Cheshire Observer

THE LICENSING BILL. I A MONSTER PETITIONS. I In the House of Commons, on Monday, Lord I R. Cecil (U—Marylebone ) presented a petition against the Licensing BiU from people resident within the Metropolitan police area. It con- tained, he said, upwards of 600,000 signatures, representing all classes of the community. The petition was so big that nine or ten of the attendants of the House had to carry it to the table and place it on the floor. The Speaker directed the noble Lord to bring as much as possible to the table. (Laughter.) Lord R. Cecil accordingly brought a few sheets to the bag in which petitions are ordi- narily placed, and the attendants carried the rest away. Immediately afterwards Mr. J. Wilson (R- Durham) prer>ented a petition in favour of the Bill, which had also to be carried in and out of the House by the attendants because of ita great size. It was signed by 169,510 members of the Primitive Methodist Church. It mea- sured, said Mr. Wilson, a mile and a third in length. Mr. Branch (R-Enfidd) presented another petition in favour of the Bill from 9,326 mem- bers of the P.S.A. Brotherhood throughout the kingdom. Finally. Sir A. Acland-Hood (Chief Oppo- sition Whip) presented a petition against the Bill from the Association of Conservati ve Clubs. Tli "i business was conducted amid a (letl of cheering and counter-cheering acro»-s the floor of the House. The second reading of the Licensing Bill carried as follows:—For second reading. 3(:14; against, 148; Government majority. 245. The announcement of the result of the division! W.1. received with loud cheers from the Minis- terial side of the House. Previously the official Opposition amendment for the rejection of the Bill, moved by Mr. Cave, K.C., had been defeated by 397 to 147, the Government majority being 250. MR. IDRIS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. j At a meeting in support of the Licensing Bill, hrld at Moss, near Wrexham on Tuesday night. one of the supporters, the Rev. E, K. Jones, Brymbo, severely criticised :\1r. Howell Idris. the member for the Flint Borough" in legard to his action in votintr against the Licensing Bill. He announced the fact, amid cries of "Shame," and "1aid that Mr. Idris knew when he (the speaker) a.nd others assisted him to win his seat, that. they believed he was going to support the Government in its temperance legis- lation Mr. Idris accepted their votes, but lie had gone ovtir to the enemy. It. was not Too much to say that Mr. Idris had actually 1 setrayed a very sacred trust in voting against the Bill. (App'ause.) A resolution approving the Bi'i was carried with acclamation. I CHANCELLOR ESPIN'S EXPERIENCE. Chancellor E-pin, in his visitation charge on Tuesday in St. Nicholas's Church, Live!pool, warned the English people of the darjger of impatience in the matter of legislation for social evils. Speaking of the Licensing Bill,.he said ho had been a county magistrate tor 22 yeara in the county of Durham, which had an evil reputation in the matter of drinking, and until quite recently he was a member of the committee which d::alt vit-i applications for new licences. Cûn5cllif':1; h. bad had <ou- sidcrab'e expeiionce, and could not help ob- serving that it was quit.1 possible wo might go too fast in reducing liccaces. If., tl,,L);iglit, with deep respect to those who were pushing on the Licensing Bill, that wo might have waited a little longer before trying again. With regard to 'tho tbo!],,i(-jii he thought. it was quite possible to go too fast. In a col- liery paiish. of which his eon was the incumbent, six licences were taken away, and what hap- pened next- was lliat. a club wa* sot up which started with 400 members. Tire re was no doubt a great deal too much quiet "toaking" among the people, but in reducing lieene. s care should be taken to do something to pre^v.vo. the weak from temptation. For his own part, he v.-iy greatiy trusted to the gradual inihienco of a sound public opinion, of education, religion and morality; he tm«:od to like these much more than to legislation. On the time- limit question, the Chancellor said that Lord Cross had told him that the chairmen of Quar- ter Sessions, without exception, were opposed to the principle of a time-limit, e.nd his 'view of t he matter was very much influenced by that, because of the oxpei ieiux? which chairmen of Quarter Sessions had of the admiiiistiation J of Acts. MR. II. M. \ïILSO?-;S UnJ I.:<.T LESSON. LABOUR PARTY AND OLD I Mr. H. M. Wilson, of Holmes Chapel, chair- man Wilson's Brewery, Limited, writes to the Marichce-ter Guardian" :—"On the ground that an ounce of fact is worth a ton of theory I wOllId ask space in your columns to relate the following incident. Last year a bcerhou.se of oui»— one of the very oldest in the district—was referred for compensation under the 1904 Act, and though we had the very best local evidence a A to character and necessity for retaining the licence, renewal wa.; refused and compensation was paid. Now comes the interesting part, of the case. On Wednesday last a man called at my office, gave ine his name, and I hilll what he was and what lie required. He informed me that he was a retired gentleman, and that ho camo on behalf of an organisation to offer to take the house the licence of which had been surrendered. I asked him what the organisation was. Tie replied, The Labour party, and we want, to open the place as a e'uh; we expect to have about 200 members, we wish to have a five years' lease, and as many of us regularly frequented the house we shall buy all our beer from your firm.' On my expressing my astonishment at such a request in face of the present Licensing Bill, the reply wy^. Oh. we don't approve of much of thie Licensing Bill, and we arc not going to have our liberties taken away from us.' For the f-i-et tillw in my life I regretted that I had not accepted the invita- tions I have had to go into Parlianwnt, so that I could have aeked Mr. Asquith the two following questions:—(1) Whether he does not think that the above incident wOllkl be a very common occurrencc if this Bill parses. (2) Shall I let my property, which is now tenanted at 6s. per week, to the Labour party at £ 25 per annum'"

