The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

THE WAR. REPORTED gELIEF OF MAFEKIXG THE NEWS BELIEVED AT CAPE TOWN. CAFE TOWN, Tuesday. Another message lias; in this evening stat- In that Maf eking has been relieved. It is reported that the relieving force came from the north, and joined hands with Col Baden-Powell a week ago. The news it not official, but there is a disposition here to regard it as true. HOW SPION KOP WAS TAKEN. On Tuesday night General Warren's infantry made a sadden attack upon the Boer position on Spion Kop. Mounting the precipitous sides of the hill, they charged the Boer entrenchments. The enemy fled before our advance, evidently being taken by surprise, and had not had time to make preparation?" tor a stout resistance. Two Boers We/e killed, and the remainder of the force which held s he summit was dispersed. The attack had been immediately preceded by an admirable and effective shell lire upon the Boer position. On Wednesday morning very heavy fighting com- 1nencld, and proceeded almost all day without the slightest cessation. The fighting was of the most desperate nature. Theenemy, undoubtedly irritated at the easy manner in which our forces had carried the important positions of the summit of Spiou Kop, poured a terrific shell fire on the captured positions from their big guns, while their Maxims and Nordenfelts were also brought into play. The lighter artillery of the enemy was very destructive to our troops, who gallantly maintained their positions and made as effective a reply as .vas possible under the circumstances. Attempts were mad-j by our artillery to locate the smaller but more destructive guns of the Boers in order that our fire might be concentrated upon them aid their deadly effectiveness destroyed. The attempts to locate the enemy's lighter artillery were, how- ever, not very successful. At nine o'clock our infaiiti-v :g,-alltnt,].v stormed and carried another trench occupied by the enemy, and the troops held this advanced position until their ammunition gave out. The Boers were not slow to notice that some- thing was amiss, and encouraged by the silence of our men's rifles, a strong force of the enemy crept slowly forward and actually came right up to the front. Here they had a taste of the bayo- nets of the lirTtish infantry. The conflict was short but. bloody, and the Boers gave way before the fixed bayonets and sullenly retired, not,how- ever, without having secured a few ot our men as prisoners. Reinforcements were poured into the positions we had captured, and those positions were splendidly maintained under a murderous fire from the Boer positions until darkness put a stop to the fray. The conduct of our infantry all day was magnif- icent. Nothing could have exceeded their obsti- nate bravery the truly desperate fighting which hr-v' f; atrsomtely the whole day without n minute s Our naval guns gave able assistance n- our troops, shelling the enemy inces- sant !y from Mount Alice. THE TUGELA RECROSSED. BOER, V:COUNT OF THE LOSS OF SPION I KOP. fi The following telegram was issued from the War Office Monday afternoon :— From General Sir Red vera Buller to Secretary of Stale of War. (Received January 28.) SPEARMAX'S CAMP, SATURDAY. On January 20th, Sir Charles Warren, as I have repot-L.d, drove back the enemy and obtained poss- ession of the^southern crests of the high tableland which extends from the line Acton IIomes-Hongers Poort to the western Ladysmith hills. From then to the 25th, he remained close in eon- tact wiidi the enemy, who held a strong position in a range of small kopjes stretching from north-west to south-east across the plateau from Acton Homes through Spicn Kop to the left bank of the Tugela. The actual position held was perfectly tenable | but (iii itself to advance, as the southern slopes w ere so sl-ecp that Sir C. Warren could not get an effective artillery position and the supply of the troops with water was a diiffculty. On the 2.3rd, (1) assented to his attacking Spion Kop, 1 large Lill-indeed a mountain,—which was evidently the key of the position but was far more ace28sihle from the north than from the south. On the night of the 23rd, he seized Spion Kop, but found it very difficult to hold, as its perimeter was too large at.'d water, which he had been led to believe existed, in this extraordinarily dry season was found very deficient. The crests were held all that day against severe attacks and heavy shell fire. Our men fought with great gallantry, and I would especially mention the conduct of the 2nd Cartierouaiis and 3rd King's Royal Rifle Corps, who supported the attack oil the mountain from the steepest side and in each case fought their way to the top, and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and the 2nd Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British array throughout the trying day of the 24th and Tnorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, who fought througholll; a day equally well alongside of them. Major General Woodgate, who was in command at the summit, being wounded, the officer who succeeded him decided on the night of the 24th.20th to abandon the position, and did so before daylight on the 25th. I reached Sir C. Warren's camp at 5 a.m. on the 25th, and decided that a second attack on Spion Kop would be useless, and that the enemy's right was too strong to allow me to force it. According I decided to withdraw the force to the south of the Tugela. At 6 a.m. we commenced withdrawing the train and by b a.m., the 27th, Sir C. Warren's force was concentrated south of the Tugela without the loss of a mall or It pound (If stores. The fact that the force could withdraw from act,ual toucli-;i) the lines were less than 1,000 yards apart—with the enemy in the perfect manner it did is, 1 think, sufficient evidence of the moral of the troops, and that we were permitted to withdraw our cumbrous ox and mule transport across a river 85 yards broad, with 20 feet banks and a very svtjift sti-earti, unmolested is, I think, proof that the enemy ha-, to respect our soldiers' lighting powers. LADYSMITH STILL HOPEFUL. The courage and devotion of the earrison at Lady- smith are beyond praise. Naturally disappointed at the failure of Sir Redvers Bnller's movement by Tr'chardt's Drift, it obstinately refuses to despair. A strong camp rumour states that General Buller is advancing or another line. According to a Central News telegram Sir II Rawlinson, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General in Natal, on Wednes- day sent- the following telegram, to his wife from the beleaguered town Very fit ard confident." The correspondent of the T'n.; in Ladysmith tele- graphed on Sunday," We can hold on here." Many arguments have been put forward in the last few days in favour of the abandonment of active oper- ations for the relief of Ladvsmith and the transfei- ence of our main efforts to an invasion of Cape Colony and the presence of General Kelly-Kenny at Thebus is held to support the view that this is the plan that will actually be adoped. THE CASUALTIES. ) Two further lists of casualties among the troops engaged ill the operations at Venter's Spruit and on Spion Kop between January 17th and 24th were issued by the War Office on Wednesday. Tbey relate ro the Fifth Division and the mounted troops, and are concerned with the men only. The names of the officers who were killed or wounded or who are missing have already been given. The new lists contains nearly 800 names, the majority belonging to the Lancashire brigade. Of the 803 some 600 of the casualties occurred at Spion Kop. It