The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

CRICKET. E.VV.n. cricketers paid their first visit to the lovely Klan Valley cricket ground on Saturday. The visitors took a strong: team, as they thousrht they might possibly meet a "dark horse." The home t.e:ia! won the toss and put When trie score was 23 Pugh and Lewis were tried, and gi» well did they perform that only 10 were added. iaciiMliuir extras—really four from the bat. Pugh also did the hat trick. For R.W.W. Cannon and t-h Prvce-Jones scored 91 before Cannon fell to a good one. He had played a sterling innings. Afterwards Rees (22) and Edwards (12) hit aw well, and the total was 175. The captain was in his very best form and hit all round the wicket brilliantly. His score of 71 contained oulv 11 singles. Considering- the weak batting team Newtown brought to Welshpool they did not do so badlv, especially against such good bowling as the home team had provided for them, Hibbott (12) alone got double figures, and the del-1m" plaved well for his runs. Five of the Newtown men failed to score. II. 11. E. llarrisor. and Owen bowled very well the former took 5 wickets for 12 and Owen 2 for 7. The fielding of Welshpool was good, while the wicket keeping of Blackith was tirs- rat. He stood up with rare pluck to the "expresses" of Harrison and 1,. Jones, and what is more, stopped them well too. With practice lie will soon become a good wicket keeper, and is worth playing for this alone. Welshpool scored 87, h. R-. E. Harrison quickly hit up IS in nne style before P. W. Jones bowled him with one that kept low. Parry carried his but for 23—a very good innings, and made without a chance. The fieiding cf New- town was at first very smart. In fact it was closer and smarter than that of Welshpool but towards the end it was dreadfully slack a::d loose. P. W. Jones bowled well but Parry was the most success- ful trundlor and took five wickets for very few runs. The last. wicket of Welshpool put on 20 rnns-the best stand of the day. In the second innings of Newtown seven wickets fell for 52. Worthing-ton scored 23 by plucky and hard batting, A drawn game was the result of the match between Montgomery -k team and Abermule— 71 each. Montgomery went in firs' T. S. Davies 16, Tomley 10, and Harris not out 15 getting most runs. Harper, Morris, and Towusend bowled well forAbermnle. Swetenham (13) and El well (37) played so well for the home team at the start that a victory seemed assured for them but after they were sent back the others fell quickly. Three wickets were to fail when the score stood at 69. Tom icy and Harris changed ends and the Mont- gomery fielders were all alive. Tom ey got the last and the score was exactly a tie. Oswestry had much the best of the draw with the Gt-amlcar SchooL If they had closed their innings earlier tnev would have won. The Town scored 142 for nine wickets. R. T. Gough 18, F. A. W. How 17, F. Corfielu 22, F. J. Gough 20, W. K. Minshall 15Juot out, N. E. Tidy 12, and W H. Ellis 10 plaved well. Thanks to the steady play of Mason (14-) and A. Gravell (28) the game resulted in a draw with the score standing at 68 for eight wickets. A good game between the High School and Oswestrv A. ended in a win for the latter, for whom A England (20) and A. W. Sabine (32) batted well. Mr Benfield (24) and Horne (10) started well for the High School, but the others failed before rhe good bowling of the A team. Scores, 78 to 62. lr. Armistead brought a good team to Xewtown on Wednesday to meet the R.W.W. A capital and most pleasant game ended in a very creditable win for the home team. The visitors put on 123 bv batting of good quality, Thornburn and Hennin in particular showing good form. C. Parry (Everton and Newtown) scored 12, and assisted Wilson to score 23 for the last wicket. The home team began very baàly-the captain being out to a wonderful catch at point before scoring. Cannon and Pugh soon followed, and things were getting desperate when Edwardg and Rees got together. Both played well—Rees especially—and followed up his Saturday's work with a grand innings of 38. Wood kept the game up and quickly scored 41 by fine and attractive batting. Taylor and A. O. Davies were in at the finish, when the score stood at 139 for 7 wickets. It was a good victory-pluckily fought for and well deserved. The first match between England and Australia ended in a six wickets' victory for the home team. In the first innings the batting of the Colonists was a complete failure, but in the second Gregory and Trott played magnificently. Indeed it is question- able if such cricket as this has ever been seen in any of those contests.