HIS MAJESTY AND CHESTER RACES.- Prime Old Cheshire Ohoese, largest and choicest selection in the country, including the Gold Medal Dairy, as suppfii-ed to His Majesty the King, now on sale at Mesers. Thompson, Son and Clemence. Ohoo.se'actors, 10, Nort.h- g-at.e-st.roet (John Griffith), Eastgate-sfcn?et, 16, Eorcgato litreer, and branches.

INATIOINAL SEitl-,I(jE LEAC*UE'. I SUPPORT FROM IIAWARDEN. I TERRITORIAL SCHEME CRITICISED. A public meeting was held in the Hawarden Gymnasium on Tuesday evening for t.he pur- pose of founding a local branch of the National League. The president of the League is Field Marshal Earl Roberto, and in it Mr. Robert Ycrburgh has taken a deep and active interest, being a member õf the General Council and president of the Chester and District branch. The objects of the League should appeal to every Briton. The promoters desire to ensure peace and security for the British Empire by organising our land forces so as to defend suc- cessfully any portion of the Empire against attack, to so strengthen our defensive arrange- mentfl as to render any attack improbable, and to improve tho moral and physical condition of tho nation, thereby increasing its industrial efficiency. The League advocatce that every man of sound physique, without distinction of class, should be legally liable during cei-taill years of his life to be called upon for service in the United Kingdom in caae of emergency, by undergoing a preliminary training of three or four months between 18 and 21 years of age, followed by short annual camp trainings for the next three or four years. They desire ah-o to develop a spirit of patriotism and duty among boys. Mr. Horace Mavhcw presided, and the attend- ance included Capt. Crosficld, Col. Howard, C.B., Coi. Johnstone, C.M.G.. Mr. and Mrs. E. Sydney Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. and Mists C. B. Toller, Mr. and Mrs. Bateson. Mr. and Mrs. Chambres, Mr. and Mrs- Wool ley, (apt. and Miess Hurlbutt, Mr. Fred Roberts. Miss C liff. Dr. and Mrs. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Ba,-»sett, Miss Thorn. Mr, Frater, Miss Gilberston, Mr. James McKinlay, etc. Mr. Sydney Taylor. :1, secretary pro tem., announced apologies from Mr. J. Hamp-on. Mr. Frald Hw']butt the Rev. J. Shepherdson. etc. Mr. Frater. he added, had I promised to become treasurer of the branch. The Chairman said the League had been formuLated in a great measure by Roberts. It was quite outside politics. They all knew that. whether as a boy. man, or nation, the surest way of not having to fight was to be well prepared to fight. (Applause.) It behoved all of them who had the herit interests of our country at heart to try and bring up all our young people so as to fit themselves to take their place in defending the country when necessity arose. He did not come of a military family, but his father served in the Yeomanry in the thirties, he (tho speaker) was a Volunteer in the sixties, and each of his bovs when they came of age to bear arms had served either in the Militia or Yeomanry, and he hoped they would so continue to do. (Applause.) GLADSTONE AND WAR. Captain Crosficld (Warrington) delivered an interesting address, expounding the objects of the League. lie remarked that it might seem cxt raordinarv to some to advocate uni verwal military training in Hawarden, the home so long of that mighty spirit of the cause of the peaceful evolution of the world, but he reminded them that Gladstone was not a peace-at-any-pricc statesman. (Hear, hear.) He knew that there were times to wage battle. When it was neces- sary to uphold the right. Gladstone declared that they (should turn ihe Turks bag and baggage j out of Bulgaria, and lie was prepared to shod blood in order to purify the Government of that unhappy land. (Hear, hear.) After arguing that it wa»s iieeesvsary that this country .should be prepared for anything, he said we must first of ail .have a strong Nal-y, all-Li not let any Government whittle it down. (Hear. hear.) They did not desire to introduce con.-cription. but they maintained that untrained people were useless in time of war, and ir was only those people who trained themselves in time of peace who would be valuable to their country in times of emergency. If the scheme of the League was j adopted the organisation of the Territorial Army would remain the same. They wanted to mak e the Territorial Army as great a success J as possible, as Mr. ITaldano had done his level j best lo improve the conditions of %he Volunteer*. It wac< absolutely ludicrous, however, to expect men trained in camp for 14 daysi and on some evenings of the year to be able to stand against GC"rn: 11 troops, who were trained for two years. In conclusion, lie sug'gested that in Hawarden they "houkl form a sub-branch of the League, toO he affiliated with C'1H\rer.. Colonel Howard proposed the F, ), I c, -i,i,- iiiotiot-i: every youth should be trained to bear arms in defence of his country." lie said he could speak with authority on the .sub- jecl. as he had served in two wars in South Africa, had been a soldier 36 years, joining t.he Army in 1872. and he did not think he w;in any the worse citizen. When in South Africa he sent our for his son, who was 13 years of age. and lie saw a year's fighting before he was 20. He contended that every man at one part or another of his life ought to give some time 10 the service of his country. He (hi not consvier the Terri- torial Army would I up sufficiently efficient to meet a foreign army, and it \\ur:I;1 not !>,• until it had far greater training than it del at nrc"p¡¡t. The scheme of the territorial artillery wa.s about as maof] a scheme as it was possible t invent. A* chairman of ihe Flint.hir(" Terri- torial Association, he wa« convinced their if the Territorial Army did not prove satisfactory here nothing between it bur The response to the call of the new scheme was not In Flintshire only 240 men had joined out of 1.000, or 24 t-r lie I expected the men of Flintshire to come forward and pupport the regiment, b?cauac every man ought to serve in his local corps. Some of ?il" clergy, h. added, had exercise a baneful effect upon militarism, and all who did so incur.ed a very grave responsibility before Cod and t heir country. j Colonel Johnstone (Sr. Aseaph) seconded, and said the objects of ihe League were ro destroy patriotism by proxy and revive personal [xl.trioti"m. Th-e vital flaw in 1\Tt-. Haklane's scheme, he considered, was that the Terrirorial Army would be nnab'e to meet the C'lwmv in the field until 8:X: months after the declaration of war. The point in favour of the scheme was that, if it failed it would have laid the frame- work of national service without any disarrange- ment. -A,ir. J-,inic-e. McKinlay. as a Nonconformist, warmly supported the proposal-; of the league. remarking that militarism and the aims of ihe League were as wde apart as the polo*. It was to prevent militarism and conscription that the Leacrue was brought into being. The motion wss carricd unanimously, and the meeting closed with the usual vole* of jJt<lnk.

