The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

NEW MAGISTRATES. 21 Names Added to Breconshire Commission. The Lord Chancellor has added the following 4 names te the Commission of the Peace for County of Brecknock :— o. Jtajor the Hon. Wilfrid Russell-Bailey, ho.. Grenadier Guards, Glanusk Park, 'ckhowell (C) I I James Cater, the Pavement, Hay (C) L Benjamin Davies, Beulah Lodge, Beulah, Vth (L) David John Davies, the Bungalow, Hirwain ]%); tdris Davies, Bwllfa, Abercrave (Lab.) L John Lewis Davies, Yscirfechan, Merthyr taog (L) Jttervyn Thomas Davies, Lower Porthamal, *taee Cocks (C) Wm. Francis Parry deWinton, Glyngarth, l'econ (C) Jno. Harris Furmedge, Penmyarth, Crick- ()\,ell (C) John Harris, Trebanogfawr, Penderyn (L) Charles Wylde Hughes, Glynpedr, Llau- dr, Crickhowell (C) • David Price Hopkins, Bronllys Court, Tal- feth (L) Gwilym Cristor James, Llanwysg, Crick- oWell (L) Howell Richapd Jones, Trewern, Dowlais (L); v Thomas Prosser Jones, Commercial street, ^tradgynlais (Lab.) v Thomas Morgan, Lower Pontwillim Farm, ^econ (C) v John Morris, Pistill, Llanfihangel Talyllyn, coii (L) i Henry Thomas Price. Greyhound Hotel, *<tilth Wells (C) Wallace John Tong, Brynmawr (C) v William Henry Oliver Thomas, Talwrnwinog, 'auwrthwl, Rhayader (L) ;1 Isaac Thomas, Caerau, Garth (L) .John Edward Williams, Nantdduar House, vdach. Abergavenny (-C) Commander Alexander Thomas Lee Wilson, .N., Garth House, Garth (C) r Thomas Williams, Cynlais Stores, Ystrad- nlais (C) 12 Conservatives, 1<> Liberals and 2 Labour. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. ilajor the Hon. Wilfrid Bailey is the eldest, only surviving son of Col. Lord Glanusk, .n., D.S.O.. lord lieutenant of Breconshire lld chairman of the County Council. He has !^tVed on the Western Front from the com- ?ncement of the war (for a time in ;lth the Prince of Wales), has won the D.h.U. been several times mentioned in des- Patches. Both his brothers have been killed m e present war—the Hon. W. Bailey, who e home from Africa to take a commission the Guards, on the Western Front, and jidshipman the Hon. Michael Bailey in the I Viand naval battle. j iQ Mr. James Cater is a prominent man in the life of Hay. He is a member and has Jeen chairman of the Urban District Council kid is recognised as a sound leader in local Affairs. In business he is the managing director Messrs. It. Williams and Sons, Ltd., a firm merchants with many activities, which he as greatly extended. Mr. Benjamin Davies is a well-known farmer 1'.1 the north of the county and a good judge of and is a member of the County Council, ■^hich body he has sat for a number of years, -ur. D j x>;lvies is an ex-chairman of the and Penderyn District Council, chair- lliQll of the local Tribunal and' managing lrector of the gas company. r, *r- Idris Davies is a member of the County 'J,1i>cil of some years' standing. As secretary J the Breconshire Association of Friendly j/^eties he acquired such a knowledge of ^'0ua,l insurance that he was appointed a ^efciber of the Departmental Committee which jliired into the working of the National prance Act. His latest activity has been a rllcipal part in the formation of the Brecon- Ire Labour Party. -Ir' J. L. Davies is a county councillor and j Comment farmer in the Brecon district. He j4 deeply interested in mountain pony breeding, I?1" 'Which he does a lot of work as secretary of Eppynt Hills Association, and he has been Hoard of Agriculture representative at the l'econ Rural Tribunal. A, Ir. Mervyn T. Davies, an alderman of the piQty Council, is a leader amongst the jf°Paganda men of the Brecon and Radnor Oners' Union and has been chairman of their i^cutive. He is also a member of the War Vicultural Executive Committee. ,^Ir. W. F. Parry deWinton, whose name of his connection with an old and honoured l'econshire family, is the manager of the J^con branch of Lloyds Bank and the present of the borough. He is deeply engaged v Public work and has been treasurer to various i funds, notably the Breconshire War Dis- Fund, which (thanks to Lord Glamwk's a Npt initiative) anticipated Government on behalf of soldiers and their depend- V X t4 Ir. J. H, Furmedge, whilst not so much "in Public eye as some of the new justices, is ,an who plays several useful parts. He is a h^Ued member of the War Agricultural ^ecutive Committee and he is doing excellent lJl'k in the county on behalf of the Board of t{a.de Timber Supply Department. He is also 6 agent for Lord Glanusk's extensive estates. itb Ir. John Harris, a well-known public man iii |p Cefn district, is an ex-chairman of the i^'Hor and Penderyn Council and a member of Labour Sub-Committee of the War Agricul- ^1 Executive Committee. D. P. Hopkins is a useful member of the £ Board of Guardians and Rural District 1.111il, has been Board of Agriculture repre- 'i^tive at the local Tribunal, and is on the ■\b°°Ur and Machinery Sub-Committees of the Agricultural Executive. G. C. James, who has lost a son in the is a county councillor, chairman of the Jckho well Board of Guardians, and was for a kt S; el, le, time county military representative V?6 Breconshire Appeal Tribunal. He was v>er]y tjie' of a well-known. firm of j^itors at Merthyr. Ir. H. R. Jones holds a post of high ^Serial responsibility at the great works of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold at Dowlais. Mr. T. P. Jones, a county councillor of some I years' standing, is a trusted miners' official at Ystradgynlais and is chairman of the govern- ors of the County School there. Mr. T. Morgan is another county councillor and has been a member of the Brecon Board of Guardians and Rural District Council. He is known as a good farmer, and as a member of the War Agricultural Executive Committee enjoys the confidence of the agricultural com- munity. Mr. J. Morris is yet another farmer in the I Brecon district. He was formerly a member of the County Council and has had much to do with local government. Mr. H. T. Price is a man of cany parts. He is at the head of several businesses at Builth. Wells and is about the most prominent public man there. He is chairman of the Urban Council and has been a strong supporter of agricultural shows, ploughing matches and shoeing competitions. He is also a county councillor with long service to his credit. Mr. W. J. Tong is a county alderman and vice-chairman of the Education Committe, and a most valuable public servant, both in county and local affairs. He is engaged in business at Brynmawr as an auctioneer and printer. Mr. W. H. O. Thomas is a county councillor and a farmer well-known in the extreme north of the county. Mr. Isaac Thomas is another north-of-the- county farmer, a member of the Builth Board of Guardians and Rural District Council and a member of the Supplies Sub-Committee of the War Agricultural Executive. Mr. J. E. Williams, a popular county coun- cillor for the Llanelly Hill district, is a leader in all local affairs there, where he is engaged in business.

