The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

The Butchers' Harvest. Sir,—I am glad to see the letter in your last issue calling attention to the price of mutton charged by butchers. Sheep were probably never so cheap as at present, yet the price of mutton is maintained at the old figure, and that at a time when the poorer class of consumers are not quite able enough to pay for it. Why shouldn't the publia have the benefit of a fluctuating market, instead of which the butchers take all the plums? I consider it a gross injus- tice that these traders should keep up the prices in this fashion. Why don't the Co- operative Societies go in for the meat busi- ness? That would bring the butchers to their senses jolly quick, and it is full time they were. I cannot make out why farmers sell their sheep so cheaply, knowing that the butchers are netting all the benefits.- Yours truly, WBTHER.

"Two Voices at Welshpool." Sir,-I have not written to you under my present nom-de-guerre for nearly two years. As upon the last occasion, sm now, my motto is Defence, not Defiance." My quest this time is to ask for fair- play from those gentlemen who do not like the old territorial and historical Church of England and Wales, and who consider themselves duty-bound to attack her on political and religious grounds in the Press. It is not quite British I consider to hold up to obloquy some of our locil Churchfolk who take a loving interest in beautifying the interior of our parish church, and who give time and money to the adornment of the altar and its accessories —as if these acts of piety were the end and be-all of their religion!—and to contrast these Ritual- ists" unfavourably with the "Christians" who love to dwell upon the now common-place Steadite" aphorism of If Christ came to Chicago (or London or Welshpool)." It is so easy to cut 4nippets from the Deanery or Parish Magazine, ecutaininlr topical remarks upon the outer trappings of Divine worship, and to paste these side-by side with the report of edifying words uttered ii a Nonconformist chapel on certain well-worn traisma-and accepted by ehurch and chapel aJike- and to serve this entree up for the appetites of those who care for these things! There are two distinct aspects of public wor- ship, namely, the objectve and the subjective; and it is to the honour md glory of our ancient Church that she holds th balance evenly between these two; whereas the tendency of modern Non- conformity is to exalt tie subjective at the ex- pente of the objective. 'be offering of the Holy Eucharist is the Buprame objective act in Christian worship (and for this purpose alone were our old Churches hiilt and endowed by our forefathers), yet the ven people who would not begrudge the luxurious adorning of their own homes are sometimes th first to carp and cavil at men's treasure being Expended in the adorn- ment of the sanctuary of God By the way, the Sartim use is alien to the diocese of St. Asaph. Vby, then, should it be introduced at Welshpool '-Yours obediently, Welshpool, Jan. 27th. A SIDESMAN.

A Newtown Benefit Concert. Under the auspices of tie Druids Club a high class sacred concert took pkee in the Public Hall on Sunday week for the jenefit of Bro Arthur Bennett. Mr Edward Phvell, J.P., Plasybryn, presided over an extremelylarge and appreciative audience. The programrifi was carried out in every detail that gooti mar,4,Lyeraent could dictate, and all praise is due to Mrjohn C. Williams, the secretary, who expended hth time and trouble ungrudgingly to make such a complete success of the evening's concert. T solos, choruses, and concerted numbers made uja lengthy programme of two hours, in which tjere was not a dull moment experienced from be commencement to the end. The accompaniiients were played by Mr Ernest Owen with his accomplished srtistic touch, and helped materially to give confidence to the artistes.

