Abergavenny Chronicle

Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions. I FOUR MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR LOCAL I WOMAN. At the Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions on Wednesday, Catherine Parry (41), was charged with stealing ylfes. of chicken food, 3lbs. sugar, ilb. of tea, etc., the goods of Elizabeth Higgs, on September 7th, at Llanvetherine. Mr. Micklethwait prosecuted. The evidence was to the effect that prose- cutrix purchased some groceries at Mr. Cadle's shop in Abergavenny, which were packed in a parcel, put in a box, and left at the London Hotel, Abergavenny, addressed to a Mrs. Morgan, -who took the box to Mrs. Higgs' house and left -it outside the door, as prosecutrix had not re- turned home. Mrs. Morgan, at the time of leaving the box there, noticed a woman on the road staring at her. Mrs. Higgs missed the groceries on returning home, and next day, having received some information, she went to prisoner's house, and asked for the return of the goods. Prisoner denied having them. In- formation was then given to P.C. Baker, who, -on visiting prisoner's house, found similar articles to those lost, and Mr. Cadle identified a bag as having come from his shop. The jury found prisoners guilty, but recom- mended her to mercy. The Chairman On what grounds ? The Foreman We take it it is her first offence. The Chairman (to the clerk) Read her previous convictions. This having been done, P.C. Baker, questioned --by the chairman, stated that prisoner was the wife of a man who had joined the 3rd Mon- mouthshires. She was sentenced to four months' hard labour. The Chairman then requested P.C. Baker to see if the children (four under the. age of 14), could not be accommodated outside Aberga- venny House," if an allowance for them was still obtainable.

AT THE DARDANELLES. I SERGT. REG. DAY'S EXPERIENCES. I Several local members of the Royal Gloucester- shire Hussars (Yeomanry) have been home on short leave from the Dardanelles during the past few davs., Sergt. R. Day, who was wounded shortly after the landing on the Gallipoli Penin- sula, in conversation with our representative, told of some of the experiences of the Gloucester Hussars. He said they were engaged as in- fantrymen, having left their horses at Alexandria. They landed to the west of Suvla Bay at mid- night of the 17th August, and early next morning moved over the hill and had to Construct dug- outs. Here they had their baptism of fire, the Turks sending over 40 or 50 shells a day. On the Thursday evening, about 8 o'clock, they had orders to get into fighting order, and leaving their Valises behind, marched round Suvla Bay towards Salt Lake, arriving there about I a.m. on the Saturday morning. Here they dug them- selves in again, and remained there till 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Here they saw a big balloon in the shape of a Zeppelin go over Imbros Island, and this was the signal for the artillery all along .e line and the gunboats and battleships in Suvla Bay to start bombarding the Turkish } positions. About 4 o'clock they started to ? tn6ve off to take up their positions. They went ) along the side of Salt Lake towards Chocolate } Hill, through thick undergrowth which was waist U high. About half way there was a big exposed .patch, three-quarters of a mile in extent, and as each regiment reached this patch the Turks, who had got the elevation and range, opened fire on them with their artillery. Col. Playne was. one of the first to fall, and the casualties were serious. Sergt. Day was hit on the back of the neck with shrapnel, and after going on about 20 yards had to stop. He had to crawl under a bush and await the arrival of the ambulance. The grass was all on fire with the firing, and no doubt many men were burnt. Sergt. Day said that Trooper Harold Wood- ward was wounded when coming out of his dug- out, and died the same night in hospital. Corpl. Watkins, of the Duffryn Farm, was only two or three yards away from him at the time. Pte. ivfest, R.A.M.C., of Abergavenny, and Trooper R. H. Pickering, of Gilwern, helped to bury him. Trooper Woodward was the youngest son of the late Mr. W. D. Woodward and Mrs. Wood- ward, of the Red Barn, and much sympathy is felt for the family in their loss.

