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

I The Boarding: Out System. Mr Archer, whose death was recently announced, will be remembered as one of the pioneers of a movement which resulted in the concession by the Local Government Board of greater facilities for boarding out those unfortunate children to whom the Guardians stand in loco parentis. By the first order which was issued on the subject children were permitted to be boarded out in the union to which they belonged, except in the Metropolis. This was found to be a bad arrangement, because it kept the children in crowded towns where they ought not to be kept, and prevented the Guardians from p sending them into the country. By the operation of a later order orphan and deserted children were permitted to be boarded out by all Boards of Guardians beyond the limits of their own unions, the maximum sum payable to the foster parents being 4s. per week. This extended system of boarding put is supervised by three lady inspectors, whose interesting report on the subject was included in the last official statement of the Local Government Board. One of the ladies, Miss Mason, sums up admirably the whole situation when she says that boarding out is either the best or worst of systems according to the manner in which it is administered, and there is no reason why it should not be the best." The other inspectors testify to- the same effect. It is obvious that these inspectors j CANNOT EXERCISE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION in every case, but they have the assistance of local committees, and the success, or otherwise,of boarding out appears to depend mainly upon the manner in which these local committees discharge their duties. In many cases it is evident that they have been grossly negligent, and some of the worst instances of abuse of the system have only been discovered by the inspectors, whose visits to each particular child must neces- sarily be few and far between. In many instances, it is clear, the local committees have taken too much for granted, and it appears that some of the worst cases of neglect are found where one of the foster 0 parents has been in the service of a member of the committee, and is supposed not to require any vigilant observation. It is evi- dent that there is a good deal of the worst side of human nature in some of these foster parents, who appear to have qualified in a small way as successors of the notorious Wackford Squeers. In some instances the children were found to be underfed, in > others they were compelled to work I BEYOND THEIR POWERS for the profit of those who had taken charge of them. In both cases the children were generally afraid to tell the truth, and the- inspectors point out that it is useless to- make merely viva voce inquiries. The com- mittee should in all cases exercise the power which they possess to examine the children,. their clothing and their bedding, and generally to ascertain whether they are properly cared for. Such precautions may not be necessary in all cases, but unless all are treated in the same way the examina- tion must become inyiclioua- Notwith- standing the facilities afforded by the Local Government Board, the system of boarding out appears to make very little progress, the number of children so treated in 1893 being 1,738, and in 1903 only 1,856 This small increase in the number is regrettable. The system is evidently the best possible one where adequate surveillance is exercised, and there ought to be many candidates for the local committees among those people who desire to leave the world better than they found it.

I Cricket in Australia. Newcastle, New South Wales, Friday. Mr Warner's team to day com- menced match against fifteen of Newcastle and district. At lunch, the Englishmen had scored 159 for one wicket, but they I were all out for 306, Foster made 105. Newcastle, at close of play, were- 74 for six wickets.

Report on a Railway I Accident. Colonel Von Donop in a report on the accident at Piershill Station, North British Railway, says that the signalman's working rules are habitually neglected at the station.

I Cabinet Council. A meeting of the Cabinet was held to-day, at the Foreign Office, Mr Balfour presiding. All the- Ministers were present except Mr Gerald Balfour and Lord Ashbourne. ^m

I Cruiser Flora Wrecked. The Admiralty have received official confirmation of the wreck of the Cruiser Flora. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet has left Esquimault in a special steamer for the scene of the wreck. The Admiralty telegram con- I cerning the wreck of the Flora says, I that she mistook one beacon for another, and took the ground heavily. The Warships Grafton and Egeria are proceeding to the spot,. and the Commander-in-Chief of the Squadron is already on his way there. ——■———i———

A Friend of the Family." Mr Spivey, an architect, to-day obtained a divorce, with five- hundred pounds damages, against the co-respondent, Mr Alfred M. Dixon, a Leeds brass founder, who was a friend of the family.

During the Ring's Pleasure. At Guildford to-day, Thomas Ferris, of Croydon, was ordered to be detained during the King's pleasure for the murder of his paramour.

Stocks. Stocks steady. Printed and Published by "THE Cotwrr OBSERVER," NEWSPAPER and PRINTING COMPANY, Limited, by JAMES HENRY CLARK, at their Offices, Bridge- Street, Usk, in the County of Monmouth, Saturday December 5th, 1903.