KINNERTON. WEDDING.—The wedding took piac,, '?, the parish church last week of Mr. Harold Gordon, Poplars Hall. Bridgemere1, Cheshire, second son of Mr. John Gordon, Fairfield, Liverpool, and Miss Phyl'iis Mabel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lindop, of Kinncrton. The Vicar performed the ceremony. There was only one bridesmaid, Miss F. Lindop, sister of the bride. The bridegroom's brother acred as best man. The bride was given away by her father. Afrer the wedding breakfast the happy pair left for London, where the honeymocn is being spent. The magnificent wedding cake was supplied by Messrs. W. and G. Buszard, of Oxford-street, London. There were numer- ous pretty and useful presents, the parties being well known in ilic surrounding districts.

At the annual meeting of the Automobile Club of North Wales, at Bctlws-y-Coed on Mon- day. Sole Richard W i'liam-3 Bulkeley was r&- elected president, and tho Marquis of Anglesey, Lord Penrhyn, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Mr. Assheton Smith and Mr. R. M. Greaves wore rc'-elcetsd vice-presidents, the lIon. F. G. Wynn being added to the latter. Major Turner resigned the chairmanship owing to his leaving the t owing io '?-iis 142,11.1lig ti',i?, (,-)tLn,i'ry, and iA l,- Je-If Pc-,t,i'tt wlts to For Black or Tan or Glaoe Boot3 or Shoes, for Athletic Shoe6 of all descriptions, for quality, for style, for reasonable prices, you cannot do better than Hewitt's, Abbey Gateway. Fifty years good reputation. CHESTER RACES.—Gents' Smart Neckwear Hosiery, Gloves, Shirts, &e. also latest styles in Hats and Caps, at Thorp's, 11, St. Werburgh- street (late of Eastgate). WORTH PRESERVING.—An interesting illust.rat.ed. leaflet on Cheshire and its Ohoewe, tho inhabitants, and their character and loyalty, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, has been pub- lished, and can be obtained free, from G. Dutton ,And Son, Lt-d., Sigarro Stores, Chester.

[ASl ELEVATION I ST. WERBURGII'S CHURCII, GR< IS VEXOR PARK ROAI). We arc enabled by t.he courtesy of the Rev. Father Chambers ;.o give in this i-saue an illus- tration of the proposed front to be built to St. W'erburgh's Church. The people of Chester will, we think, be interesexl in what is pro- posed to be done as a completion to the build- ing. For more than 30 years St. Werburgh's has stood in its ug'ly unfinished state. Couid b,, work of completion be carried out the edifice womid 1 y a tremendous improvement to Gro?venor Park-road. As it is at present the building is an eyesore to all that pase the church en their way to our beaut if nil public park. Unfortunately St. Werburgh's congre- gation have recently been obliged to incur it j heavy debt in connection vviih iheir schools in Queen-street. A sum of £ 2,500 has already been expended en these Catholic schools, and this burden odds to the difficulty of completing the church. All sympathy is due. and we feel sure it will be extended to Father Chambers in his great task. Since he waei appointed rector be has built the sacristies to tho church that have been greatly admiird and are a great improvement in the appearance of Baths-street. We hope he will soon meet with some friend that will generously hetlp towards the r(\3.1is.a. f tion of his earnest, desire to see the church front started. The work could be done in five different section.