A FORMER EXCISEMAN'S FALL Living on Another's Cheque Book. A Considerate Judge. Mr Justica Pickford presided over the Mont- gomeryshire Winter Assizes held at Welshpool on Tuesday, being attended on the bench by the High Sheriff (Mr A. E. 0 Humphreys-Owen), the Sheriff's Chaplain (Rev. W. L. Richards), and the Under-Sheriff (Mr C. Pryce Yearsley) The grand jurors were—Capt. D. H. Mytton (foreman), Richard Lloyd, Col. E. Pryce-Jones, Capt. Johnes, Col. Twyford, Capt. Cvrbett- Winder, Capt. Westby, Capt. C. W. M. Humphreys, Dr. W. H. Lewis, N. W. Fairies-Humphreys, E. S. Mostyn Pryae, Hugh Lewis, J. Bancroft; Willans, Edward Green, Richard Jones, T. H. Vaughan, Charles Shuker, T. Morgan Owen, W. A. Jehu, H. Vardon, F. G. Howarth, R. O. Perrott, W J. Peppe. The only criminal charge on the calendar was that of forgery preferred against Stanley W. Harrison (31), formerly a. relieving excise officer stationed some ysars ago at Newtown, Llanidloos, and Welshpool, The accused is a young man of gentlemanly appearance, and it was with mingled feelings that the large audience in the court room viewed his entrance into the dock. The charge against him was that on December 28th, at Welshpool, he feloniously forged a banker's cheque for payment of the sum of X3 with intent to defraud, and also on the same date uttered the same knowing it to be forged. The particulars of the case were given in our last issue. Briefly they are these. On the date mentioned accused visited the shop of Mr Samuel Carsloy Rogers, and was served with two white bow ties for "which he paid. An hour later he called and purchased two woollen shirts valued at 7s each, for which he tc-ndered a cheque for X9 That could not be cashed in the shop, whereupon prisoner tabled another cheque for X3 and re- ceived X2 6s in charge. Prisoner asked that the shirts should be sent to the Dragon Hotel, Mont- gomery. There the shirts were sent, and later Mr Morris cashed the ch-que at the branch of the London City and Midland Bank in Welshpool. It eubeequently turned out that there was no account in the drawer's name, and Mr Morris bad to refund the £ Z. Further particulars as we fur- nished them last week are given in THE JUDGE'S CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. "Gentlemen of the jury, there is not much, I im glad to say, for you to do. The calendar con- bains the name of only one prisoner who is charged with forgery, and I don't think it is a jase that will give you any difficulty. The prisoner was in the service of some Trades Exhibition (Touring Trades Exhibition), and the manager of that concern was a gentleman of the name of Everton. There was also somebody of the name of Tayton who was officially connected with that business. He bad an account with the bank at Middlesbrough, and wrote and got a cheque book from his blink in Middlesborough. Shortly afterwardp he was staying at some place (Basingstoke) with the prisoner. After he left there he missed his cheque book, which he usually carried in his coat pocket, and the only time he could remember that coat being out of his posses- sion was on the occasion on which he went to the bath room to have his morning bath. Perhaps it may be significant that the prisoner, who was staying in the same place, asked him whether he still took his cold bath in the morning. The cheque book afterwards disappeared, and accord- ing tv the evidence prisoner presented a cheque in a shop in Welshpool, which was one of the cheques that came out of that cheque book. It was signed in the name of Everton who had been the manager of the business where prisoner was employed, and it was drawn in favour of prisoner. The prisoner endorsed it, paid for some shirts he got at the shop, and kept the change, and the tradesman who supplied him got the cheque cashed at his own bank. It was soon afterwards returned through the Clearing House to Middles- brough, and it was found that there was no account in the name of Everton at Middlesbrough. The tradesman had to pay the amount back to the bank as the cheque was a forgery. When arrested the prisoner was found in possession of the cheque book, and also another cheque which had been taken out of it and drawn in the name of Everton also. Mr Everton said that he never signed either of the cheques. It is clear from the evidence that prisoner had no right to have that cheque book or those cheques, and therefore there seems little deubt that there is a prima facie case of uttering the cheque knowing it was forged. After a retiral of about half-an-hour, the Grand Jury returned a true bill. Prisoner pleaded guilty. A SMART ARREST. Mr Artemas Jones (instructed by Mr Charles Pryce, solicitor, Montgomery), who prosecuted, said that defendant had been employed at an industrial exhibition held at Basingstoke, and whilst there' resided at the Horse and Jockey hotel, where another man named Tayton, em- ployed at that exhibition, also lived. One day Mr Tayton went into the bath room, when prisoner stole out of hio coat a cheque book. Mr Tayton had an account at a Middlesborough bank Prisoner thereafter appears to have gone all ever the country as his Lordship would hear later passing some of those cheques in the book. He signed on December 28th one in a tradesman's shop in Welshpool, and induced the tradesman to cash it to the value of X3. He got goods to the value of 14s, and received £ 2 6s in change. One thing which was deserving of mention in con- nection with the case was the clever -way in which prisoner's arrest was effected. The police had circulated a written description of the forgery, as well as of the prisoner, and his Lord- ship would notice that there was something distinctive about the man's hair P.C. Ellis, Denbigh, having read that description, walked into a hotel one day, and noticed a person.answer- ing to the description. He immediately went home, got into civilian clothes, and kept the man under observation all the evening. The following morning he arrested him when the latter was about to leave Denbigh. Since prisoner's com- mittal n warrant had been issued against him at Carnarvon, where he appeared to have used about twenty cheques in this cheque book, and appeared to have passed off at least fourteen, amounting altogether to the value of about .