BUILTH WELLS POLICE COURT. Holiday.—Before Mr C. W. Woosnam (chairman), Dr. W. Black Jones, and Messrs. H. T. Price and Thomas Williams. UNBURIED CARCASE. Edward Lloyd, Cefnfaes Farm, Llysdinam, Newbridge-on-Wye, was summoned for neglect- ing to bury the carcase °f a pony. P C Dew stated that he visited defendant's farm au(j discovered the remains of a dead y i'n a stream which flowed through one of fields. Mrs Lloyd told him they had been unable to find time to bury the animal. Mr Lloyd gave as his reason for not burying the animal that the ground was so boggy that they were unable to get the carcase out of the stream. The Chairman remarked that the offence was a serious one and it might have imperilled the public health of the district. Defendant would be fined C I. LIFE IN BANK SQUARE. Harry Warner, Bank Square, Builth Wells, was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 21st May last and was fined £ 1. Mrs Esther Price, of Bank Square, stated that defendant came to her house and expressed a desire to fight her husband, and also used bad language towards her. He was under the influence of drink at the time. Corroborative evidence was given by P.S. Davies. Sarah Rosser, of Bank Square, Builth Wells, was charged with .using bad lauguage on the 18th of May and pleaded not guilty. Polly Jones, a resident of Bank Square, stated that defendant used bad language towards witness's children and also called her a fortune teller. P.S. Davies stated that he found- Mrs Rosser under the influence of drink and heard her using bad language towards the last witness and remarking that Mrs Jones was a fortune- teller and that she was taking money off children. Defendant handed in a written statement to the effect that her little girl had been kicked by Mrs Jones's boy and had to be carried to the house in an unconscious state, an.d this was supported by Mrs Cissy Jones. The Bench eventually dismissed the case.