THE NORTH WALES LAMB CROP. The "Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald" in ltfi annual report of tho lambing season in Carnar- vonshire, Anglesey, Merioneth, and Denbigh — the great sheep-breeding areas of North Wales t»ays: Reports from leading ag'l'icudturist. Throughout North Wales shew that the lambing season has been one of the wor&t for rnany years. W^ et weail- ei- during the winter has impoverished the cues which are in a very low condition, and deficient in milk, the conse quence being that young lamb.? die by the hundr. d-s. It is calculated that the number of lambs in the highland districts is less by 30 or 40 per cent, than last ye-ar, and in the lowbnd" by 20 or 25 per cent. Fat Jambc will be several weeks later than usual. The price of wet hers i* expected to rise, and a tendency in this direction is already seen in 1he spring sheep sales. AUSTRALIAX CHEESE FOR EXGLISH MARKETS.-At ihe inyitmion of the Agent- C?'prni for V'c!c: ia a number of Press r?nr?-i -?t;uiY"s ??n.b?d. on Monday, at Cotton's uarr. 'looley-st.net. to inspect a ccnsigi., tiki, fit of 137 crates of chcese which have l>een made in Victoria and sent over to the London market. A special effort is being made- to induce many firms who now produce a considerable amount of butter in the colony for the home country to manufacture cheese. With this object, a silver cup was offo:od ar the Australian Native i Association Exhibition, held two months a^o. in Melbourne, for the clwese exhibit which ai- rived in London in the best condition. Mr. A. J. Rowson performed the duties of judge, and awarded the prize to p of the Cob- ricso factory. He stated that all the cheese forwarded by ttie ten competitors, and weigh- ing j:l all about 12 tons, vore in good condition.

"In whose company were was asked a witness at Acton, and he replied, With mvself." MORAL "\ICTOli\.—East Wrolvcrhampton iit-.s dealt another smashing blow at the Govern- ment. The result of the bye-election rendered necessary by the elevation of Sir Henry Fowler to the Peerage is that the constituency is still represented by A Radical, but only by the small majority of eight has Mr. Thome been returned, and the moral victory belongs to Mr. Amery, who has thus reduced the Badical majority by The constituency has always Ioen Radical. The polling took place on Tuesday and the result was declared that night as follows"G. R. Thorne (R), 4,514; L. S. Amery (U), 4,500 Radical majority S. CHESTER R.M'ES.For choice York, Cumberland and Iritdi Hams, of superior quality, try Ihou-.p^on, on and Clemence', Provision Merchants. 10, Nortiigatectroer, Easfgate-stivet., and branches. TO MOTHERS.—Mrs. Win slow'a Soothing i 3vrup has been used over fifty years by millions | of mothers for their children while teething, with perfect sticcA-66, It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is pleasant to taiste; it producer natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub wakes up "aa bright as a button." Of ali chcmiets, 1& lid. per bottle.

SPRING CLEANING, 1908. CARPET BEATING BY MACHINERY h The ouly Hygienic Method of Cleaning." ORDER FORM:— Send for Carpets 011 and re titrn Naine Address. If to be re-laid « Yes or 11 No RICHARD JONES & CO., LTD. BRIDGE STREET, CHESTER.

GOLF. I WIRRAL LADIES' CLUB. I ihe spring meeting, owing to bad weather, was I Postponed to Saturday. The scratch prize was won by Miss Aid ridge, with the score of 86, and the handicap prize in class A by Miss N. Beausire, tbo sweepstake being divided between Miss J. Chambers, Miss G. G. Wright, and M:s. A. Bam ford. In class B the first handicap prize was Won by Miss M. Hannay, the second handicap prize by Miss M. Roberts, after a tie with Mrs. Gilbert Scott, who took the sweepstake. The following returned scores:— -e CLASS A. Miss Aldridge 8 C) 12 14 Miss N. Beausire 87.12— 75 Mrs. Bamford 00,12- 78 Miss J. Chambers .88.10- 78 Mrs. M."d.Id 89 8- 81 Miss A. Jevons 9L.10— 81 Mrs..Jager 91. 7— 87 Miss Wright 88..sc.— 88 Miss Jager US.. 8- 90 Miss A. Abraham 102. 12— 90 Miss Spence .10L,10- 94 CLASS B. Miss M. Hannay 97. 18— 79 Mrs. G. Scott 93 13- 80 Miss M. Itol crts .104,].1- 80 Mis" J. Harding .100.18- 82 Mrs. H. Smith 102.19— 83 Miss D. Gavin .101..16- 85 Miss M. Cole 103.18— 85 Miss N. Woods 110.24— 80 Miss A. Spence 104..14— 90 Mrs. Preston .110..20- 90 M iss D. Moon 11.5.24- 91 Mrs. Montserratt 120.24— 96 Miss D. Abraham 113 ..14— 99 Miss Grindley ,122.22-100 Miss Billington 114.13—101 In the bûg0r competition afterwarus, the prize Was won by Miss M. Thomson, who was 1 up. The first sweepstake went to Mrs. Bamford, who Was 1 down, and the second sweepstake to Miss M. Roberts, 2 down. The prize in the approach competition was won by Miss E. Stubbs, after a tie with Miss N. Woods, and the putting prize, presented by Mrs. Nixon, was won by Miss D. Porter, after a tie with Miss Jager.

