County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

Births, Carriages, and Deaths. Announcements of Births, Marriages, and Deaths are inserted at a uniform charge of Is each, unless such words as" No cards," No flowers," are added, when the charge will be 2s 6d. All announcements must be authenticated. Postage stamps may be sent in payment. Lists of Wedding Presents are inserted at the rate of Is. 6d. per inch in depth. DEATH. TOWNSEND.—June 14th.-At New Shop, Raglan, John Edwards, the beloved son of John and Rhoda Townsend, aged 13 months.

President Kruger's Attitude. All other news pales into insignificance before President Kruger's thanks to the Raad for accepting his Franchise proposals "In these troublous times," he said, "he did not know what was going to happen. The other side had not conceded one tittle, and he could not give more. God always stood by them He did not want war, but he would not give away more. Although independence had once been taken away, God had restored it." In plain English OOM PAUL HAS CLIMBED DOWN. The injustice and despotism that have been meted out to the Uitlander population in the Transvaal by the Boer government is described by Sir Alfred Milner as "intoler- able," and in the Blue Book, just published, he says;—"The case for intervention is overwhelming. The only attempted answer is that things will right themselves if left alone. But, in fact, the policy of leaving things alone has been tried for years, and it has led to their going from bad to worse. It is not true that this is owing to the Raid They were going from bad to worse before the Raid. We were on the verge of war before the Raid, and the Transvaal was on the verge of revolution. The effect of the Raid has been to give the policy of leaving things alone a new lease of life, and with the old consequences. The spectacle of thousands of British subjects KEPT PERMANENTLY IN THE POSITION OF HELOTS, constantly chafing under undoubted grievances, and calling vainly to her Majesty's Government for redress, does steadily undermine the influenco and repu- tation of Great Britain, and the respect for the British Government within the Queen's dominions." And how is this to be met ? In the High Commissioner's own words, by some striking proof of the intention of her Majesty's Government not to be ousted from its position in South Africa." Both Sir Alfred Milner and Mr. Conyngham Greene, the Imperial representatives at Cape Town and in the Transvaal, characterise the grievances of the Uitlanders as a genuine and spontaneous expression of outraged popular feeling, emanating from people who are the mainstay of the prosperity of the country, and who are debarred from the political, educational, and social privileges granted to the Boers. The unrest that pre- vails will never end until UITLANDERS GET A SHARE OF THE I GOVERNMENT, and so long as the present injustice remains the tranquillity of the other States will be menaced. Discontent has been smoulder- ing amongst the working population in the Goldfields for many years, but, although willing to be enriched by the capital and enterprise of the Uitlanders, the Boer government has only imposed more strin- gent and more repressive legislation upon them, At last discontent was kindled into a flame by the police outrage in December last, when the house of a British subject, named Edgar, was broken into and the occupier shot dead in his wife's presence. I GROSS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE followed. The accused policeman was liberated on the security of his fellow- policemen, and the verdict given at the trial was" not guilty" the police being commended upon knowing how to do their duty." The present movement at Johan- nesburg is directly traced by Sir Alfred Milner. to this outrage. Is it consistent he asks with the position of Great Britain, nay, is it consistent with the dignity of the white race, that a large, wealthy, indas- trious, and intelligent community of white men should continue in that state of subjec- tion which is the lot of the immigrant popu- lation of the Transvaal ?" Doubtless the Imperial government will give President Kruger ample time to make up his mind, but it must be made up to agree with our demands.

