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

MERRYWEATHER ON WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE PROTECTION of COUNTRY MANSIONS. EXPERTS SENT TO ALL PARTS TO Report on EXISTING Arrangements. WRITE FOR PAMPHLETS: merrtieather a SONS, 13, LOK ICIE, LOXDOX, I.C.

MIRRORS FOR DETECTING CRIMINALS. I Mirrors, according to a writer on the subject, are much used by business firms as aids in the detection of theft, and are cordially detested by the common thief. Owners of street-corner coffee-stalls are much annoyed by petty pilfering. One of these men has stated that his losses through theft averaged four shillings a week until he had mirrors fixed to the sides and back of his stall. Now, when his back is turned, he can see all that a customer is doing, and so protect his own interests. A bookstall clerk told a similar tale. He said that the theft of magazines and books every week represented a serious loss to his firm, until the adroitly-placed mirrors proved an effective check. On more than one occasion the thief has been caught by this method. A publican adopted the mirror system some years since to detect dishonest barmen. Its use resulted in the conviction of several dishonest employes, and has saved him much more than its original cost. By a free use of the mirror in their establishments, jewellers are able to guard their costly stock without offence to honest customers. One of these tradesmen in the West End of London has caught several well- dressed culprits by means of the tell-tale mirjprs. «

I A RARE AND VALUABLE WOOD. The very rarest wood is the calamander tree, of which there are known to be only ninety specimens in the world. They are on the island of Ceylon, where each tree, numbered, is under protection of the Governor. These trees, says Locomotivt Engineering, the last of their kind on earth, are held almost in religious reverence by the natives, who guard them as among their most sacred treasures. At the Columbian Exposition there were five pieces of furniture of these excesssively rare trees. The exhibit was insured for 250,000dol. Not even the kings of the earth dare cut down any of the ninety calamanders, whose pricelessness is far above that of a ruby mine. Allied to the ebony family, calamander wood is of a dark, chocolate colour of exceeding richness and brilliancy, mottled in a way almost indescribable.

I How WORDS CHANGE MEANINGS. The definition of "acre once meant a field of any size. The Germans still use the word in this sense. God's Acre, meaning a cemetery, is an instance of the old meaning. Libel once had no reference to anything offensive, but simply meant a small book or pamphlet. But pamphlet wars, which often were nothing but printed slang, changed its meaning. Jeremy Taylor refers to the "beautiful imps that sang hosannas in the temple." Imp once meant a little child and not a child of the devil, as it does now. Meat was applied to any kind of food, while to starve originally meant to work one's self to death-a significant footnote to the history of peasant risings.

< DiCKENS'S "CHRISTMAS CAROL" The men who more than any others during the last two hundre.) years have helped to make Christmas famous are Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Dickens. Hawthorne presents us with the aroma, of the genuine New England Christmas at its best, Dickens draws an English Christmas. It is no reflection on the genius of Hawthorne to say that the Dickens Christmas literature is sure to be more universally popular than that of Hawthorne. Hawthorne was a great thinker, Dickens was a great transcriber. The man has not lived, and probably never will, who can tell what he saw, as well as Charles Dickens. Herein lay his superior power. Of all the Christmas tales written by Dickens, the "Christmas Carol" is faraway the most deservedly popular. It has been called, not inaptly, the great masterpiece of Dickens. It is said that Dickens, while writing it wept and laughed over it, worked without cessation in a perfect fever of excitemt at. When first published the carol jumped into popularity at once; the first edItion of b,000 being disposed of on the day of publication, and 15,0u0 were so'd by the end of the season. From that day to this the story has been reprinted in svery possible form. One brief paragraph from this enchanting short story has become classic, and well deserves to be repeated here and everywhere, through all our Christmas festivities. The paragraph in question is put into the mouth of Scrooge's Nephew Fred, who had called to invite his miserlv old uncle to dine with him. Scrooge says: "Bah Humbug Fred says: "I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time when it has come round-apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that-as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by ope consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to tnink of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave and not another race of creatures bound on different journeys, and therefore I say: Uncle, God bless it! • ■■