CHESTER ltUHAL COUNCIL.  MOTORISTS STRONGLY CRITICISED. Mr. C. E. Linaker presided over a meeting of this Council held on Saturday.—Mr. B. C. Roberta was appointed chairman of the Sanitary Committee for the ensuing year.—A letter was deceived from the Ince Parish Council referring to the proposed extension of the footpath leading to Ince and Elton Railway Station, and suggest- ling that it would be a [suitable time of year for Farmer:) to start the carting.—The Clerk (Mr. Turnock) said the matter had been before the District Council some years ago, and after a oommittcc had inspected the place it wats decided that the Council would do the work if the in- habitants supplied the carting. He thought the Council would be quite in order to proceed with the work now that there seemed a likelihood 1)f getting local assistance.—A revolution was passed authorising the surveyor to go on with the work if the local assistance was forthcoming. A letter was read froti-i-the Moilington Parish Council, supporting the scheme proposed by the Ince Pariah Council for the hire or purcnaee of a steam roller for the district road*. It was Pointed out that the Moilington Parish Council Paes<xl a resolution in support of the same k-heme in 1901. Mr. E. Dean said they luid alwtiv.s allowed ilie Purveyor to hire a steam roller when required. Mr. T. Butler said if they left the stones rough on the road, a-s did their grandfathers, motor Cars would be prevented from coming along the r°ads. Loose stone did for their grand- fath, ers, and they were good enough fur the present generation and iheir children. He was bO fcicii and di,u S tL,,l with iiioior6 that he could bY anything, amI he could not say anything too bad. Only that morning he had p?t?ed three motor cans, and could not see, for half a mile Owing to the dust. What would it have been like with another week of fine weather. He Jlad built a house on the main road, and lie could liot see the plants in his garden, which liici co,t birn pounds. Referring to a local fatality, that of a boy aged six who was knocked down by a motor car, Mr. Butler said that if the child had been his the motorist would not have stirred from the spot alive. He moved that the District Council support the Board of Guardian^ in pro- testing to the County Council against an extra d. rate for the main roads owing to motor I _r, le and write to the local mcmbrr." of Parlia- ment asking them to support any legislation Much would tend to mitigate '.he nuisance and 'anger to life by motor car. Mr. E. Dean occondcd, and s.;li,J the conduct 01 motorists was scandalous. Mr. Butler said they knew that motor cars had Cfj!ne to stay, but they must not. stay to be a ltuisance to the public and to kill people as they Were doing at present. The resolution was carricd. J' The Council deferred consideration of the Mol- bngton resolution until communications were received from other pariah council,

OUR. NEW STORY.—The appears in our columns this week, and next Saturday wo shall commence the publication of a new story of ia-scina/ting interest. It is entitled "A Queen of Hearts, by Evelyn Everett-Green, the, author of many euccassful novel- Miss Everett-Croon :has a w«ll-dcscrvcd reputation for putting before 1101, refldiors a happy romance, full of suushine nd a breezy buoyancy that captivates everyone. 'l'h? lie, '•'Quoemic Done." is a real "Queen of Hearts." endowed with all the gifts and g-raos of the ideal woman, and she is sum to a favourite with readers. The story •nas every quality that makes for su cores in th and should provo as popular as any of many excellent stories that have appeared In Our col 11 inns.

J. E. NEWMAN'S ■itAIL CARTS AND PERAMBULATORS IN ALL THE NEW D Ei C; N.S. CALL AN-1) INSPECT THE STOCK AT ?? BRIDGE STREET, CHESTER. H Hf^daticag Cout by ,Sciatica- Cout, t7?-   Co?? MA1  ? ?r/7?7/?f/?<? ?C /Z/?' AI!Ci,,v ists-ordii-c? P.'sl Hcc r ?'h dcscr?ptive Circular; from A. r??O. XON!A C- rL4ND P??. DUBLIN. SAXGSTUR (]? Shrubsc?e ) Ix owil lij11, John Milmng, 19, Foree-?te- r OHN' St?oN. 14, E?t?te Row; A. Tun'"? ??. 7. Nortb?tc-street, Chester