wiil be remembered that a list of casualties which happened in the Second Division during the same peri-id was given on Saturday and Wednesday. (Itirinc,- the whole campaign we have lost 9,660 men, oi whom over 1,500 have been killed. The Boer losses in the fighting on Spion Kop are officially reported at Pretoiia as 53 killed and 120 wounded. RENEWED FIGHTING. There, was slight firing on Friday along General Buller's lines, but the situation remained unchanged. On Saturday morning the whole of Sir C Warren s infantry returned to the south side of the Tugela. The crossing of the river occupied twelve hours, and the pontoon and trestle bridge were then re- moved to the last plank. This was carried out just in time, for the Boers brought forward a 15-pounder and fired at our cavalry column as it was retiring, fortunately without doing any damage. Our troops still held on Friday the low detached hills north of tho Tugela at Potgieter's Drift. Another report states that the whole of our troops have crossed to the southern bank. The Boers appeared to be mounting a big gun at the back of Brakfont.ein. "LADYSMITH WITHIN A WEEK." GENERAL BULLER'S HOPE. The Daily Mail on Wednesday morning pub- lished a remarkable telegrarfi from Mr S J Pryor, a member of its editorial staff, now at Capetown. It says Sir Redvers Bii'.Ier yesterday (January 29) read the following message from the Queen i n Sir Charles Warren's force I t)irpt express my admiration of the troops daring the past trying week, especially those regiments you specify, and the accomplishment of your arduous march. General Buller said to the men that they ought not to think thai because they bltd retired from their position all their work was of no avail. In his opinion they had gained the key of the road to Ladysmith, in which he hoped to be within a week. General Bailer then called for cheers for the Queen, which were beard for miles round. the War Office has received no news confirming this report from Capetown. GENERAL KELLY-KENNY ON THE MOVE. News which may prove of considerble importance reached us on Wednesday from the northern dis- tricts of Cape Colony. General Kelly. Kenny, com- manding the Sixth Division of about 9,000 men. whose headquarters are at Rosmead Junction, has taken possession of Thebus, a station on the line between Rosmead Junction and Stormberg Junction. It was hoped that General Kelly-Kenny would soon be in touch with General Gatacre. This movement may foreshadow an attempt to drive the Boers from their position at Stormberg, by a joint attack from south and west, which, if successful, will no doubt be followed by an advance into Free State territory. Thebus is about the same distance to the west of Strotnberg as Sterkstroom is to the south. General Kelly-Kenny's Division includes the 2nd Bedford- shire, the 1st Royal Irish, the 2nd Worcester, the 2nd Wiltshire, the 2nd Buffs, the 2nd Gloucester, the 1st West Riding, and the 1st Oxford Light Infantry. There is no mention of cavalry and artillery. General Gatacre has about 5,000 men, made up of the 1st Royal Scots, the 1st Derbyshire Regiment, the remnants of the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles and the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, four companies of the 1st Berkshire, three batteries of field artillery, some mounted infantry, and detachments of Colonial troops. BULLER'S DESPATCHES. HONOURABLE MENTION OF LIEUT. II M PRYCE-JONES. The first despatch from General Buller since his arrival as Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, was published in Friday night's London Gazette. He forwards despatches from Sir George White at Ladysmith, General Hildyard at Estconrt, and four despatches from Lord Methuen, describing the battles of Belmont, Graspan, and Modder River. With reference to the Colenso reverse General Buller explains that he gave orders to Colonel Long, R.A., to como into action covered by the 6th Brigade, which brigade was not, as he knew, in. tended to advance on Colenso. Instead of this, he advanced with his batteries so fast that he left both his infantry escort and his oxen-drawn naval guns behind, and came into action under Fort Wylie, a commanding, trebly-entrencned hit!. at a range of 1,200 yards, and, General Buller believed, within 300 yards of the rifle pits. The men fought their guns like heroes, and silenced Fort Wylie, but the issue could never have been in doubt, and gradually they were all shot down. Colonel Long, at the time the despatch was sent, was so ill that he was unable to obtain his explanation. Sir Red vers Buller recommends Captain Congreve, Lieut F Roberts, Corporal Nurse, and Captaiu H L Heed for the Victoria Cross, and acknowledges the excellent service done by Lieut Ogilvy of H.M.S. "Tartan." General Buller, in his despatch, recommends six drivers for distinguished service medals for saving guns at Colenso. They all belonged to the 65th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, and included among them was a Carnarvon man named John Williams, 23 years of age. In his despatch describing the battle of Belmont, Lord Methuen notes with pleasure the courage displayed by Lieut Bulkelev, Scots Guards; and Lieuts the Hon C Douglas-Pennant and Pryce- Jones, 1st Battalion. Coldstream Guards, are amongst the officers who "merit praise for coolness and good company leading." In his despatch describing the battle of Modder River, Lord Methuen mentions the coolness shown by Major Count Gleichen, C.M.G., throughout the engage- inent, especially in attending to the wounded under a heavy fire. DUNDONALD'S BRIGADE SAFE. A news agency learns that Lord Dundonald's Brigade returned to the southern bank of the Tugela on Saturday. General Buller's last despatch referr- ed to the troops under Sir C Warren. Some fears were expressed that Lord Dundonald's flying column, the last news of which was that it had fought a small successful action near Acton Homes, about ten days ago, had been cut off by the Boers. REMARKABLE LETTER FROM A WELSHMAN IN RHODESIA. The following letter has been received by Mr II y Evans, Whitehall Hotel, Towyn, from his son, Mr N G Evans, in Rhodesia "Gatliug Hill Mines, Belingwe, Rhodesia. I am now going to write more regularly to you again. 1 know you will be anxious about how I am doing during this war. Of course you know that I am not fighting but I must say I should very much like to chuck up everything and go in for it. If there was any chance of shutting down I certainly would do it, but 1 think provided the war does not drag out to a weary length that we will continue working right through the business. Everything is very quiet in this part of the world and wQ are all wait- ing for news. Th-j last news we got from the front is November 27th, and of course in that interval many things may have happened. The feeling in South Africa is very bitter against the War Office for the very slack way that this war has been carried on so far. Everybody was in hopes that by this time the British troops would have been marching on Blomfontein and Pretoria, but as far as we can see.the British are still on the defensive. I am a great supporter of the Conservative party, but undoubtedly the Government would have saved a large sum of money and many hundreds of lives ii in they kept about 10,000 men both at St Helena and Mauritius so that directly hostilities com- menced this army of 20,000 men could have been landed at Cape Town in a couple of weeks' time and sent straight through! to Kimberley and from there have attacked the Free State while most of their burghers were on the Natal