I CWMDU. Whist Drive.—Another whist drive, pro- moted by the Sports Committee of the local Camp. was held on Tuesday, the 11th inst., at the Y.M.C.A. Hut, when there was a good attendance of the guard and friends. The procceeds were devoted to the benefit of a comrade's child, who has been very ill for a considerable time. The prizes, which were given by the Commandant (Captain Lorraine) and Mrs. Lorraine, were handed back by the successful competitors and put up for auction and resold a few times,, with the result that the sum of three guineas was handed over to the good cause. Mr. Clarke, the new manager, t, acted as M.C. and Corpl. Whittaker made a capital auctioneer. The prize-winners were:- Gents—1st Corpl. Whittaker, 2nd Sergt. Kay Ladies Ist Miss Bessie' Hamer, 2nd Miss Edith Hamer. Booby prizes were awarded to Private Lewis and Miss Olive Davies. Killed in Action.—News has arrived from a comrade to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Francis, Ty Llys: Tretower, that their son Ivor has been killed in action. Much sympathy is extended to the parents, who have three more sons serving their King and Country. Sheep Shearing.—The sheep shearing in this neighbourhood has been going on for the last few weeks and will terminate this week. Owing to the winter and spring being of a much milder type than we have experienced for some years, good results, both in the condition of the animal and its fleece, arelecorded all round. Fox Stories.—Most of the farms in close proximity to the hillside have been troubled: with foxes during the spring and several losses I Z, of poultry are recorded. These raids on the poultry pens have been so prevalent on one side of the valley that some action became necessary. Traps have helped in some instances. Other foxes have been traced to their lair and dug out and destroyed. In one instance a fine fox was traced to a den which, to all appear- ances, penetrated far into the mountain. How- ever, the opening was well filled up, and when a few weeks- later curiosity tempted the men to pull down the wall and inspect the den, five of poultry are recorded. These raids on the poultry pens have been so prevalent on one side of the valley that same action became necessary. Traps have helped in some instances. Other foxes have been traced to their lair and dug out and destroyed. In one instance a fine fox was traced to a den which, to all appear- ances, penetrated far into the mountain. How- ever, the opening was well filled up, and when a few weeks- later curiosity tempted the men to pull down the wall and inspect the den, five full-grown foxes were discovered near the mouth in a decomposed condition.

IMPORTANT NOTICE. J To the Public. No Returns Order. On the 24th inst. an Order will come into force stopping the return by Agents of unsold copies of news- papers. The importance of this order to the general public lies in the fact that agents henceforward will only take a sufficient number of papers to supply regular customers. They will not run the risk of chance sales. To be sure of getting a copy of the Brecon County Times every week, therefore, it will be necessary to place an order for its regular supply with your newsagent cl or at the head office, and we strongly recommend all our readers who have not already done this to do so with- out delay. It is the only way to prevent disappointment it is not I a very troublesome thing to do and it will help the agent, help us, and I in some degree help the Govern- ment, too, in the difficult task of regulating the supply of paper.

PENOYRE RED CROSS HOSPITAL. To the Editor of the COUNTY TJMES. I SIR,—A fresh convoy of men came in last I week and we have to thank the Rev. Church Jones for again sending his car to meet them. This hospital also owes a great debt of gratitude I to Mr Hills Orton for professional services so I kindly given to the patients. Miss Wilcox has sent us flowers. We are always very glad of these to brighten the wards and if any kind friends care to spare us more, they could be left at Mr Gwilym Jones's house, where they will be called for. Our thanks are also due for the following gifts :—Anonymous, five eiderdown quilts vegetables, Mrs Conway Lloyd, Capt. Evans and Mrs Garnons Williams, of Abercamlais 20 eggs from the Market stall, per Miss Best; 180 eggs from the districts of Devynock, Sennybridge, Senny, Llandilo'rfan, Hydfer and Cray, per Miss Llewellyn Davies (i lbs. butter, 41 gallons of milk, Mrs McClintock Gibs, butter, vegetables and potatoes, Lord Glanusk. C. M. PARKINSON, June 17th, 1918. Commandant.