I SOLDIEU GARDENERS. J In describing the gardens at Chelsea Hospital, where our aged warriors retire to end their days in peace, the Gardener says: There are only a hundred and forty of these allotments, and there are five hundred pensioners. It must be remembered that all men are not gardeners, and the hundred and forty small gardens are ample for the requirements of those who are. Some hold two and even more of the little squares, bnt this only provisionally, for naturally they must give up the second to anyone who requires it. Even here there are gardens and gardens, and the creme de la creme of the allotments is to be found skirting the Broad Walk, which runs from the Pensioners' Gate down to the public entrance from the Queen's Walk. Here the gardens are owned by men who have been thirty years in- mates, and to quote one of their number, they take the cake." Large shells form a distinctive boundary to these, and many of them have run to the extra- vagance of glass frames, in which musk is rearea. Indeed, so much of this is grown here that it might be called the Musk Walk. One old fellow, when asked how he came to take up gardening, said that most soldiers who had served any time in India learnt it there, for prizes w £ re often offered for the neatest little plots t the hill stations, or wherever it was possible to have flowers. And what you once learn," he added, "you never forget."

SOME STAGE EFFECTS I are thus described by Mr. W. B. Robertson in Cassell's Magazine: Stage mechanics are now so advanced that horse-races and even rapidly-passing railway trains can be vividly presented for quite satisfactory periods of time. The general principle upon which these illusions are based can be readily understood when one reflects how utterly impossible it is for horses to continue galloping across a stationary stage that they can almost cover with one leap. The stage must move, and obviously it must move in a direc- tion opposite to the direction the horses are heading in. In railway-scenes the illusion is produced by a long and thick screw of wood, placed under the ties and striped in the groove of the spiral. When this screw is put in action the ties appear to move, and though they are not moving at all, they appear to move at the rate at which the brightly-painted groove is disappearing. The effect is complete when the dummy of the train is pulled slowly across the stage simultaneously with the rapid rotation of the screw, and the spectators receive the impression that the engine and coaches are going at a terrific rate. If the rate were as great as it appears to be, needless to add the moving figures would not be perceptible, the train itself would be smashed to pieces every night, and considerable damage done to stage scenery-to say nothing of the actors and scene-shifters, who would now and then be slaughtered. In racing-scenes the horses do run at full-speed; they run, however, not on the fixed stage but on what may be called treadmills, which keep the, horses in front of the house for longer or shorter periods according as they are moved quickly or slowly. A picket-fence, placed between the audience and the course, not only makes the scene more realistic, it also hides the 'mechanism of the treadmills. This fence has contributed in another way to add to the effect by being moved in opposition to the direction of the iiorses, and so lending to their apparent speed. As to the sounds made by the footfalls of horses to be heard as though passing outside an interior scene, they are reproduced by the dried hoofs of dead horses, or wooden imitations mounted on handles and hammered against surfaces of stone, gravel, sod, or whatever the occasion may demand. They are also more elaborately manu- factured by revolving a cylinder with pins protrud- ing from the surface. These pins are arranged, like the spurs on a hand-organ roller, to imitate trotting. galloping, or walking when struck against other aubstanoes. If the sound of a carriage is to be added to the trampling of horses, wheels are run on aaad. ,———

JAPAN'S POSTAL SIZUTICA. The cheapest postal service in the world it that, f Japan, where letters are conveyed all over the mpire for two son-about seven-tenths of a penny. ilia is the more, wonderful couideriqtb8 Acuities of transport over a mountainous and regular country, which has less than 100 miles of til way, whils waggons can pass orer only a few the chief roads and the steamers connect but a ..a&il nmabat si coat*

BOOM IN AUSTRALIA. I The Queensland Agent-General says Australia is running short of people. Her revenue is going down, and she is, be argues, greatly in need of colonists. To obtain these she must adopt Cana- dian methods. Four things must be done—viz.:— There must be a proper organisation at this end to recruit suitable persons; mont y must be spent in advertising; second-class pnssages must be provided; on arrival the new-comer must not only be wel- comed, but piloted and a«si>-ted. It ilil comforting to know that there is one part of the British Empire where there is room for more people to live and thrive.

FLANNELETTE. If purchasers of this useful material for underwear all the year round would buy the best English make, which can be obtained from all I leading Drapers, they would avoid f the risks they undoubtedly run with the inferior qualities of Flannelette. HORROCKSES' FLANNELETTES, made by the manufacturers of the celebrated Longcloths, Twills, and Sheetings, II are the best. TJfl"D"D nnTTQTPC! stamped on sel- nUAilUuAuiliD vedgeevery5yds.

