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

Births, Marriages, & Deaths. Announcements of Birt <>■, Marriages, and Deaths are in serted at a uniform charge of Is each, unless such words as I No Cards No flowers' are added, when the charge will be 2s 6d. All announcements must be authenticated Postage stampsmay be sent in payment. Lists of Wedding Presents are inserted at the rate of Is. 6d. per inch in depth. DEATH. TURK.-October 17th, at 28, Cavendish Square, W., Arthur John Turk, aged 19 eldest son of Mr and Mrs A. J. Turk. At Rest in the Lord.

JOHN SIMMONS degires to sincerely thank all those who have so kindly expressed their sympathy with him in his recent sad and suddeu bereavement—the death of his mother—as also all those who attended the funeral and sent wreaths and flowers therefor.

Mr Chamberlain's South African Tour. The official notification, "His Maj esty has expressed a wish that the Secretary of State for the Colonies should make his visit to his Majesties dominions over the seas in one of his Majesty's ships, and accordingly the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have given orders for the Good Hope to convey Mr Chamberlain to South Africa," has caused the liveliest satisfaction in this country and amongst all loyalists in South Africa, while the members of the Bond— collectively silent on the subject, but individually curious-say the visit has possibilities of the happiest results. Mr Chamberlain has the CONFIDENCE OF THE COUNTRY, he is anxious that South African problems should be settled, and knows full-well that personal interviews are generally- much more satisfactory than despatches, when both parties are desirous of coming to a settle- ment. Development will be slow so long as suspense remains, for development depends upon the profitable employment of capital. Lord Milner has counselled Johannesburg to possess its soul in patience, and Mr Balfour told Mr Hay, in the House of Commons, that he does not think the question of the settlement in South Africa and the future financial arrangements is ripe, nor will be ripe for discussion for some time to come. There are other questions besides the mines to be discussed, equally important to the PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY, I and concerning resources more enduring, perhaps, than the supply of gold. There are matters of irrigation, which will con- vert many a waste into a fruitful field; of forestry, which will convert the barren veldt into productive plantations; and of railway construction, which will bring the farmers and consumers into close touch, to their mutual advantage and the welfare of the colonies permanently. Nobody will estimate the value of Mr Chamberlain's visit more highly than Lord Milner, and undoubtedly the projected trip to Cape Colony, Natal, the Orange River Colony, and the Trans- vaal, is a WISE AND BUSINESS-LIKE STEP. I Colonial Secretaries who will personally visit and move about in the Colonies, Indian Secretaries who will travel in India and look around them, Home Secretaries alert and active in the workshops and amid the home life of all classes of the people, Foreign Secretaries who have seen much of men and cities abroad, Irish Secretaries acquainted with cabin and castle in Ireland, are the Ministers who suit the ideal of the non-partisan publicist.

Mr. Asquith at Pontypool. I If anything were needed to add a finish- ing touch to the desperate condition in which the Liberal Party find themselves with regard to the Education Bill, it was supplied. by Mr. Asquith, the principal speaker at Pontypool, on Thursday evening. The Market Hall had been engaged for a mass meeting, the platform was ablaze with RADICAL LUMINARIES, I and Mr 1. M'Kenna, M.P., who presided, was supported by Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., Mr Brymnor Jones, M.P., Dr Garrod Thomas (who in Mr Asquith's opinion could capture the Monmouth Boroughs at the next election if he could be prevailed upon to face the music), and Col Ivor Herbert (who Mr Asquith thinks would at the very first opportunity be able to answer for South Monmouthshire ). What a galaxy of present and future members of Parliament! In his opening address the Chairman was also sanguine that they in Monmouthshire would not have long to bear the reproach of being represented in the House of Commons by two Conservative members. A RESOLUTION I condemning the Government's Education Bill was then moved by Colonel Herbert and seconded by Dr. Garrod Thomas. Mr. Asquith, on rising to support the resolution, became somewhat mixed with regard to the geographical position of Monmouthshire, but that being a mere matter of detail, and adaptable to the views the various speakers were desirous of urging, he was encouraged to leave that problem unsolved, and finally contented himself with asserting that, at any rate, in political feeling and conviction Monmouthshire exhibited an unmistakable kinship with the robust, determined, and enthusiastic Liberalism of the Principality. But even iu Monmouthshire there were unilluminated areas. There was the Southern Division of the County, and there were the Monmouth Boroughs, places where either the light had never reached, or, what was still worse, which, having known the light, had abandoned it. and TURNED TO DARKNESS. I What a deplorable picture I No wonder an Education Bill is needed! No political question, no political proposition during the last eight years had aroused anything like the same width, depth, and streugth of antagonism as the Government's Education Bill, which the Right Hon. speaker characterised as administratively unwork- able, educationally inefficient, and politically unj ust.