i "i DR. CIIAS. FOES HAW'S ReniarkabiC testimony to »In.' ctrengt-hening j power of DR. CASS ELL'S TABLETS. I Dr. Chas. Forshaw, M.D.. Ph.D.. F.R.M.S., F.C.S., D.Sc., the eminent scientist and lit- terateur, of Baltimore HOllse, Bradford, Yorke., Edit-or of Yorkshire Notes and Queries, etc., makes the following laudatory remarks about the safety, purity, and efficacy of Dr. Gassed's Tablets. Dr. Forshaw says :T have thoroughly tested both scientifically and practically the preparation known a.s Dr. Caswell's Tablets, and can coRscientiou.-iy recommend it as an eminently safe and effective remedy for all forms of nerve and bodily weakness. My knowledge of Dr. Cassofil's Tablets leads me to the opinion that the ingredients employed in their composition form a unique synthesis, the. whole combining to form what I consider to be a remarkably potential medicine, quite I safie for young and old. in cases o? nervous prostration, debility, anamiia, loss of flesh, mal- nutrition, children's weakness, spinal and nerve pa.ra lysis, and many forms of stomach and kidney troubles. I read they can be taken by stout people as well as thin without fear of increase of adipose tissue, and from their com- position I should consider thi-s to be the case. "I have nc-ver before testifrxl to a patent medicine, but now take pleasure in the in- terests of scicn0C and humanity, m making the tc, i -mt.s (if icien,,o ill  l ,?, i n the Dr. Ca.ssell s Tablets can be obtained for 10 £ d., Is. lid., and 2s. 9d. (containing nearly 4 tiroes the lOid. pize). of all chemist:

AGRICULTURE.  AGlUCU!"l'URE. I THE PROSPECT. uccasLOnal showers, heavy at times, have been a marked feature of the weather during the week, but the aggregate fall of rain has not been so large I locally as in the previous ten days; while a marked change in the temperature of epring-Iike mildness is most appreciable. The lighter land on high aud exposed situations more favourable for draining are consequently in, fair working con- dition, but the stiffer soils require uiore drying to be tit for mangold sowing. At this advanced period there chould be little of grain sowing remaining to be accomplished, but from reports that reach us it would seem that all oats are not yet in the ground that were intended, and the land will have to be turned to other account. The rains have been productive of heavy Hoods, particularly m the Tha-it,, alley, and much havoc has been wrought along the lines of nearly all watercourses. According to the meteorological office report for the week ended on Saturday last, the north-west of E_ngland was the wettest district of the week, the rainfall being I 4. times greater than the average. The Midland counties amounted to 1} tiuiea greater. A copious supply of moisture in spring is to be favourably re- garded. but that we may hen e "loo much of a good thing" has been prominency manifested of late, when seeding operations are impera- tively needing completion. Consolation, how- ever, is chiefly to be found in the quick drying of eurfaeea, whrn, afrer a fine day or wo, !1HiC!\ land is soon workable. The rams and milder .1 t¡:.ospherc have given vegetation a fine fillip, and the face of the country has rapidly as- sumed an aspect more becoming the "queen month." The flocks, however, have suffered great discomfort from the wet, liver rot has spread, and so great are the losses in some quarters that a once promising season among lambs has to be discounted almost to the vanishing point in some districts. It goes without saying I that grazing prospect# have been greatly ad- vaneed. bringing an improved miik supply. The Droykden Agricultural Society will not hold a show this year. The apiuhy of the public is the reason given. Tho Agent-Genera'i for Victoria. Australia, h,, received a telegram from the Governor of ilic, ',tate informing him that. the quantity of wool produced in Victoria last season amounted to 93.000,0001b.. of the value of record. Reports from the hill districts ot I umber- land disclose the fact that in addition to the lo: of many Iiordwick lambs through the llate frosts, there has been an excessive mortality anions hcath-gomg sheep opwing to the pro- longed wet; and cold weather. One feil-side farmer in the Wigron district has lost over (sixty sheep, and other heavy losses are re- corded. Old agriculvuriscs aver that the pre- sent has been the worst lambing season for a generation. Nantwich Choose Fair will be held on Thurs- day next. May 14. businec-s at 10.15 a.m. A half-bred ewe helong-iug- to a farmer at Milton, near Brampton, Cumberland, has pre- sented her owner with no less than eight lambs in 13 months. A year ago she gave birth to three 1 unbs, to twins in October, and now she has pro- duced triplets. A HEAVY MILK YIELD. I Alderman Martin Taylor, of Tilhurstow, Croy- don, forwards to the "Field" it summary of the milk YIeld of tt red shorthorn cow on the farm of the Croydon Borough Mental Hospital, at Warlingham, en the committee of which he is a member. The following are the figures, the accuracy of which, he says, is vouched for by the bauiff jvlilk yield for the quarter ending March 1 31, 11K)7, 37'»i gallons; June 30. 1007, 4S7; September 30, 1307, 304^; December 31, 1007, ;>30^ milk yield three weeks ending January 18, G3: total yielded from January 20, 1007, to January 18, 1908, 1,G52 £ gallons. FARMERS AND THE LICENSING BILL. At a meeting of the Siocktoy Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. J. T. Wilson moved that they support the Licemitig Bill. which was duly seconded. Mr. W. Thompson moved as an amendment a protest agaimt the Bill. which was seconded by Mr. Thomas, who said that to be consistent as farmers they should cease to grow barley for the brewers. An animated discussion followed, in which it was urged that if there was less drinking there would be more demand for farm produce, such as butter, eggs and milk. Upon Mr. Wilson rising to reply, Mr. Thompson aJiso rose, and lie said he was not going to have another teetotal lecture. Mr. Wilson, however, insisted on his right, of reply, whereupon Mr. Thompson and three or four others left the meeting, and the amend- ment was lost, the resolution in favour of tho Bill beincr carried bv eight votes to seven. TOO LEGAL. I At the Denbighshire County Council meeting on Friday, on the subject of sheep-dipping, several members declared that the order was couched in suoh technical legal language that the Board' s actual roquirenionts were difficult to understand. Tho Chief Constable (Major Loadbetrer) himself confessed to being myeti- fied by the complicated way in which the order was worded, and declared that if a farmer i nskod him what he really had to do he could not tell him. Mr. Gonier Roberts said he could not find any prohibition at ail in the order Tho Clerk was diroote.d to interpret the order in simple language, which should be adde-d to the published document. I SMALL HOLDINGS IN WALES. I I T:w Cwm Fam). comprising 280,091 acres, I 6itimt.ed within 1? mi?a of ?lati-drin-dod railway station has been rented by the Rad- station has oct'n rC'dC'd by the Rad. norshire County Council, who will let the land for i'nwP¡ holdings. It is stated that it i:- diffiudt to obtain suitable land for small hold- Iligs near Llandrindod. as most of the land has a prospective building value, making the price prohibitive. A lease will be taken for a term of fourteen years, and the rent is fixed at £ 170 with tithe, which last year amounted to £ 15. 15s. The Council will pay compensa- tion to the outgoing tenant for unexhausted im- provements. and the- repairs arc estimated to cost £ 100. The land contains 9.407 acres of plantation, which the owner proposes to re- tain. Twentv-sevon applications have been re- ceived by the Council.