FIRST-CLASS AVERAGES. Calculated to Saturday June 20 inclusive. BATTING AVERAGES (10 innings). No. Times Most of not Total in an iims. out. runs, inns. Aver. Abel 18 2 1045 231 62.31 Ranjitsinhji, K. S. 20 1 1002 146 52.73 Gnnn 20 3 880 207* 51.76 Palairet, L. C. H. 60 2 402 147 30.25 IKewham, W 14 2 577 201# 48.08 Hayward 18 4 644 229* 46.09 Brown, J. T 24 3 957 203 45.57 Woods, S. M. J 17 1 732 158* 45.75 Jackson, F. S 15 2 583 117 44.84 Hay man, H. B 16 3 580 152 44.61 Barnup, C. J 13 1 534 95 44.50 15 2 578 210# 44.46 Webbe A. J 12 3 365 95 40.55 trace, Dr VV. G. 22 1 839 243# 39.95 r c, 16 3 493 107 37.92 iy;S:E;' 17 0 633 154 37.23 Marin 17 1 576 121 3600 -10 0 353 108 35.30 Signifies not out. BOWLING AVERAGES (20 wickets). Hearne (J. T.) 736.2 311 1299 120 10 82 Trumble, II 300.3 101 571 52 Jo98 Curliffe, F. H. E. 249.4 99 459 S Jones, E 357.4 1Z2 733 58 IIS Attewell (Win) 664.3 307 939 71 Hayward 320.1 112 ^7 1) Lohmann 227.4 85 395 27 14 62 Hardstaff 181 62 396 27 M74 Richardson 676.2 223 1589 104 1597 Giffen, G 302 84 690 45 {^4 Mold 468.1 161 1095 71 1^9 HaHam 291.4 115 553 35 15.80 PRESENT POSITIONS. One point is credited for a win, one point deducted for a lose, and drawn games are ignored. W. L. D. Tot'l. pts. Surrey 11 1 1 13 10 Yorkshire 8 0 3 11 8 Lancashire. 7 1 0 8 6 Middlesex 5 1 1 5 2 Essex 1 2 0 3 -1 Hampshire. 4 1 2 1 -1 Notts 1 2 2 5 -1 Snssex 1 3 2 6 -2 Somerset. 1 4 2 7 -3 Gloucester 1 4 2 7 -3 Warwickshire. 1 4 2 7 -3 Derbyshire. 1 4 1 6 -3 Leicestershire. 1 5 0 6 -4 Kent 0 5 14-5 NEWTOIVX V. WELSHPOOL,-PIayed on the ground of the latter on Saturday last. Score:- KEWTOWX. H. Hibbott run out 12 R. W illiams b Harrison 3 T. Worthiugton b Owen 4 F. R. Hall c b Hart 0 R. C. Morgan b Harrison 0 Chas. Parry b Harrison 0 T. Chapman c Blackith b Hart 0 H. Morgan b Owen 6 A. E. Saunders not out 4 P. VV. Jones b Harrison 3 11. D. Rider b Harrison 0 Extras 9 Total 41 WELSHPOOL. C F Tall is c S C Morgan b P W Jones 0 H K E Harrison b P W Jones 18 D iv Jones b P W Jones 9 J Hart b C Parry 8 C Worth b C Parry 0 R F Parry not out 29 Lumley Jones b C Parry 8 Wilfrid Jones b C Perry 2 G <) wen ran out 1 C T Cronk b P W Jores 3 H Blackith b C Parry 5 Extras. 4 Total 87 Newtown in the 2nd innings scored 52 for 7 wickcta. ROYAL WFTSU WAREHOUSE v. ELAN VALLEY.— Plaved at Elan Valley, on Saturday last. A very pleasant game resulting in a win for the visitors by 140 runs. Scores:— ELAX VALLEY. W C Teague run out 1 S C Lewis b E R Pugh 14 T Edwards b E R Pugh 9 W S Beccher c W E Pryce Jones b Pugh 0 C S Cooke b II Lewis 1 J Pickering b E R Pugh 0 F C Boys c E Rees b H Lewis 0 W Stevenson b E R Pugh 0 S Prosser run out 2 M Nicholas b II Lewis 1 RCoscoanocoat 0 Extras 10 Total 38 ROYAL WELSH WAREHOUSE. W E Pryce Jones b F C Boys 71 W G Cannon b W C Teague 36 E P. Ptigh b S Prosser 1 E Roes c IT Lewis b VV S Beecher 22 C Davies b W S Beecher 22 A Ed wards b F C Boys 12 W R Wood c W C Teague b W S Beecher 0 A O Da vies not out 8 A ITirston b F C Boys 6 E A Taylor c C S Cooke b W S Beecher 6 H Lewis c T Edwards b W S Beechcr 1 Extras 12 Total 175 LLANIDLOES V. BUILTH.—This match was played at Builth on Friday week, and resulted in a win for the home team by 39 runs. Scores BUILTH. R J Owen b W R Wood 23 31 G Howell b E D Davies 3 G C Evans b E D Davies 1 W G Evans c Sellis b W R Wood 19 C J Inglis b W R Wood 0 A P., Evans b Jones 12 Evan T Owen run out 8 Tom Jones b Jones 11 T V Price b E D Davies' 2 Evan Vaughan b Jones 0 Jack Eadie not out 0 Extras 10 Total 89 LLANIDLOES. W E Prvce-.lones b Evans 9 W R Wood c Howell b Evans 0 Fred Kerr b Inglis 1 E VV Bielski b Inglis 4 H Breeze b Evans 0 M Oweu b Evans 0 L P Marshall b Evans 18 W Lewis b Evans. 0 E D Davies c Inglis b Evans. 1 R Jarman rnn out 5 J Kerr not out 1 Extras 11 Total 50 ROYAL WELSH WAREHOUSE v. MR. ARMISTEAD'S XI. (Tonriiig).-Piztve(i on Llit, It. W. W. ground. a well-contested game, ending in a win for the home side by three wickets and 16 rnus. Scores MR. ARMISTEAD'S XL F Corheld c H Lewis b E K Pugh 0 E. Thornburn c A W Pryce-Jones, b W. E. Pryce-Jones 21 J. C. Hennin b A Edwards 25 A. Barrett b A. Edwards. 6 VV J. Xproft c A Marston b VV E Pryce- Jones 2 W Hough b W E Pryce-Jones 6 J. Wilson not ont 24 T Armistead Ibw b VV E Pryce-Jones. 10 R Armistead run out 0 Chapman (pro.) e A Marston b W. E Pryce-Jones 6 C. Prrv b II Lewis 12 Extras. 11 Total 123 R. IV. tv. W E Pryce-Jones c R. Armistead b T Armstead 0 W G Cannon b T Armistead 3 E R Pugh c R Armstead b T Armstead 2 E Rees c Chapman b Parry 38 A Edwards b Parry 14 W R Wood b T Armistead 41 A Marston b Corfield 14 A 0 Davies not otit 2 E A Taylor not ont 14 A Tucker) „ TT r L did not bat H Lewis) Extras 11 Total (7 wickets) 139

CRICKET FIXTURES. (All matches played on the ground of the n-rst-named Club.) .JT7E. 27—Chirbury v. Montgomery 27—Oswestry v. Ellesmere 27,- Rhos v. OsweEtry- 2nd 27—Oswestry High School v. Wrexham Welcome 27-Knockin v. Llanymynech JULY. l-Ellesmere College 1st v. Oswestry Grammar School 1—Oswestry Grammar School 2nd v. Ellesmere College 3—Montgomery v. Llanidloes. 4—Welshpool v. Oswestry I' 4-0swestrv 2nd v Chirk 4—Montgomery v. R.W.W., Newtown 8-Ellesniere v. Oswestry Grammar School 3—Oswestry High School v. Ruabou Grammar School 11—Ruabon v. Oswestry High School 11—Ellesmere v. Overton 11—Shrewsbury Schools x. Oswestry- 11—Wem v. Ellesmere College ll-Oswestry 2nd v. Gobowen 11—Montgomery v. Welshpool 18-Ellesmere College v. Oswestry 18-Ellesinere v. Hanmer 18-Tedsmore v. Oswestry High School 20-Montgomery v. Meole Brace 20—Oswestry High School—Past v. Present 24-Llanidloes, v. Montgomery 25—(Jswestry v. Nantwich. — ♦ —-