I VISIT OF THE Rev. R. MOFFAT GAUTREY. I STIRRING LECTURE AT ABERGA- VENNY. I "THE SACRAMENTS OF LIBERTY." A visit from the Rev. R. Moffat Gautrey has become an annual fixture at Abergavenny, and is each year looked forward to not only by the members of the Wesleyan Church, but by many others who have heard Mr. Gautrey's eloquent treatment of various subjects. It was appro- priate that Mr. Gautrey's subject this year should have special reference to the war, the subject being The sacraments of liberty." The visit took place on Tuesday, and the Frog- more-street Baptist Church had been kindly lent to the Wesleyan friends for the occasion. Mr. A. J. Willcox displayed his customary zeal in making all the necessary arrangements. Mr. Gautrey preached at the Frogmore-street Baptist Church in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening to an interested audience. The Mayor presided, and was supported by the Rev. C. B Wildblood (recently Wesleyan minister at Aber- gavenny, and now stationed at Abertillery) and the Rev. S. H. Bosward (the newly-appointed Wesleyan minister). The Mayor said he had very great pleasure on behalf of the burgesses in welcoming Mr. Gautrey to Abergavenny. The word liberty had been in their minds very much during the past 15 months, and the whole course of the world rested upon that one word. We as a nation were fighting for liberty and were trying to up- hold the honour of our country. He trusted that the words of Mr. Gautrey would inspire them to greater vigour for the work which lay ahead of us. The situation was dark at present, but he trusted that God would lead us on to victory, that men and women throughout the length and breadth of the land might live in greater freedom and liberty. The Rev. R. Moffat Gautrey, in commencing his eloquent and stirring lecture, said his subject that evening was based on that old-world story which, in point of dramatic lorce and literary grace, was equal to any of the epic incidents of ancient Greece. The Old Testament authors had a perfectly marvellous style and artistic power, and with a few strokes of the pen they caused their characters to live and move before the eyes of succeeding gener- ations. The lecturer proceeded to reconstruct the story of David when longing for a draught of the water of the well of Bethlehem. He told how the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, drew water out of the well and brought it to David, who refused to drink it, but poured it out as ali bation to the Lord, saying, Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of theirlives?" We were, continued Mr. Gautrey, living in an age of chivalry, and the fires of patriotism had not been' quenched from our national life. The spirit of patriotism, the spirit which had made old England great, still flamed in English hearts. Things were being done to-day which one might well die to see. This was an age in which it was a joy to be alive and a perfect heaven to be young. Old men had telt their blood leaping and pulsating through their veins during the past 15 months more than it had done during the past 15 years. We had been told that the virility of the nation had been sapped by love of pleasure and love of ease. The professional pessimist was abroad in the land, and told us that the boys of to-day were not what their fathers were. No, thank God, they were not. They were a good deal better. He believed in in the evolution of the race, and that we were on the upward march of manhood. The call had come for sacrifice and the call had not fallen on unheeding ears. From the playing fields of Eton and Harrow and Rugby, from the grimy coal fields of Durham and Stafford, from the cotton mills of Lancashire, the wool mills of York, from the highlands and lowlands, from the Welsh hills and the Irish bogs, from the office and the farm, the young manhood of England had risen, three million strong, to rally round the old flag, and in the name of God they had sworn to defend it from insult, indignity and stain. (Applause). Thank God for the young men. Not only from this country, but the Britonsa cross the seas had sent their bravest and their best. They had no need to come. The black menace which threatened us in this country never cast its shadow across their door- steps. Zeppelins might bombard London, but they could not bombard Toronto or Melbourne. Their homes were immune from peril, but in the hour of destinv they were bound to respond to the call from whence they sprung. They dis- covered that blood was stronger to bind than salt water, was to part. Whether they were Canoots or Kangaroos or Springboks, they were Britons first and Britons last. The Price of Liberty. Why did they come so cheerfully ? It was no pic-nic, no holiday excursion. It was not one of Cook's personally conducted tours round the ancient cities of Europe. It was not even a grand parade of plumes and epaulets. It was an occasion of grim fighting and grisly wounds and ghastly death. These glorious young men were shedding their blood like water on the fields of France and Flanders and Gallipoli. What for ? The earth was as green as ever, the sky was as blue with hope to them as to us. They found the world as beautiful and as pleasant a place to live in as did we. Were-they eager to die ? The zest of life pulsated in their veins with as great vigour as it did in our own, and yet they went where the shells were flying and the bullets pattering like hail on forest leaves, and with gallantry and courage faced fearful offffs down in the valley of death and at the very gates of hell. Did we realise that they were going to bring us a draught of water from the well of Bethlehem ? The well of Bethlehem was the symbol of home and honour of our native land It was created by our fathers' industry and de. fended by their sacrifice. It was the symbol of our civil freedom and religious liberty, a liberty which was our birthright and which hung about us in our cradle bed free as the air we breathed. We never realised its value until it was in peril of being filched from us. We boasted about our British citizenship and the liberty which it im- plied. How much had we ever paid for freedom ? Nothing. Did we invent it ? Did we carry its patent in our waistcoat pockets ? We did not. It came to us without money and without price, it came through prison bars and from faggot fires. The charter of our liberty was stained with the blood and the tears of men, and it was handed to us by men whose hands were blackened and shrivelled in the flames of martyrdom. It was purchased for us at a tremendous price by the men whose names we bore, and we were just beginning to realise that this commonplace liberty which we had taken as a matter of cojirse was precious beyond all earthly things. He would rather die a dozen deaths than he would see the Kaiser king in England. (Ap- plause). He would rather that this land of ours should become once more a howling wilderness inhabited by wolves than he would see it cursed and degraded into a parade ground for a lot of goose-stepping German soldiery.. Did we realise that our liberties were not ours to lose ? They were handed down to us by generations that had passed away, and we were only trustees of the estate. It was a family estwte, and it was entailed, and we had to hand it on to those who came after us, not merely unimpoverished and unimpaired, but enriched because we had handled it. Once again we were called upon to pay the price of liberty, which could not be reckoned in terms of mere finance. That was but a part of the price, and some people were grumbling because they had to pay more for tobacco and .because tea was dearer, and some would grumble very much when the income tax collector came round. If the Kaiser came to this country the income tax collector would have to join the unemployed, and the Kaiser would take the lot and take it quickly. So we must not grumble. Even though we had to pay one-third of our income, we were paying the least part of the price. We could not reckon the worth of liberty in pounds, shillings and pence not in such corruptible things as silver and gold, but in precious blood. That was the price of liberty to-day, and the price was being paid by the stout of our race who were defending the well by Bethlehem's gate from the. pollution of a foreign invader, and who to bring its revivifying draught to all who thirsted for humane liberty, were well content to die. Did he mean to tell them that every Tommy Atkins had had before him the glowing ideal which he had pictured ? He made no such claim. They could describe Tommy Atkins as an unimaginative man. He saw the duty even though the ideal be vague, and in discharging the duty he realised the ideal. How Shall We Spend Our Liberty ? I What were we going to do with the liberty which had been so dearly purchased ? That was the question for every one of them. Were we to drink it greedily in the mean spirit of the slave ? Should we change our liberty into a licence to do precisely what we pleased. If they stopped the man in the street and asked him what he meant by lliberty, he would reply Liberty why, freedom to do as yer like." That was it-to drink, dance, swear, revel, and f make oneself an intolerable nuisance to one's neighbour and a despotic curse to one's domestic servant. That was how some men were de- fining liberty to-day. It was the action of the libertine. What should we do with our liberty ? Should we spend it in idle pleasure-seeking and frivolity I Should it be said that while men were dying for our sakes we were content to stay at home and play the everlasting fool ? That was the action of the ingrate who was past feeling and past praying for. Should we use our liberty for our material enrichment, to create luxury and fortune out of the grim necessity of the time of war, to make ourselves increasingly wealthy at the expense of the in- creasing poverty of the poor. That was how some men were interpreting liberty. They were standing behind the rampart of brave men and cornering this and that and pushing up the price of everything they could, so that the old age pensioner with his pittance of 5s. per week was on the very point of starving. Where could they put such men ? If they were let loose in heaven they would want to clear the streets of I gold in their insatiable greed. What were we going to do with liberty ? Let us lift the chalice of our English citizenship and look upon it, and I it went crimson before our gaze, and with rever- ence and awe we said Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives for me ? This was the fruit of suffering and pain, I it was the outcome of love and of life and of death. This chalice was a holy thing and its contents were far too sacred for us to flfrink. We must pour it out as a libation unto the King, the eternal, immortal, invisible and only wise God. Would we do that ? We could do it by reverencing His holy name, by joining in the communion of His saints, by consolidating the Church which was redeemed at the cost of blood, and by extending the Empire which knew no frontiers. We could do it in the service of our fellow men. We could pour out our liberty as a libation unto God in healing broken hearts, in comforting those who mourned, in giving light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. God make us worthy of the men who through this awful night were wrestling towards the dawn of a wider day, a purer light, a larger liberty, a truer justice, and when the remnant of heroes came marching home again, God grant they might find a better England than that they left. (Applause). Let us begin to pray that we as individuals might be made worthy of the great renunciation of our brethren. Let us so live and love and labour and wrestle and pray that we would be a source of strength in the nation's life at the dawn of the golden age when the wrongs of the world should be righted, its. dark places filled with light, its tyrannies deposed, and the yoke of its oppression broken. (Applause). The Rev. C. B. Wildblood proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, to the Mayor for presiding, and to the choir and all who had assisted, especially Mr. A. J. Willcox for the leadership of the choir and the organisation of that day's meetings. During the evening the combined Wesleyan and Baptist choirs, under the conductorship of Mr. A. J. Willcox, rendered very pleasingly two 1 anthems, Sun of my soul," and In my Father's house."