THE DBBIVATION OF POBT ABTHUR. Many folks have wondered how a Chinese fortress came to be called Port Arthur. The following is the connection between the Port and a village in Devonshire. Fifty years ago the rector of Ather- iogton was ti e Rev. James Arthur, the father of Lieutenant W. Arthur, R.N., who, about the year 1859, was sent in command of the gunboat Algerine into Chinese waters. The Algerine was attached to a surveying expedition prior to the landing made by the English and French in 1860 and vhen the flagship Acteon was disabled, Lieutenant Arthur towed her into the then unnamed harbour, which was, thenceforth, known as Port. Arthur. Lieuten- ant Arthur afterwards attained the rank of rear- admiraJ. J {:;ïO;

I THE SWEETEST aUMMER SWEET. The sweetest summer sweet is a Brown & Poison Blanc-Mange accompanied with stewed fruit. The Blanc-Mange is made simply with Brown & Poison's Patent Corn Flour and good sweat milk. It is so simple and so refreshing that, it delights everybody, both young and old. Every fruit in season may be used to accompany it, and fresh fruit, particularly if not perfectly ripe, is safer and often more piquant when stewed. Full recipes for preparing Corn Flour with all kinds of fruit are given in the booklet, Summer Dishes," which will be sent on receipt of a Id. stamp by Brown & Poison, Paisley, Write for it now, the sconer you have it the better for you. j

CTT THE HABITUAL DRUNKAKD. I Those theorists who think that a drunkard can be reformed by signing the pledge might try their hands upon a woman who was charged at one of the London Police Courts with attempting to oommit suicide. Notwithstanding that she was on the black list, she was found in the street in a helpless state of intoxication, and upon being placed in a police cell, attempted to strangle herself wifch»a garter. It was stated that she had, on six occasions, made similar attempts, always when t-he was in a state of intoxication efforts to reform her, having failed hopelessly. This case is typical of dozens that come before the Metropolitan police magistrates every day—cases of people who have been convicted on charges of drunkenness fifty, sixty, or seventy times. These repeated appearances seem to indicate that legislation on the subject has not been con. spicuously successful, but even where magistrates desire to avail themselves of a comparatively recent statute, they fiud that, in the case of men, there are no homes to which inebriates can be sent. Provision has been made for women, but so far as the metropolis is concerned, there are scarcely any retreats for men, ead the places which have been provided are already filltid,

r THE APPARENTLY DROWNED. I An incident is reported from County Clare; which helps to convey a useful lesson. Two members ot the Royal Irish Constabulary found a man, apparently drowned, lying on the seashore. Not beiug prepared to take everything for granted, they applied the instructions issued to them at the instance of the Life Saving Society, and after 45 minutes succeeded in bringing the man round. By a continuation of the treatmei t recommended by the same society, the man was restored fully to consciousness, and was able to give ail account of himself. This story should be widely, circulated, because in many cases the attempt to restore persot a apparently drowned has been abandoned in less than 45 minutes, and indeed it is not so very long ago since a man who bad been given up by an army surgeon on the South Coast was restored by the efforts of another person. According to one Society "persons have been restored after persevering for many hours. If that is so, it might be well to state the period more exactly, but while it would not be safe to abandon the effort for two hours, at the same time it seems to be pretty generally agreed among those who lecture on the subject, that there is small chance of bringing round any person who manifefts no sign of life after two hourbl,gtreatment.

A FREB PASS TO MOSCOW. A free railway pass is welcome to the majority of people, but the presentation of such a permit afforded little satisfaction to the officers and crew (If the British s.s. Cheltenham, who were captured by Russian cruisers. The ship was laden with sleepers for the Japanese railway.

I THB WOBKHOUS*. An inquest at the East End of London, touching the death of a man who had taken his own life, furnishes another example of the horror with which many thousands of the respectable poor repard admission to the Workhouse. It may be that this poor fellow Aid what most of us are apt to do-exaggerated the evils of the unknown, like, another who recently remarked in a Metropolitan Court, that he preferred life in prison, which he knew, to life in the workhouse which he did ntt. know. But when every allowance is made for such mistakes it is still most sad and deplorable to I read of industrious and deserving poor preferring death to such hospitality as the Poor Law system offers. The remedy lies of course in the classifica- tion of workhouse inmates, the men and women who have been brought to poverty by misf«rtuue alone, being separated from the idle and vicious. If the Local Government Board would for awhile concentrate their attention on this matter, they might effect a reform for which the nation, and especially the poor, Would have good reason to be gratefal.