NOTES BY "OBSERVER." [We do not necessarily endorse all our correspondent writes.-ED. '(J.O."] The appointment of Lord Tredegar as Lord Lieutenant of the County of Monmouth, in succession to the late Duke of Beaufort, has given the liveliest satisfaction everywhere. For once there is no division of opinion. His lord- ship is the most popular man in the County, and year in year out fulfill the multifarious duties that fall to hits let with « quiet uuobtrusivenpgq. generosity, and capability that cannot fail to command the very highest respect and admira- tion. it Archdeacon Bruce made some interesting remarks anent Voluntary Schools, at this week's Visitation. It cannot too often be quoted that denominational schools carried on the work of education in England and Wales Ion before any School Board system was started, and that Board Schools only came into being to supplement, not to supplant, these older institutions. The Managers of Voluntary Schools have erected buildings without one penny from the rates, while School Boards have been supplied with funds from the local treasury. Surely there is nothing unreasonable in the demand for equality of treatment. Until last week Dr. W. G. Grace had played in every cricket match between Australia and the Old Country decided on English soils save one (when he was unwell). Now that he has left Gloucester and stands, self-acknowledged, so past his best as to be out of it in great matches, his active supremacy at cricket seems over. Even Grace-of whom it has been aptly said none but himself can be his parallel —must give way to Father Time. He has had a long and brilliant innings, and may gracefully (ahem !) retire to instruct the willow-wielders of the rising generation. We are apt to grumble from time to time- and not without occasion—concerning British "samples" of weather, but after all we have reason to be thankful that our lines are cast in such comparatively pleasant places. For instance, we have not to suffer anything akin to the terrific tornado which has just devastated the region of the Upper Mississippi. The town of New Richmond, in Wisconsin, is almost totally destroyed, and thousands of lives are lost, while the damage to property is enormous. 3* We have got nineteen million pounds' worth of goods from abroad during the last trading year more than we did in the twelve months preceeding, while our exports have remained practically stationary. If it is better to sell than to buy this is bad, but if it be better to receive more than you give it is not so* All depends on the view point. We are importing more and more year by year, and especially of food stuffs and thus growing more and more dependent upon other nations. A startling fact was brought to light at the annual meeting, in London, on Tuesday, of the Society for the Employment of Women. It was this :—"In the United Kingdom there are two million females in excess of males in the colonies there are two million more males than females." Now girls pack up and emigrate! At the Authors' Club Dinner in London, on Monday, Mark Twain made a happy pun bearing upon the growing friendship between America and the Mother Country. Speaking of the great sympathy of both Englishmen and Americans with Rudyard Kipling in his recent illness he said—" Since England and America have been joined together in Kipling, may they not be severed in Twain." He added that he had been engaged for eight days in compiling this pun. Piquart is exonerated, Dreyfus onhis way back from the Devil's Isle, and Zola in the Paris he loves. Du Paty de Clam is in prison, and other upholders of the heinous action of the General Staff are shaking in their shoes. Right comes right in the long run even in France. But many, sad to say, fall victims to chicanery there before Justice reaches its final triumph. The gormandizing capacity of the spider defies all human competition. A scientist, who care- fully noted a spider's consumption of food in 24 hours, concluded that if the spider were built proportionately to the human scales he would eat at daybreak (approximately) a small alligator, by seven a.m. a lamb, by nine a.m. a young camelopard, by one o'clock a sheep, and would finish up with a lark pie in which there were 120 birds.

USK. I Agent-Mrs. E. K Jones, Stationer I THE WEATHER.—It is now three weeks since rain fell in the district, and though the weather is de- cidedly advantageous for haymaking, other branches of agriculture would benefit by a genial shower or two. PRESIDENCY OF THE WESTERN DIVISION OF THU NATIONAL UNION.—The Marquess of Bath has been elected president of the Western Division of the National Union in succession to the late Duke of Beaufort. NBW LORD-LIBUTBNANT FOR MONMOUTHSHIRE.— The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Lord Tredegar to be lord- lieutenant of the county of Monmouth, in the room of the late Duke of Beaufort.