I Property Exchange. I The executors of the late Percy Wibberley, have sold by private treaty the freehold dwell- ing-house, blacksmith's and wheelwright's shop and leasehold cottage, situate and known as Triley Bridge Blacksmith's and Wheelwright's Shop, in the parish of Llantillio Pertholey, near Abergavenny, to Mr. John Watkins, miller, Triley Mill, near Abergavenny. The vendor's solicitor was Mr. Lionel Barlow, Malvern. Herefordshire Properties Sold. I We understand the following freeholds have recently been sold privately by Mr. John Hill- man, estate agent, Newport :—Lock Cottage, orcharding and garden, situate at Withington, Hereford, has been purchased by Mr. J. Prosser, Captain Kilby has bought Bannut Tree Cot- tages and several acres of pasture land at Gar- way Hill; Mrs. Peters has purchased Yew Tree Cottage and gardens, for her own occupation Mr. Virgo has secured Belle Vue House and Farm, 24 acres whilst Hill Cottage with garden and paddock, situate at Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny, changed ownership to Mr. Wynn, returned from South Africa. At the Angel Hotel, Abergavenny, on Tuesday, Mr. W. M. Chadwick (Messrs. Straker, Son and Chadwick) offered the freehold farm in the parish of St. Margaret's, Herefordshire, within a mile of Vowchurch Station, kuown as Trecadivor, for many years in the occupation of Mr. Wm. Tilbury at a rental of £ 100 per annum. The tithe paid in 1914 was £ 3 10s. The property was withdrawn at £ 1,800, the tenant being the highest bidder. The vendor's solicitors were Messrs. Cule and Cule, of Pentre, Glam. Messrs. Jones & Co., timber merchants, of Llangynidr, purchased, under the hammer of the same auctioneers, three lots of timber, being part of Major Whitting's estate, for £ 172 IOS.