1EB-SCETF0KI> 'BULLETS. J It was frequently remarked of the Lee Metford rifle, that the wounds which it inflicted were not sufficiently serious to disable the enemy, and that, while any wound was good enough as au excuse for the man who did not wish to fight, at the same time the Lee-Metford bullets were not sufficiently deadly to atop a foe so reckless and intrepid as those whom the Anglo-Egyptian army encountered in the Soudan. According to a despatch from St. Petersburg, the Russians have been con- gratulating themselves on the smallness of the Japanese bullets, which attained a high velocity, but in very many cases passed through the bodies of the Russians without inflicting any permanent injury. The result was that unless a man was killed on the spot, there was always a strong probability that he would recover in a very short time, and it is stated that the number of Russian fldiers who have quitted the hospital for the battlefield has been greater than ever was witnessed in a previous war. Of late, however. the Japanese appear to have adopted a more formidable missile, and the number of fatalities has proportionately increased.

THE NEWEST FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPAKATUS. The very latest invention in fire-extinguishing apparatus has just been put into service by the Liverpool Fire Brigade. This consists of a motor steam fire engine with pumps delivering 500 gallons per minute, combined with a chemical engine having a cylinder holding 60 gallons of liquid, which is automatically delivered at high pressure. This new machine, which has been designed and built by Messrs. Merryweather and Sous, of London, can turn out in one minute from an alarm, travel over 20 miles an hour to a fire, and, on arrival, if the outbreak is small, instantly bring the chemical jet to bear on the flames, or put the large pumps to work. The same firm is completing a new petrol motor chemical fire engine for Sydney, New South Wales. For Fincbley Fire Brigade, they have a combined motor chemical, escape, tender, and fire pump, in hand, and they have recently delivered to the Manchester Fire Brigade, a novel engine, worked by steam, to supply air and electric ligh t to fireman using smoke helmets. The big Merryweather fire float for use on the Manchester Ship Canal was launched recently and will be the most powerful fire and salvage boat in the British fire service.

AGRICULTURAL RETURNS. I The agricultural returns for 1904, afford quite a number of cases of the highest or lowest on record. In Great Britain, as in Ireland, there is a decrease in the acreage under wheat and barley, but in Great Britain there is an increase of 112,733 acres of oats, as against a decrease of 18,672 acres in the sifter island. The total extent of laud under wheat and barley, is the smallest on record. The number of horses, on the other hand, is the highest recorded the same may be said of cattle; and the number of pigs is the largest since 1896. The number of sheep is the lowest recorded since 1888, there being a loss of more lhan half a million, as compared with last year. The cultivation of potatoes in Ireland continues to decrease, as it has been doing for 16 years, but the diminished production may be regarded as satisfactory, seeing luai it indicates less and less of a necessity for relying upon the potato as a btaple article of food.

I DEAN HOLE. The question has again been asked by many people why the late Dean of Rochester—a man of such marked ability-was not made a Bishop. One reason appears to be that he was strangely lost sight of, so far as promotion was concerned, until he was beginning to be advanced in years. Another may have been that because be was genial, witty, and a fine raconteur of delightful stories, therefore some people thought he was not sufficiently spiritual for the episcopal Bench. Those who had the privilege of meeting Dean H..Ie in private knew very differently, and if there was such an idea in anybody's mind the witness of the late Archbishop Benson should have been sufficient to dispel it at once and for ever. When Dr Benson was Bishop of Truro, the late Dean gave a series of Holy Week Sermons in the Cathedral city. Writing subsequently to the preacher, Dr Benson used these words, which might well have been inscribed upon the Dean's tomb, "There is but one voice of thankfulness to God, Who sent you to us."