PHONOGRAPHS RECORDS HOCKEY STICKS GOLF CLUBS SANDOW'S DEVELOPERS ELECTRIC POCKET LAMPS WATCHES FOR ALL FOOTBALLS BICYCLES From 3/11 Each From 6d Each Balls and Shinguards Balls and Toes DUMB BELLS For DARK PARTS from 1/9 Each 5/- Great or Small From 2/6 Each From 30/- Each 2 Come to PONTYPOOL and see tHese at J. E. WOOLLEY'S Sports' Depot, in the Osborne

Football. USK V CRICKHOWELL. On Saturday last, Usk journeyed to Crickhowell for their weekly contest. Roberts and Smith were absentees, and Davies and Twining filled their places respectively. The spin of the coin favoured Prothero (the Usk captain), and the homesters kicked off towards the town. After several interchange kicks the leather infringed the touch line at half-way. It was soon apparent that the Usk forwards were much the stronger, and they got the leather out repeatedly, but many bouts of passing were spoiled by either a knock on or a forward pass. At length Usk dribbled over, but a ecrum was ordered five yards out. The homesters then dribbled well, and Etheridge saved with a fine kick. Usk got the ball out again and a pretty bit of play between Prothero and Weare nearly ended in a score. Again the visitors tried passing, and Williams knocked forward right on his opponents' line. Crickhowell dribbled well, and Prothero saved by turning to touch at balf-way. Knight got the leather away, and the backs handling well, Williams was put in possession, and he, with a strong run, raced over wide. He failed to convert. Etheridge returned the dtop-out splendidly to touch at half-way. Passing between the Usk backs, saw Davies fail to hold when he had a good chance. A minor resulted from a kick over. The visitors were given a free for off-side play and the home half was again visited. Knight got through cleverly, but failed to pass when there was a chance. Still another forward piss spoiled a certain try. Prothero got away cleverly from a scrum in the home 25. and after dodging several opponents sent out to Williams, who got over. The place kick failed. Crickhowell dropped out, but play was again brought back to their territory by a dribble by the visiting forwards. The homesters then tried passing, and were making good headway, when Jenkins intercepted and kicked to touch close to their line. Knight got the ball away to Prothero, and after Davies and Weare had handled the latter went over with a try, which Prothero converted. Half-time score Usk. 1 goal, 2trie8. Crickhowell Nil. U"k re-started, and the homesters failing to reply to the kick, play settled 111 their half. From a kick by the Crickhowell back, Weare fielded and put in a grand run, but was grassed. At half- way, Usk obtained a free. but the kick was charged and the visitors' line was in dancer. Knight got the leather away, however, and a pretty round of passing was spoiled by a knock-on. Crickhowell forced a minor, after an onslaught on the Usk line. The visitors dropped out, the reply finding touch at half-way. From the line-out Prothero got the ball away and after making an opening threw to Weare who scored. Williams converted, Gibson scored again after the kick out, following up very smartly, and Prothero converted. Time:- Usk 3 goals, 2 tries. Crickhowell Nil. Usk team --Back, R. Etheridge; J-backs, W. A. Williams, A. Weare, F. M. Davies, and J. Jenkins; -back-, D. Prothero (captaiu) and J. Kuight; forwards, E. Waters, A. Bowyer, A. J. Thomas, H. Twining, J. H. Marfell, J. Morgan, J. Stead, and H. Gibson. Referee :—Mr F. J. Edmunds, Usk.

Board of Agriculture's Report on Agricultural Education. The annual report issued by the Board of Agriculture upon the distribution of grants for agricultural research and education gives numerous statistics and results achieved during the year 1902-3. Mr William Somerville, in his introduotory remarks, says that there has been steady progress I and considerable development in the work done at the various institutions of the country. A second section of the Grey Book deals with the experiments conducted. The chief experiments at Bangor were with regard to sheep breeding. The report gives numerous tables, and shows the results of the experiments most exhaustively. Amongft the conclusions arrived at is that crushed oats form a more profitable investment than dried ain in fattening sheep, whilst the most successful crosses for market purposes were with the Southdowns, which this year surpassed the results obtained from the Wiltshire strains. last year. In the third section the Grey Book gives a statement showing the amounts received from the residue grant and the amounts applied to agricul- tural education by the various County Councils. Amongst them are:— Amongst them are:— Applied to Received. Agriculture. £ £ Monmouthshire. 5,696 3,374 Anglesey 852 150 Brecon 1,739 50 Cardigan 1,489 365 Carmarthen 3,084 632 Carnarvon 2,829 306 Denbigh 3,699 400 Flint 2,651 252 Glamorgan 9,355 H 31r5 Merioneth. 1,283 63 Montgomery. 2,555 399 Pembroke. 1,9B0 70 Radnor. 912 —

