George Blythe, Llanwrtyd) was home from the trenches for Christmas. Miss Crawshay (Hightree House) gave a tea to the children of Leintwardine Endowed School on Wednesday. >1< The rainfall at Glasbury for December was very high amounting to 7.17 inches. There were only 8 days without rain. According to the last official list of the 1st Here- fords' casualties, Sergt. R. E. Price (8023), Bridge street, Rhayader, has been wounded. Radnorshire and West Herefordshire Hound" met at Rhosgoch Bog on Monday. They also meet again at Luntley on Friday. Sergeant Wynter, who was 'home at Llangynidr over Christmas, has obtained a first-class certifi- cate as musketry-instructor. j I Miss Phyllis Griffiths (NeWbridge-on-Wye) i and her choir-boys secured j63 5s for tobacoo for onr soldiers by carol-singing last week. j Miss Nannie Williams' many friends at Llan- dovery will be pleased to hear she has just ob- tained the London B.Sc. degree. Mr C. V. Pryse (Llwyn-y-brain) distributed six I i tons of coal and a large quantity of prime beef amongst the deserving poor of Llandovery during Yuletide. A fine old beech was blown down in the avenue j at the Priory, Clifford, in the recent gales, and, at Priory Wood, a roof was also blown off a back ¡ kitchen. Trees were uprooted 'by the score. I Mr Herbey Richards (son of Mr John Richards, Lisbmne House, Llanwrtyd Wells), of the Royal j Flying Corps, spent a few days' furlough at borne r last week. I Gunner Arthur Price. Royal Field Artillery (son of Mr Charles Price. Brook-house, Llangunllo) was home from France on furlough a few days | last week. Ii Several Builth men, serving with the colours, were home over Christmas. Among them were Captain Idris Morgan (son of Mr and Mrs Alfred P. Morgan), Q.M.-Sergt. C. R. Wearn, Sergt. J. Davies and Sergt. C. Loversidge. He (gently) My dear, a man was shot at by a burglar, and his life was saved by a button, which the bullet struck. She Well, what of it? He (meekly) Nothing—only the button must have been on. $$$« The pair of horses which drew the hearse con- taining the remains of a well-known Llandovery luan the other day were aged 34 and 37 years, and were the same horses that conveyed his grand- father to his^'last resting-place. Leintwardine was visited by terrible hurricanes la week, and considerable damage was done. The chancel window of the church was blown in and a quantity of slates dislodged. Fifty trees of one orchard were uprooted. Interruption of the tele- graph service also added to the difficulty. | Last week's "Gazette" announced the follow- j ing :—"South Wales Borderers The undermen- ■ tioned to be secoud-lieutenants, dated 30th Decem- her-Honald Gwynne Phillips, William John Hamilton Morgan, Alfred Henry Southron, Fred- r crick William Jenkins and Gwilym Williams." ? ? During the recent etoma Llangorse Lake pre- sented the appearance of the sea. The waves have not been so high for many a long year. A yew tree in Llanwern chmrchyard was lifted up by the roots and deposited on the roof of the church—for- tunately without doing serious damage. Great excitement was caused in Brecon during the evening of Christmas Day. especially by the small hoys and giris who followed "Father Christmas" to the homes where he visited. "Father Christmas," it should be added, collect- ed £3 6s (.M in aid of Penoyre Hospital. A splendid optimistic note is struck by the "London Opinion" cartoon this week. The idea, "The Promise of 1916," shows "Father Time" and the Allies turning over a new leaf. Mr James Douglas has a stirring appeal for the recall of Lord Fisher, and Alfred Leete has a picture of King Ferdinand, of Bulgaria, lecturing to an American audience on "How I backed the wrong horse. An interesting Order has been issued by the Local Government Board, requiring parents and doctors to notify to the medical officer of health cases of measles coming under their notice. Hitherto, measles has not been scheduled with the other infectious diseases for the purpose of notifica- tion, because of the difficulties in applying the same preventive measures to measles that can be applied, for example, to scarlet fever. The order came into operation on Saturday. » » Considerable damage was caused by the gale in and around Presteign. Large trees were blown down-several on the Warden—and a beech tree, j in the churchyard, fell with a crash while a mar- j riage ceremony was being performed. The road I from Knighton to Presteign was so impeded that the mail-man was unable to effect his journey one evening and had to proceed in a roundabout way. Hoofs of buildings were lifted bodily by the wind, and, at the Rhodd, a tree crashed through the roof of a burn. It may be of interest to note that the late Major Howell, of Builth, owner of the Cromwellian mansion, Llanelwedd Hall. near that town, was a descendant of James Howell (1594-1666). author of the famous "Familiar Letters" ("Epistolae Ho- Elianne"), a favourite bedside book of Thackeray. James Howell was imprisoned by the Puritans, and wrote essays in the ferm of letters which are full of curious anecdotes and reminiscences of his travels in the Netherlands. Italy, and Spain. He was born at Abernant, nc-sr Carmarthen, became member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire, and was appointtd historiographer Royal in 1661. if In lis. so days, wheii there i.; a kind of necessi- tous e<\momy in concert artistes, why cannot the audjc!:je entert;.in the audience? This, so a cor- respondent informs us, really happened recently at a concert