Abergavenny Farmers' Union. COMPLAINTS OF DANGEROUS ROAD MANY ACCIDENTS. At a meeting of the Abergavenny branch of the National Farmers' Union last week, Mr. Evan 'Griffiths, J.P., presiding, complaints were made by members about the dangerous condition of the Monmouth road near Dobson's Farm, as a result of the tar spraying. The Secretary (Mr. S. B. Davies) read a letter which Mr. J. W. Price (Ffynonney, Clytha) had sent to the County Council, complaining that in consequence of his horse slipping on the road, he and his mother were thrown out of the trap and injured and the shafts were broken off. He intended to bring a claim for compensation. The Secretary also read a letter from Mr. Reginald Herbert, of Clytha, who said the danger was so serious that many persons were afraid to take their horses out. Mr. Herbert mentioned three accidents which had taken place on that road. 32 Accidents in a Fortnight. Mr. W. C. J ones said he believed there had been 32 accidents on this road during the last fortnight. Another member said that four had occurred that day,, and two members said their wives would not come to town because of the condition of the road. Mr. Evan Jones, Llanarth, said he had never seen the road so dangerous, and it was cruelty to an animal to be driven along it. He had been thrown out of his trap, and had he been driving his young horse that day he did not know what the consequences might have been. He might easily have been killed. It was a burden and a worry for a farmer to go from home along that road. The Chairman said the other day the road by the Herbert Arms was simply one mass of slips. Some of the roadmen had complained that they could not get any gravel to put on the road. Other members also said they had met with accidents, and it was decided to send a strong resolution to the County Surveyor. Increased Price of Milk. On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. W. Price, it was decided to pass a resolution, adopted by a special committee, in the following terms :—" That in view of the greatly increased cost of production and the difficulties attending the same, the wholesale price of milk delivered in the nearest town shall be for the winter months not less than is. id. per gallon for quantities not less than two-thirds of that supplied in the summer." Profits from Insurance. Mr. Stanley Vosper, of Lloyds, wrote with regard to the National Farmers' Union insurance scheme that the profits up to May 1st, 1915, were £ 2,500, and as these profits hadloccurred from the issue of under 1,500 policies, they could draw their own conclusions as to the future of the scheme when universally adopted by members of the Union. On the 1st of May the Union participated in 15 per cent. of the profits, and when he had issued 3,000 policies the commission would be increased to 20 per cent. He was, therefore, making every effort to reach this number at an early date, and hoped they would do their best to assist. The opinion was expressed that the scheme ought to be more generally taken up by farmers.

SOCCER FOOTBALL. ABERGAVENNY UNITED v. CAERLEON I COLLEGE. On Saturday the local Football Committee arranged a match between Abergavenny United and Caerleon College, on the Athletic Ground, the proceeds being on behalf of the Monmouth- shire men in the trenches. The game was an interesting one and well contested throughout, but no score resulted until near the close, when Harold Pugh scored a clever goal for the visitors. The United quickly retaliated, and following good work on the right wing, Watkins equalised, the final score being:—Abergavenny United, 1 goal; Caerleon College, i goal. Mr. F. W. Blanch officiated as referee.

r GWENT PENNY FUND. LOCAL COLLECTORS THANKED. A meeting of the committee of the Aberga- venny collection on behalf of the Gwent Penny Fund was held in the Mayor's Parlour at the Town Hall on Monday evening, to receive the I statement of accounts. The Mayor (Alderman Z. Wheatley) presided. Mr. W. Rosser (hon. secretary) produced the accounts, as audited by Mr. A. J. Duck, which showed that he had handed a cheque for £72 5s. 7d. to the Mayor, to be forwarded to the Gwent Penny Fund. On the proposition of Miss Last, seconded by Miss J ones, the accounts were adopted. Mr. Rosser'said he had received a letter from Mr. W. J. Orders, J.P., of Newport, who said he had received, with great pleasure, the result of the collection and flag day at Abergavenny on behalf of the fund. It would be a fine addition to the amount already collected in the county, and brought the county total to (2,540. He wished to thank all those who had worked so splendidly to make the collection such a con- spicuous success, and to express appreciation of their valuable services in aid of the sick and wounded soldiers. Personal thanks are also due to you," added Mr. Orders, and heartily accorded for your untiring efforts. The Mayor said he should like to take that opportunity of expressing to each one his sincere thanks for the valuable time and energy which they had put into this effort, and which had had such an excellent result. It was very gratifying indeed to find that when they made an appeal for the sick and wounded both at home and abroad, the public responded so generously. He was going to ask them if he might trespass on their kindness and generosity again in regard to another appeal. He had received an appeal from the Lord Mayor of London asking him if he would arrange for an appeal to be made by his successor on the 18th November on behalf of the Russian prisoners of war and their sick and wounded in Germany. If they would lend their assistance, he believed it would be as great a success as the Gewnt Penny Fund collection had been. By so help- ing they showed their sympathy with the relatives and friends of the men who had been taken prisoners of war or who were afflicted. He should like to personally thank Mr. Rosser for the arduous work he had undertaken in organising the movement. Mr. Rosser said that what had been done was, he was sure, a source of pleasure to them all, and they were glad to have been able to have done some little towards helping our wounded soldiers. ■f ▲