Three cattle-dealers who, at Leeds on Tuesday, were fined for cruelty to cows by permitting them to remain unmilked, pleaded that they acted in accordance with custom in order to give; the animals a I better appearance at a sale.

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I Literature. I The Christmas Double Number of c. The Lady's World," price 6d, has a good and varied collection of complete and seasonable stories, in addition to the many excellent subjects with which it deals monthly. Many hints are given on the making of dainty and useful Christmas presents, inexpensive and fancy dresses for children, a bridal Christmas tree, and on fancy work generally. It is a good sixpenny worth.

Pall of %rater-dim tV*0 VERY LlTti-6 G IHUDSONS/ .A A IP For ^1 mr Cleansing and 4 Sweetening the House from top to bottom there is nothing so A effective as 2 £ Hudson's s  3 <  Ja.  Si It does the work thoroughly, easily, E and cheaply*  3 -dde 1f;6Å"

Mr. Augustus Lewis Promoted. 5 At the conclusion of the business at Newport Police Court on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr A. J. Stevens), addressing Mr Augustus Lewis. Chief Inspector of Factories for this district, said he uuderstood that Mr Lewis had been promoted to Manchester. The Bench congratulated him on his promotion, and wished him every happiness in his new sphere. Mr Lewis and carried out his duties ably and satisfactorily in this diatrict. Mr Lewis thanked the Bench for their kind remarks. He had endeavoured to discharge his duties fairly and impartially, and he testified to the assistance he had received from the magistrates in this district.

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Conservative Candidate for Brecon County. The Breconshire Conservative Association have decided to invite the Hon R. C. Devereux, son of Viscount Hereford, and a nephew of Lord Trede- I gar, to contest the Couuty of Brecon at the next election, against Mr Charles Morley, the present Liberal member.

Major Courtenay Morgan at Newbridge. Under the auspices of the Crumlin and Newbridge Conservative Association, a smoking concert was held at the Newbridge Hotel, Newbridge, on Thurs- day evening, under the presidency of Mr D. F. Pritchard. Major Courtenay Morgan addressfd the meeting and spoke < n the great question of fiscal reform as it affected the home industries. When, he said, they saw round them dismantled works, thty could not help thinking how much better it would be for the coal trade if those works could by any means be re-started and brought into full swing again. (Hear, hear.) The foreign trade was all very well, but the home trade-the operations, as it wera, at their very door-could only be attainted and eucour- aged by some alterations in our fiseal system. (Hear, hear.) He did not advocate Protection to such an extent as would increase the cost of living to any of the poorer classes, nor did he think it necessary to put a tax on raw materials sent into the country to be manufactured for the benefit of the community as a whole, and which found em- ployment for many working men. Some form of retaliation, however, ought to be introduced with reference to manufactured articles. (Hear, hear.) He read with regret a report of an interview with the manager of the Pontyinit-ter Works, in which he said that it was probable that the latest dump- ing of American steel into thi country wou!d caulla tho closing a portion, if not all, of their works. This was a serious matter to 9()0 or 1,000 workmen. What would become of them? He supposed that those men who earned hiirh wages would emigrate to a foreign country to find employment at their particular trade, and this country would be the losers thereby, while the rest would probably have to find some other employment less congenial and at lower wages.