border. It is the old old story of English dilatoriness and red tapism at the start of a campaign. I see that the Secretary foi War stated in London on the 3rd November that diplomacy had been too quick for the War Authorities. That I deliberateiy stigmatise as a lie because since the failure of the Blomfontein confereuoe up to the outbreak of hostilities should have been ample time to prepare the War Office for what was coming. Are the people in charge of our War Office such utter fools that they cannot read the signs of the times better than they do ? Oh, mv God it is one of the most galling things •los'.sibie to see such criminal negligence while thousands of people are losing their all in the British colonies and the enemy actively preparing in broad daylight in drilling men, building forts, buying rifles and ammunition, and in every possible way working to oust us from the Country. I only wish I were a uiati of some eloquence so that I could go home and raise the people in a body to chastise those who I say deliberately and emphatic- any are responsible for our reverses. Mind were this the first time it would be more of less under- standable but unfortunately it seems to me to be the usual thing in British warfare. Give the enemy every help you can to lick you at the start, then after a few reverses have been suffered start in earnest to recover lost ground. TOWYN MEN AT THE FRONT. Besides those who have just departed, there are already several men connected with Towyn at the front. Mr Wm Evans, brother to Mrs Maetluon James, was at the battla of Colenso. He described James, was at the battla of Colenso. He described in a leter recently received, the builets ot the Boers like a. "shower of hail." A noher young- mall who quite lately left Towyn, Mr John Evans, son of Mr Richard Evans, driver, is in General Gatacre s brigade, and was present at the battle of Strom- berg. Lieut Peter Winser, grandson of the late Sir Rupert Kettle, Glanydon, Towyn, is in the trans- port Citv of Rome," on his way to the front. P.C. Mavburv More-an. until lately stationed at Towyn, a reservist of the Grenadier Guards, visited some friends at Towyn last week, before going out to South Africa with the 8th Division. He had a very hearty send-off by many friends from this town. WELSHPOOL MAN WOUNDED AT LADYSMITH. Amongst those wounded at Ladysmith on Jan. uary 6 was Col-Sergt W J D Pryce, a native of Welshpool, who enlisted in the Gordon High- landers at Perth in 1887. MILITIA FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. SOUTH WALES BORDERERS TO THE FRONT. The 3rd Militia Battalion South Wales Borderers, who are now stationed at Wellington Barracks, Dublin, for garrison duty, on Sunday received notice to prepare for embarkation to South Africa on the 9t;, of February. Col. Healey immediately addressed the men oil the subject of the cotniiiunicat .or, and they enthusiastically volunteered to proceed to the Cape to join forces with their fellow representatives of the Queen to do battle against the oppressors of freedom in that country. SIR FREDERICK CARRINGTON. Says The Major" in To-Day Considerable mystery exists as to the destination of General Sir Frederick Carrington. I hear it stated that he will ultimately take over Methuen's command. Sir Frederick should have been sent out long since keeping him at home so long is one of the greatest mistakes that the War Office has made. Carrington is a born leader of irregular mounted troops, and has yet never fai!ed to win the entire confidence of troops under him. He is a strong advocate of mounted men for South African warfare, and when he reaches the scene of action he may make con- siderable alterations in any command he takes over. Carrington, like Baden-Powell, is a great heliever in the most systematic system of scooting aud the use of native spies. He is one of the very few of our generals who knows the country well right up the Matabele Northern Border. In appearance Carring- ton is a splendid figure—built on a large scale with strong, bold, and well chiselled features, and a heavy moustache—the kind of moustache that Ouida" used in her early style" to assign to her heavy dragoons. There is not another like it in the British army—or indeed out of Italy. It has been the envy of all his comrades, and it was a source of unfailing admiration and awe to the natives, who gave the owner the nickname of the Man with the Lion-face. It is now turning to grey, and Sir Frederick is just on fifty-six, but age has not staled the infinite geniality of his nature and his smile. Carrington is a great smoker. He resembles Mr. Chamberlain in the fact that he is generally to be seen smoking a big cigar of choice kind, and he should be the despair of all the anti-cigar or cigarette societies of Cohoes or elsewhere, for in the spite of all he is as hard as nails and as tough as Kitchener. A FIGHTING BRITON. j The following interview appears in an American paper. The Jeremiah Willi,mq is a brother or Mr James Williams of Focden I notice that an ex- Boer soldier says it wiii take 12 Englishman to whip one Boer," remarked Jeremiah Willi tas, an Englishman who lives at North Yamhill, after reading the attic'e in Tke Telegram recently where- in such a prediction was made by a man who fought in South Africa in 1831. Now I want to say that I can find one English man who can lick any Boer soldier that lives, he continued, showing that his English blood was up. Mr Williams was in the British army for years, and declares he knows what he is taking about when he says that a soldier of Queen can hold his own with any fighting man alive. If the Boers are such good shots aud so stingy of their ammunition, why is it they have wasted car- loads of it without effecting a capture of Ladysmith and the other beleagued towns ? It seems to me that according to the e:Boer's figuring there are enough Boer sharpshooters round about Ladysmith to have picked of every Englishman there in dosen lots several days ago. Now I have not fought in South Africa, and on not speak from but that story about the blue gas sounds fishy to uie, I am aware that hun- dreds of Englishmen do I;ve there without succumb- ing to any such dreaded disorder, and I th;nk our soldiers will find little trouble from this source. In fact, I have noticed that an Englishman can live where any Dutchman can. and 1 think the Boers will come- to this conclusion before many mont hs. As to the hor.esty and uprightness of which the ex-Boer talks, I want to say that some things have occurred in South Africa which lead me to con- e] ado that the Boers are not as good as some people think. They may be as honest as some people, bat that may not mean a great deal. The people of America did not think it very honest or very upright of England to impose taxa- tion upon them without any representation. That is what the Boers are doing to-day, and is, accord- ing to my way of looking at it. tyranny cotnbiued with dishonesty. These honest Boers have stolen the Transvaal from the natives, and made slaves of those who dared object. When the Dutchman wished to plun- der adjoining tribes they used to march their slaves in front of them as moving breast-works. This doesn't look very honest and certainly is not 12 times as brave as the ordinary Englishman. The Boers have done nothing for the world, while England has brought civilisation and happi- ness to thousands of people. She has driven piracy from the seas and made merchantmen as safe in Chinese waters as on the Atlantic waves. England has fought against slavery, while Kro- ger has fought to enslave people. The first