COUNTY CRICKET. After an exciting day's cricket, Surrey received their first defeat this season, by Lancashire, at Old Trafford on Friday, by three wickets. The home eleven's innings closed for 157, and Surrey started their second effort, on a wicket becoming more difficult as time wore on, in a minority of 79. Brockwell and Abel opened the batting' with a superb performance, putting on 96 for the first wicket in an hour and twenty minutes, and at lunch-time Surrev were 33 runs ahead with nine wickets to fall. "Aftee the interval there was a ^thng change. The Surrey batting utterly co apsed before Hallam and Mold, and the innings ^c?se1 r 161, the last nine wickets only produced th ancas'hire went in wanting 83 to win, and tVin'f • je^au as badly as Surrey had ended, for half whrf r 6 for 35. Then Brigga joined Baker, life".from Key that cost Surrey twelve m kept together, until only victory A St°°d betweel1 Lancashire and their enthusiasm made amid mUC'1 Yorkshire ,.n™0 i ™Pasfc six. At Leicester; mckMs ,o ffi;r;"fe'Khtl!„re,°t397 for worn ill riia™* JV 107. Leicester- runs to save an innings defeat TK 1 rc.(luire. f appeared to have been rema^able for The nurnbS ot catches missed by the Lanw-i,' The Australians got further behind onFrida match with the Midland Counties eleven, and be surprising if they escape defeat. The English men's innings, which on Thursdav evpn;™ J f 168 for three, was carried to 267. TheCnlrm"0^ gan their second innings 126 in arrears, and when stumps were drawn they had lost six wickets f 142. Thus with a lead of only 13 they l,ave but four wickets in hand. Middlesex, playing against Gloucestershire made a feeble display, scoring 143 of which Dr. Grace contributec 60. Following on' they did somewhat better, securing 190 for six wickets, of which the Champion and his son made 89. Gloucestershire are in a hopeless position, as they want 117 to avert an innings defeat, and have only four wickets in hand. Sussex won the match against Kent at Tunbridge by four wickets. Ranjitsinhji, by an innings of twenty-four, completed his thousand runs in first-class cricket this season, about half an hour behind Abel, who achieed the same distinction at Old Trafford. The match between the second elevens of Surrey and Lancashire ended in an overwhelming defeat for Lancashire by an innings and 243 runs. Gloucestershire were unable to make the 117 runs they required to avert a single-innings defeat, and soon after noon 011 Saturday Middlesex hail gained an easy victory by an innings and 77 runs. York- shire beat Leicestershire by an innings and 302riins, the losing side not being able in their attempts to approach anywhere near Yorkshire's gigantic total of 660. At Birmingham the Australian Eleven, after at one time looking as though they were going to be very easily beaten, set the Midland Counties team 126 to get to win. A bad start was made, but eventually the runs were hit off for the loss of six wickets and the Australians thus suffered their second reverse. A dry fast wicket favoured a fine batting per- formance at Lord's on Monday on the occasion of the first match between the Australians and a representative England eleven. But the visitors, who went in first, collapsed in a remarkable fashion before the bowiing of Richardson and Lohmann, and their last wicket fell for the insignificant total of 53. The England team fared better. Abel, who was badly missed when he had only scored nine, contributed 94 before his wicket fell, and Grace and Jackson were out for 66 and 44 re- spectively. When stumps were drawn England had lost eight wickets for 286 runs. There was a great gate," upwards of 30,000 spectators being present. At Taunton, Lancashire disposed of Somerset for 149 runs, and had lost eight wickets for 132 when play ceased for the day. Ward con, tributed a fluely played 77. At the Oval Oxford University made a brilliant stand before Surrey. The Oxonians scored 406, Waddy and Bardswell between them being responsible for more than ha]f the number. Surrey had only a short time to bat in, and lost one wicket for 25. At Brighton Cam- bridge University dismissed Snssex for 129, and for five wickets succeeded in putting on 227 runs. Durham made a poor show ai^ Barnsley, all the side being out for the Australian total, whilst York- shire ran up 286. In the Durham second innings 16 runs were scored without the loss of a wicket. The spectators at Lord's on Tuesday were re- warded by a brilliant batting performance on the part of the Australians. It will be remembered that overnight the England eleven, for tlw Joss of eight wickets, had scored 286. The remaining wickets only added six runs, and the Australians entered upon their second innings with 239 runs wanted to save an innings defeat. Two wickets fell for three runs, but Gifren and Trott raised the score to 62 before the former was bowled. On Gregory joining Trott a remarkable display of batting was given. Richardson, Lohmann, Grace, Hearne, and Jackson were all tried, but the bowling of each was equally punished, ar.d the score was raised to 283 before Gregory was caught. His contribution to the score was 103. Shortly afterwards Trott, who had made 143, was also caught, and the innings closed for 347. England, hou. batting, and had scored 16 for the loss of Abel's wicket when play ceased for the day. At Taunton Lancashire defeated Somerset by ten wickets. At the Oval, Surrey had to follow on, and at the close of play, with three wickets to fall, were still three runs short of Oxford's total. Snssex were in a worse position than Surrey, being still 202 runs behind Cambridge with six wickets to go down. Yorkshire defeated Durham by an innings and 166 runs. !j jjThe first test match between England and Australia ended on Wednesday in the defeat of the Australians by six wickets. The home eleven entered upon their second innings on Tuesday evening requiring 109 to win, and had lost one wicket for 16 when play ceased for the day. The remaining runs were got on Wednesday with the loss of three more wicketil, Brown and Stoddart (not out) contributing 36 and 30 respectively. At the Oval, Surrey were defeated by Oxford University by eight wickets, and at Brighton Cambridge Uni- versity defeated Sussex by an innings and 136 runs. There was a remarkable breakdown in the Gloucestershire batting against Lancashire at Bristol on Thursday. Up to the luncheon interval Gloucestershire, who batted first, had scored 101 for one wicket but afterwards no stand was made against the bowling of Baker and Hrigs, and the last wicket fell for 133. Lancashire, with the loss of Ward's wicket, had put together 97 when play ceased, and of this number Sugg (not out) had con- tributed 69. At Derby the Yorkshiremen batted all day. Hirst (not out) contributed 64 towards a total of 403 for seven wickets, and six of the other batsmen had scores of over 40. At the Oval Surrey made but a poor show against Middlesex, being only able to reply with 46 to Middlesex's 108. In the second innings Middlesex, with at one time six wickets down for 40, had reached 107 without further loss when stumps were drawn. Notts made a fair stand against the Australians, putting together 269. The Colonials los; one wicket for JO. At Brighton Oxford occupied the wickets all day, scoring 244 off the Sussex bowlers (Leveson-Gower 78 and Bardswell 59). At Lord's the Marylebourne Club in their first innings made 134, Cambridge re- plying with 111. In the second innings the M.C.C. had put together 92 for two wickets when play ceased for the day. -+-