in Breconshire where it was difficult to get outside aid. "It was the clever idea of the chairman," says our friend, "and proved most in- teresting, for, being so well known to each other. we had never before proved our local talent." We shall not be surprised to hear of future con- certs in our rural districts being billed as "to be given by the audience." One thing is certain, it will do away with "disappointed audiences," for one cannot grumble at oneself. Mr John Morgan, lock-keeper and water-tender on the Mon. and Brecon Canals, has been living in the Canal Cottage, Malpas, near Newport, for 66 years, and has been in the employ of the Mon- mouthshire Canal Company and the Great Wes- tern Railway Company for 50 years. Recently he was presented with a pipe, pouch, and a good sup- ply of bis favourite "weed" by Inspector Butler, on behalf of his fellow-workmen, as an expression of goodwill. Morgan's position is unique, inas- much as the post of lock-keeper at Malpas has- been filled by his family for three successive gener- ations, and his grandfather also worked on the construction of the canal. Among the names of persons, who figured in hir John French's list of "mentioned in dis- patches," was Second-Lieutenant Gilbert France Watson, of the Welsh Divisional Engineers, the i youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs Charles France Watson, of Wandsworth. Lieu- tenant Watson, for the last ten years, lived with the Bishop of St. David's and Mrs Owen, whose nephew he is. He served for three years as an engineering apprentice at the | Channel Dry Dock Co., Cardiff, and enlisted as a sapper in the Carmarthen section of the 1st Welsh Field Co.. H.E., in September, 1914. receiv- ing his commission last December. Sec.-Lieut. I. P. Owen, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, is a son of the Bishop of St. David's. | z > A Bedwellty councillor, who ventured from home at Christmas, met with an alarming experience in the Golden Valley, which starts at Hay and ends at Pontrilas. The valley was flooded to such an extent that great waves could be seen rising and rushing along. Trees of considerable size were torn from their roots and whirled to a distance. One great tree was lifted clean up and flung across the railway, which runs through the valley, and lay right in front of the engine, which, fortunately, was pulled up in time. The councillor and his friend had to travel some distance on foot, and the journey was one of extreme discomfort and peril. On returning home he found that a corrugated roof over a boiler-house (weighing more than a hundred weight) had been lifted right off and deposited a distance of 130 yards away. 4" Many of the Welsh border towns are very rich in historical interest," says a correspondent, "and a passing reference the other day to the stormy times of the Rebecca Riots calls to mind a delight- ful story by Mrs Arthur Jacob which is not nearly as well known in the Principality as it ought to be. Mrs Jacob's novel. 'The Sheepstealers,' is based on the circumstances surrounding the riots, and the plot is, of oourse, laid in the country sur- rounding Brecon, Hay, Hereford and Abergavenny. It is a vivid and thoroughly enjoyable tale, and, apart from its historical interest, possesses great literary merit. I was in Hay a little time ago, and a lady there told me that some of the farms and hills and dales referred to by Mrs Jacob can easily be identified by those residing near that pretty little market town. Mrs Jacob knows the Welsh people and their characteristics thoroughly, and to me it is a matter for astonishment that her charming novel is not; more popular in Wales." It is important to the thousands of Young Welsh- men who have attested during the past few weeks that they should clearly indicate the particular Unit of the Army which they wish to join. If the choice of Unit is left to the Authorities, Welshmen may be drafted to English, Irish or Scottish Units in different parts of the country, and thus lose the advantages of being commanded by Welsh-speak- ing officers and of availing themselves of the ser- vices of Welsh chaplains of every denomination. In order to obviate this danger it would be well for Welshmen who have attested to join the col- ours at once, rather than wait for the groups to b# called up. There would then be a practical cer- I tarnty ui ineir being allowed to join tne Welsh I unit of their choice, and of their being able to I avail themselves of the benefits likely to accrue from General Owen Thomas' projected national scheme to safeguard the interests of Welsh sold- iers and their dependents during and after the War. Messrs. Smith Elder and Co.'s memorial volume of the Hon. Colwyn Philipps, elder son of Lord St. David's, who was killed near Ypres in May last. contains many verses of striking beauty, but none more touching than his tribute "To Mother" :— Can I make my feeble art Show the burning of my heart? Five and twenty years of schooling Since you bore me, weak and puling, Every day and every hour I have battened on yonr power, While you taught of life the whole; You my Best Beloved and nighest, You who ever claimed the highest Was the one and only goal. Often wean-, often ailing. S ever for a moment failing. Always cheering, always propping, Often checking, sometimes stopping, When the sands of life seemed sliding, You were helping, you were guiding— Claimed for me the glorious role; You my loved one and no other, You my only lovely Mother, You the pilot of my soul.