I USK V. MOUNTAIN BATTERY, R.A. This match was played at Usk in splendid weather, on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for the homesters. T. Rees, the Usk skipper, won the toss, and took S. A. Hiley in with him to start the innings. Rees scored a run of the first ball delivered by Duff, and Hiley got a boundary off the next. Bombardier Bailey bowled the other end. his first over being a maiden. Duff bowled Reus with a ball that just took the top of the wickets and which cAme back from leg—6-1-1. Hill filled the vaCAncy, and cut the first ball for two. Hill then hit three boundaries from successive balls. Hiley made a good stroke for three which brought up 20. With the score at 26 Hilev was bowled by a yorker from Bailey, for 12. W. H. Creese joined Hill, but was caught in the "lips before he bad scored. Another misfortune befel Usk, Hill being given out caught at the wicket—28-4-15. Mayes and the Rev. H. J. Bates were now together, and the former with a boundary hit brought up 30. Bates was bowled at 41. and G. Edmunds went in. Some good cricket was now witnessed, both batsmen making excellent strokes, and Maves with a splendid straight drive out of the field for 6 brought up 80. The century appeared after an-bour-aud-a- quarter's batting, rather a fast rate of scoring. The batsmen kept scoring pretty well at the same ral e, so a double change was tried in the trundling. Sergt. Lacey taking the place of Duff and Bimbardier Sergeant vice Bailey. This had the desired effect, Mayes being well caught bv Bailey off Lacey for a capitally played 54. Edmunds continued scoring freely off all the bowlers, and, with J, Waters for a partner brought up the 200. Edmunds next made two splendid cuts to the boundary which brought his individual score to 97. When within one of the coveted century he had the misfortune to play a ball on to his wici; He had played splendid cricket, and made tiluit vi his runs by clean hard cutting, and without the semblance of a chance. Amongst his hiis were thirteen fours, two threes, and eight twos. It was a great pity he did not get one more run, for, we believe, no townsman has been fortunate enough to obtain a century on the present ground The innings closed for 213. The Garrison commenced their innings to the bowling of Mayes and W. F. Roberts. Four wickets fell for 36. Gunner Howe and SertI' Lacey, however, while they were in, made it qoii,p lively, both hitting out, and making 29 and 31 respectively. The last f mr wicket" fell af t same total—84. Mayes touk five wickets. In the follow on Howe and Lacey again came to the rescue both getting doable figures. Scores :— USK. T. Reem, b Diiff 1 S. A. Hiley, b Bailey 12 W. H. Creese, c Duff, b Bailey. 0 F. Hill, c Howe, b Duff 15 Mayes, c Bailey, b Lacey. 54 Rev. H. J. Bates, b Bailey 1 G. Edmunds, b Lacey 99 H. C. Davies, c Howe, b Lacey 4 F. W. Roberts, b Duff 0 J. Waters, not out 8 B. F. Stockham, b Bailey 0 Extras. 20 Total 213 NEWPORT GARRISON. Gunner Howe, c Hill, b Mayes 29 b Creese 22 Gunner Williams, I.b.w., b Mayes 0 Br. Duff, b Roberts. 0 runout. 8 Gaii. Ctimberlidl-e, b Roberts 0 b Crease.. 5 Gunner Bhiley, c Davies, b Roberts 7 not out. 2 Sergt. Lacey, c Bates, b Mayes 31 c Creese, b Hill 15 Mr. W. Addams, b Mayes. 7 c Creese, b Hill 1 Gun. Rees, c Davies, b Hill.. 1 Major Mills, b Mayea 0 b Creese.. 3 Br. Sergeant, not out. 0 b Hill. 0 Sergt. Falkner, b Hill 0 Extras. 9 Extras. 6 Total 84 Total.. 62

CHEPSTOW. Agent.—Mr Clark MASONIC PIC-NIC TO TINTERX ABBEY.-Tlie Tennant Lodge of Freemasons held their annual pic-nic on Monday, when about 100 ladies and brothers journeyed to Ti,iterti -kbba v, wh're sports and dancing on the lawn of the Royal George Hotel were indulged in. A handsome marble timepiec was presented to Bro. B. D. Jenkins on the occasion of his marriage, a similar compliment being paid to Bro S. O. Williams on his recent union to Miss Bryan. The W.M., Bro. W. I. Vaughan, Bro. Sydney, F. Bowling. secretary, and the other officials worked assiduously, and the pic nic was, consequently, a great success.

GTOSMONT. FIRS.—Last week a barn and its contents and some adjacent buildings, at the Graig Farm, Grosmont, were destroyed by fire, the origin of which is entirely unknown. We are, however, glad to learn that the owner, Mr. John Williams, Hoaldalbert, Grosmont, ia fully insured against the loss. MKPICAL ATTENDANCE "UPON THE PaoR.-At the fortnightly meeting of the Abbaydore Board of Guardians held on Monday last, Mr. R. Hudson Evans presided. A letter was read from the Clerk of the Grosmont Parish Council, stating that the Council had recommended that the poor of the parishes of Grosmont and Llangua should be dealt with bv the resident medical prac'itioner, instead of from Ewyas Harold, as at present. The Board thought that the application was prematuie, as there was a probability of a revision of the districts in the Union before long.