ir Splendd Selection of Writing Pads, 4}d., 6}d., and 1/- each, at the Chronicle Office.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS. I I ORDERS FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 30TH :— Sunday, Oct. 24The Company will parade at rear of Butter Market at 2.45 p.m. The Com- mandant particularly requests all men to make a special effort to attend this parade. Monday, Oct. 25—Platoon drill in Drill Hall at I 8 p.m., for Platoons i and 2. Firing practice at L. & N.W.R. range for Platoons 3 and 4. commencing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28—Platoon drill in Drill Hall at 8 p.m. for Platoons 3 and 4. Firing practice at L. & N. W.R. range for Platoons ,1 and 2, commencing at 7 p.m. Uniform.—Uniform to be worn at all parades, but not at firing practice. Recruits.—A Class for Recruits will be held on Monday and Thursday nights. Men wishing to join can be enrolled any drill night on ap- plication to the Adjutant. Those of military age, viz., 19-40, must show not only that they suffer personally, but that a large number of persons .would be thrown out of work as a consequence of their joining the Army. A man who has been rejected as medically unfit for the Army or Navy is eligible, also youths between 17-19 years of age. Drill.—The completion of 40 drills does not do away with the obligation for Volunteers to continue to attend drills. A member of a Volunteer Corps who does not attend a minimum of four drills per month shall be struck off the roll of the Corps unless absent on leave given by the Commanding Officer of his unit.-[Extract Central Assoc. V.T.C., F. P. J. HANBURY, D L., .1 I Sub-Commandant.

PANDY. I NATIONAL EGC. COLLECTION.—A depot for the above has recently been started at Pandy, for the surrounding district. The following number of eggs have been sent off :-i,t week, 30 2nd week, 122 3rd week, 136. The collectors are Miss Williams, Walterstone; Mrs. Powell, Miss Jenkins, Scout J. Price, Scout C. Probert and Scout Williams, for Llanvihargei; Miss Probert, Oldcastle; Mr. Alec Johnson, Longtown. Eggs are urgently needed, and will be gratefully re- ceived on Fridays at the depot by Mrs. F. Naylor.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. I THE MONMOUTHSHIRE HOUNDS I Will meet (tor cubbing) Monday, Oct. 25-Hilston Park Lodge 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26—Monson's Cross 9.30 a.m.

BLAENAVON. FUNERAL.—On Saturday last, the remains of the late Arthur Bryant, who was killed on the previous Monday by a fall in the Forge Slope, one of the collieries of the Blaenavon Co., Ltd., were interred in St. Peter's Churchyard, Blaen- avon, the service being impressively conducted by the Rev. Washington Jones, curate of St. J ames's. The funeral was attended by officials and workmen, in addition to the chief mourners. The floral tributes were very numerous. WEDDING.—A pretty wedding took place on Monday morning at St. Peter's Parish Church, Blaenavon, the contracting parties being Miss Elizabeth Aubrey, daughter of Mrs. Aubrey, The Bunkers, Blaenavon, and Mr. Thomas Delay, Blaenavon. The Rev. J. Washington Jones was the officiating clergyman. The bride, who was neatly and fashionably attired in a champagne coloured dress of corded silk, was given away by her brother, Mr. Sam Aubrey. The wedding breakfast was served at the home of the bride's parents. The presents were costly and numer- ous. Messrs. Hares and Dahiel supplied the motor-cars for the wedding.

ABERGAVENNY STOCK MARKET. I There was again a large market on Tuesday and the entry of both sheep and lambs was of better quality than the previous week. Fat lambs made up to 42s. 6d., and ewes up to 50s. A large entry of pigs met with a capital trade, prices being well up to 15s. 6d. a score. A remarkable fat sow from Mr. Taylor, The Mill, made the exceptional price of i)6 2s. 6d. A nice quality entry of cattle met with a brisk trade, bullocks making up to £26 15s. and maiden heifers up to £ 23. There was a smaller entry of rearing calves on offer, prices being up to 52s. 6d.

Maindiff Red Cress Hospital.-Another 27 patients arrived at the Hospital on Tuesday last, making in all 57. Nearly all are from the British Expeditionary Forces in France and the Dardanelles. Amongst the latter are several of the Australian and New Zealand Contingent. Now that the Hospital is so full, gifts of tobacco and cigarettes will be gratefully received, also fruit and vegetables. Harvest Festival.-Very successful harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday and Monday last. Appropriate sermons were preached morning and evening to splendid congregations by the pastor (Rev. T. W. Brown). In the afternoon a young people's service was held, at which the Rev. J. P. Millward (Presbyterian minister) gave an interesting address. Miss Lilian Sayce presided at the organ at all the services. On Monday evening Mr. George Evans took the chair at the public meeting, which was addressed by the Rev. T. W. Brown. The numerous gifts of fruit, &c., were later sold by Mr. A. J. Davies. The chapel had been very tastefully decorated by a band of willing workers. The financial result of the harvest festival is very satisfactory, being far in excess of that of previous years.

TOBACCO FUND. I Already acknowledged /207 11 I This week 460 £ 211 17 1 30s. Mrs. Walbeoffe Wilson (per Mrs. Fry).- t1 Staff at Eridge Castle, Tunbridge Wefls (per Mr. Hanbury). ios. Llantillio Pertholey School Children (per Mr. Green) Mrs. Chas. Baker. 5S. Mrs. Lawrence Baker Mrs. Chas. Bews. 2s. Mrs. Greenwood. 1 Is. Miss Jones Friend Mr. and Mrs. Merriman. 6d. Mr. W. Jones; air. Harold Carr.