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The War. A Reuter's telegram from St. Petersburg, on Thursday, states that from Wednesday evening's despatch from General Kuropatkin it appears that General Kuroki's army is about twenty-seven miles east of the rail- way, while General Oku's force is twenty miles to the west. The General Staff here regard a great battle as inevitable. The Russian army is concentrated around Mukden, the rearguard reaching seventeen miles southwards, and being in constant contact with the enemy. Fighting con- tinues without interruption. The railway from the north is working as far as Mukden. An Express" correspondent tele- graphing from Tokyo, on Thursday, says The Japanese compute their casualties for the ten days' fighting around Liao- Yang at 30,000. It is estimated that the Russians lo t at least 30,000 men." Reuter's Special at Chifu, on Thursday, says:— The Chinese who left Port Arthur on September 5th, report that severe fighting took place two days previously. e) The Japanese attacked positions on the east and west flanks of the Russians, who allowed them to approach to within a short distance, i when they opened a heavy fire, compelling the Japanese to retreat after three hours' fighting. An incident in the fighting was a clash between cavalry regiments, termi- el nating in the Japanese retreat.

Child Killed by a Bull. About 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, Mra Evans, wife of Benjamin Evans, Tygwyn Farm, Verwig, near Cardigan, 0 10 found her daughter, agt>d five years and eight months, dead near the house. No one witnessed the bull attacking the child, but it was standing close by. On examina- tion of the child's body it was found that she had been gored in the ear, from which bloód was ooxing. There were no otlnr marks of violence to be seen.

Motor-Cars and Jhst. I The advantages and attractions of the motor-car, at least to those who do not boast the possession of such a vehicle, are largely qualified by several obvious incon- veniences (says "The Hospital "). In addition to the nerve-startling horn, the odour of petroleum which poisons the air, and the risk of a sudden and violent death, the car in dry weather ^raises a cloud of dust which afflicts not only pedestrians and other travellers, but penetrates into the houses situated near the roadside. Not unnaturally there are many complaints and denunciations, and threats are issued against the liberty of those who use the new mode of locomotion. But if the grum- blers are to obtain relief they must order their policy wisely. For those who suffer from the dust it creates we have a real sympathy, and it may be that their grievance is even more serious than they know. The mechanical proper- ties of dust are bad enough in all conscience, but its bacteriological possibilities may be much worse. Those who have charge of large out-patient departments are well aware of the difference produced by a very wet summer, such, for example, as that of 1903, in the number of patients suffering from various forms of sore throat, diarrhoea, etc. This is a very suggestive fact in re- lation to the influence of dust on disease, and the motor-car by stirring up the sub- ject, in a literal as well as in a figurative sense, may be a blessing in disguise, A proposal that local authorities shall be compelled to construct roads of suitable material is quite within practical politics, and if sufferers from the dust caused by motor-cars can effect this reform, they will do much more than protect themselves from inconvenience. An agitation which springs from personal interest has before now proved a lever in the promotion of the public welfare.

I r Death of Mr Phineas James, J.P., Abercarn. The death occurred, on Saturday at his residence, Abercarn, of Mr Phineas James. He succeeded his b'other, Mr Jacob James, as agent for the Llanover Estate, at Abercarn, and on the death of Colonel Lyne became chief agent. He was also connected with several public boards. The deceased gentleman had been in failing health for some time, and during the past month had been considerably worse. He leaves a widow, a son (Dr W. E. James) and three daughters, two of whom are married. The funeral took place on Wednesday, when the remains were interred at Mynyddislwyn Parish Churchyard. There was a very representative gathering. The officiating clergymen were the Revs J. Jones Lewis, B.A., and Stephen Jackson. There were a large number of wreaths and flr.rnl tributes from the family, the Hon Mra Herbert, trustees of the Llanover Estate, chairman and members of the Newport and County Club, chairman and directors of the Tirpentwys Colliery, and others.

Increase of Lunacy. The report of the Commissioners in Lunacy was issued on Tuesday. According to the statutory returns there wire in England and Wales on January 1st of the present year 170,199 persons certified as insane, being 3,235 in excess of the number on the same day in 1903. The increase in 1903 exceeded the annual average increase in the preceding ten years by 821. Pauper patients numbered 106,771, and criminal 877. On January 1st last the total number of notified insane was to the estimated population of England and Wales in the proportion of one to 288 or 3171 per 10,1 00. Last year on the same day this ratio was 24-14. In 1*94 the proportion of insane to the total population was one in 327. The following statistics show the number of pauper lunatics, idiots, and persons of unsound mind in the following counties :-Glarnoraan, 1.420; Monmouth. 769. The following figures show the number of pauper lunatics, idiots, and persons of unsound mind in the county boroughs :— Cardiff, 714; Newport (Mon.), 217.