MONMOUTH. Agent.—Mr. Caffrey. Bookseller. Monmouth. ROYAL COUNTIES' AGRICULTURAL SHOW.—In the agricultural horses' classes of the Royal Counties' Asrricultural Show at Windsor, Lord Llangattock's Tottan Bessie took first priza tlO) for Bay foaled in 1896,

I NEWPORT. I Agents—Messrs Qreenland and Co.. J/etesagentt A CYCLING RBCORD. -On Tuesday evening A. E Kennird, o the Newport Hundred Miles' Road Cycling Club, crushed an unpaoed record by covering the distance from Newport to Cardiff and back (18 miles), in 57 minutes. LOCAL PRIZE WINNERs.-Mr. R. Stratton, The Duffryn, won first prize with Flag Signal in the family class at the Hereford and Worcester Agri- cultural Show, which was held at Stourbridge this week, and that anim il was reserved for the male championship, being defeated by Mr. Harrison's Comet Beauty. A son of Flag Signal was second in his class. Lord Llangattock took second prize in the shire yearling colt class at the same show. CONSTABLE'S OBJECTION TO VACCINATION.— Police-constable Frank Drewett, of the Newport Constabulary, on Wednesday attended at a police- court and requested a certificate of exemption from vaccination. He simply said that his conscientious objection was based on the belief that vaccination would be detrimental to the child's health. Three other children had been buried, and the first signs of illness followed immediately after vaccination, while another child of three could not yet walk.— The exemption was granted. HARBOUR BOA.RD.-The Newport Harbour Com- missioners held their monthly meeting at Newport on Wednesday, Alderman Mordey presiding.—The report of the dredging committee on their visit to the rivers Clyde, Tyne, and Tees, and the sugges- tions made for improving the river Usk were now presented for the consideration of the board, and were explained by the chairman of the committee (Mr. T. E. Watson).—The committee considered the recommendation of the consulting engineer (Mr. Vernon Harcourt) that a training wall should be built on the eastern bank of the river so as to train the current to sweep along Powder House Point was the right thing. It was decided to consider it in detail in a committee of the whole board. FARMER KICKED BY A HOESE.—Mr. George Price, farmer, Penycaemawr, Llantrissent, was admitted to the Newport and Monmouthshire Infirmary on Tuesday morning in an unconscious condition, and suffering from the effects of a kick in the forehead from a horse, on the 23rd May. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT ABERBERG. -WhilO engaged with another workman in shot-firing operations at the Aberbeeg Colliery on Wednesday, Ernest Boots, of Six Bells, received terrible injuries from the explosion. The unfortunate man was immediately brought to the surface, and conveyed to the New- port Hospital. He has lost one of his eyes com- pletely, and also one of his arms, in addition to his jaw being broken. Boots has a wife and five children, the eldest being only seven years of age BUILDING TRADE CONFERENCE.—The adjourned. conference of employers and men connected with the local building Trade, under the presidency of the Mayor (Councillor S. H. Howell) was held at the Fown.Hall on Tuesday evening, and lasted from 7.30 to 10.15. The representatives of the Master Builders Association desired certain rules to ba adopted, and expressed their willingness to give the advance promised on September 1st. The men presented a stubborn front and absolutely declined to make an arrangement to terminate the strike. This will not tend to settle the dispute. It seems that the representatives of the Building Industries' Federation refused to accept the concession, but required the advance immediately work was resumed. Even had this been allowed by the associated masters, work would not be recommenced, as the employers require changes of an important nature in the working rules which the men stated their societies positively objected to. The employers have already offered to raise wages to the level of those in force in the Cardiff building trade. This would mean an advance of a half-penny per hour for every trade with the exception of the labourers, who would receive a farthing per hour rise. The labour- ers' representative at the Conference said that they desired to have the wages raised a half-penny, viz., to 5id. per hour, which the employers are not willing to give. This request could not be granted by the representatives of the employers, who pointed out that the wages demanded by the labourers w'?re above the average prevailing in the district. The men then replied that there was a probability of the labourers' w tjjes b-inz raised in the district, and tha it th-V W.ir., trif Ntli that they were asking for in the iiijil,linic trade would bo the same as outside. Ew^nninlty thtl coherence w s atjourned until Friday, and in the meantime both parties will con- sider the rules prevailing in the Cardiff district, and see if an arrangement can be made to resume work under the Cardiff rules. I I