AGRICULTURE IN PARLIAMENT. ❖ (-1 \T ('-IT \,rBf, I CENTRAL CHAMBERS ACTIOX. Tho Central and Associated Chambers of 'J 'hc ( ')!'rn i.?'? ) Agriculture in London on'l\iesdav decided toforma committee to improve the position of agricul- ture in the Iloti-e of Commons by putting for- ward indc|HMidont agriculiuriets as their candi- dates ur election*, and by inducing party organist ions to adopt suitable agricultural candidate*.

CHESHIRE DAIRY FARMERS. A A ItKVIEW OF THE YEAR. I ,)r .J" The Council of the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Association lia\o iv>ucd the- twenty-sixth annual report of the association's work, in which they state:—"The s results give proof of steady p'-ogiessivcness. Irs numerical Strength, finan- cial support, and hoaitv co-operation of a united 1I,mIKl"hip enhanced tho success of all our Cheshire cheese exhibitions, increased the vol- ume of trade in our fairs, and enlarged th-e great popularity of our county product. The turnover for the year amounts to £ 839. gs. Id.. against £832 12: 3d. of tho previous year; while the .?&? 1-?v? impi-ov? by addi:)? R40. 9, 3d. to the amount^ which briu?? 'he balance now sian'hn? 10 ihe credit of rlie aS50ciation io B283. '0-. 2d. The oUiplt of Cheshire ch?sc for 1907 h? ?lt??wn a considerable increase, aad prreally in oxoees of the usual annual make that of 1906 fell below the average of previous years}: and if we include the increased dairies mack just over the county's border, the aggregate weight would probably figure as the highest on record. This was caueed by a con- tinuous ramfali thiougiiout (he summer, the offcct being seen in the pastures by a super- abundance of giass. which enabled farmers to increase their milking stock by impoiting cows front other parts of the kingdom, honco the pro- duction of an abnormal amount of Cheshire cheese. It is questionable whether ii paid the farmer or nor to do so, as the loss he would have by the wretchedly low p.ice ho had to take for his draft-off cows to the butcher would n 1- 1- 1. scarcely >>e ruaue up oy nis increased make ot citeese. Prices dming ihe earK- part of t.iic year, owing to tho scarcity of the preceding years make, woic high; but graduallv and rather quickly ft II as more che^.se came on the market. and with ;ign.) of a big make to fol- low there wa." a g'oomv foreboding that prices would fall disasu:ousiy during the hot summer months: but. fortunately, this was averted by the imp oved keeping quahiies io be seen in t.ho chtl*> exceptional coolness of the summer, and by a. tirc-ely increased demand, all of which a welcome autumn lis- in nriees about. normal, which was Readily maintained, minus very small /luci nation?, until the end of the season. As for several years past. wc-oicly Oltesnire cheese fairs have been hold throughout the year al Chester, Whirchuvoh and Nantwich alternately, and have again proved to lie of in- calculable convenience and he-ncfit to both buyers and ?el!^i». Tho quantity and weight of choose pitched shews a considerable increase over tit, previous year. Our socreiarics we:o always able to quote a good and occasionally a brisk, demand. And such is the popularity of t,h? fairs that there are always plenty of buyers for all kind.-? of Cheshire cheese, which are se» lected and soruxl to suit their different market?, and district tastes of their customers. Eor a number of years special prizes have been given by mere hams of tho several necessary article- used in chco&r-making. A number of members have expressed the opinion that this is unde- sirable, and the Council desire an expression of opinion from the members of the association at tho genera! meeting. Th? Council desires to record the deep loe° the association has sus- tained bv the death of irs much re=ipccted secre- tary ({r. Robert Challin-or). For nearly 20 years the laiC" Mr. Cha'lirior most ably watched over the affairs of the association, assisting in every way in hi, power the interests of dairy work in Cheshire and in doing so he gained the respect and est com of all with whom he came into contact."