[We do not necessarily endorse all our J correspondent writes.-ED. C.O."] REV. E. W. W. PUGH. We are always pleased to hear of our old Usk friends, and in the current number of Work for the Far West," a quarterly magazine for the Dioceses of New Westminster and Kootenay, the Bishop, in a letter dated from the Canadian Pacific Railway, September 1st, has the follow- ing reference to the Rev. E. W. W. Pugh, B.A., formerly curate of Usk, but now missionary to Indians at Lytton in the first-named Diocese :— I should like to say here that we are very fortunate in having Mr Pugh for the Indian Mission, and that I am grateful to Mr Edwardes, of Truro, for persuading him to give up his prospects in England, which were good, to come out to us for the work. He is rapidly acquiring a mastery over the Thompson Indian language, as well as over Chinook, the Indians as well as the whites "take to him," and his medical knowledge and surgical skill have already been of great service. "A few days after I had returned from Nicola Valley, 1 went up from Lytton to Lillooett by stage, a hot, dusty, and fatiguing journey of 47 miles over a steep mountain road. Mr Puh had gone up before me to make arrangements, and to collect the Indians. Many of them attended our English Services, besides those which Mr Pugh conducted ,for them in their own language. I found the Church at Lillooett, and its surroundings, in very good order indeed-a great improvement since mv last visit. There were several candidates for confirmation, who had been prepared by a resident lady, and examined by Mr Pugh." Mr Pugh was personally very popular at Usk. and it is very pleasing to learn that he is popu- lar also in his new sphere of labour, where, apparently, he has extended opportunities for the display of his skill and knowledge which I may, perhaps, be allowed to term extra-minis- terial. All at Usk will wish him continued success iu his work. DR. BOULTON. No agricultural community in the County has a more staunch and practical supporter than the Usk community in Dr Boulton. Year after year he makes it his business to collect from his fellow-sportsmen in the Llangibby Hunt, sub- scriptions in aid of the Farmers' Club and the Colt Show Committee. Dr Boulton it was who started the Llangibby Ruot Green Crop prize-the blue ribbon of the F.C. meeting—and to him must probably be given the praise for initiating the prizes given by the Hunt at the Colt Show, all in addition, be it remembered, to the results of his own personal solicitations and his own financial help, so that, as Mr W. Marfell remarked at the Colt Show tea, Usk district agriculturists may flatter themselves that they receive more support from the Llangibby Hunt than any other district from any other Hunt, and that to the Llangibby members their heartiest thanks were due for the success which attended their agricultural meet- ings. Long may it be so. PIGS. Some experiments have been carried out at one of the American Agricultural Stations with the object of testing the relative values of a number of leading breeds of swine as bacon producers, from which it appeared that the average cost of producing 100 lbs. of pork worked out at 8s 7d for large Yorkshire, 9s for Tam worths, and 9s 5d for Yorkshire-Berkshire cross. Amongst the conclusions deduced from the experiments was that the gains made by well- fed swine increase with advancing age for several months subsequent to the birth period. TENDERS. Recently the Thornbury Board of Guardians accepted a tender for the supply of beef at 31d per lb. An agriculturist thereupon puts the following query in the newspaper reporting the matter Is it not high time a special com- mission was appointed to inquire iuto how our poor are fed under our present workhouse system ? TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. In the current report of the organizing Secretary to the Monmouthshire Technical Instruction Committee (Mr W. J. Grant) I gather that the arrangements made with the Usk T.I. Committee in 1900 for a course of lectures upon Agricultural and Horticultural subjects are being continued. The Dairy School commenced the Autumn Session at Llangibby, on the 23rd October. ¡", Arrangements are being made for Mr Wootton to visit Usk and Llangibby, amongst other places, for the purpose of advisiug as to the gathering and grinding of the cider fruit, &c. WOOL SUBSTITUTES. "We live in an age of adulteration," remarked Mr Henry Williams, at this weaks' Chamber of Agriculture meeting, after the reading of the interesting paper on the subject of Wool Substitutes," and certainly no one will deny it, nor that it is the reverse of con- ducive to our general well being. The paper was a real eye-opener. It is safe to say that not more than one in a hundred is aware of the fraud perpetrated upon the public in clothes purchased and worn. To show the clever deception practised, Mr Mansell (who, as every agriculturist knows, is a very successful sheep breeder) sent two samples of goods con- taining little or no new wool, but which had all the appearances of a good cloth, which handled solid and firm, and was well calcuated to deceive the average buyer. The foundation of the fabric was a tliiii piece of old material, and by means of clever machinery, and with the help of shoddy and other substitutes, a good looking article was manufactured. The Hon. Geo. W. Wallace, Sante Fé, New Mexico, recites a statement made by a Com- mission House in the Trade that 90 per cent. of woollen goods contain cotton, and that in 45 per cent the proportion of cotton is three-fourths. When, in addition to this, there is the stuff which masq uerades under a score of aliases, such as Shoddy, Wastes, Muugo, Flocks, Manu- factured Wool, Jute Yarn, &c., the wonder is, not that the sales of wool fall off so largely, but that any wool is used at all. Mr Mansell agrees with this, and also with the statement that the adulterated cloth has neither the wear nor the warmth of honest woollen goods, and most of us will not feel inclined to argue the point. vV- Here's an interesting (?) extract from the National Live Stock Journal (U.S.A.) There are several classes of shoddy. The best is made from the sweepings of tailors' shops aud the emptyings of rag-bags of civilised countries. The worst, which constitutes the greater part used in America, is from the rotten, cast-off rags of beggars and the lazar and pest-houses of Europe, having in them all kinds and amounts of filth and disease. They are gathered by rag- pickers from the slums and alleys, and sent to America by shiploads, where they are purchased by a certain class of manufacturers who, in order to take the curse off the name, term the stuff re-Lised wool fibre.' To encourage such a fraud is simply putting the lousy rags of paupers in competition with the sheep and wool growers of America and elsewhere, and robbing the consumers who wear woollen garments by selling them the stuff under a misrepresentation." As Mr Mansell says, it is hardly likely that the National Live Stock Association would publicly state this unless it were true, and it can readily be seen that, apart from the fraud and misrepresentation in the matter, there is a con- siderable source of danger to the public health through infection.