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. I The monthly meeting of the Council was held at the Town Hall, on Tuesday, the Mayor (Councillor T. H. Howell) being in the chair. There was a good attendance of members. Councillor Wilkinson referred to the recent election of representatives on the Harbour Board, and inquired whether any member had a right to inspect the voting papers, seeing that the documents were the property of the Council. The Town Clerk intimated that the procedure followed at the election was decided upon by the Council. He must take his instructions from tha Council as to whether the voting papers should be open for inspection. The Mayor said that they all doubtless saw that Her Majesty had been pleased to appoint Lord Tredegar as Lord Lieutenant, of Monmouthshire— (applause)—in succession to the late Duke of Beaufort. Every member of the Council would rejoice at the conferring of theQueen's favour on a nobleman who was held in suca high regard, and who deserved the honour. They would all wish that his lordship wiJuld live long to bear the dignity bestowed upon him. He (the Mayor) proposed a vote of congratulation to his lordship on the occasion of the honour conferred by Her Majesty. Alderman Davis seconded the proposal. The resolution was carried. The report of the Works Committee was adopted. Alderman Bear said that he wished to call attention to the amount of road repairing that was going on in the b eotigh. He maintained that this was not the right time of year for such work to be done. It must be very expensive, as they had to use the water carts. Councillors Dunn, Little, and Guy supported the Mayor's action. Alderman Moses brought up the report of the Electricity Committee, and moved its adoption. Councillor Williams referred to the statement as to the working of the electric light works for four years, and he saw they had to contribute yearly to its expense. He thought this was anything but a credit to the town to have to py to a well-equipped works in the fourth year of making. He instanced payments at Wakefield, Chesterfield, and Cardiff. He thought the non- payment of profits was due to the coal strike. Cardiff paid a dividend, and yet charged less for the arc lighting. He maintained there was some- thing radically wrong with the works or the staff, and he hoped to see a surplus. Some discussion ensued, but finally the report was carried. The question of the re-assessment of the property in the town was under consideration for some time, and the report of the Waterworks Committee was adopted. o

PONTYPOOL. Agents—Mr.J. Harding, karket Bookstall, and Messrs. Jones and Edwards A NEW CHURCH FOB BRYNMAWR.—On Wednesday The Riht. Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. David's laid the foundation stone of the new Parish Church. A procession WiiS formed in the National School- room, consisting of the building committee and architect, a large surpliced choir, and mauy visiting clergy, amongst whom were the Rev. A. A. Matthews, vicar of Blaenavon the Rsv. T. Rees, vicar of Poatlottyn and the Rev. Silas T. Phillips, vicar of Pembroke Dock (a former vicar of Bryn- mawr), who with the present Vic tr of Brynmawr, aeted as bishop's chaplains. After the laying of the stone his lordship gave a practical address on the Blessings of overcoming difficulties." BATTALION DRILL.—4th V.B., S.W.B., held a battalion drill at Cwmlickey. Pontypool, on Saturday. Tha detachments present con iated of the following: A (Blaenavon), B (Pontypool), C, D, and E (Newport), F (Monmouth), G (Usk), and H and J (Abergavenny). A. and B companies marched from Pontypool Road, the others from Crane Street Station to Owmiickey, where they went through a skeleton attack upon the Pontypool companies. After these evolutions, refreshments were served. Colonel W H. Williams was in command of the battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel A. Goss was in charge of the right half, and Major W. D. Steele of the second line of firing. Stretcher bearers of the battalion were present under Surgeon- Major S. B. Mason- The Newport Officers present included Major G. F. Col borne (commanding), Major H. Liyboiirne, Captain A. E. Willey, Lieutenants E. H. Fawckner, E. J. S. Colquhoun, and A. G. S. Batchelor, and Burgeon-Lieutenant Howard Jones.

RAGLAN. I Ageiii-Mr. T. R. Jones, Grocer, Corner Shop SANITARY MATTERS AT BRYNGWYN. — At a meeting of the Abergavenny Rural District Council held on Tuesday last, Mr. J. Merton Jones, J.P., presided. At a former meeting the Inspector (Mr. J. Gill) reported on w.c's. wnich discharged directly or indirectly into public streams. The Red Lion Inn and a cottage at Bryngwyn was now reported, and the Clerk (Mr. W. H. P. Scaulou) was directed to give formal notice for the removal of these nuisances at once.