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I The Beck Case. The Home Secretary has appointed a committee consisting of the Right Hon. Sir Richard Henn Collins, Master of the Rolls (chairman), Sir Spencer Walpole, K.C.B and Sir John Edge, K.C., member of the Council of India, and late Chief Justice of the High Court of the North-Western Provinces, to inquire into and report to him upon the circumstances of the convictions of Mr Adolf Beck in 1896 and 1904.

The Late Prince Christian Victor. On Wednesday night, a second attempt was made within a week to carry off the remains of Prince Christian Victor from their resting place in Pretoria cemetery. It is thought that the perpetrators of the outrage were disturbed in their work and made off. No arrests have yet been made. Great public indignation is expressed at the desecration Princess Christian and her daughter are now on their way to South Africa and are expected to arrive in a few days. '=='==-—

Fatality to a Hereford Farmer. I A well-known Herefordshire farmer named Mr Daniel Stafford Paine, has met with a tragic end. He was transacting business in Hereford, and started riding homeward. His body was subsequently found on the side of the road.

Mr. Lowther's Illness. A telegram this morning says, that Mr. Lowther's strength is. maintained. I

Treasury Treatment. Mr. John Flower, who received from the Treasury £ I 8 to cover the expenditure of nearly /600, in the Whitaker Wright prosecution, says he intends taking no further action. He has returned the £ I 8 to the Treasury.

A Lady Killed. Colonel Reordan's wife has been killed at Clonmel through her horse taking fright.

ENORMOUS PENDULUMS. The only structures in Japan which seem to bfv. earthquake proof are the pagodas, which are erects& before the temples. There are many which are Severn or eight hundred years old, and as solid as when-, first built. There is a reason for this, and it lies in their construction. A pagoda is practically a frame- work of heavy timbers, which starts from a wide, base, and is in itself a substantial structure, but is. rendered still more stable by a peculiar device. Inside the framework and suspended from the apex. is a long, heavy beam of timber 2ft. thick or more. This hangs from one end of the four sides; four more heavy timbers, and if the pagoda be very lofty still more timbers, are added to these. ThtJ: whole forms an enormous pendulum, which reacher, within 6in. of the ground. When the shock of am earthquake rocks the pagoda, the pendulum swingF m unison and keeps the centre of gravity always atr the base of the framework. Consequently the' equilibrium of the pagoda is never disturbed, and this is the explanation of the great age of many of juem, when from their height one would suppose to be peculiarly susceptible to the effects of VJ earthquake. Printed and Published by Tan COUNTY OMMUH.'T NHWSPAPRR and PBINTXXO COMPANY, Limited, hy JAMBS HINRT CLARK, at their OScOl, Bridg* Street, Ullk, in the County of Monmouth. Saturday September 10th, 1904.

Cricket TJSK V. PONTHIR. This match, the concluding one of the season, was played at Usk, on Saturday last, in ideal weather. The home skiprer won the toss and ejected to bat, T. Rees and J. Jenkins going in to face the trundling of Schulze and Morgan. U"k were dismWed for B5 rune, T. Rees, A. O. Hiley, and G. Edmunds being top scorers. Ponthir started, and with the loss of only three wickets had passed the Uek total, R. C. Lyne and P. G. Schulze, making 54 and 39 respectively. Scores USK. T. Rees, b R. Morris 21 J. Jenkins, b D. G. Schnlze 5 A. G Wallace, b W. Ford. 9 F. Hill, b Morris 0 G. Edmunds, c Morris, b Schulra. 14 F. J. Edmunds, b Morris. 5 A. C. Hile7, b Schulze 21 W. F. Roberts, not out 8 A. F. Lucas, b Morris I < F. Hiley, b Morri-t 3 J. H. Marfell, b Morris. 0 Extras. 7 Total. 95 PONTHIR. G. P. Steer, c F. J. Edmunds, b A. G. Wallace 13 A. Hirrisou, b W. F. Roberta 15 J. H. Hughes, b Wallace 0 R. F. C. Lyne, b J. Jenkins.. 54 D. G. Schulze, c Jenkins, b A. C. Hiley 39 W. Prifcbard, not out 5 W. Ford, not out. 0 Extras 5 Total (4 wick-ets)..131 E. P. Steer, C. Morgan, W. Morgan, R. "Morris, did not bat.