Dr. Rutherfoord Harris's Candidature. Dr Hairis addressed the members of the Dulwich Conservative Club, Conservative Association, and Constitutional Club on Thursday evening, after which a vote of confidence in him was passed. In his address Dr Harris s, he is a firm I supporter of the Unionist Government, being con- vinced that the present fortunes and future progress and development of this great Empire are far safer in their hands than in those of their opponents. On the fiscal question he announces himself an un- hesitating supporter of the policy enunciated by the Prime Minister at Sheffield. With regard to Mr Chamberlain's policy he i;ays: To any schemes which would in my judgment increase the burden of living to the people as a whole I should offer most resolute opposition, but my personal belief is that Mr Chamberlain's policy would in the near future produce precisely the opposite effect, and it would, therefore,receive my heartiest support." He advocates army reform, which he bwlieves the Government will carry out, approves the Education Act, and favours legislative restriction of Free Trade in pauper or criminal aliens.

I Food Adulteration In 1902. The report for 1902 of the work of the Local Government Board, full as it is of in- teresting matter on a great variety of subjects, deals with few that are of greater importance to the community (says The Hospital) than the administration of the Food and Drugs Act, under which 231 regularly appointed anulysts are now dis- charging their duties in the City of London, in the metropolitan boroughs, and in ad- ministrative counties, county boroughs, and non-county boroughs in different parts of the kingdom. The total number of I SAMPLES ANALYSED I I in 1902 amounted to 71,321, or to one sample for every 450 of the population of the last census. Nearly five-twelfths of all the samples taken in 1902 were of milk, and of these 11*6 per cent. were reported against. This is the highest rate of milk adulteration recorded in any year since 1893, and it appears to be due to a syste- matic endeavour to reduce the quality of good milk so that it may just reach the standard fixed by the Board of Agriculture. This is done either by THE ADDITION OF WATER, the addition of separated milk, or the removal of cream; insomuch that the old and gross form of adulteration by the rule of thumb addition of water is largely giving place to more refined and, so to speak, scientifically adjusted methods, by the employment of which the producer, with absolute impunity, gets the full extra profit of all the cream his milk naturally contains over and above the minimum yielded by a poverty stricken cow, and accepted by the Board of Agriculture as a standard.

Wye Fishery Board. At an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Conservators of the Wye Fishery District held at Hereford it was decided. on the proposal of the chairman (Mr J. Hotchkiss), that the period duriuif which it should be illegal to take or kill trout in the Wye Fishery district should be altered so that such period should commence on October 2nd, and terminate on February 14tb, both inclusive, and that any person offending against this bye-law should be liable for each offence to a penalty not exeeeding R5. It was also resolved that the bye-law relating to the close time for trout, confirmed by a certificate of the Board of Trade dated December 13th, 1902, should be revoked.

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SOLICITOR ARRESTED.— Information has been received of the arrest in New York of David Jones, a Llanrwst solicitor, against whom the Treasury have instituted pro- ceedings for the alleged misappropriation of several thousands of pounds belonging to a trust fund. His partner, Mr. Pierce Roberts, came up on Thursday be- fore the magistrates for a further remand on a charge of aiding aud abetting

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ITALIAN LOVE TRAGKDY.—Nazzarino Milioni, ayouug Italian collier, was charged at Glamorgan Assizes on Tuesday with attempting to murder his sweetheart, Marie Fragnola, by shooting at' her outside the Park Hotel on October 30th. It was stated that a marriage had been arranged between them, but that prisoner's mother would not let him have the necessary papers, and Marie refused tomarry him without them. The defence was that prisoner only intended to frighten the girl, and he was found not guilty and discharged

MERRYWEATHER ON WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE PROTECTION of COUNTRY MANSIONS. EXPERTS SENT TO ALL PARTS TO Report on EXISTING Arrangements. WRITE FOR PAMPHLETS: MERRYWEATHER & SONS, 63, LONG ACRE, LONDON, W.C. It

THB Ritv G. F. Powrs, curate of Brirufield, near Hereford, has been appoii ted vicar of Girway, near Ross, and the Rev Richard Owen Ritchie Thomas has been licensed to the curacy of Fownhope, with Fawley and Brockhampton, near Ross.

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SHEBP KILLED BY A MOTOR-CAR,—A serious motor accident occurred on Wednesday evening near Retford. The Duke of Newcastle, with Mr Colin and Lady Ilene Campbell, were driving their motor from Retford to the Duke's residence, Clumber House, when, in going down Robworth Hill the duke's chauffeur lost control of the car, and dashed into a flock of sheep. All the occupants of thA car were badly shaken. Eight sheep were killed, and the motor damaged.