£56. He did not know whether his Lordship would like to hear anything more. His Lerdship: Yes. I should like to hear all. I see there is nothing against him before in the calendar. Mr Artemus Jones: I understand he was never charged before. WANTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. D.C.C. Williams said he had made inquiries, and found that prisoner was a man of good education. He started life as a schoolmaster, which profession he left for the Inland Revenue, but for some irregularities was discharged from that office. Then he joined a syndicate, but was discharged from that for irregularities. Ever since be had been going about the countty with this cheque book. He was wanted in several places. The latest warrant came from Carmarvon that morning, and the Carnarvon authorities wished that his Lordship should be acquainted with that fact. His Lordship I should like to know as it may make a difference—I suppose I may meet him at Carnarvon—whether it is intended to proceed against him upon those other charges. D.C.C. Williams They don't know the circum- skances of the case here. The warrant was sent here in case of his dismissal. He could be arrested then. His Lordship Where are the other charges ? D.C.C. Williams: Whitchurch, in Shropshire, and Oswestry. He is also wanted in S mindon in Wiltshire. He was wanted there before he com- mitted the offence here. There are other cases of passing cheques, but no proceedings have been taken. His Lordship: How many cheques have been passed altogether as far as your information goes ? D.C.C. Williams The one at Carnarvon was the fourteenth, including the one he is charged with here. A GOOD CHARACTER. Asked if he had anything to say, prisoner replied: I would like to call one witness, my Lord. His Lordship: Certainly, is it as to character ? Prisoner: Yes. While Mr Everton was being called, prisoner remarked There are other similar cases pending against me,-could they all be disposed of at the same time ? His Lordship: I believe I can take that into consideration. Just call your witness. Thomas Jakeman Everton then appeared in the witness-box, and was thus interrogated by the prisoner: You were manager of the Trades Exhibition, of which I was assistant-manager last year ?—Yes. Would you tell the Court what you can say in favour of me as regards character during that time?—When I knew you in connection with the exhibition your character was good, and you per- formed your duties efficiently. His Lordship: Is it not a tact then that he was discharged for any irregularity or anything of that sort ? Witness: After I left, my lord. I speak of the time I knew him there. His Lordship: Do you know anything more about him? Did you know him before he came to the exhibition ?-No. His Lordship Yon don't know anything of his history before then ?—Nothing. His Lordship (to prisoner) Anything more you want to ask him ? Prisoner: No, sir. His Lordship (to D.C.C. Williams): Were all the cheques he passed signed, or purporting to be signed, by Everton or any other body ? D.C.C. Williams They were signed by others as well. His Lordship: There are some here, but these have not been passed. (To prisoner: Do you want me to read that paper-alluding to a blue paper manuscript in accused's bands ?) Prisoner Yes, my lord. THE SENTENCE. His Lordship having perused the document and asked further questions, said: I am inclined to treat you leniently, because, as fur as I know, this is the first time there has been any accusation of dishonesty against you. I see here a letter, which I shall assume is genuine, saying that you were an assistant, at the 1907 festival at Leeds, that considerable sums of money passed through your hands, and that you were found honest. I shall do as you ask me, as far as I can take into consideration the fact that there are a number of other case-, of passing cheques out of this cheque book. Whether it is true that you found it acci- dentally or not, I do not know. At any rate, it was the coming into possession of this cheque book that induced you to commit these acts of dis- honesty, and they are all of one series, alth, ugh tkere are several of them. I think I am letting you off very lightly, indeed, in sentencing you to be imprisoned for five months, but I do not order you to be imprisoned among the ordinary habitual criminals. I shall order you to be imprisoned in the second division, so that you may not have to associate with habitual criminals, and that you may have a chance of recovering your former good character. But don't think that being im- I prisoned in the second division means that you will have no difficulties or unpleasantness to undergo. The great effect of it is you will be kept from the society of habitual criminals, and it will give you an opportunity, if you choose to avail yourself of it, of trying tc recover your character. The sentence is that you be imprisoned for five months in the second division. Prisoner: Thank you, my lord.