Aberyskir Property Sells Well. Mr. W. J. Price (Messrs. D. and W. J. Price, auctioneers) conducted a most successful sale of attractive freehold residential and agricultural property in the parish of Aberyskir at the Castle Hotel, Brecon, on Friday, afternoon last. Pontarfran House and grounds, with con- venient outbuildings, together with 25 acres of meadow, pasture and arable land, let to Capt. G. Dobell at the annual apportioned rent of £ 104 10s., landlord paying tithes, was bought by Mr. Gustard, solicitor, Newport.. for Mr. Edward Davies, of Abergavenny, formerly of Machen, for £ 3,GOO. Llwyumerched Farm, adjoining Pontarfran, with 106 acres of meadow, pasture and arable land, let to Mr. Thomae Davies at the annual apportioned rent of £ 112 10s., landlord paying tithes, was secured by the same purchaser for £ 3,550. Llwynmerched Farm land runs down to the River Usk, with a frontage of a quarter of a mile, giving good salmon and trout fishing. Lower Ffinant Farm, 80 acres, let to Mr. Jno. Williams at £42 per annum, the landlord paying tithes, was bought by the tenant for £900. The two farms carry the right of pasturage* on the adjoining common. The River Bran, with good trout fishing, skirts Pontarfran and Lower Ffinant. The solicitors acting for the vendors were Mr. E. W. Reeves, 11, New Court, Carey street, Lincoln's Inn, London, and Messrs. Jeffreys and Powell, Brecon.

Llanwrtyd, Wake up! ,I To the Editor of the COUNTY "TIMES. Sir,—This small Spa has brought me within its embrace for some few years past. The beauties of the district are great and should be made better known if the town had a Council of Fathers who would put a little more vim in their work towards this end,, prosperity, would be the reward. Last year I heard the Council passed the Town Police Clauses Act upon my visit this year I learn that nothing further has been done. Why, I wonder, has it not been put in force. There is a deal of room for several improvements which cannot be e Tected until this Act is in working, and the mer the better, both for the success of this le Welsh Spa and the comfort and needs of se visitors who wish to give it recognition. I appeal to the Council to rise out of this tia, wake up, and get a move on ? SOUTH-W ALI AN.

SENNYBRIDGE WARRIOR'S STRAIGHT TALK TO HOME FOLKS Pack up your Troubles," &c. To the Editor of the BRECON COUNTY TÜlEs. Sir,-Beiiig a soldier (wounded four times) just finished my. 10 days' sick furlough from hospital, I have a particular grievance, and one which happens to be shared by many of my pals now resident in the ravaged section of fair France. Therefore, with your permission, sir, I feel it is entitled tb an airing. Why, I ask, are thousands of our fighters made the recipients of doleful letters, in which the fond writers set forth their various troubles and anxieties in the homeland, coupled with funereal prognostications about the duration of the war and the steady increase in the cost of living ? The strain of the past few months has brought into existence a large number of sin- ners, who appear to imagine that the soldier desires to- wallow in adversity during the moments when his attention is not engrossed with the blinkin' Huns. Permit me to quote one example out of many. Bill Sykes -in-ie up to me, in the fifing line one day, holding a letter in his hand, and asked me to read it for him. The contents of the letter were something like this Dear Husband, the papers say that the big battle is going to start in a few days, and I dreamt last -night I was at a wedding, and oh Bill, Mrs. Jones next door told me that to dream of a wedding was to hear of a death. Oh be careful, dear Bill, and stay in your dug-out whenever you get the chance. If I dream three times about a wedding I shall be frantic about you. Do you know, Bill, I have not tasted butter nor cheese for a week. I don't know what Lord Rhondda is thinking about. Tha price of meat has gone up higher than the steeple since he took control of it, and the margarine is not the same since the Government has stuck its paws into it," &c.. &c. This, your readers will admit, is not the sort of stuff to inspire a man whose ears are deaf- ened by the noise of the guns. It docs not help to endow his physiognomy with the smile that won't come off. Now for a word of advice—the kind of letter that Tommy admires. We long for the kind of letter which one of my pals had from his "better half." Here are a few extracts:— And now, dear Jack, I trust you are not worrying about me or the youngsters. We are in good health, and each of us prouder than the other that you are doing your bit. Johnnie has got one of those things that fires a cork, and Pussv-ilow nicknamed the Kaiser-is being kept on the- jump. Watch me shoot the Kaiser, mother he says, and when he is tired of this sport, or the cat has been clever enough to disappear, the rattle of his drums would frighten "the Germans. Mary and Jane spend many an hour studying the war map, and have placed a Union Jack on where they think your regiment is now. So don't worry about us. We are all right, and we feel you will be all right and come back to us after you have done I your duty." That's the way to write to a soldier. It bucks him up, and makes him glad and proud to know that his loved ones are soldiers in I spirit, if not in reality. Let me repeat, what has so often been said—there are no pessimists across the Channel. We are absolutely confident as to the ultimate issue of Armageddon, and look forward to victory. I I employ those sentences as a fitting preface I to that which follows. During the few days I spent at my old home (Sennybridge) it amazed me to run up against some gloom-laden indi- viduals filled with doubts regarding whether victory would be ours or the enemy's. One fellow had the d- impudence to say to me You may have been mig-hty lucky so far, Tommy, and I hope you will get through this year." It was hot the sentiment, but rather the fashion in which it was delivered, that made me feel glum. My well-wisher shook my hands so vehemently that I could not help having the impression he actually believed I was as good as dead and buried. Weeping j Willies of this variety ought to be banished from the country. They mar a soldier's holiday, and are apt to turn his thoughts to the rum ration." My advice to all at home is as follows --If you can't be cheerful in a soldier's compain* keep out of it. He knows all about the horrors of war, and wants to forget them. When your ¡ soldier son (or friend) is absent from home write to him as little as possible of the shortage I of margarine, sugar, &c., and for < the love of Mike leave out altogether your fears on his account. In other words (to quote a musician's terms) soft pedal on the low octaves and bang out double fortissimo on the higher. Give him plenty of the flight- and airy God knows, he needs it in his business. And when your boy comes home on furlough don't dirty his buttons and shrink his tunic by bathing him in tears. Cut out the lamentations, and give him the joy bells. Lead him to believe he is invulnerable, the kind of fellow who rejoices in more lives than a cat—(the writer has been wounded four times, and considers he has another five to go)- and who is as clever in the difficult art of defy- ing death as some people are in hoarding up rations. What will be the result ? Tommy will spend a good time in the homeland, and be so bucked up when he returns to the trenches that in the dark he may be mistaken for a full-fledged captain, or even that mighty military autocrat, a .newly appointed (unpaid, of course) lance- corporal. May all my Sennybridge friends accept my best thanks for their many kindnesses to me when on sick leave. Yours, &c., JP -T-. SENNI DAVIES.