war England had with the Boers was mainly on account of slavery, yet a Dutchman dare3 to stand up and call the Boers an honest and upright people. Perhaps they are upright enough for him, but they don't suit me, and there are hundreds and thousands of Englishmen who are ready to spill their blood to help make a more upright Boer of the unmerciful Dutchman of the Transvaal. The world moves an if the sauer-kraut eaters of South Africa don't want to move with it, they must get out of the road. LETTER FROM A BERRIEW MAN. Writing to his parents at Berriew, Corporal M Bevan, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, ;Maitre Camp, Rensberg, South Africa, under date January 5th, 1900, says I have no doubt you are wonderirg how I am after reading the account of the grand charge of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, of which I was one of the number. We were marching on Colesberg the Sunday before New Year's Day. When we drew near the place we were met bv thousands of the enemy who saluted us with a hail of shell and bullets. I am glad to say they onlv killed one of our fellows, so we had to ret-ie ou a big hill. We held that position until the following Thursday. On the preyions day we made a deadly charge. The Berks Infantry and Cavalry charged in fine style under a shower of bullets and achieved the almost impossible task of gaining the top, from which we made a great slaughter on cur enemy. In lancing a Boer through the back I was com- pelled to leave my lance where I thrust it. He previously said—" Me English, me don't fight." I then drew my sword and cut right and left of me. The place presented the appearance of a butcher's slaughter-house on a day's slaughter, blood flowing like a stream our casualties being 9 killed and 15 wounded. They hoisted the white flag, but, we are under orders to ignore the same unless the enemy laid down their arms. I received your most welcome letter, when standing beside four graves of my comrades. I felt it most keenly I can assure you, only the day before riding side by side. Am glad to hear yon intend sending me a parcel. You asked if J Watkin, the Mount, had come to me as W Battery had arrived. Sorry to say not vet, but should be glad to see him or any other old Berriew chum. I may tell you I have now been in four engagements and up to the present alive and well thank God for it. It is reported here that Lord Roberts is joining with our General—General French. Write as often as you can as I am so pleased to receive a letter from Old England. Remember me to all inquiring friends in the dear homeland. PRESENTATION TO A KERRY YEOMAN. There was a large gathering in the Reading Room ou Saturday evening, when Mr Sidney Bowell was presented with binocular field glasses and a purse of money. Trooper Bowen, who is leaving with the Newtown contingent of the Montgomery- shire Yeomanry for South Africa, will be niisstid from his native place. He has always been must active as hon. sec. for the Kerry Flower Show and Sports, hou. sec. for the -Reading and Recreation Society, and Oil football matters. When his inten- tion of volunteering for the front became known, a subscription list was opened, and Fll 4s 6d was collected by Messrs F T Newell, C Davies, and Evan Edwards. The proceedings on Saturday were most enthusiastic. The presentation was made by Mrs Harrison, of Brynllywarch Hal;, who briefly/ and with a hearty shake of the hand wished Trooper Bowen snccess and God-speed in serving his Queen and country. Trooper Bowen in returning thanks, said he felt it his duty to volunteer, and believed his company equal to any going to South Africa. In thanking the collectors and subscribers. Mr G D Harrison made } some humorous remarks and believed Trooper Siduey Bowen would be side by side with Private John Jones if not foremost in charging the kopjes and trenches: During the proceedings the following songs were aiven, the audience joining heartily and in a loyal manner in each of the chor- uses Itnle Britannia," Mr J F Evans; "A Sol. dier and a Man," Mr C Davies; "Soldiers of the Queen," Mr J M Milues. Miss Florrie Owen recited Private John Jones." The Accompanist was Miss Polly Bebb. The proceedings closed with the Bing- ing of God save the Queen." MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE OPPOSITION ATTACK. Thd seventh session of the fourteenth Parliament of Queen Victoria, was opened on Tuesday. The Queen's Speech. which was read in the House of Lords, referred to the war in South Africa, and to the patriotic eagerness and spontaneous loyalty" with which Her Majesty's subjects in all parts of her dominions had come forward to share m the common defence of their Imperial interests, and it contained an exhortation to sustained and renewed exertions until the struggle of the maintenance of the Empire ard the assertion of its supremacy in South Africa had been brought to a victorious con- clusion. Reference to the existence of famine and plague in India, and to the measures taken by the Government to relieve the suffering there, was also made. Members of the House of Commons were informed that in the Estimates for the imhiip service of the year the provision for mili- tary expenditure must be largely increased on account of the charge for military operations in tary expenditure must be largely increased on account of the charge for military operations in I South Africa. "At a time when several other nations are perfecting their naval preparations at the cost of increasing efforts and sacrifices, the solicitude with which you have provided for the efficiency of our navy and of our coast defences will assuredly not be relaxed." The time was not pro- pitious for any domestic reforms which involved a large expenditure, but proposals would be made for several important changes which were not open to that objection. The speech of Captain Pretyman, who moved the address, PROVOKHD SOME DISSENT in the Opposition. When he excused the ignorance of the Government as to the immense strength of the Boers he was met with loud cries from the Irish and Radical benches of Butler, Butler," and on his asserting that whatever the war cost the amount would be cheerfully voted, Mr Dillon immediately shouted No, no." His suggestion that the House would have to consider the causes which bad led to the war evoked loud applause from both sides. The seconder of the motion, Mr H P Peace, con- filled himself chiefly to the legislative programme of the Government, but he remarked that he had heard from private sources that, if a Parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the war was demanded, it would not be refused by the Government. Sir H Campbell-Bannerman spoke with an animation far in excess of his usual Parliamentary style. In complimenting the mover and seconder he referred humorously to Mr Pease, most of whose relatives sit on the Liberal side of the House, as belonging to a family which was not restibted by any lazy uniformity of political opinion. He said he was satisfied with the modest scheme of legis- ation proposed by the Government, and then he turned to the subject which was in all men's thoughts—the war. He dwelt once again on the readiness of those for whom he spoke to support the PROSECUTION OF HOSTILITIES with vigour and unstinted means, in order that as rapidly as possible the integrity of the Queen's dominions might be vindicated and a suc- cessful issue attained. He blamed the Government for want of provision and preparation, and found the keynote of the last four aud a half years in Mr Asquith's allegation that the wrhole negotiations had