I 3rd MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT: APPEAL FOR COMFORTS. I To the Editor of the" Abergavenny Chronicle." DEAR SIR,—Now the weather is becoming cold, and winter is here, may I again appeal through your paper for help for the men of the 3rd Monmouthshire Regiment in France. I have had a letter from one of the officers, in which he says there is an urgent need of socks, scarves, mittens, shirts, and cap comforters, to enable the men to change when wet, and there is a great shortage of these things." I have sent parcels out each week for the last eight months-cigarettes, sweets, tobacco, books, writing paper and clothing-and I could not have done iiis if I had not received kind and generous help. The Red Cross Workers at the Town Hall have been most liberal, and the gar- ments they make are much appreciated by the men. I wish to thank all who have contributed to the fund and to say that I shall be grateful for any further help. I enclose a list of gifts which I have received since May 7th :—Mr. T. Tyler, f2 Mr. Green, Penrose, 6s. Mrs. Rout- ledge, £3; Mrs. Lionel Whitehead, £5 collected at Llanddewi Skyrrid Church, '-f i 16s. collected at the School, Llantillio Pertholey, ios. from Muriel Hill and Ceridwen Williams, New Cwm Terrace, Cwm, proceeds of two concerts got up by a few little girls, i is. 6d. from the Red Cross Workers at Town Hall, 250 pairs of socks, 96 shirts, 16 pairs of cuffs, 6 scarves; Mrs. Jones, Skyrrid View, 7 pairs of socks Miss Clarke, I pair of socks Miss Last, socks Mrs. Attwood- Mathews, socks, scarves, and sun screens. Yours truly. MARY A E. DYNE STEEL. I ?_

I BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY. I To the Editor of the Abergavenny Chronicle" SIR,—May I, through your valuable columns, appeal to the public for funds in aid of the local work of the above Society ? The Newport Division have for the past year been carrying out a scheme for the provision of garments and other necessaries and comforts for our soldiers and sailors. By means of work- ing parties formed by various charitable and religious bodies, and our own members, in the town and country, a vast number of articles of clothing and other requirements have been made, and these have been sent mainly to local regi- ments with the Expeditionary Forces. It will doubtless be a surprise to most people to hear that there are no grants of money avail- able from the British Red Cross Society to the provincial branches, and that all the requisite funds have to be collected locally. Nor have we received any assistance from the many jumble sales promoted by the Farmers' Red Cross Fund in the county, this, no doubt, being entirely due to the widespread belief that we are supported by grants from headquarters. The sole means at our disposal are the local funds which are raised and earmarked for us. These funds have been from time to time most generously raised by many local agencies, to whom we tender our warmest thanks, and have hitherto sufficed for our needs. But now we have undertaken the task Qf providing workers, equipment, and materials. for the workrooms at the war hospital of 700 beds which is about to be opened in Newport and for this purpose we are in urgent need of at least /1,000. We feel sure that it is only necessary to make our requirements known, and our generous friends will be glad to share in the privileges of providing the necessaries and some of the comforts that the brave men who have been wounded in the service of our country so richly deserve. Contributions may be sent to me, or to the treasurer, Mrs. E. SH. Watts, Court Bleddyn, Llangibby. I am, yours truly, ELEANOR 1,A,ARY WILLIAMS, I Chairman of Committee. Lansor, Caerleon. +

Gwent Penny Fund and Flag Day. I To the Editor of the" Abergavenny Chronicle." I DEAR SIR,—Will you kindly allow me to tender to all those who in any way took part in this effort my deepest and sincerest thanks. I know, from personal observations, that many young children helped, and it is partly to their great enthusiasm to help the sick and wounded that we are able to hand over such a good sum. I also desire to thank all who contributed and purchased flags, and helped with encouraging words those who carried out this effort. To the members of the Football Committee and the players my greatest thanks are due. Appeals have been many during the year, but I am sure we are all ready to give our share to those who need help. The effort realised the sum of £ 72 5s. 7d. Our share as regards the Penny Fund amounted to about £ 30, but we have doubled that. Other appeals have been received, and I propose, with the help of the burgesses of this borough, to give flag days for the Belgians, French, and Russians. I should also like to thank you, Sir, for the help you have rendered by drain-ing, attention to these efforts in your columns. Yours very truly, Z. WHEATLEY, October 14, 1915. (Mavor). I

The Clergy and the Income Tax Rate. To the Editor of the 11 Abergavenny Chronicle." SIR,—I have just received the enclosed letter I from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We must, I presume, accept this as final, unless very strong Parliamentary pressure is brought to bear. The hardship to clergymen of having to pay income tax twice was emphasised by the lower- ing of the abatement limit, which had partly shielded small incomes, and now left them ex- posed to nearly the full weight of the double tax. The almost universal advice to local authorities to cut down expenditure and rates, offered a chance to spread the clergy's income rate equally all round, an effect which a time of economy would probably more than cover. I am not sure how far local authorities might themselves carry out such a plan, securing the Local Government Board sanction as they pro- ceeded. But it is perhaps worth their con- sideration in the cause of justice to those now enduring open persecution.. Mr. McKenna has raised the children abate- ment L5, and all those who have families will, I feel sure, be very grateful for this, which means, in all, a 125 abatement for every child under 16, whether notified in September or not. Still, the case of the clergy, many of whom are paying a rate of £ 25 and £ 30 on their incomes, in addition to the whole of the income tax, and £ 5 or rioter land, also assessed on income, remains un- redeemed, and calls loudly for correction in a Christian (not a heathen) country. Yours faithfully, E. MANSEL TOWNSHEND. Oct. 20, 1915. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall, S.W., 18th October, 1915. Dear Mr. Townshend,—To deal with the questions raised in your letter would involve a reconsideration of the present rating law, which I fear the Government could not undertake at the present time. The whole question of the law relating to income tax and local taxation will, no doubt, come up for. review after the war, and the points which you raise will receive careful attention. Yours very truly, I R. McKENNA. Rev. E. Mansel Townshend. A