VERY SENSIBLE." Forden Councillors and the Motor Handicap. An Amusing Discussion. "The great inconvenience and danget caused by motor car traffic arises to a very large extent from reckless driving by, or the ignorance of, a few drivers of motor cars, and from excessive speed of motor traffic through the villages and the portions of those roads which are not open and straight." Forden Rural Councillors received this ex- pression of opinion, last week, from their rural contemporaries at Saffron Walden. In consequence of imposition of fines being absolutely inadequate to prevent reckless driving," continued the resolution Any person convicted of an offence under Section 1, Subsection 1 of the Motor Car Act, 1903, should for the first offence have his or her license suspended for a period of not less than three months; for a second offence for a period of not less than six months and for a third offence should have his or her license taken away and not re-granted, and that such suspension should not be left to the discretion of the justices convicting, as at the present time. That to AVOID DANGER FROM IGNORANCE all persons applying for a licence should be required to give of his or her ability, and suitability to drive and manage a motor car, and of his or her knowledge of the rules of the road, to some local authority. That all motor cars be taxed on a sliding scale according to their horsepower, and not their weight." Very sensible!" was the commendation that this resolution drew from the Rev D. E. Rowlands, Vicar of Middletown. "I move," retorted Mr Percival Hurlbutt. that it lie on the table I call it a very sensible resolution," persisted the Rev D. E. Rowlands. "I move that we adopt it I beg to second Mr Rowlands," said Mr Thos. Rogers, a Forden farmer. And I beg to support it, too," observed Mr John Edwards, as a representative of the hill farmers. But there was one farmer on the Council who did not seem to feel severely the existence of a motor nuisance. He was Mr John Davies, Fron- fraith. I second Mr Hurlbutt's motion, that it lie on the table." said he. And Mr Davies did not know where in the world all these Unions get the money to print and circularize such resolutions. This solicitude for the ratepayers' pockets drew an echoing response from Mr Hurlbutt, who observed "Neither do I know where they get their money from!" They ought to be penalized" declared Mr John Davies further. It's THE BIGGEST PUZZLE. we have had for a long time emphasised Mr Hurlbutt. Yes," continued Mr John Davies," just imagine these Councils to dictate how our Government should pass laws for this, that, and the other!" Mr John Edwards: We all want to travel on the roads. I want anyway (laughter). When the resolution from Saffron Walden was put to the meeting, Messrs T. Rogers, D. Rogers (another farmer), J. Edwards and the Rev D. E. Rowlands voted in its favour. Then Mr Richard Jones, yet another farmer, raised his hand, Mr Hurlbutt crying No, no!" amid laughter. That's it, Mr Jooes exclaimed the Rev D. E. Rowlands encouragingly. Mr Jones was a bit late!" When the resolution was put again, Mr Edward Davies, a Berriew farmer, raised his hand in its favour, evoking an expression of surprise from Mr Hurlbutt. As they are a nuisance on the road, I think we ought to pass it," declared Mr Richard Jones. Against the resolution there voted Captain Corbett-Winder (Glanrhiew), Mr William Pritchard (Tanyfron), Mr Percival Hurlbutt, and two farmers—Messrs G. Miller (Abermule) and John Davies. From the Road Union, an Association for SECURING EFFECTIVE CONTROL of the motoE^traffic," there came an appeal to back up the movement in favour of a resolution That when a local authority makes application for the fixing of a speed limit not exceeding 10 miles per hour in any town or village under the Act of 1903, that application will be granted provisionally until good reason is shown to the contrary." What about the speed limit in towns ?" queried Mr Hurlbutt. Mr John Edwards: Put it as slow as you can (laughter). 10 miles an hour is fast enough for any trap. Mr Hurlbutt proposed that the resolution lie on the table, Thfe Montgomery County Council had had applications about the speed limit, raid he, and had always considered that the existing law was much more drastic than a speed limit of 10 miles an hour would be because the law read that, if a car was driven to the public danger, it came within the Act, whatever the speed. Mr Richard Jones: What is dangerous speed? —In some places five miles an hour. Mr Edward Davies seconded Mr Hurlbutt's motion, which was adopted.