been poisoned by the suspicion of our Govern- ment entertained by the Boers. Sir Henry plied Mr Balfour with questions as to the war, in the style of vir W Harcourt's mode of catechising the Government, touching upon the Intelligence De- partment, Sir W Butler's alleged despatches warn- ing the Government of the great force it would require to conquer the Transvaal, the incorrect estimates made by the Government, the late dis- covery that the war was inevitable, the influence of the Colonial Civil authorities on the Generals in charge of the campaign, and the plea of Mr Balfour that, if he had come to the House and asked for a "Vote Ao strengthen the South African garrison during the negotiations, it would not have been accorded to him. Mr Balfour, in a long reply, answered all these questions categorically. In the opening passages SOME AMUSEMENT WAS CAUSED by his misquoting Sir H Campbell-Bannerman's pledge that lie would support the war with vigour. Mr Balfour drew the inference that his support would cease when the Boers were expelled from British territory, but Sir Henry objected to mean- ings which were not in the words being read into them. Besides, he had argued in favour of British supremacy being asserted over the whole of South Africa. The principal points in Mr Balfour's reply were an admission that the Government knew per- fectly well of the enormous preparations of the Boers that the under-estimate of the strength of the Boers was not due to the Intelligence Depart- ment that there was no evideuee to show how the under-estimate had arisen, but there might be at the end of the war that the Intelligence Depart. ment had communicated its estimates to the Government; that there was not at the War Office the slightest trace of any opinion such as had been ascribed to Sir W Butler; that the Civil authorities in Natal had represented to Sir G White the grave consequences of abandoning Dundee; and that the Government at home had not KXKKCISBD THE SLIGHTEST INFLUENCE on the military authorities. He concluded with a resolute statement that the war would be prose- cuted till the military honour of the country was amply vindicated-a remark which the Minister- ialists generally warmly cheered. Lord E Fitzmaurice then rose to move a Vote of Censure on the Government for the want of know- ledge and foresight displayed in their conduct of South African affairs since 1895, and in the prepara- tions for the war. Members flocked off to dinner, and the first half of his speech was delivered to an audi- ence of half a dozen. The second half was heard by thirty or forty members. Mr Drage followed in support of the Government, and Mr Robson, from the Liberal side of the House, also • j ustified the Ministerial policy, and defended the war as a just one. But be would vote in favour of the amend- ment, as the Boers had prepared to contest, our supremacy, and the Government had not prepared to defend it. Mr E Cecil defended the Government. Mr F S Stevenson criticised the Government in a House which had dwindled down to five or six mem- bers, and was speaking at midnight, when the de- bate was adjourned. ATTACKS ON MR CHAMBERLAIN. Mr F S Stevenson resumed the speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday which was interrupted by the twelve o'clock Rule on Tuesday night. He had again to address a very empty House. Only a handful of Liberals were present, and lhe Ministerial benches also were but sparsely occupied. During four ihours of the sitting, the attendance of the Opposition rank and file scarcely ever exceeded twenty members. The Front Bench itself was sometimes full, but oftener half empty, or all but vacant: Under these depressing circum- stances, the Debate was flat; but the various assailants of the Government persevered courageously in imposing speeches of great length upon an attenuated audience. Mr Steven- son quoted Lord Salisbury's reference at the small allowance of Secret Service money of the command of the Government, and added that if the Chancellor of the Exchequer had asked for more, the House would have given it. Interrupting him, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said it was not for him to make such a proposition, unless at the instance of the Cabinet. It seems," reported Mr Stevenson, to be A GAME OF BATTLEDORE and shuttlecock." He then proceeded to discuss the future settlement after thewar.butthespenker informed him that that did not arise out of tne Amendment, In conclusion, he said that the House would desire to see the war through in a way that would paeserve the supremacy of the British authority. Colonel Milward, who followed Mr Stevenson, charged Sir H Campbell-Bannerman with having done more to stay the hands of the Government in making preparations than any other man. Sir Henry at once got up to explain that what he had said was that there was nothing in the whole story of the controversy in relation to the frenchise and the Uitlanders' grievances which furnished a. casus belli, Colonel Milward replied that- he was not speaking about a question of casus belli, but ab lut a question of making preparations for war. Re- ferring to the nature of the preparations, Colonel Milward admitted that there was need for an inquiry, as many things required amendment at the War Office. Mr Buxton dwelt at length on the errors in the course of Mr Chamberlain's negotiations, and favoured the House with a sketch of what the Colonial Secretary should have done. On his remarking that the frimo Minister naa sain that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had hampered in every possible way the preparations for the war, Sir M Hicks-Beach interrupted him with the remark that the P-ime Minister bad never made any such statement, and he took the opportunity of stating that neither the Treasury nor ne himself had in any way STINTED ANY PREPARATIONS or any expenditure which was thought necessary by the Government in regard to the war. All these statements in regard to himself were absolutely un. founded. Mr Buxton replied that he bad never believed these scandalous expressions and insinua- tions. He did not believe in the Afrikander con- spiracy, and went on to show that the Government had betrayed great want of judgment. lie admitted that the amendment would not be carried, but it might ii-lp to stiffen the Government in their con- duct of the war, the vigorous prosecution of which he advocated. Sir A Ackland-Hood and Colonel Brogkfield both cor demned our military system for much that had occurred, and Mr Buchanan cen- sured Mr Chamberlain for recklessness and care- lessness iu his management of the negotiations, while, as regards the want of preparation, the facts spoke for themselves. About four o'clock Sir R Reid rose, and members came pouring in from the lobbies till the empty benches on the floor of the House were overflowing. His speech expressed the views of the party below the gangway represented by Mr Labouchere and the Irish Nationalists, who cheered him con- tinuously. HE CRITICISED AND CONDEMNED, in the most uncompromising- laiiL'iia.w Mr Chamberlain's method of diplomacy. The Cabinet was responsible for recklessness, want of judgment, and want of straightforwardness; but ic, did not ask that the war should be stopped so long as there was an enemy in the Queen's dominions. He asserted that the war had been brought about by the wickedness of two men, supported by the lying- of the Press. There was m)t the slightest proof of the existence of an Afrikander conspiracy, and the whole policy of driving the British into the sea was a myth, in substantiation of