Voluntary Schools. An annual general meeting of the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church was held on Wednesday at, the society's house, Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury (president of the society) in the chair. The annual report showed that the number of scholars on the registers bad increased by 12,795, and there had been a rise of 13,870 in the average attendance. On the other hand, the voluntary contributions to the schools had decreased by £ 46,961. The committee believed this decrease to be partly due to relief of cases of intolerable strain," which was a welcome consequence of the special aid grant, and partly to the fact that during the past year Churchmen had been called upon to divert some of their money to the improve- ment and enlargement of the training colleges. Taking into account all the items of expenditure on schools and colleges, Churchmen continued to subscribe about Y,1,000,000 per annum for elementary education, and the amount thus con- tributed since (811, when the National Society was founded, amounted to £ 42,000,000. The Archbishop of Canterbury said it was impossible to emphasise too strongly the necessity of keeping up their subscriptions as a proof to the whole country that they really meant to support a system of education for which these schools were the machinery It was quite certain that the maintenance of religious education in this country would almost entirely depend upon the public opinion of the country at large. The diminution in subscriptions did not amount to ten per cent., and he trusted they would recover that before long. Both in regard to numbers and efficiency their schools were increasing, 011 the whole, be believed that the working of the grant by the associa'ions had been exceedingly good, and be thought the Education Department had been very fair and equitable in its treatment of all the proposals that had been put before it by those associations. Lord Cross proposed a resolution, calling for increased support for the National Society. He hoped that in the next year's report they would hear of no further surrender of schools and of no falling off in subscriptions. They should remember, too, that if ever they allowed it to get into the minds of the people that their children could get a better education in the Board schools than ill the voluntary schools, the voluntary schools were gone. The House of Commons had decided that the age at which children must be kept at school should be raised—and a bill had been brought in to make a commencement on the question of secondary education. He was sure that that society would welcome any wholesome system of secondary education, and would desire that religious instruction should not be forgotten at whatever j age a chi! I -chool.

Arclitdiacooal Visitation at Newport. Archdeacon Bruce commenced his annual visitation of the clergy and churchwardens of the Archdeaconry of Monmouth, at St. Woolos' Church, Newport, on Monday. There was a very large attendance. The Archdeacon referred to the deaths of the Rev. J. Griffiths (Mynyddislwyn), D. Jones (Aber- carn), T. Edwards (Fleur-de-lis), aud W. G. Kirkham; to the new clerical appointments, including the Rev. T. Reynolds (L|ri«ifrecufa), J. George (Fleur-de-lis), and W. M. Munro (All Saints') and to the resignation of the Rev. F. Foster, after some 30 years' service at Llanfrechfa, and the attainment of his 90ih birthday by the Rev. G. S. Sparke (Undy). Proceeding, the Archdeacon alluded to the advancement of Church building and restoration in the diocese, and to the urgent need of funds. The Diocesan magazine afforded a ready communication between the Bishop and the diocese, and he hoped and believed that it was destined to take a leading part in the development of Church life. The "educational outlook was disheartening. A very small pro- portion of the Aid Grant fund found its way into the Maintenance fund of the schools. The managers had been able to increase salaries of the underpaid teaching staff, and to add to school apparatus, with the view to increase thlir efficiency. More than this, however, was required if the Church schools (where the children were taught their catechism) had to hold their own against the increasing competition of School Boards. The Aid Grant was a source of peril. It tended to throw people off the scent, and to create a false security. He thought the abandonment of their large town schools was within sight unless the "scaicely expected happened, and a larger measure of relief was afforded them. He thought that the only gleam of hope was to be gathered from the reply recently made by Mr. Chamberlain to Mr. Asquith. Sir George Kekewich had remarked that the question of voluntary subscription would receive early consideration, and where they were not forthcoming the grant would be imperilled. Obviously they were bound to attach weight to this warning. Whatever generous hilp was given, however, it must be disproportionate to the rate aid received by Board Schools. The Archdeacon favoured a system such as existed in Ireland to meet the difficulty. It was strongly advocated by the National Uuion of Teachers. It meant the creation of County Boards of Education, which ascertained the cost per child and rhe number of children in the elementary schools, leaving the county rate to pay for them. Any denomination desirous of educating their children would be free to build as many schools as they liked, so long as they found the money for them, and the County Boards would make the corresponding provision for the children. In dealing with the Ecclesiastical Procedure Bill, and the present crisis in the Church, the Archdeacon maintained that no fresh legislation was needed. He desired such a solution of their present difficulties as would tend to close, and not to widen, schisms, to heal and not to inflame differences, to induce sympathy and co-operation, rather than provoke retaliation, and to maintain the breadth, the comprehensiveness, and the tolerance of their Church polity. They needed, in his view, not legislation, but plain direction, plain definition, on which plain obedience might follow, and to which unreserved obedience must in the end be enforced. In his charge to the churchwardens, he condemned the action of the Church Association for having sent a circular and pamphlet to what were erroneously called parish churchwardens only, calling upon them, as it were, to spy upon the clergy with a view to their making formal presentations to the bishop for illegal practices. It may be" he said that there are some among you who may feel it incumbent on you to make formal presentation as to teaching and practices which you honestly believe to be contrary to the order and discipline of the Church of England. In such a case you will, I trust, do your duty without fear or favour. But, notwithstanding the specious pretexts of the Church Association, it can never be your duty to lend yourselves to action of which the least evil is that it can only exasperate those against whom it is directed, and hopelessly widen a breach which every true Churchman wishes to close; and the greatest evil that it would degrade the great, free, comprehensive Church of England into a mere sect, driving out from her pale all High Church- men, however faithful and loyal to the Catholic Church-a repetition of the error which drove out John and Charles Wesley, and later John Henry Newman. The Archdeacon of Monmouth made his annual visitation to Monmouth on Tuesday.