I USK. I Age?tt.-Jfrs. E. K. Jonest Stationer OCTOBER FAIR.—The annual October fair of stock, &c., was held in the Usk Cattle Market on Wednesday, when there was a large attendance and supply. Good store cattle sold well. Good quality beef was inquired for and realized from 6d to 7d per lb; cow beef, 5d to 6:1. A good demand for yearliug cattle for wintering at from £ 10 to £ 12 two-year-old bullocks, £ 16 to JESO. Good store lambs also sold well, but there was very little mutton oti offer-lamb, 71<1 to 8d per lb mutton [ewe]. 6d. There were a number of useful horses on offer, which cleared at fairly satisfactory prices. Dray horses made from £ ib to £ 50, and pit horses X;30 to C40.

USK & DISTRICT RIFLE CLUB. I The twentieth spoon shoot handicap competition was held at the Miniature Range, on Thursday evening, for Mr L. Myers' spoon, when Mr J. Billing liam -another winner for the first time- became the recipient of the spoon, closely followed by Mr W. J. Sweet with an excellent shoot. Mr R. Morgan's spoon next week. A very handsome Coronation medal, issued by the Royal Mint, has been presented by Mr Joseph Da vies for competition, and the club meet Caerleon in a friendly match on November 18th. Details:- Pts. Hep. Ttl. Messrs J. Billinghaw 37 6 43 W.J.Sweet. 42 42 G. M. Smith. 38 2 40 H. Marfell 33 7 40 J. S. Birrell 33 5 38 F. Hobbs. 31 6 37 E. Morgan 33 2 35 F. H. W ters. 34 34 E. B. Haynes. 34 34 O.J.Francis. 31 31 R. W. Spenoer. 23 8 31 L. Myers. 27 3 30 J. O. Lowe. 27 2 29 T. Rees, Junr (Usk) 26 2 28 W. Sweet. 27 27 D. Rees. 26 1 27 H. Freeman. 26 1 27 A. F. Lucas 26 26 G. Edmunds, Junr 23 1 24 W. W. Gibbon 10 10 20 F. J.Edmunds. 15 3 18