which he read out the annual sums spent by the Boers on munitions of war since 1893. The myth, he said, had been fabri- cated for the purpose of excusing the futile policy which the Government had pursued during the last four years. As to the Raid, a great many people, rightly or wrongly, believed that it had been organised with the consent of the Colonial Secretary. This evoked bursts of vehement cheer- ing from the Radical and Irish benches. They were not entitled, he said, to accept a statement of that kiud without proof. But the Raid HAD LED TO AN INQUIRY by a Committee of the House which was a scandal and a dishonour to tie House and the couutrv. This also produced repeated bursts of cheering from the same quarter. He went on to entreat the House to take up the broken thread of that inquiry —a suggestion which produced a further continuous outbreak of cheering. Mr Brodrick replied in a speech of remarkable vigour and animation, and made a point against Sir R Reed at the opening by saving that his whole attitude was that the war was unjust, and yet he was able to go into the Lobby in support of an Amendment to the effect that sufficient preparations hr,d not been made. He ridiculed the figures quoted as the amount spent by the Tiansvaal Government since 1893 on munitions of war, which he totalled up to L-1,136,000 asserting that the amount did not reo present a fourth of the sum, as the Boers had secretly laid out large sums, but had put down low figures TO GULL THIS COUNTRY into a false security. He condemned with severity also Sir Roberts's charge against the South Africa Committee that it had acted in a manner dis- honouring to the House of Commons. The country did not care who occupied the Treasury B"nch. What it wanted was that this war should be carried to a successful issue Mr Brodrick's speech was warmly cheered by the Ministerialists throughout, and was the most vehement and vigorous he has ever delivered in the House The debate was adjourned on the motion of Sir C Dilke. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY MR GEORGE WYNDHAM. I A large number of questions relating to the war in South Africa were asked in the House of Com- mons OIl Tuursday. Mr Wyndham said that a statement on the military situation would shortly be made in both Houses. Mr Balfour stated that the Committee of Defence was a Committee of the Cabinet, and it neither removed responsibility from the Cabinet as a whole no:' from any of the Ministers responsible for the departments either of the army or navy. H obtained the best inform a- tion it could from experts aud from others. Mr Balfour also informed Mr Bainbridge that the consideration of a vast number of particular cir- cumstances had led to the opinion that the policy of the Transvaal Republic was the establishment of Boer supremacy in South Africa. But of course there was no direct statement either bv President Kruger or by President Steyn to that effect that could be embodied in a Blue-book. Mr Balfour declined to lay any further despatches from Sir W Butler on the table, and reiterated his state- ment that Sir William had never suggested that the number of troops required in the case of an out- break of hostilities would be anything like the num- ber of troops actually sent out. The reason for Sir W Butier's resignation of the Cape command was that he and Sir Alfred Milner HELD DIVERGENT VIEWS on the policy to be pursued. The debate on Lord E Fitzmaurice's amendment to the address was resumed by Sir C Dilke, who criti- cised the military preparations for the war. Mr G Wyndham, Under Secretary for War, who followed stated at the outset, what had been the objective of the War Office in the reorganisation during recent years of the army. Dealing with the preparations for the war, he said that the two critical decisions on which everything hinged were, first, not to make ostentatious preparations for aggressive action so long as diplomacy held out any hope and, secondly. Sir Redvers Buller's decision to proceed to the relief of Ladysmith, which meant that a transport for one organic force, which would have been matured bv the third week in December, was broken up and diverted into another country, one might say, and some of the troops were diverted in a similar manner. He did not criticise Sir Redvers Buller's decision he would no doubt be alle to give reasons for his action such as would CONVINCE MILITARY STUDENTS and the people of this country. The total number of troops which would be in South Africa in a fort- night or so, exclusive of the Eighth Division, would be 180,600 men. The Government had estimated that 59,COO men was the maximum force that the two Republics could place in the field. The num- her of their guns of all calibres was estimated at 91, and since then they had captured 19 British guns, making in all 110. It might be that since June last a number of other guns had been intro- duced into the country. Ou the question of maps, the task of making a complete purvey of so vast a portion of the earth's surface was not a feasible one. The little strip of territory between Ladysmith and the Tugela had not been surveyed, though special plans had not made of the bridges and approaches on the lines of communication. After Mr H 0 Arnold-Forster and others had spoken, Sir E Grey addressed the House. Mr Labouchere then moved the adjournment of the debate. A division was taken, when there voted-For the adJourn melJ t. 135; against, loo; majority against, 20. Sir F Flannery then continued the be bate.

KERRY. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. At the weekly meeting on Tuesday papers were read on What England will be in 50 years time," the writers endeavouring to give a forecast of what will happen years hence. The papers w-i-e, of a highly speculative order and were given by Messrs J Jerman, C Davies, and H Dolman. Those tak- ing part in the discussion were Messrs A Ander- son, T Pryce, Rev T Phillips, and others. CONCERT.-Ati excellent concert in aid of the Church Improvements was given in the Reading- room, Kerry, on Thursday evening. The room, which had beer, tastefully decorated by the Mi.-ses Jones, Poundley, Lloyd, and J M Jerman, was com- fortably filled, and over C5 was realised as the result of the concert. The program me was arran- ged by Miss Jones (The Moat), and amongst the items was Havdu's Toy Symphony by the M isfies jonee, ijioya, round ley, rmliips, ana Davies. soma of the instruments being lent. by Mr T 11 Taylor, lof Xewrown. When Mr Newling sang The Absent-Minded Beggar," the, tambourine went round and brought in 18s 9d for tIle Patriotic Fund. The Rev T Phillips presided over the con- cert, the programme of which was as follows-. Song, Buie Britannia," Rev T Phillips and party • Violin Solo, Muzurka," Miss Lloyd Song, Jnat as the Sun went: down," Mr Charles Davies; Song, Alone on the Raft," Miss E J Taylor, encored and sung Rags and Tatters"; Instrumental Selection Fra Diavolo." The Misses Lloyd, Miss Poundiev' and Mr J VV Poundley; Song, "The Valley by the Sea," Miss B Lloyd, encored and "Cherry Ripe"; Song, "The Absent-Muidtd Beggar,' (by permission,) Mr Newlincr- toy symphony; song, "The Society Nigger," Mr, Newling; cello solo, Miss C Lloyd; song, "The Swallow," encored and sung On the bauks of Allen Waters," Miss B Lloyd; violin and cello symphony, "Surprise" song, When I was a boy at school," encored and sung "We all go a hunting to-day," Mr Newling; song, "The Toilers," encored and sung" At Twilight," Miss E J Taylor; song,. Soldiers of the Queen," Mr Cbarles Davies and party; finale, God Save the Queen."