Markets. USK, CATTLE, Llrcndair-There was a good all. round supply at to-day's market, sheep and lambs I)eit)g especially numerous. Attendance of buyers aho wan good, and prices ruled firm, as followt4 J^eer—oesr quality be! to bid per lb, second quality 5d to 6d per lb: veal, 7d per lb; lamb, t'd to 84d per lb we<ber mutton, 8d per lb; ewe -ditto, 6d to 7d per lb cows and calves, JE12 to £ 15 «owti and pies, £ 6 to £ 10 strong stores, 40s to 45s; three-months-old pigs, 25s to 30s; weaners, 15s to 20s; porkere, light-weight, 9s 6d per .score. NEWPORT, CATTLB, Wednesday.—The supply of cattle was fair, of sheep very short, and of lambs ftnd calves large. The trade was exceptionally fjrisk, and there was a good attendance of buyers. Qti,)tationp:-Beet beef, 6id per lb; secold-, 51ri to 6d cows, 5vd to 5tl; best wether mutton, 9d to 91-d ewe, 7id to 8rt, lamb, Ud to 11-ld veal, 2 fid to 9<1. Porker pigs were at from 9a to 9s 6d, and bacou pigs 8s per score. NEWPORT, Coi.c, Wednesday.—It was reported that the corn market here to-day was dull and quiet, wheat being 3d to 6d cheaper, and other grains having no change. Flour (fines) was at 26s per sack. NBWPORT, CHEESE. Wednesday.—There was a good supply, with a fair demand, and an average attendance, at the cheese market here to-day. Quotations Caerphiilvs 38s to 44s, fancy dairies 45s to 46s, Derbya 60s to 64s, truckles 63es to 68s, Cheddars 58s to 63s, and doubles 566 to 58s otter cwt.

Blackwood Cattle Show. I The annual show in connection with the Bedwellty Agricultural Society was opened on Monday, at Blackwood, and the entries and quality of exhibits were up to the usual standard. The horses formed the best feature of the show -and the cattle were also of excellent quality. Lord Tredegar, the president, arrived at about -ffloon, pnli at the luncheon proposed the toast "Success to the Bedwellty Show." In facetious terms be rerrinded those present that they bad omany rival f-h JWS to compete against, instancing the Royal Agricultural and the Bath and West of England shows. H., said it was the dream of his life to meet a farmer who did not say that times were bad. a shop-keeper who admitted that trade was flourishing, and a tenant who did not want his sent reduced. The following were local prizetakers :— Mare or gelding (for underground) not exceeding i5 hands, the property of a tenant farmer: 2nd, W. Jenkins, Pentwyn, Mamhilad. Haek mare or gelding to be ridden by a lady 2nd, H. Crum, Pontypool. Hunter best calculated to cross the country 2nd J5. Lewis Perry, Caldicot Hall, Cbepstow. Jumper, any height, to be ridden over fences 1st and 2nd divided between W. H. Fletcher, Horsa and Jockey, Pontypool, and another. Hen, Malay or Indian Game: 3rd, W. Tucker, Cefn Drynog, Llanbadoc. Turkey Cook: 2nd, A. Jones, Goytre Honfe, Pontypool. w

-+. S«SHlllG AT homk, "VOWKL XLS'* VuUiii, Wrlaflai. SAVB riME,4 ""M"" SAVB LABOUR, and '•■c.i.ur. ZZ £ £ »■»• TWOMAt MtAOFOtta jk co., MAHCH* taan Inn Wwi,

The Far East, 2 Mukden for Reconccntration. A RUSSIAN OPINION. Paris, Friday. General Dobrorovsky, in an in- terview with the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Echo, says that Mukden will not be evacuated without a big battle, it being a: most favourable spot for the recon- centration of the Russian army. The Russian main body has crossed the Hunho in its entirety. The rearguard is 29 kilometres south of Mukden, engaged with the Japanese. J V

Beef Strike Ends. New York, Friday. The beef strike is declared at a end, the men admitting defeat.

Financiers' Operations. New York, Friday. Mr. Gates has wrested the con- trol of the Chicago and Alton Line from Mr. Harriman by purchasing, shares in open market.

I Stocks. Stocks quiet, steady.