—— — ^3 SEEN AND HEARD. Nootanp exttinua%e, nor set down atiKht il. mftliwe. a J[]I IIPJU.Jl.JiI. Resident in the lower part of the county there is a big, brawny Scot, admirably typical of the Rob Roy race from which he sprang. Verily, he is entitled to the char acter of "a man of wecht"—a phrase which, in his native parts, means not mere avoirdupois, but a person whose opinions are weighty or influential. His pedaler ex- tremities are commensurate with the size of the heavy fleshy frame they support, and woe betide the unfortunate mortal on whose toe they might accidentally rest, or on whose "least vulnerable part" they might be applied by way of squaring personal differences. These over-awing understand- ings are encased in many feet of cowhide— in fact, a single hide would look but a mere remnant after doing service for the cobbler's knife over broad expanses of sole and upper. This genial old fellow, whose avocation keeps him continuously on the move, is often to be met travelling over a particular railway that starts from Powys- land and winds a serpentine course through a hilly and picturesque portion of the shire. On these occasions fellow travellers have remarked his physical greatness, but actually trembled to behold his gigantic feet, the very sight of which makes them instinctively withdraw their puny toes to a position of safety. Well, like every other mortal, this worthy requires from time to time to be shod anew, but, unlike you and me, he does not enjoy the privilege of selection from a stock of "ready-mades." Nature has so fashioned him that the most enterprising bootmaker could not profitably lay in a stock of such abnormal sizes. He must, therefore, be booted to measure, and it is to a village knight of St. Crispin that he periodically takes his mighty understandings for cloth- ing afresh. On a recent occasion he became somewhat impatient with the tardy execution of a new pair, and after several unsuccessful visits to the cobbler's rural shoppie, finally demanded to know why the order had not been fulfilled. "Well," said the dark- skinned little man, as he busily stuck in the awl and deftly tugged at the resin'd threads, "you see, the weather has been so bad of late." "The weather!" bellowed the burly chap; "what the deuce has the weather got tae dae wi my buits?" "Man alive, can't you understand," replied the cobbler, "I can't make them outside in this weather,' .and I'm sure I've no room to make them inside." I am not given to know what happened, but if those feet had come into action, certain it is the "sole" I of that cobbler would speedily have found its "last" resting place. "Well, John, an awful cold morning this," quoth the country station master's wife to an old railway labourer who had just dis- mounted from the early morning mail. "Yes, mam, thee be right, indeed," an- swered John, as he shivered in the biting frosty air, and vigorously rubbed his numbed horny hands. "I daresay you could enjoy something nice and hot," added the dame, whereat old John's eyes sparkled in anticipation of a steaming toddy or a cup of tea. "Aye, I could do that, missus, and thank you uncommon." "Well, I only wish I had something in the house to give you," the jade concluded, and disappeared inside. John trecked away to his point of duty, cogitating after a fashion we can only guess at. Mr Justice Pickford, whom we saw for the first time on Tuesday as Judge of Assize, differs in certain marked respects from other distinguished limbs of the law. For instance, he discarded much of the ceremonial pomp beloved of some judges on these occasions, and preferred to walk to and from his lodgings, rather than ride behind powdered flunkies amidst the blare of trumpets. Whilst the jurors are being empanelled and sworn, judges commonly busy themselves with doauments or spend the interval in their retiring room. Not so Justice Pickford, who sat and watched in- tently each juror step into the benches, saw that he kissed the Book, and seemed to estimate him physically and mentally, for there was a continuous play of expres- sive light and shade over his finely chiselled features. Those sharp, moving, penetrating eyes seemed to detect the merest incident; there was nothing too formal for notice, not even the long bench of wigged barris- ters, one and all of whom must have been "sized up" during that judicial look round —yea, not even the ordinary policeman escaped the attention of an obviously dis- cerning man, who strikes one as a keen judge of human character. I wondered if his Lordship, in that stead- fast study of legal conventionalities, real- ised the waste of time incurred in swear- ing the juries. After swearing the foreman, th court official directs the others "to the oath your foreman has taken," and then proceeds to swear them in batches of fours. Why at this stage shouldn't each and all