CADBURY'S COCOA can always be relied upon for its purity. Adulterated Cocoas are risky and should be avoided. CADBURY'S COCOA is highly beneficial to young and old, the delicate and the robust; it contains all the full nourishing properties of the Cocoa bean. It is Cocoa and Cocoa only.-3

[ USK SHIRE HORSE COLT SHOW. The twelfth annual show of colta in connection ,vith the. Usk Shire Horse Company, Limited, but managed by an independent Committee, with Mr S. A. Hiley as hon sec, was held on Wednesday- October Fair Day, as usual. Fortunately, the weather was fine, and the attendance of agricultu- rists and others was large in the Fishpond Meadow, On the Monmouth-road, kindly lent by Mr Georga Mundy for the occasion, and the judging waff- watched with keen interest, Mr W. Thomas, The Hayes. Sully, and Mr S Radcliffe, St Brides-super- Ely, performing this important work in a highly satisfactory manner, and generally in accordance with the popular verdict. In Class 1 all the prize-takers were very good colts in Class 2 premier honours were awarded an outstanding filly: and in Cluss 3 the blue ribboa went to a capital colt. The yearlings were a particularly good class, and the two-year-olds were a very useful lot. Class 6 was also good. In Class 7 the produce of sires other than the Company's had a chance; but the three suckers entered for compe- tition did not co," pare favourably with those in Classes 1 and 2, whatever the causi may be. The championship lay between the colts of Mr Divies, Newport, and Air Francis, Llangeview, and the former was awarded the prize, the reserve number looking younger and not quite so wall furnished. The winners of the Llangibby Hunt prizes were two very nice brood mires. The sale of colts by Messrs Marfell and Poole suffered somewhat in consequence of the lateness of the hour of commencement and the departure previously of some would-be buyers. The Committee (who are once more to be con- gratulated on the success of the show) were as follows :—Messrs Charles J. Francis, Llangeview Rees W. Spencer, Graigolwey; George Edmunds, Usk; W. Matthews, Llangibby; W. Lewis, Llan- sribby; Nabor Crump, Raglan; George Mundy, Usk; Joseph Williams, Llansov James Bevan, Llandowlais; William Marfell, Usk William Beer, High Mead; and S. A. Hiley, Usk (hon see). The following is the LIST OF AWAEDS — Class 1.—Sucking colt, the property of a share. holder.-I-At, E3, Mr C. J. Francis, Llangevieif I (bay by Llynclys Renown) 2nd, S2, Mr W. Lewis, Tregrwg, Llangibby; 3rd, £1, Messrs C. Arthur and Sons, Cefn LIsch, Llangibbv, r., Mr Joha Townsend, Raglan; h.c., Mr E. W. Waters, Usk. 2.-Sucking Filly, the property of a shareholder. —1st. dE3, Mr James Jamas, Llancayo (brown filly by Llynclys Renown) 2nd, X2. Mr R. W. Spencer*. Graig Olway; 3rd, jEl, Mr G. Edmunds, Usk; r., Mr Richard Marfell, Llancayo. 3.—Sucking colt or filly, the property of a non- shareholder.—1st, £ 2, Mr H. Davies, The Shaftes- bury, Newport (bay colt by Llynclys Renown); 2nd, £ 1, Mr Alfred Hawker, Llaatrissent (colt); r., Mr Henry Lewis, Usk (colt). 4.-Yearling colt or filly (open)—1st, £ 3 3s., Mr A. W. Trotman, Rhadyr (colt) 2nd, £1 is., Air W. Lewis (colt); r., Mr James James (colt); h.e., Mr M. W. David, Llansantfraed (colt), and Mr J. Francis (colt). 5.—Two-year-old colt or filly (open).-Ist, E2, Mr W. Townsend, Raglan (filly) 2nd, ill, Mr J. Lewis, The Park, Llangibby (filly) r., Mr T. Davies, New Birn (filly); h.c., Mr James James (filly). 6, -Three or four-year-old gelding or filly (open). -18tt L2, Executors of L. Lewis, Llangibby (filly) 2nd, £ 1, Mr W. Townsend (fiily) r., Mr F. Price, Trestevan (filly). 7.—Sucking colt or fiily sired by a horse other than the Usk Shire Horse Company's that stood or travelled for service within the limits of the Llan- gibby Hunt in 1901.-Ist, JE2. Mr John Parker, Kemeys Commander (colt by Bar None Victor) 2nd, XI, Mr A. W. Trottnan (filly) r., Mr John Parker (filly). 8.—Champion colt or filly shown in Classes 1, 2, 3, and 7.— £ 1 Is., Mr H. Daviej r., Air C. J. Francis. 9.—Llangibby Rtint Prizgs.-For mares served this season by a horse belonging to the Usk Shirei Horse Company, the owner of such mare to reside within the limits of the LI-ttigibby fltint.