CYCLING. T B Y "PUMP HARDER. The way in which the New York police trea cyclists who break the Corporation regulations will probably astonish most English people. It appears from the report; of a meeting of the Police Board a few days ago that offending cyclists- when caught are promptly marched off to the police station and locked up all night in the cells in company with the disreputable characters generally found in such places. Even lady cyclists are so dealt with —like people who are drunk and disorderly in England—but the treatment in this way of a Miss Crane simply because her bicycle lamp had gone out has at last produced a protest. Considering that it came from a member of the Board who is said to be an old cyclist, the protest was a very mild one. It does not seem to have occurred to Mr Roosevelt, the gentleman who complained, to suggest that the police should be content, as in England, with taking the offender's name and address with a view to a summons. All he asked was that there should be some place at the police station where the offenders might remain under arrest, and yet not be subjected to the indignities of a regular imprisonment in a cell. As to open violators of the law, scorchers, and the like," Mr Roosevelt quite agreed that they should be shut up iu the cells in the ordinary way. That he should apparently be willing to imprison accidental offenders at all is incomprehensible to English notions of liberty. Excepting 1890-91, when the great pneumatic tyre boom was at its height, I never remember encountering so many cycling inventors, sane and insane, as are to be found at the present moment. early all the new things that have come under my notice have recently been described in this column. But I think I have never come across anything more extraordinary than an idea which was shown to me yesterday. The inventor of it claims to have discovered perpetual motion or something like it. (According to him, provided one's weight is placed in a certain position, and is directed at a certain angle, tlfe bicycle requires no propulsion whatever except up-hill. This san- guine inventor, although hajsays he has had the idea patented for many years, has, to my surprise, never built a machine to which this wonderful prin- ciple could be applied, which is somewhat remark- able, seeing that, if a bicycle could he produced which could be propelled simply by one's weight, there would be such a demand for it as has never been known in the world before.' But then, people with such ideas as this generally find it better to theorise than to put their claims into practice. I do not know how many more devices we are to < have for the prevention of punctures, but every day seems to see the introduction of a tyre of this type. So far nothing has succeeded in defyiug punctures which does not interfere with the resiliency of the tyre. Certainly, it is better that non-puncturing bands should be of rubber—however prepared—than of metal, and the Larue, which is just being placed on the market, has inside the tread of the tyre a strip of rather thick pure rubber, specially treated so that its resilient properties are stated to be retained. But this is another of the many things of the kind which have to be tried before such claims can be substantiated. Anyone who takes an interest in the develop- ment of British trade cannot help regretting that the exports of cycles and cycle parts from this country should be showing a steady decline. During May there was a drop of some £20,000 in value as compared with the corresponding month last year. In previous years May has been the busiest month of the year in the export trade, but the total for last month is smallar than has been recorded for May in any of the precedingyears. No doubt the busy state of the home trade is the cause of the decline of the export business, but it is doubtful whether the policy of neglecting the foreign business in favour of the home demand will prove to have been a right one, as it is giving our German and other competitors the opportunity they have long been seeking. lose who watch the progress of cycling at lome and abroad cannot fail to be struck with the act that the French people in particular are very quick in grasping the possibilities of tho cycle and °, prtting the machine to practical use: I ieai, or instance, that the prefect of the police in aris ias just, given orders that a bicycle is to bo placed at all the police stations in the suburbs, and that the policemen who already use bicycles for c service will have a right to an award. It is in aris, too, that there exists a really practical cycle tie engine, and in Brussels there is a regnlar corps of cycling firemen. Still fortune smiles upon us, and we have had another long spell of magnificent cycling weather. It has been a trifle too hot, perhaps, to ride with comfort in the heat of the day, but the early morn. ing or the evening spin has been very enjoyable. To the rational cyclist who has other joys in view than a scorch," a ride on even a hot day is not so uncomfortable as the unenlightened would think. At least, I have often found it far cooler than walking. The reason is simple. The hottest days are those when th°re is little or no breeze, and it is then felt to be hot even when one is doing absolutely nothing. On such a day the cyclist, with his easily- propelled machine, is able to go through the air at such a rate as to make a breeze for himself, and can in this way, as I know from experience, travel with greater comfort than the pedestrian. If the rider knows the road well, there is nothing more exhilarating than to go jogging along in the cool dry air at night, which is the characteristic of the nights at the present time of year. And if the pale moon sends forth her kindly radiance, then the concomitants are complete. The novelty of the thing adds to the charm, and, with two or three riding, for company, they can laugh and sing to their heart's content. The roads are free from any other traffic, and there isnothingto prevent tho occasional scorch so dear to the heart of every wheelman, but cannot be so freely indulged in at other times. And then the feeling of wearing home" is experienced (supposing the ride to have been a long one) as familiar objects are passed, and at last the lights of the town hove in sight, and then we pass through the street, with first a Good-night" to the watchful "Roberts" and then Good-night old man" to each other, and we stable our horses and go to roost with a rich contentment. I notice that a cyclist has been fined in Hertford- shire for passing two tramps on the road without ringing his bell, and a London Q.C, has been fined for wheeling his bicycle a few yards across the pavement to get under an awning in a shower of rain. This enforcement of the letter of the law against cyclists is very absurd, and I should say it is only our pastime that meets with such careful attention at the hands of the police. A Cycling Club has been formed in Ellesmere of which Air Tower has been elected President, and Mr R. 0, Kynaston, Hardwick Hall, and Mr E. L. Mylius (Lloyds Bank), and Mr C. Tabor vice- presidents. The Captain is Mr F. Roberts, and sub- captain Mr H. Stackhouse; Mr A. T. Bassett Secretary and Treasurer. Committee, H. Adams, C. Roberts, W. H. Jones, P. W. Balduin, D. Davies, E. Fowler. The first run took place a few days ago, when over 30 members attended, and had a splendid spin to Overton. On Tuesday, they had a run to St Martins, other runs have been arranged, and the club is likely to have great success. Communications for this column should be achlrpssed to Pump Harder," Connty Times Office Welshpool, not later than Thursday in each week, to ensure publication in the current issne. Secretaries of clubs will oblige by sending their fixture lists as soon as possible.