LLANELLY HILL. Military Medallist.—Lance-Corpl. C.H. Lane, South Wales Borderers, who .hails from Llanellv Hill, has been awarded the Military Medal J k

MONS HERO HONOURED. I Talyllyn and Llanywern Presentation. At the schoolroom on the 12th instant the parishioners of Llanfihallgel-Talyllyn and Llanywern had the pleasure of welcoming home from Salonica Sergt.-Major David Dickey, Welsh Regiment,. eldest son of Captain and Mrs. D. Dickey (formerly of Brecon, and well known by reason of Captain Dickey's connection with the old Breconshire Volunteers). Sergt.- Major Dickey has had a long and exciting military career, having served 21 years in the Forces. Thirteen years of this time he spent in India with the S.W.B. and four years in the various depots in England. At the outbreak of war he was stationed at Chatham, and he left with the first batch of the British Expedition- ary Force for France on August 7th, 1914, and I was present at the great battles of Mons, the Aisne, the Marne, and the first battle of Ypres. In the lattler he was seriously wounded in the shoulder and thigh. After a few months' rest he was transferred to the Welsh Regiment, and was back in the thick of the fighting at Loos. Then he was drafted to Salonica, where he has been for two years and five months, and has been mentioned in Gen. Milne's despatches. Few of our brave men can lay claim to a better record of service for King and Country than Sergt.-Major Dickey, and the inhabitants felt they could not allow him to depart from home without showing their appreciation in some way. A public meeting was arranged by the secretary of the. Wounded Soldiers' Fund (Mr. T. I. Powell and was ably presided over by Mr. Percy Morton, M.A., headmaster of the Brecon Boys' County School. In the course of an eloquent speech Mr. Morton remarked that the guest of the evening was not personally known to him, but he could claim personal acquaintance and friendship with his father, Captain Dickey, for over a quarter of a century, and he had happy recollections of their association. There was no one- more respected in military circles than Captain Dickey. (Applause.) Other speeches were delivered by the Rev. LIew Davies, Mr. W. Thomas, and Mr. T. I. Powell, ll testifying to our debt to the brave soldier lads. Mrs. Hobby, Bridge House, then presented a silver wrist watch to Sergt.-Major Dickey, and, in a few well chosen words, invited him to accept the gift as an acknowledgment by the parishioners of their indebtedness to him for his many services'on their behalf in this great war. Sergt.-Major Dickey gave a very interesting speech in returning thanks for the gift. The following contributed to a very enjoy- able programme :—Miss C. Williams. Llangorse Miss Wilson, Taljllyn Miss Joyce, Llanfihan- gel Miss Gifford, Llanfihangel Mr. Gifford. Llanfihangel Mr. Rees Price, Talyllyn and Mr T. I. Powell, LIanfihangeI. Miss G. Cewis and Mr. A. Preece were the accompanists. Sergt.-Major Dickey is the eighth wounded hero who has been locally welcomed and received a presentation. He left for York last Monday with the best wishes of a large circle of friends in Llanfihangel and Brecon (his native town) for his future welfare and promotion.