I Births, Marriages, Deaths I In Memoriam, &c. I I It is our desire that our column of notices I under the above heading should be valuable to all our readers. Notices are inserted at the minimum rate of 1/- for 20 words and f sixpence for each additional ten words or part of ten words, and must be prepaid. Unless prepaid ther are charged at the rate of 2/6 per insertion. ACKNOWLEDG- MENTS will be charged at same Rate. No notice of this description will be inserted unless authenticated by the name and address of the sender. The latest time for receiving notices for the Radnor Express is Tuesday noon, I and for the Brecon and Radnor Express," Wednesday noon. LISTS of wedding presents and wreaths, sent to us for publication, are now charged for at Ii the rate of 2d per line. .aniag. I HARRIS-GREGORY.—On the 25th December, at St. Mary's, Builth Wells, by the Rev. S. H. Wen- ham, Sydney Harris (Cpl. M.T.—A.S.C., Can- terbury), to Alma Fanny Gregory, youngest j daughter of Mr John Jones, 9, Nantyrarian, Builth Wells. 205p I

Y.M.C. A.. Subscriptions, on behalf of the Y.M.C.A. funds, can be received at the "Express" Offices, Brecon. Official receipts are issued to all donors. fl026 Y.M.C.A.with H.M. Troops. TfyiLL some patriotic person in the County place a small Car at the disposal of Secretary, organising Funds for the above work. Great care would be taken and running expenses paid. For further details apply by letter. "Y.M.C.A." C/O EXPRESS OFFICE, b361 BRECON.

FARMERS' OPPORTUNITIES. J Farmers in Breconshire and Radnor- shire would do well to note the business transacted, and the observations made, at the meetings recently held by the com- mittees responsible for the working of the Government's Live Stock Development Scheme. In times when the demands of war divert public monies into channels other than that for the encouragement of I trade, and the development of the coun- try's industry, farmers ought to consider themselves extremely fortunate in the I knowledge that this particular scheme will continue to work its benefits, and that I grants will be given for the improvement of live stock. Admittedly, such help is primarily given from a national view- point, but those who will most benefit by I it are the breeders themselves, and they will be unwise if they do not take every advantage of the opportunities offered by the scheme. Despite the scepticism with which the scheme was received by many when it was launched—probably owing to the fact that for years agriculture had re- ceived scant consideration by Parliament —it has already done splendid work, and, under the altered circumstances of the times, will have an important bearing on the future. From the reports of the meetings recently held a. Brecon and Llandrindod Wells, the observations of the Live Stock Inspector will be.read with interest. The progress of Welsh agricul- ture is already evidenced. There are places in Wales where the result of the improvement of stock, five, Len, and fifteen years ago, can now be fairly traced. There is a greater incentive now. Never was there a time when more attention should be paid to stock rearing. It will stand the farmer in good stead not only I now but more so after the war.' In pre- vious years of depression, we are told, the rearing of stock had proved the sheet anchor of the Welsh farmer, and, after this war when the industry is bound to II feel the slump that must inevitably fol- low, the same stand-by will tide him over. It is also certain that the prices of pedi- gree animals will go up enormously after the war is over, and thus it will be not only wise, but business, for farmers to see to their stock being registered, for, in this, a boom is expected. The idea of the scheme is, first and last, that of develop- ment, the covering of the widest possible area, and encouragement, by assisted nominations, to the small farmer. If this idea is strictly carried out the scheme, which has already in a short space of time, done splendid work, is destined to do a greater and will be of immeasurable benefit not only to the small tenant-farm- er but to the nation generally. ».

I NEW YEAR'S HONOURS. Much satisfaction will be afforded in Breconshire and Radnorshire by the New Year's Honours conferred upon a number' of Welshmen. They are men who have been very prominent in the life of the Principality, and, in one or two instances, the honour has been long delayed. Mr D. A. Thomas, upon whom a peerage has been conferred, is closely associated through marriage, with Radnorshire, his good lady being a memer of the Haig fam- ily of Penithon, Llanbadarn-fynycld. Sir I Harry Webb is a Radnorshire border man, having been born at Kington. Sir Thos. j J. Hughes and Sir Owen M. Edwards are j very well known in both counties. Few j Welshmen are more deserving of lichour; than Sir Owen. He has achieved a great! work for Welsh education. Through his abilities and energies the standard of the schools has been raised, and the Welsh scholar given a broader outlook. In this respect Sir Owen was a worthy successor 'Ellis. His literar-? to the late Mr Tom Ellis. His literary work has been no less notable. His I powerful and facile pen has been, and is, freely used for the betterment and up- lifting of Welsh nationality. By his "Story of Wales" he has told to our Eng- lish neighbours the thrilling tale of his country—a tale of pathos and heroism- as few Welshmen could have done. We are glad that honour has fallen to whom .honour is justly due.