PARLIAMENTARY. M 0 X D A Y I n the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Ritchie, replying to Mr Stephens, stated that an inquiry would be held without any avoidable delay into the circumstauces of the loss of the DrnIllmomt Castle. The House having gone into Committee on the Education Bill, Mr Balfour rose and said he had to announce that he should propose that the Chairman leave the chair, a motion which would have the effect of destroying the bill for the present session. T11 explanation and justification of the change in the policy of the Goverument, he said that under the plan proposed by the Govern- ment a week ago 53 days would have been avail- able for the passage of the bill before financial exigencies required or suggested a new session. The opposition they had met with, if con- tinued, would have made made 53 days a totally iuadequate time for passing the bill into law. In five days they had only passed two lines and fourteen words of the first clause. He thought he had seen indications of a determination not to allow an amendment to be disposed of except after resort had been had to the closure and it became t apparent that even to deal with the amendments I on tho paper about forty days of eight hours each would have to be sent in walking through the lobbies. The idea of finishing the bill before the new session had to begin was therefore practically chimerical. An autumn session would not have improved the position, and as they could not recom- mend the policy of closure by compartments, they had decided to sacrifice the eleven days already occupied on the bill and begin the subject afresh early next January. The Government considered they were absolutely pledged to aid the Voluntary schools, and to carry that aid to the furthest extent the Imperial resources would permit. They would take steps to ensure that the V oluntary schools did not suffer by the delay in carrying out their plan. Sir \V. Harcourt having strongly defended the attitude of the Opposition towards the bill, a long discussion followed. The Chairman then left the Chair, and the Speaker returned. On the motion for the third reading of the Diseases of Animals Bill, Mr. Smart moved that it be read a third time that day three months. Mr- Cawley seconded the motion. In the House of Lords the Earl of Dunraven moved the second reading of the bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister. He pointed out that in regard to the law of marriage England stood in a position of insolation-by no means a splendid" one—as compared with all other civilised countries. Lord Percy moved the rejec- tion of the bill, and was supported by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, who said that the bill would make a ruinous breach in the principle of the marriage law. The House divided, and the second reading was carried by 142 votes against 113 a majority of 29. The Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family supported the bill, whilst twenty prelates voted against it. TUESDAY. In the House of Commons Mr. Dillon and other members asked what the programme ot business for the rest of the session would be.—Mr. Balfour said that after the proceedings on the present stage of the Rating Bill were concluded, the Finance Bill will be proceeded with, and after the com- mittee stage of the Finance Bill they would take the Light Railways Bill. He held himself at liberty however, to take a day for the discussion of the Indian troops resolution, and to find time, if necessary, for the resolution 011 the Uganda Railway before the stages of the Bill he had mentioned were concluded. As to the Irish Land Bill, they might reasonably hope to get the ,bi 11 through if five days were allowed for all tho stages before the measure went to the other House. Those five days he promised, but nothing more. He had every hope of the Mines Regulation Bill being passed now that it had been lightened of what he understood was the only contentions clause in it. He had no hope of being able to proceed with the Employers' Liability Bill this session the Scotch Rating Bill could not be taken until after the Finance Bill, and indeed not until after the Light Railways Bill; the Military Manoeuvres Bill would not be brought on again at present, and as to the Benefices Bill, he could not see. any prospect of being able to find time before the middle of next month for any other than Government business. On the motion that the Agricultural Land Rating Bill as amended in Committee be considered, Sir H. H Fowler asked the ruling of the Speaker on a question on proceedure. The Speaker had little doubt that the intention had been to protect any charge on the revenue by providing that pre- liminary proceedings iu Committee upon recom- mendation of a Minister of the Crown. But whatever were the general intentions of Parliament, he was of opinion that the Standing Order contained certain limiting words that removed this case from the operation of the rule. The consideration of amendments was then proceeded with. Mr Price moved an amend- ment to relieve arable land of three-fourths of its rates and grass land of oue-quarner. This was defeated by 252 votes to 116. A proposal by Mr Stuart to exclude from the benefits of the Act I agricultural land situated in the boroughs, or with- in the metropolitan district, was under discussion when the debate was adjourned. WEDNESDAY.* The consideration of the Agricultural Land Rating Bill as amended in Committee was con- tinued iu the House of Commons on Wednesday, when Mr. Kearley resumed the discussion on Mr- Stuart's amendment to the first clause to the effect that land within county or municipal boroughs should not be included in the operation of the bill. Sir G. Trevelyan said there never was a more dis- tinct pledge made across the table of the House than that in which, only on the 19th of May, Ir. Chaplin accepted the principle of this amendment. On that day Mr. D. Thomas moved an amendment to exempt accommodation land, and, Mr. Chaplin then admitted that there was much to be said in favour of the amendment. He said the difficulty was in the matter of definition, but he accepted the principle of the amendment, adding that he would do his best to produce a definition that was satis- factory. Mr. Chaplin said he had laboured hard to fulfil the terms of his promise, but up to the present he had absolutely failed to produce an amendment that would be generally satisfactory. lr. Asquith hoped some more satisfactory reply would be given by tho Government. Did the the Government, or did they not, recede from the admission formally made by Mr. Chaplin that in principle land ought to be discriminated according as it did or did not require relief ? Sir. R. Webster denied that the Government had ever given any pledge such as Mr. Asquith had suggested. They never said they could discriminate between land distressed and land not distressed. What Mr. Chaplin said was that if a satisfactory definition could be arrivtd at as to what was to be treated as accommodation land he would endeavour to exclude that land from the bill. Eventually Mr. Balfour moved the closure, which was carried by 222 votes to 131, and Mr Stuart's amendment was defeated by 236 votes to 131. An amendment moved by Mr II. Lewis, that the relief granted should be one-fourth insead of one- half, was rejected by 234 votes to 116. Mr Balfour then moved that the clause as a whole should be put, but the Speaker declined to accept the motion. Mr Lloyd-George proposed an amendment with the object of providing that the exemption from half the rates should only apply in the case of rates existing when the bill passed. This was rejected by 250 votes to 117. Mr Balfour again moved the closure, which was carried by 245 votes to 111. and the motion that clause 1 stand part of the bill was carried by 243 votes to 134. The House then ad- journed. THURSDAY. In the house of Commons, Mr P. Stanhope asked whether the Government had received any confir- mation of the terrible reports appearing in the papers as to the operations of the Turkish troops in Crete. Mr Curzon replied that the reports from the Consul at Crete gave a general confirmation of the statements that had appeared. The representatives of the six Powers, who were acting in entire accord, had made representations to the Porte with regaid to the measures necessary for the restoration of order. Mr J. Ellis asked what those measures were. Mr Curzon replied that they were the nomination of a Christian governor, the revival of the Halepa constitution, the convocation of the Assembly, and a general amnesty. Mr Ellis also asked whether Lord Salisbury's attention had been called rc the report of the Commissioner of the Armenian Relief Fund respecting his visit to the province of Kharput, and the terrible devastation of that province by fire and sword. Mr Curzon said attention had been directed to the report, and strong representations had been made to the Turkish Government. Mr Ellis was asked whether the Government intended to do nothing more than make these" strong representations." Mr Curzon replied that the Government mnst wait and see what weight those representations had. Sir Wm. Harcourt asked when tho searching inquiry into the origin and circumstances of the invasion of the Transvaal by forces under the control of the Chartered Company was to be instituted. Mr Chamberlain replied that the House was aware that the Government had promiseed to make proposals for a further inquiry to the House as soon as the trial of Dr Jameson was concluded. As he was very anxious that the inquiry should be divested of any- thing approaching a party character, he proposed to take the usual means of finding out the general feel- ing of the House in regard to the m atter, in the hope that a unanimous agreement might be arrived at both in regard to the form of of the inquiry and the terms of the reference. In reply to lr. J. H. Roberts, Mr. Chamberlain said he had received a telegram from Sir F. Carrington stating that Lieutenant Bremner, of the 20th Hussars, was reported to have been killed by the Mashonas at Maiandellas, 60 miles south of Salisbury. A patrol to the Beatrice mine had met with severe opposi- tion on its retirement, two natives having been killed, and four whites wounded. A force of 203 Imperial troops had been ordered to proceed from Mafeking to Macloutsie. Mr. W. Redmond asked why the Matabele were always spoken of as "rebels," when they were merely fighting for the protec- tion of their own country. No reply was given. The consideration of the Agricultural Land Rat- ing Bill as amended in Committee was resumed. Mr M'Kenna proposed to omit certain words in the second clause, on the ground that they were unnecessary, misleading, and contradictory, but the amendment was rejected by 199 votes to 127. Mr. Lloyd-George moved that the payment from the Exchequer in aid of agri- cultural land should not exceed £1,300,000 a year. The amendment was negatived by 229 votes to 131. Mr. E. Griffith proposed that the spending authority should not be entitled to receive from the Local Taxation Account in respect of any one year a sum exceeding the amount derived in that year by such spending authority from the local rates in respect of agricultural land. This was defeated by 251 votes to 148. Mr. J. A. Pease moved the omission of sub-section three, which provides that the Inland Revenue Commissioners shall, under the direction of the Treasury, pay to the Local Taxation Account out of the proceeds of the estate duty derived i. England from personal property the annual sum required to be paid to that account. This was negatived by 263 votes to 138. A number of other proposed amendments to the clause were disposed of, and clause 4 was then considered.

DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL. VOTES OF LOCAL PEERS. The following local peers voted in the majority in the House of Lords on Monday on the second reading of Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill :—The Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Cawder, Lord Aberdare, the Earl of Dunraven, Lord Rendel, and Lord Tredegar. In the minority against the Bill were the Marquess of Bute, the Earl of Powis, Lord Dynevor. Lord Llangattock, and Lord Wimborne. ♦ —

BRIDGNORTH SHOW. The Shropshire and West Midland Society's show at Vhich £1,350 is to be awarded in prizes, will be held at Bridgnorth on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week, and the attractions for this vear's exhibition promise to excel all previous shows held under the auspices of this society. The leading features which are briefly enumerated in our advertising columns, include a grand collection .of agricultural horses, hunters, hacks, cobs and ponies, also of shorthorn Hereford, Dairy, Jersey and other cattle, specimens of the renowned breed of Shropshire sheep, an extensive collection of machinery in motion, agricultural implements, embracing all the latest designs and inventions, carriages, cycles, &o. A new feature in the pro- gramme will be a show of auto-cars cr horseless carriages," which will be the first of their kind exhibited in the provinces. Special provision is made for the entertainment of visitors by musical performances by the famous Willenhall Prize Band, the daily parades of prize stock, horse leaping, turnout contests, and working dairy demonstrations. The railway companies have arranged special cheap bookings from all parts, and everything promises a most successful meeting. +

LLANRHAIADR. INQUEST. The East Denbighshire coroner (Mr Wynn Evans) held an -enquiry at Efyl Rhyd, on Monday evening on the body of James Wynn Jerrold, aged fifty, a travelling tinker.—-Dr Kenrick Jones, of Llanrhaiadr, stated that he was called to see the deceased on Thursday evening. He found him lying on a mattress in a barn at the Efel Rhyd Inn. He was in convulsions, and appeared to be suffering great pain. On being questioned, the deceased said he felt as if the whole of his inside was on fire. He added that he had taken some spirits of salts in mistake. What the deceased had really taken was cloride of zinc, which tinkers used in their trade. It was a deadly poison, and the quantity taken was sufficient to kill any man. The deceased died about midnight of Thursday. The witness made a post-mortem examination of the body, and found that he had died from a cor- rosive and irritant poison.—The jury returned a verdict to the ci.oct that the deceased died from the effects of poison taken by mistake. L L AN GAD FAN. PARISH COUNCIL.—At the first meeting of the Parish Council held on Friday, the 19th ir.st., Mr Evan Evans, Cae'ncoed was elected chairman, and Mr David Davies, l'enybont clerk. —

Llyfr Anthcman Novello," detholedig o weithiau y prif gyfansoddwyr—hen a diweddar—wedi eu cyfaddasu i eiriau Cymraeg, o dan olygiaeth Mr John H. Roberts, Mus. Bac. Cantab. This is an excellent book far any Welsh home as it contains a store of music by some of the best composers. Fifty well-known anthems are arranged in four parts with Welsh words, neatly bound in cloth. Price 5s. or Solfa 2s. 6d. Published by Novello, Ewer & Co.