A COMMON CAUSE OF DIGESTIVE TROUBLE. Have yQu ever noticed that when you are worried or under some special mental strain your digestion becomes upset ? Anxiety quickly causes loss of nerve-tone throughout the system. Now the nervous and digestive sys- tems are very intimately related, and the one cannot become affected without the other becoming upset. Bad nerves" spell bad digestion. Similarly bad digestion causes loss of nervous energy. Restore good digestion by stimulating the digestive organs, on which you depend for nourishment from food, into healthy activity, and robust health with full nerve energy will follow. To ensure this take Mother Seigel's Syrup after meals. Its tonic and corrective influence on stomach, liver, and bowels, gives it an easy first place among all digestive remedies. Hosts of people by per- sonal test have proved its results to be excel- lent.. Similarly, you can benefit too.. I

LLAN vifRTYD WBLLS. -I Flag Day.—As the result of a flag day held at Llanwrtyd Wells in aid of the; L. & X. W. Railway Benevolent Institution the sum of 17s. was raised. The Season.—Visitors still continue to arrive, and the influx last week end was the largest since the season began. Anglers are numerous and are having a fair til1}f, some good catches having been made. The mineral springs and baths at Dolecode and Victoria Wells are largely patronised by invalids. Military Notes.—Second Lieutenant Tom Davies (M.M.), M.G.C., Gellyfelen Farm, was seriously wounded in the forearm on the 8th inst. Hopes are entertained that his arm will be saved. Private B. J. Williams, S.W.B.. who was reported as missing since the 10th of I April last, has sent a postcard from Limberg, in Germany, saying that he is well and a prisoner of war. "Benny" is well known and much respected in Llanwrtyd, being a brother of Mr D. C. Williams, London House he is the first of the LJamvrtyd boys to become a prisoner in German hands. Sergeant-^istructor Tom Davies. Irfon View, is home on leave. Second- Lieutenant A. T. Lewis, S.W.B., Ffynonau, has paid us a visit. National War. Savings.—Mr D. A. Rees. secretary to the Llanwrtyd 'Wells and district local committee, reports that the total deposits for national war savings to May 31st amount to £ 2,G48 Os. 0d., subscribed as follows :—Con- gregational Church, £ 904 Gs. Gd. Council School. £ 131 3s. Gd. Bethesda Methodist Church, £ 1,007 (is. Cd. Llangammarch Council School, £ 5 3s. Gd. Shearing.—The annual wool clip opened at Abernant and Erwbeili farms this week. <