WELSHPOOL VICTORIA NURSIXG INSTITUTE. ANNUAL MEETING. There was a fair attendance at the annual general meeting of the subscribers to the Nursing Institute on Saturday. The meeting was held in the Art, Room of the Museum, and was presided over by Mr W Forrester Addie. There were also presen' t the Rev D Gritnaldi Davis (vicar), the Rev D B Evant, Mrs Addie, Miss Corrie, Mrs Manford, Mrs Hiles Mrs Roper, Miss Salter, Miss Owen, Mrs Thomas, Mrs T R Morris, Mrs Shuker, Miss Jones and Miss Clara Jones (Gnngrog), the Mayor of Welshpool (Mr D Jones), Mr C Shuker, Mr R | Thompson, with Mr T Simpson Jones, hon see, and Mr Manford, treasurer. The Committee, in submitting their annual re- rz, s,ii(i they had much pleasure in reporting that the usefulness of the Institute had during the year been increased and more than fully maintained. Twelve cases had been treated in the Institute, and eighty-nine cap-.s-fortv- five of which were recommended by doctors—nursed outside, the total number of visits paid to these cases being 2.889. Trie income during the past year has reached the sum of X143 13s 3d, an increase of zC30 4s 2d on the previous year, and the committee had been able, by careful administration, to meet all the liabilities, and leave a balance in hand of zC17 14s 6d. Miss Pauline Peter, general superintendent of the Queen Victoria Institute for ulses, had written letters stating that the result of the assis- tant inspector's visit oo Feb. 21 and Aug. 4 was very satisfactory as regarded the district nursing, The Institute hoped a nurse for the indoor patients would be appointed, so as to allow Nurse Crabbe to do the district full justice. In view of the necessity laid down bv the rules of the Institute for Nurses, of employing a nurse entirely for outside nursing, the committee had had under consideration the important object of employing an additional nurse to deal with cases inside the Institute. As the cost of this would amount to about R100 per annum, the Committee felt, with the present income at their command, unable to decide upon this important step, and were therefore anxious by doing so that the matter should be fully considered and discussed bv the subscribers. The Committee gratefully acknow- ledged the generosity of Mr Charles E Howell, who, with a view to commemorating the Queen's eightieth birthday, made a contribution of X21 to the funds of the Institute, and this amount had been added to the fund on deposit at Lloyd's Bank. The Committee thanked all subscribers and helpers for their liberality and aid during the past year, and recorded their great appreciation of the inestimable services rendered by Nurse Crabbe, which she had carried out with mach efficiency and unremitting attention and success. The Treasurer reported that, they began the year with a credit balance of £ 27 3s 6d the subscrip- tions came to CI06 18s 7d, and the donations to £ 36 145 8d after allowing for payments amounting to £ 153 2s 3d, there remained a credit balance of £17 14s 6d. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and the financial statement which they had just heard read, said he need not apologise for having altered the date of the meeting, which was due to the desire of many who were now present to attend the funeral of the Rev J E Hi!], formerly Vicar of Welshpool. His first duty was to apologise for the absence of the Rev T C Jones, from whom he had a letter of regret. La ly Powis was at Walcot and unable to be present, and they would all regret that Miss Howell, the vice-president, was so unwell that she could not attend. He hoped she would soon recover. In regard to the report they had just heard read he need not say much. He mig-ht be permitted to say a word in regard to that portion which states that the number of visits which Nurse Crabbe had paid during the vear amounted to 2,889 as against 1.6S6 in the previous year. Tbat shewed t.he immense amount of work which had been done by Nurse Crabbe, and, at the same time, the usefulness of the Association. He imagined that the principal part of the discussion would turu upon the question of whether they Ehould have another nurse and they would also have to consider whether they were disposed to go to the expense of anot her nurse. Mr Addie reminded the meeting that much money was required in other directions at the present time, and he therefore did not think it wise to em bark on another expenditure just yet. He felt sure, however, that the sooner they were able to provide an assistant nurse, the better it would be for the working of the Institute. It would be his duty later on to move an amend- ment to Rule 1, with a view to increasing the present number of the Committee froTi thirteen to fifteen, and so admit of two representatives from the Forden Board of Guardians, who had under- taken to subscribe £5 per annum, if allowed to nominate two members on the Committee. He thought it should be understood that all the members of the Committee siiould be subscribers to the Institute. The Vicar who seconded, said that from what- ever point of view the report was regarded it was very satisfactory. There was a considerable in- Cl ease in the work which showed that the Institute was gaining in popular confidence and favour. Another very satisfactory matter was the great interest which t!,ev found the doctors tak.ng in the Institute. It was also satisfactory to note that there was a balance in hand amounting tc: E17, due largly no doubt to the careful management of the Committee. IVith regart to the work done by Nurse Crabbe, he had oa previous occasions had the pleasure of expressing his opinion as to the good work she had done and was doing in the parish. He had opportunities, which others had not, of gauging her work, and he thought it wolld be impossibie to over-estimate her valuable services. As to the question of appointing an additional nurse, be thought the suggestion a desirable or*, at the same time, he was rather inclined to .think with the Chairman that the present was not the most opportune time to make the appointment. At the present time we had many exceptional calls and it was quite possible we might have mure in the near tut ure. It would therefore, he thought, tie better to postpone the consideration of the pro- posal to a more favourable time. Referring to the work of the Rev T C Jones, who is shortly to leave the. town, and had, therefore, resigned his place on the Committee, the Vicar said he had rendered valuable assistance to the Committee, and done good work in other ways, and his departure from Welshpool would, he was sure, be a distinct loss. Mr Simpson Jones having mentioned that he had received a letter from Miss Howell, in which she stated that she thought an additional nurse could be obtained for the small sam of £ 50 per year, The Mayor, who supported the adoption of the report, said there could be no two opinions as to the usefulness of the Institute, and the good work it had accomplished from the time of its establish- ment two years ago, and he rejoiced to think that it was increasing in popularity with the general public. He complimented Nurse Crabb on the result cf her labours, and hoped she would be spared for many years to continue her work among the poor of the district. Mr Shuker, who also supported, expressed the pleasure he felt at the gratifying work which was done by the nurse in Welshpool, and not only in the town itself but also in the neighbourhood. He noticed that the receipts last year were larger than the previous year owing to the donations which had been received. The decision on the proposal to appoint, an extra nurse would depend in a large measure on whether they could obtain greater help from the churches and chapels, or whether they could follow the methods of collection which had been adopted in Newtown. Although the receipts were larger than the previous year he wished to point out that the expenses for the year were zElO more than the receipts. the motion was then put to the meeting and carried. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by the Mayor, the meeting amended Rule 1 with a view to increasing the membership of the committee from thirteen to fifteen. The Chairman remarked that he hoped the Fürden Guardians would before long increase their subscription of JE5 when they became acquainted wilk, the nature and extent of the work. Miss Grace Jones was re-elected a member of the committee, and Mr Thomson was elected to fill the pLtCe vacated uy the Rev T C Jones. The meeting "nded with a vote of thanks to Mr Addie for presiding.