CHESS. All communications for this department should be addressed to the Chess Editor, who will be glad to hear from Secretaries of Chess Clubs as to tournaments, matches, &c. All letters to reach thisoffice by Wednesday morning. Local intelligence will be given the preference to other news. # PROBLEM o. 31.—Solutions invited. By MRS BAIRD. BLACK 2 Pieces. WnrTE- 8 Pieces. Positions: White—K at ORsq, Q at KB8, Bat QR6, Kt at KB3, Ps at RR3, KB6, KKt5 and KR3. Black—K at Q4, P at KB5. White to play and niatf-, in -direc moves. =* # BHOWALIER v. -,Ifr J. W. Showalter is once again playing a match for the cha.mpiouship of tbo Unitod States of America. His adversary on this occasion is Mr Barry, of Boston, who. it wiil be remembered, played so well against Mr Tinsley in the cable contest with the Brooklyn Club last March. The match is being coutested at the Brooklyn Chess Club, Boston, and the play thus far has not been of a very superior order. The first two games'were both very tame, and resulted in draws. The third game was won by Barry, through weak play on the part of Showalter, and the fourth game ended in a rather easy victory for Showalter. Below we give the thirfl and fourth games. GAME No. 44. WHITE. BLACK. rry. Showalter. 1 P—K4 P—K4 2 Kt—KB3 Kt—KB3 3 I' (t>1 P x P 4 I' K5 Kt—K5 ■J O x P P—(^4 6 P x Pep Kt-(¿P 7 B—Q3 (a) Kt—B3 1:3 Q-K14 B—K2 9 Castles B-K3 10 Kt—B3 Q2 11 B K3 Kt—-1*4 12 B x Kt B x B 13 Kt—()Kt5 B -<,>3 (b) 14 Kt x B (eh) P x Kt 15 KR—Q BxP 16 R x P Q—B4 17 Q—Kt3 Castles (KR) ? (e) 18 B—R6! P-KKt3 19 B x R ItxB 20 Q-Kt5 ( x Q 21 Kt X Q 22 Kr—B3 Kr-K4, 23 Kr x Kt R x Kt 24 H-Q2 B—R5 25 P—B4 R—OB4 26 P, -3 3 B-Jb 27 R-H3 R xR (u) 28 P x B p-Kn4 29 K-B2 K—Kt2 30 P-B4 K-B3 31 R-K2 K-B4 32 K-K3 K-Kt5 33 R Q2 P-R3" 34 P-QR3 P R5 35 Roo-KH2 P B3 36 K-Q4 p—R4 37 K-B5 K B4 38 K-Q6 K-.K5 39 K-K6 K-K6 40 R-Kt2 P—B4 41 K-B6 K x P 42 K x P K-Kt5 43 P R3 (ch) K-B5 44 R KB2 (ch) K-Kt6 45 R x P BxP 46 K—Kt5 BxP 47 B-B4 B-Kt7 48 It x P K—B6 49 H Q4 K—K6 50 R Q5 K— K5 51 K—B6 B—B8 52 P B5 B—B5 53 R—Q B-Q6 54 K K5 K-Q5 55 K—Q6 K-B5 56 K-B7 B—K5 57 K Kt6 P-R5 58 R K B-B3 59 R QKt K—Q5 60 R QKt4 (ch) K-K4 61 R-Kt4 K-Q4 62 R—Kt6 K—B5 63 R x B P x R » 64 K x P K-Kt6 65 K Kt5 (a) This seems, as we have remarked before, an improvement on the more usual 7 B KKt5, which, i't is true, brings on 7, P to K B3 for Black, but, in return, loses valuable time for White. (b) 13 Castles (KR) might, perhaps, have been tried instead, buj after 14 KR moves, White seems able to get a certain advantage by 15 K t x QBP. (c) This seems at best a grave miscalculation, costing forthwith the exchange and practically the game. 17 P to K-.K t3, at once, instead, seems the only move. (b) These exchanges culminating here appear curious policy on Black's part. But he was doubt- less disgusted with his error at the 17th move, and was perhaps, playing regardless." The game is gone for him, and really requires no further re- marks. GAME No. 45. I i i T BLACK. Shv.valtsr. Barry. 1 P- K4 P-K4 2 Kt KB3 Kt—KB3 3 P—Q4 (a) 4 P x KP P—K5 .5 Kt.—K5 Kt x P 6 B-QB4 P. X3 71,) K2 P—KB4 8 Castas (b) Kt—02 (c) 9 B x Kt B 10 0 Kt5. P—B3 11 x k P Kt x Kt 12 1-1 K t, B—B4 (d) 13 P \J n4! B x P 14 x P ch X—B2 15 P-—K6 ch K-Kt3 16 < t' x B B x 11 17 B-R3 18 Kt— Q5 R—Ksq 19 K—B3 20 <(> —B3 ch K-K2 (e) 21 Ox P ch K—Q3 22 B-K3 K—B3 23 il B ch K—Kt4 24 (J —K5 ch K—R5 25 P —Kt3 ch K—116 (f) 26 1, B5 cli K x P 27 ") -it cit K :< P 28 R—-B3 mate (a) Moves of this kind arc always dangerous, and are generally ventured by young players possessing more daring than experience. (b) If 8 Q 11 Kt3; 9 Kt x P, Kt KB3; 10 <) R4, BxB; 11 Kt x R, i\> x P; with advani age. < (c) This results in the immediate loss of a pawn. 8 appears to be tho only move of any value. (d) Ingenious, although bad. If White venture on 13 Q x K KtP, the reply of R—KKt sq, followed by P—K6 woulk give mack a strong attack. Mr Barry, however, failed to foresee he full effect of his opponent's next move, which practically wins the game by force. (e) If K Kt4, White gives mate in two moves. (f) The game could have been well resigned by Black at this point. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Chess Editor will be pleased to answer correspondents in this column if their questions are received at the COUXTY TIMES Otfice not later than Wednesday. -+-

The triennial choral festival in connection with the Calvinistic Methodist Churches in the Vale of Clwyd was held on Thursday at Rhyl, the presi- dents being Mr Gee, of Denbigh, and Rev. J. Williams, of Rhyl. The British and Venezuelan Ministers at Wash- ington have had interviews with Mr Secretary Oluey, whose intervention with the Government of Caracas in regard to the seizure of Mr Harrison is said to have been solicited by the British Govern- ment.

CO E RES PO N D EN CE. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR- r V)* To CORRESPONDENTS. — Communications column should be addressed to the oJtly must be written upon one side of the They should in all cases be accompanied V name and address of the sender, not necessaU V puotication but as a guarantee of good tatth.

RIVAL SUNDAY SCHOOL TRIPS FROM WELSHPOOL. To the Editor of the COUNTY TIMES AND post, Sir,—Is it not a trifle hard upon the Ch.I1 Schools of this town that after duly ad. their annual trip to Aberystwyth for July 1" ing the past month, they should find themselves fronted by a rival trip to the same place, ant a date placed at a fortnight earlier ? 0f the United Nonconformist Sunday Schoo.s g !eN,er at the town consider themselves very clever at Buti stealing a march upon their Church rivals 0 n would not a" give and take" policy have oee much better Inn.- of action in this matter ? Yours obediently, NICHOLAS OF June 24, 1896. — —

THE F.CHOOLMASTER ABROAD- To the Editor of the CUUNTY TIMES AND poST. a0 SIR,— The following is a genuiue copy #a official communication received from the CierK Parish Council not twenty miles from VVelsnP As a first instalment of spelling reform 1 very good. The communication was addressed • li Mr sc.hoolmastar, Llan Friday, u at 19. 1896. Mr the Paris Couusil will n>ei^ the School Roome this evningat 7p.m. — D. clarck."—Yours, £ c„ LL. Li., LlangadfaD- -+