-Ist, X3. Mr C. J. Fraucis 2ad, £ 2, Mr R. W. Spencer; r., Mr W. Watkins, Pencarreg. IO.-Prizes given by Messrs Marfell and Poole too the owner of the sucker which, having bdea offered. for them by sale, realised the highest pric-).-Ist, £ 1, Mr H. Davies (25 guineas); 2nd, 10s., Mr James James (22 guineas). The Committee afterwards sat down to art excellent tea at the White Hart [Mr George: Edmunds'], after which Dr Boulton attended and handed over X14 18s 6d which he had kindly collected from members of the Llangibby Huntr. and which it was decided to share with the Usk Farmers' Club. Mr Hiley said the Committee were very glad to- meet Dr Boulton there on the occasion of their twelfth annual show—a show, he thought, as o-ood as any they had had. As they knew, it required considerable funds to carry on the meeting, and Dr Boultoii did more than anyone else in the way of collecting money for it. [Hear, hear]. They would, therefore, drink his very good health, express the pleasure they felt at having him amongst them, and assure him that they were exceedingly obliged to him for all that he had done for them. [Applause ]. In reply, Dr Boulton said he did not feel deserving of the kind remarks made. [I, Yes, yes. "] His daughter had done all the work of getting in the money. [ Applause.] He felt that. as a huntsman, it was really one's duty to try and support not only the Colt Show, but the Farmers* Club, and he should continue to give both his. assistance, not only as a duty, but also as a. pleasure. [Applause], Mr W. Marfell proposed The Hon. Secretary. So long as they had Mr Hiley at the helm, he said, there would be no fear of the Show coming tot grief. He did everything thoroughly and well, and Committee and exhibitors were united in their satisfaction at the way he organized the Show. [Applause]. Mr Hiley, returning thanks, said he could only repeat what he had so often said It was a great pleasure to him to do the little he did in connec- tion with the Show, and he found ample compen- sation in the fact that as an organisation they were doing good in the neighbourhood. LApplatisel. No better proof, he thought, could be given of tbia than when they saw the colts sired by other horses in competition with those sired by the Company's horses. For his own part, however, he could not say that he was absolutely satisfied even with what they had done. He hoped that in the near future they would be able to do more and batter than in the past. He thought it was for every one of them to look forward to doing something better even than they had done. Good as they were, some of their neighbours were better, and they should not rest until they at least got up to them. Mr Hiley then proposed the healths of Mr Edmunds anl Mr Mundy, the former for the con- tinued interest he took in the show and for the wor k he did in connection with the Committee, and the latter for 80 kindly giving them the use of the Fishpond Meadow, which was such an admirable site for the show. The Committee would also thank Mra Edmunds. for the capital tea she had provided for them. [Applause.] Mr Edmunds said he was very much obliged for the kind remarks made, both with regard to himaelf and Mrs Edmunds. He had only done what he had tried to do before—help the Show on-anl ha waa pleased to be able to say that he should be able to hand over to the Secretary between jEd and £10 that he had collected. [Applause.] Mr Mundy also replied. He said he should be very pleased to lend the meadow at any time if it were not up for grass, because he felt it was only right so to do in order to further the interests of the a He Was 8'? that they had had a fine day, and flu show had been such a good one. ? Mr M? arfeU submitted The Judges," in an eulo- gIstIC speech, and regretted that thev had been. compelled to leave to catch their trains for home. ?? Mr C. J. Francis responded on their behalf, remarking that it would be difficult to find two more competent or more conscientious men. Mr Mundy gave 11 Tlae Press," and it was responded to on behalf of the County Observer." The meeting subsequently adjourned till Friday, November 7th, at 7 p.m., when the Committee will meet to wind up the year's business. »