WELSRPOOL HORTICULTURAL SHOW DISBANDED. APPROPRIATION OF THE FGNDS. A meetiug of subscribers was held at the Town Hall, Welshpool, on Tuesday afternoon, to consider whether any further action should be taken with regard to the holding of another show and other matters pertaining to the future of the society. Mr Charies E Howell presided, and there were also present: Dr Sowerby, Messrs J Lambert, J Bushell, S Morris, T Simpson Jones, E Wyke, F Roper, Matthew Powell, C Pryce Yearslev, E L R Jones, C Shuker, J P Jones, Anderson, Baker, Gwynne. Oakley, Payne, and Sayce wdth Mr J G James, secretary. The Chairman referred to the position in which matters had been left after the last meeting, and said he wished that the subject would be very care- fully considered before they came to any definite conclusion. He understood that should the show be continued all a less ambitious scale than hitherto, the members of the present working committee would not feel justified in co-operating, as they felt that the funds of the Society would only be frittered away gradually. Should the show be abandoned and the Society broken up, he was afraid it would mean the end of series of show. which had delighted so many thousands of people during the last six years. Mr Matthew Powell, who moved at the last meet- ing of committe that the show .for the present be discontinued, said last year the show was held on the last Thursday in July they were favoured with fine weather, and they had a reputation from prev- ious shows; the horticultural show, too. was an excellent one, and the variety entertainment was up to the standard notwithstanding aH these things, and remembering that they economised as much as possible, they lost, between £ 40 and £ 50. If they decided to hold another show this year it would either have to be on the last Thursday in July or on' August 16th. If they fixed on the first date they would have to labour under the same disadvantages as last year; and if on the later dare they would be between the Newtown and Shrewsbury shows. Therefore, he thought they could hope for no better results than they had last year. Not only that, but they must expect to lose their presem credit balance, and ultimately to land thetnselver- ;-t debt. In those circumstances, the committee unanimously decided to recommend the subscribers to abandon the show. There appeared to be some misappre- hension abroad 'that the committee were biassed on the matter, and came to this resolution ti.rough irritation, at not being able to have their own way entirely in the selection of a date on which to hold the show. There never was a greater mistake. So far as he could judge, the committee had been guided purely by business motives, feeling that if the- could not make the show a success it wuuld be much better to discontinue it. Mr T S Jones said he felt that the money having been collected for h irticultural show purposes they should continue to hold some sort of horticultural exhibition. That was the feeling, he believed, of a a large number of the subscribers, and for that reason he moved that a show beheld this year. Mr J P Jones who seconded the motion endorsed what had been said bv the mover, and said the Society was established for bortic-ultural purposes. If they could not have Powis Castle Park fjr this purpose they mig-ot be able to get Lianerchydol Park or even hold the show on the old Bowling Green. Mr Roper replying to the remarks of a previous speaker, said it was observed that the mcney was collected for horticultural purposes, and that the funds were the result of that collection If they looked at the balance sheets for 1898 and 1899 they would find where the money came from. In 1893 the money taken before the show and at the gate amounted to £ 337; in 1899 it was only £23. The subscriptions for 1898 were £ 192, and for 1899 £ 190. Therefore where the money profit arose in 1898 was more from the p(,oplo who attended the show than from the subscriptions. At the end of 1898 they had X199 in hand, whereas now it had fallen to £155. with about £ 15 still remaining of unpaid bills, with more arrears than usual which were irrecoverable. As to their right to vote t" money away if they could vote £ 50 towards the Inter- mediate Schools about four years ago, surely they could do with the rest as they might think best. Mr P owoll then moved, and Mr Rover seconded, that the show be discontinued. Mr Shuker agreed with the remarks of Mr Powell and Mr Roper and the deductions they had drawn that it would be wrong to endeavour to con- tinue the show on its present lines. In his opinion they would lose the balance in hand, and he saw no prospect of continuing the show ou the present lines. There seemed to be no middle course they most provide amusements sufficient .0 attract peopV 1 from a distance. It was vror'l.y of their consideration as to whether they shonl'! conduct the show on the lines of the old horticultural show. Further discussion followed, and the amendment, on being put, was carried by 13 votes to 2. It having been decided by a large majority to appropriate the money in hand, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Powell, seconded by Mr Roper, to give £ 50 to the Welshpool Dispensary f.r d a like sum to the Nursing Institute. Messrs Lambert, Bushell, and Morris having been thanked for the very practical interest they had taken iu the promotion of the show year after year. The Chairman moved that they present the sec- retary an honorarium of zE5, as a mark of their appreciation of the way in which he had discharged his duties. Tnis was carried unanimously, and Mr James suitably replied. Mr Lambert said that what he had done for the Society had been a labour of love, and he very much regretted to think that it was about to be abandoned. There being a sum of about C20 left the committee would please him very much if they handed it over to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution. Be thought the institution had a just eldini on them, as they were a horticultural society, and had received much assistlirJce from professional gardeners and nurserymen. Not only that, many of the judges at their annual shows had given their services, while one of their number -3 resident in that district-had been obliged to seek assistance from the Institution. It would therefore be a thoughtful act on their part, at that stage of their career, to consider those who had treated them so generously in the past, and, as he said before, they would be pleasing him greatly if they assented to his suggestion. The Chairman said he agreed with ail Mr Lam- bert had said, and he had therefore much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr Shuker said he thought f,20 la large sum to send out of the town. He thought C5 would be sufficient to hand over to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution, and that it would be best to distribute the balance among the local institutions already mentioned. He moved as an amendment that the grant to the Gardeners' Institution be £ 10. Mr Wyke seconded the amendment, which on a division, was carried. In regard to the disposal of the balance and the general winding-up of the affairs of the Society, the matters were left with the Finance Committee.