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AGRICULTURAL PARTY. V  CENTRAL CHAMBERS DECISION. The Council of the Central and Associated II Chambers of Agriculture on Tuesday arrived at a decision on the question of forming a separate agricultural Parinunentary party, and by 49 votes to 6 brought into existence a standing committee, whose citief duty will be to put forward absolutely independent agricul- turists at elections, standing as third candi- dates if necessary, and, though giving a general statement on ourrent politics, making agricul- n're the paramount question. This was recom- mended by a commmec who ha%?. been con- sidering the question, and other methods they I suggested were:—By approaching "party" or- garus?tiotM and botb political parties, with a view of salocting or approving candidates that will be acceptable to the parties; by local in- fluence in oaoh constituency, so that proper candidates are adopted by the executive of each "party" organisation; by taking part. in elections in agricultural constituencies, and by II questioning eandidarês on agricultural matters; by constant and active work among the mem- bers of the House of Commons. I Mr. R. L. Everetr, M.P.. declared that the starting of a new organisation would lessen the influence and unity of thp C'hamber, in- stead of strengthening the voice of agricul- ture. Mr. T. C. Warner, M.P.. said he thought there woulid be very great danger in starting I a new organisation. The Labour -party had praet.ioally the vo.> >. of t ii-e whole countrv b, hind it, belt they weakened themselves enor- mously by starting an independent party. After further discussion the report wns adopted, and the special committee appointed in December was nominated 80S the standing committee proposed in the report. Another subject of importance dealt with at the meeting was the etatu.s of the Board of Agriculture, and the Council unsmimcus/ v adopted a motion urging t.he Government to ofleet to the proposals for improving the position of the Boaid contained in a memorial which was being forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Government. This memorial urges that immediate steps may 1>0 taken to nnprove the position of lire Board of Agricul- ture: ihat. a Parliamentary Secretary to the I Board of Agriculture may be appointed; and  ,? .ran not be a member of the same J louse of Parliam?.t ? the Prudent; that an increased grant may be voted for the Dc- partment and that ofIicc may be Plotted which wilt house all the v-ariotie branches of tho I>oard of Agriculture in one building- In tho course of rhe discussion on the sub- ject. disappointment was expressed that the Board of Agriculture had been left out in the cold when the position of the Board of Trade and that of the Local Government Board was being ra i sed. Afr. Court hope. MR, who took part in the .ehato. said he had reason to believe that )f I ?ufncient pregS1FC were put on tho Government they would not be unsympathetic. I

A DOZEN ti mes a day one has to bend down. That means a str-aj n on the corsets. At 1a5t something gives anJ they do TTfTl longer. With the  n ? 1W1@ ?Q!?? "?—  ?- -? ?*a  _n (???? £ one can stoop without difficulty. I There is no strain on the corset or the wearer. The Side-Spring m-kcs them just as pliant and as flexible as the body. They never break and they cannot rust. They are an economy, as they last so long and a luxury, for there is j no corset so comfortable. But be sure they are the genuine "J.B." and see this trade mark before you buy. 3/11 to 10/6 S). at Drapers and everywhere. j Corset Factory, TRADC MARX ,gr Gt. AncoaH Street, Min,-brster. L. a j ) I -==-

BUCKLEY v. HAWARDEN.—Played at Buckley on Saturday. Score :— Buckley T. J. Davison b Hunter 20, J. W. Williamson b Jones 9, H. Moore (capt.) c Bramall L- Jones 4, H. Piercy b Hunter 3, J. Lindop b Jones 7, J. Peters b Jones 0, R. M. Gibson c Bra.mall b Hunter 0, G. C. Kempston b Jones 4, J. H. Bellis b Jones 0, H. Davison b Jones 0, W. Parry not out 0, extras 1, total 4S. Hawarden J. Hampson c Moore b Davison 5, J. Dunn b Lindop 11, E. Bramall b Lindop 25, C. Fox b Piercy 0, J. Jones b Piercy 9, J. Hunter Kempston b Lindop 16, T. Hunter b Lindop 0, E. Jones b Lindop 2. A. Lloyd b Lindop 1, N. Stitcliffe b Peters 2, T. Letman not out 0, extras 9, total SO.