CATERPILLAR PLAGUE. Cwmtaff Valley Again Attacked. The hordes of caterpillars which from season to season have done considerable damage to trees in Breconshire have again made their presence felt in the Cwmtaff Valley. During the priSt four or five years the pests have paid annual visitations, each year in larger numbers, with the result that at present the "stricken area" extends for five or six miles in length, and spreads some distance on either side of the Taff Fawr. The ravages last season assumed such large proportions as to cause considerable uneasiness to local farmers. Fortunately, however, the only damage caused was to wild cherry trees, and considerable amusement was aroused, later in the year, when the cater" pillars on reaching full maturity deserted the growths, and the trees again budded and pro- duced leases as if nothing had impaired their normal progress. A representative of the "Brecon County Times visited the affected area this week, and learned on the testimony of local farmers that the present extraordinary condition of trees stripped of their leaves and covered with a hard silvery web was the outcome of the visits of swarms of small green moths earlier in the Spring. On fine sunny days they filled the air in the same manner as gnats. Many of the farmers took the precaution to feli the trees on their land which were attacked last year. but the insects have found their way into those portions still standing, and have extended their ravages to other trees, such as the hazel, hawthorn, mountain ash, as well as to bramble and bracken, though in these instances the damage done is nothing like so extensive as that occasioned to the wild cherry. The hedge surrounding the Nantddu schools is one mass or webbing.■ holding myriads of caterpillars, while at this point even a five- barred gate has been attacked, the creatures apparently using it as'a means of transit from the thickly enshrouded bramble on one side -to the hedge Oil the other. A pretty spectacle attracts attention near the "Miller's Arms," where a wooden shed situated inclose proximity to two" infected trees has been completely enmeshed in white webbing, while the roof is bespattered with small black clusters of cater- pillars. A pretty effect is also produced in scores of places along the countryside by the appearance through the grubby veil of wild flowers blooming unharmed. The Cardiff Corporation nursery of pine and fir trees remains unscathed, and, so far, no crops of any description have been touched.

-r- HAY. Railwaymen's Benevolent I.,istitutioii. -The celebration of the diamond jubilee of the Rail- waymen's Benevolent Institution took place at Hay on Tuesday, the 11th inst., and took the form of a flag day. Mr Niblett, stationmaster, acted as organising secretary, and Mr John Maund as collector, and a very satisfactory amount was collected. On Leave.—Ge^. Hartwell, air mechanic in the R.A.F.. son -of Mr and Mrs Hartwell. of' Hightown. has been on furlough from a home station. The Late' Councillor E. T. Powell.—The following names of mourners were omitted from the list given in the account last week of the funeral of Councillor Evan T. Powell. of the Swan Hotel :—Mrs Prosser. Trevithel Court. Bronllys, cousin Mrs Powell. Castle terrace, Talgarth, cousin Mr and Mrs Gwillim, West- brook, cousins. The list of those who sent wreaths should also have contained the follow- ing names :—Mrs Prosser, Trevithel Court,- Bronllys Mrs _JV>well. Castle terrace, Tal- garth Mr and" Mrs Curtis. Bronllys and Sister Annie, In loving memory of dear Evan." Conservative Association.—A meeting of the Hay Branch of the Breconshire and Radnor- shire Conservative Association was held on Thursday evening last. Mr A. C. Samson pre- sided, and Mr T. Maund. agent and organising secretary, was present for the purpose' of ex- plaining the Representation of the People Act. He pointed out that for Parliamentary and local government the qualifying period was six months—for the first register the six months ended the 15th April. 1018. Men at the age of 21 were entitled to a Parliamentary and local government vote (or if in naval or military service during the war. at the' age of 19 to a Parliamentary vote) and women at the of 30 were entitled to a Parliamentary and local government vote, and at the age of 21 to a local government vote, if in their own right. The -j,, L appointment of officers was left to a subsequent meeting. Obituary.—The death occurred on Friday of Mrs Holt, wife of Mr Holt. of the Sheephouse Cottages, at the age of 35 years. Deceased had been ailing for some time, and had recently spent about five weeks at a sanatorium. The funeral took place on Tuesday at the Hay Cemetery, the Rev. D. S. Evans (Baptist pastor) officiating. Primitive Methodist Church.—The anni- versary services of the Primitive Methodist Church were held on. Sunday last. The Rev. Alfred Marcup. of Weobley. who was announced to preach, was prevented attending by illness, and his place was taken at the morning service by. the Rev. Senior, in the afternoon by the Rev. Idris Davies, and in the evening by Mr Holmer. Solos were sung at the evening ser- vice, and collections were made throughout the day on behalf of the church funds. A Very Old Grandfather.—A very inter- esting specimen of one of the earliest grand- father clocks has come into the possession of Mr Edmund Stephens, of Belmont House. Hay?. The movement is an eight-day one, with a fine brass dial beautifully engraved, and having d cherub head spandrels. The oak case is long and very narrow and severely plain. The clock is in perfect going and striking order. and the works are really artistic. From the very curious striking work (which was only used for a short time in these early clocks), several experts who have seen it state that the date of the clock at the latest is iiisil and as grand- father clocks do not date back beyond 1676, this is undoubtedly one of the earliest specimens, and older than the celebrated eCll Anne clocks. The name of Witherston. Hereford," is engraved on the dial.