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A TEETOTAL ExpaaiMBirT.—At the London Bankruptcy Court on Friday, Guy Middleton, who carried on the business of Maughau's Mineral Water Company, Lambeth, was publicly examined respecting his insolvency. He said that he was making £ 400 a year profit when he decided to supply only teetotal establishments which did not open on Sunday. As a result his profits dropped to between 160 and L180 per annum, and his business was entirely spoilt. PANAMA CANAL TREATY.—A telegram from Panama states that the Canal Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Panama was signed there on Wednesday morni o g. -Router.

CURRENT TOPICS. RAILWAY TRAVELLING. It is suggested that the trials of auto- mobile cars, which have been made by the French railways, will probably lead in a few years to the present costly system of long trains, badly filled, and running at in- frequent intervals, being superseded by a p .5 greater number of small automobile trains, well filled, and running oftener, It may be so, but, so far as this country at any rate is concerned, there is no reason why the steam railways should run empty carriages at in- frequent intervals. In many cases the in- freqnency is one cause of the empty carriages, but as a rule the thirds are well filled, and it is only the higher class carriages that are comparatively empty. In those instances where travelling is quick, comfortable, and cheap,the companies have no reason to com- plain of the number of passengers, but where methods are resorted to which no commercial firm would think of adopting it is scarcely a matter for wonder that the results are not satisfactory. I LITERATURE AND POLITICS. I Macaulay, who was the subject of Lord Rosebery's speech at Campden Hill,, was one of the few men who have demonstrated in their own persons that the life of politics and the life of literature are not always in- compatable and discordant. The names of other bookish statesmen readily suggest themselves, including Mr Gladstone, Lord Beaconsfield, Mr John Morley, and Lord Roseberv himself, whose 11 Pit and Nap- oleon" furnish delightful reading. Addison was far more distinguished in literature than in politics, yet, as Lord Macaulay said, he climbed higher in the state than any other Englishman has ever, by means of purely literary talents, been able to climb." But although Macaulay rose to some eminence as a statesman, yet he made no secret of his preference for literature, and it was truly said of him by Lord Cockburn that he cared more for his history than for the jobs of constituents. I FOLK SONGS. Seeing that most of the County Councils have neglected their statutory duty of pro- tecting wild birds, it is scarcely likely they willunilertake the voluntary labour which Mr Cecil Sharp suggested to them of preserv- 11 el ing folk songs. Mr Sharpis an enthusiast on this subject, and he has discovered, in un- likely places many of these old ballads which have been composed for the people by the people, and handed down by oral tradition from one generation to another. Chevy Chase is the finest example of this class of popular songs but Mr Sharp will have to search for a very long time before he discovers anything which comes within a mile of that ballad,and some iconoclasts may be disposed to ask whether the folk songs which he discovers are really worth pre- serving when he has found them. The people from whom he obtained the lines do not appear to have recognised that they were worth preserving, and when he tried to elicit a traditional ballad he found that such music hall ditties as Wait till the clouds roll by," and "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road" were supposed to be the kind, of thing that he wanted. Artists have had similar experiences. One of them, so it is said, discovered a particularly picturesque looking rustic in a smock frock, and arranged to paint a picture of him on the following day. When the time came the man arrived, but instead of the bucolic costume which the artist had admired, he was wearing his best suit of broadcloth, a top hat, and a flari ng red tie.

Woman Drowned at I lifracombe. Two women gathering laver were- cut off by the tide on the rocks near Ilfracombe yesterday. One woman jumped for theshore- and arrived safely, but the other was afraid, and was washed off the rocks and drowned just before the- Lifeboat reached her.

James Parry, Pencarreg, for William (9), who made 46 out of 78 attendances.—Defendant produced a medical certificate to show that the child bad been in ill-health, and the case was dismiffed. William Boucher, Raglan, for Ivor (6), who make 42 out of 58 attendances.- Order made to attend. RATE CASE. Henry J. Smith, Raglan, was summoned by the overseers of Raglan for non-payment of bis poor rate, amounting to £ 1 9s lod.-Artbur Edwin Lewis having given evidence, the Bench issued a warrant of committal to Usk for six weeks unless rates and costs be paid, the warrant to stand over for 10 days.