Recruiting Rally and Sports. I To the Editor of the Abergavenny I DEAR SIR,—Kindly allow us to tender our sincere thanks to all who in any way helped in connection with the sports and parade on Thursday and with the public meeting in the Town Hall on Sunday, and to the following ladies and gentlemen for their gifts and sub- scriptions. We trust that all in this district will do everything that lies within their power to secure the number of recruits so much needed by the Army. Yours trulv, Z. WHEATLEY Mavo-, W. H. ATHERLEY JONES (Capt.), Recruiting Officer. Town Hall, Abergavenny, Oct. 11, 1915. List of donors of prizes and subscriptions Messrs. Gwynne Bros., Town Hall Buildings Messrs. Morgan & Co., Chronicle Office; Mr. Alfred Pritchard, ironmonger Mr. G. R. Boundy, ironmonger; Mr. E. H. Herbert, ironmonger; Messrs. George Bull and Son, Cross-street, hairdressers Mr. E. H. Hodges, hairdresser Mr. Basil Evans, newsagent Mr. Reg. Harrhy, hairdresser; Mr. T. D. Lewis, Town Bazaar; Air. H. V. Saies, Sydenham House, High-street Mr. C. Baber, The Welling- ton Mr. T. S. Foster,gDuilder; Mr. John Il Prichard, Glendower; Mr. Williams, tailor, Flannel-street; Mrs. Scott, confectioner, &c. Mr. H. B. Stocken, Angel Hotel Mr. Salter, chemist; Mr. J. H. Redwood, confectioner; Mr. J. D Gill, Brecon-road Mr. H. H. Evans, dentist, Nevill-street Councillor S. J. Ruther The Mayor (Alderman Z. Wheatley) Mr. and Mrs. Mapson, Frogmore-street Mr. H. Ed- wards, butcher; Air. W. T. Stoneham, grocer; Mr. F. J. Vaughan, grocer Mr. A. R. Williams] Cross-street; Mrs. Bevan, Silver Grill, Flannel- street; Mrs. W. Hall, Golden Lion Air. J. O. Marsh, St. Ronan's Air. E. Williams, Hen and Chickens, Flannel-street; Mr. J. Weeks, Bull Inn Mr. D. Howell James, N.P. Bank Alessrs. Jones & Co., Bank House; Mr. Lewis Alorgan (Morgan & Evans) Air. W. H. Butt, street; Mr. Fred Sadler, newsagent, Cross-st. Messrs. Allcott & Wilson, Cross-street Air. A. Lyons, jeweller, Frogmore-street; Mr. Jones; King David Air. A. AI. Cunliffe Air. Alorris' George Hotel.

Munitions and Water Power and Taxes. THE WAR WORK OF A COUNTRY PARSON. ine Kev. t,. AI. lownshend has received the personal thanks of Air. Lloyd George for his suggestions as to water turbines and electricity for making armour and munitions, without coal, as published in a letter to the Abergavenny Chronicle recently. A great London engineer in charge of the Port of London has confirmed the importance of the proposal, as probably the best in the end. Lord Northcliffe has written expressing keen interest as an employer controlling some of the biggest existing turbines known, and the plan is to be laid before his experts. Lord Northcliffe. who says that with a thousand letters a day he can but deal personally with a few, regrets that he did not see Mr. Townshend's earlier letters on armour and cotton. His organisation is bv no means idle as to armour, and one of Ms principal correspondents has lately come over from France and has been going carefully into the matter with the War Office. It is to be hoped that.practical results-so long, alas, waited for— may follow. The Rev. E. M. Townshend has also been in active communication with members of the Cabinet and the Archbishop of Canterbury in regard to the new taxation of small incomes. The clergy are compelled to pay income tax twice, or rather three times, since the land taxes, as well as the rates, are assessed upon their income. Thus, a small clerical income of about £ 200 a year will be made to pay of income tax, in rates and land tax, before the income fax collector proper comes along. This savours of heathen persecution towards Christian ministers, and ought to be abolished. The clergy would not mind paying the same as other people, but they naturally and properly object to paying it twice over. The Archbishop of Canterbury has shown himself very sympathetic, and announces his intention of moving in the matter. Air. AIcKenna has promised to consider the proposal for relief. One half on tithes is already taken off. The other half, in many cases £ 25 or Ao, should follow. Mr. Townshend suggests that for all small incomes under £ 500 there should be an increased abatement of iio for every child privately educated at a cost of £ 12 or more per annum, during the preceding 10 years. It is the families who pay for their children's education who are hit hardest. The working man will get his children abatement, like others. It is the professional and the commercial class who will suffer most if any abatement below £ 160 is removed. Officers and men fighting for their country should have all taxes made voluntary for them, for they are giving more than everyone else—their lives.—Communicated. — .A.