LIGHT RAILWAY TO LLANFAIR, ERFYL AND CANN OFFICK. 1 To the Editor or the COUNTY TIMES and Sir, In the capacity "of a participator Il. sp entangled discussion of route, &'C., I "O(g to furtil you with, a few of my, perhaps vali.eless> 0f gestions, though I am glad to say, that 111,0 my plans have already been acted upon bY tbOf Llanfair Parish Meeting and Council, surely deserve my admiration and thanks. I s,rjC -e-vrr hope that Llanerfvl, Llangadfan, Lla ngy.rJ Meifod, Llansantffraid (Upper), Castle Caerei" Welshpool, Manafon, Lhmllugan, LLANWV^ ^JJ), Llanfihangel (i.e. Dolanog, Pontrobert, Llwyd18' j|y and all other parishes which are partly or situated within the radius of this proposed ra1 district will bo represented at the railway ferenee at Llanfair on July fair day to decide"0 of the routes should be adopted. It is esse' that every parish should work and promo j^ii' project in union, so it will be necessary at Bia for the minority to fall in with the decision majority, aud to be discreet to pass an unam resolution in favour cf the approved route. urf also necessary for those who may be in f"v(i hillS the unsuccessful scheme to bury all persona aud join with unabating energy the ranks majority, or possibly by their contrasted op ^QiiS the whole affair may experience a ^isa&vv0rlc collapse for it is absolutely necessary for the to be proceeded with now, or never. Suggestion 2. It is necessary for the Lxgn atjo"' way Conference to have the following infox'111. pf viz., ((/) The average cost per mile (exclo land) of constiucting a light railway froVClQ$Ce' Crosses to Llanfair, Llanerfyl, and Cann also from Welshpool to the afore-mentioned P^ tpe (lJ) The aggregate number of acres re 'Ll i 'e pef landowners' arrangements, tho average acre of land bought or rented, and the an?oaeriD^> land given away free (c) the cost of engin. cel"'s plans, &c., of the two routes, and also the en&\eCeIit' charge the county surveyor should be • to do the engineer's work and that free 01 pjO- (tl) The aggregate cost of the whole. ^.eg<ite moters are actually hand-tied until tin* a?r cost is handed ill. _1,rei! .Suggestion 3. That the preference should not exceed £ 10 per share, to be PalC/o(j £ 5 on application, £ 2 10s within the pfj|^ flijd three months, 20s at the end of six mont the remaining 10s when required. The 0 oOs0*1. shares should not exceed X5, to be paid ^>xlS^e e¡1( application, 20s within three months, 20s at tl" At" I of six months, and the rest as rcqulre eO. humble belief is that the above procedure,w^oUntrt more adequately the present state of ^!e C tjltlsl which is not over rich, for the would be more likely to be appropriated tric inhabitants aud well wishers of an isolate even the poorest labourer could thus ap?r I () £ 5 share iu tho Llanfair railway. The shares to each purchaser should be un^nl'"1,oald Suggestion 4. The necessary capital S" tb^ raised forthwith, for it is a well known those who have the gold will be catere Though the interval between now an a^ passing of the Bill may seem to some ? 1 but when the critical time conies how t one sincerely hope that the agriculturlS o0t Einiou, Ba.nw, aud the Vyrnwy valleys aP^ej* themselves be passed by and the sba priated by others perhaps less wort should they let themselves be ove pr apathy. They should be uuited as^one gb00^, raoting the much-needed railway inac. 1 &cce' j be instantly transformed into vital actlpgress» -^ed tricity and apathy into energy and P1 "t £ intly *J the empty pocket pouches should be in ia eg with golden crowns, all to be speeu cros Canu Office, Llanerfyl, Llanfair and bv or Welshpool Raihvav. J J

LIGHT RAILWAY TO LLANFAIR- To the Editor of the COUNTY TIMES a-id post, SIR,—As my name is mentioned so n71^r^^tl' your correspondent Agricola in connection the Parish Meeting at Llanfair. I appeal to ) tD usual fairness to allow me a small space to reply 'his stricures. yg Agricola distorts plain facts when he that it is the shop-keeper class, who for interest, take the leading movement to ha\ ('„t. proposed line made from Four Crosses. A reS^gt- able shopkeeper proposed an amendment to P pone a pronouncement in favour of the Crosses route, but his amendment was so acce?«'t1eji to the meeting that it was not even seconded. jj- the motion was put up in favour of the jggd Crosses route it Was not the shopkeepers that101 e their bands, but all the farmers with only g exception. Agricola forgets that at the P1'*3^ aii Parish Meeting we had on the subject, althons? eloquent and influential gentleman spoke in stlP^ggg of the Welshpool route, wrhen the Four i route was described by other much less elod speakers, the feeling was simply unanimous _lT1 favour. The farmers of Llanfair and district Sf!- too intelligent to be misled by the-shopkeeperc u 1111'" > For myself I would prefer the Welshpool ron oe, for it would answer best my personal convenie gee but I feel confident that the route to Four CrOj as is the greatest good to the greatest number, "Agricola." puts it. f support the Meifod ron for the following reasons :— j jo 1. Because it will serve the greatest £ °° the greatest number." I have no fear of 00 diction in saying that three times more people 131 be served by it than the Welshpool rout3. 011 coming to Pontsycbgoed this route will ser more than half the wants of a railway to VV pool. Then all Llangyniew, the Graigwen 7?ref« Pontrobert. parts of Llanfihangel, Meifod, r.annau, Deytheur, and Sarnaa (I do not parishes above and the south-west of which mostly support the Meifod route), i3 1 best to fix a shop where the most customers ca^ jji got? All this large district will be best ser?e the most direct way to bring lime, coal, and b ing materials, and all kinds of merchandise, aU dis' take off the vast amount of timber we have pose of to the coalfields, and from the Waggon Works by the Meifod route. o-ør 2. It will bring more people to revlv" tjje markets and strengthen our fairs." potteries line will be re-oper.ed as a light r»lJ .gjjt the Meifod route will best serve to bring elements to compete with the "shopkeeper from Welshpool, Oswestry, Shrewsbury. I, shopkeepers are not afjsucl ofLfair coimietifci"^r JsSi' don't want to he limited to the meiciea^t- pool alone. d 3. The Meifod route will be made cheaper more expeditious." It is a fact that a line c ^<5 made to Four Crosses without erecting one 8 large bridge, and yet dose to where the s ,oe»f ought to be, viz., Pontsvchgoed, Bontnewvdd Lower Hall), Mfifod, Pont:cowryd, ey thetir, ill It is so level, too, that no cutting of any depth, be made. There will be no stops at a "raven- ,The 4. It is the best route for visitors." ed Meifod Valley has only to be seen to be e$t- aDd made much more famous than it is at pre.s ^Jl It is second to none for its beauty and variety F Wales. What a contrast to the proposal 0LaCJj Welshpool friends to bring a railway up the t Pool dingle through the sparsely populated by Castle Caereiniou. JOHN LLOYD PEAi