The Transvaal An important Blue Book, dealing with the com- plaints of British subjects in the South African Republic, was issue 1 on Wednesday. The con- cluding and most vital dispatch is that of Mr. Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary, to Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner at the Cape. This dispatch is dated loth May last, and is in reply to the petition to the Queen from 21,684 men and 84 British subjects in the South African Republic, who prayed for her Maj sty's intervention with a view to the removal of their grievances. Mr. Chamber- lain states that the petition was laid before the Queen, who wag graciously pleased to receive it, and he had the honour to convay to the High Commissioner the views of her Majesty's Govern- ment on the subject. Her Majesty's Government (Mr. Chamberlain continued) could not remain indifferent to the complaints of British subjects resident in other countries, and if these were found to be justified Her Majesty's Government were entitled to make representations with a view to securing redress. This ordinary right of all Governments was strengthened in the present case by the peculiar relations established by conventions between this country and the Transvaal, and also by the fact that the peace and prosperity of the whole of South Africa, including her Majesty's possessions, might be seriously affected by oiroum- stances calculated to produce discontent and unrest in the South African Republio. Her Majesty's Government had, therefore, made investigations, into the subject of the petition. The unrest and discontent among the Uitlander inhabitants of the South African Republio was of long standing The root of the matter lay in the policy pursued from the first by the Government of the South African Republic towards an immigrant population which was generally believed to far outnumber the burghers. To the industry and intelligence of this part of the community was due the enormous increase in the prosperity of the country-an increase which might be measured by the fact that whereas in 1895 the revenue was £ 177 876 it amounted in 189S to no less than C3,983,560, the principal items of which must be contributed mainly by the Uitlander. The Central News, telegraphing- on Wednesday evening, says :—The Blue Book issued this morning coupled with Sir A. Miluer's dispatch, has strengthened the opinion that the Colonial Secre- tary and the High Commissioner mean by decisive action to force the reforms demanded by the Uitlanders. A Reuter's telegram from Brussels on Wednes- day says: -The following dispatch, dated Pretoria, Weduesday, has been received by Dr. Leyds, diplomatic representative of the South African Republio The Government of the South African Re. public does not make a condition of the arbitration question. It will continue to make concessions even as to the franchise, independently of the acceptance or non-acceptance by Groat Britain of the principle of arbitration." A Reuter's telegram from Pretoria on Wednesday says:—The Raad to-day resolved to accept Presi- dent Kruger's franchise proposals, and to refer them to the people before they are put into operation. Mr. Kruger, in thanking the Raad for its action, said that in these troublous tl rneq he did not know what was going to happen. The other side had not conceded one tittle and he could not give more. God always stood by them. He did not want war, but he would not give away more. Although inde- pendence had once been taken awciy, God had re-. stored it.

CRICKET. Wednesday's match between the Australian« and Yorkshire ended in a draw at iir,t,rii scored 1m for his County.