THE MAYORALTY. ALDERMAN WHEATLEY AGAIN ACCEPTS OFFICE. The Abergavenny Town Council have for some time been considering the question of the Mayoralty for the ensuing year, and have not found the matter quite so easy to arrange as on some former occasions. There has not been much competition for the honour, because it is realised that at a time like the present the duties are unusually onerous. Alderman Wheatley, who has devoted most of his time during the past year to work connected with the Alayoralty, declined when asked to accept office again. Other members who were approached could not see their way to accept the position, and as the result of further persuasion Alderman Wheatley has now consented to continue in the office. We understand that the Town Council are con- sidering the question of paying the Alayor's out of pocket expenses.

CRICKHOWELL. LADY GLAN--LISK.-According to the London. Alail," Lady Glanusk, whose efforts to exclude enemy aliens from our shores and uproot the German spy system are well known, says her ladyship has received some threatening letters in consequence of her activity. Nothing is known as to this in this district. AT THE Dardanelles.—Air. Jim Watkins, one of the Crickhowell Rugby half-backs, is at the Dardanelles and has seen some hard fighting. COMMISSION.—Mr. James Rankin, formerly secretary to the Crickhowell Rugby Club, has been given a commission in one of the Welsh regiments. He was formerly a sergeant in the R.A.M.C. PERSONAL.—Lieut. A. Hodge, secretary to the Crickhowell Cricket Club, who is attached to the A.S.C., in a letter to our correspondent, states his work at present is billeting some of our men in France at farmhouses, &c. ON LEAVE.—Lieut. W. A. Davies, of the R.N.A.S., son of Mr. R. H. A. Davies, solicitor, Crickhowell, has been home on brief leave. Lieut. Davies, who, it will be remembered, fought with the H.A.C. in France, has been awarded .his certificate as pilot, and his many friends will wish him every possible success. BACK To THE LAND !-The Rev. Evan Price, of Ebbw Vale, preaching at Danycastell C.M. Church on Monday-he is well known as a writer, apart from his popularity as a preacher- referring to the need of land cultivation for food produce, said that, unfortunately, the tenets of the Manchester School had held sway, and people from the country had flocked to the towns and industrial centres of England. The Manchester School wanted to make Britain the workshop of the world, and the result had been deplorable. The countryside had been deserted, and they now knew nothing of the condition of things which Goldsmith described in one of his poems when he said every peasant tilled his rood. A honest, fearless peasantry was the backbone of a nation, and he believed one of the beneficent results of the Altar would be that the people would again come back to the valleys and mountains and cultivate the soil, as their Creator intended. Heaven's munitions of war were to be found in the cornfields of the land. THE BIG FIGHT IN THE WEST.—Sergt. George Morgan, of the S.W.B., son of the late Air. George Morgan, Beaufort Hotel, Crickhowell, in a letter to his friend and comrade in arms in the South. African War, Mr. J. H. Leonard, says our men fought with the greatest gallantry in the recent big fight in the West, under the most trying con- ditions. He and a comrade captured a Hun and induced him to show them how to bomb his mates, a task which Alorgan and his com- panion did so well as to win praise from their captain. Sergt. Alorgan says he was near to Lord Ninian Stuart when he fell. 46

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BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS. DEATHS. JOHNSON.—October 16th, at Treadam (of syncope), Jewell Edith, second daughter of Samuel G. Johnson. KILLED IN ACTION. /1 SHAW. Killed in Action, early in I May, near Ypres, Lc.-Sergt. Y. E. W. Shaw (Willie), D Coy., i/3rd Batt. j AlOnr Regt., the beloved son of W. and AI. Shaw, 17, Merthyr-road. Deeply mourned.

THANKS. Mr. S. G. Johnson and family take this oppor- tunity of thanking the many friends for their kind sympathy in their sad bereavement.

THE GREAT SKIN CURE. BUDDEN'S S.R. SKIN OINTMENT will D cure Itching after one application; destroys every form of Eczema; heals Old Wounds and Sores; acts like a charm on Bad <- Legs, is infallible for Piles prevents Cuts from festerirlk; will cure Ringworm in a few days removes the most obstinate Eruptions and Scurvy. Boxes 71d. and is. i £ d.—Agent for Abergavenny Mr. Shackleton, The Pharmacy. Agent for Pontypool, Mr. Godfrey C. Wood, Chemist.

The War Office carefully studied the lists of German and Austrian casualties and brought them up to date, and from these it was apparent that the enemy's resources in men were seriously denuded, and it had become almost impossible for them to hold then very long line. The Russians were now fully equipped with men and munitions, and the squeeze would soon be applied again. The last great German attack had been foiled, one might say, by the interven- tion of Providence, for the rainy season in the Pripet marshes came on sooner than usual and the Germans could not move their big guns, which weighed over oo tons. The Germans, remarked the lecturer, were not believers in fortifications, and for the last 20 or 30 years they had not spent any money in this direction. A large portion of their war ex- penditure had been on strategic railways, which had been of very great assistance to them in this campaign. The Germans were of opinion that no fortifications could withstand the modern heavy siege gun and that it was more advantageous to be able to move their troops quickly from one point to another. When the great pressure on the Germans began there was nothing behind to resist it. At least half the total number of men capable of bearing arms were wiped out two months ago, and now the enemy had to hold a greater front of nearly 4,000 miles and had a bare four million men to do it. How they were going to carry on the war he did not know. He should not be surprised if Mr. Bottomley, who knew nothing about the matter from a military point of view, was not right for once. They would remember that not long ago the Kaiser promised his Army that there would not be another winter campaign and that the war would end in October. That would not be quite true, but the Kaiser would not be very far wrong. AL