the jurors be given a Testament to kiss simultaneously? Time would thus be saved, and much wearysome repetition ob- viated. But well we know that law and common sense are not always synonymous. Free Mason synagogues, tabernacles, temples, or whatever other title correctly describes the sanctified home of this craft, have always excited in the imagination of the uninitiated a measure of mystery not unnaturally associated with every secret society. The other evening I was privi- leged to pass through the portals of such an institution without password or chal- lenge, resolved to exercise a faculty of ob- servation not wholly untrained, and a dip- lomacy cultivated by dint of professional experience. I saw many things that inter- ested, amused, and delighted me, and heard much to the same effect, but of mysteries even the atmosphere suggested naught. The walls were emblazoned with mottos symbolical of a brotherhood whose purposes are ideal in all the works of heart and hand. I saw enough, and was satisfied. Whence, by the way, came Freemasons? Wasn't it somewhere in the Middle Ages that a colony of masons were specially em- ployed in building churches, and called "Free" because exempted by Papal bulls from laws and burdens which bore upon common craftsmen? That, at any rate, was the explanation I hazarded from none too reliable a memory to an inquiring dame under that very Masonic roof. LUXE SHARPS.

troducing into the town any industry which is likely to bring to the front the working- man element. Every effort made to estab- lish one will be nipped in the bud, unless the working men make up their minds to assert their authority when the time comes." We certainly agree that it is high time the working man in Pool should aban- don the role of political sycophant, stand on his own broad soles, and determine to have a influential voice in local govern- ment, and a larger share of the benefits than has hitherto come his way. A VAIN THING. I ■ Consistent with the Premier's pledge to introduce a Welsh Disestablshment Bill in the next session of Parliament, the Welsh Free Church leaders have drafted the main principles of such a measure for the osten- sible 15urpose of showing to the Ministry precisely what Wales demands in the mat- ter of religious equality. The document is j a most interesting one, and there can be few Nonconformists who will wish to sub- stract front or add to it. It will, we be- lieve, find entire approval with Mr Asquith, in which event he must, if required, stand by his pledge. But is it wise policy, having regard to the political situation, to keep him to the pledge? Nobody doubts that the Government would pass a bill thus out- lined, but does any sane person imagine the possibility of its passage through the House, of Lords? The time devoted to its consideration in the Commons would be worse than wasted. The 'Daily News' sums up the real position in three sen- tences "To force such a Bill to the House of Lords would be to court another defeat and another humiliation. If the Welsh are bent on having their Bill at once, their only course is to force an early dissolution. But when, through their most conspicuous leader, Mr Lloyd George, they urge rather a dissolution 'in a few years," they must accept the logic of their own strategy." Mr Lloyd George has told us in the plain- est terms that there is absolutely no, hope for a Disestablishment Bill so long as the power of the Peers remains what it is. Why then usurp the time which is claimed for pressing social questions by a mere demonstration which our contemporary sapiently observes "would have no more effect .than a public meeting?" The Lords' rejection of a Welsh Disestablishment Bill could not possibly strengthen the progres- sive forces of a nation whose every con- stituency is already represented by an ad- vocate of religious equality, and outside Wales it would have little effect upon parties. The fact is that for the moment ,he question of Welsh Disestablishment is iubordinated by the national desire for ong delayed social reforms, and it is the uccess or failure of these that will deter- line the duration of the Government, and x the exact moment of its dissolution. Ve should be sorry to see the Prime Min- ster held to his pledge, and compelled to lursue a measure in abject hopelessness. Vhen the House of Lords is stripped of ts supreme authority, Wales will have a lisestablished Church. Until then she at- tempts a vain thing. FORDEN GUARDIANS AND PUBLICITY. I The members of Forden Guardians will have little cause to fear the operative effects of the^Press Admission Act if they accept the aavice of their Chairman and respectfully trust the reporters, at the same time putting a watch upon "silly" speech. The press, we again repeat, has no wish to publish personal particulars that would identify recipients of relief-such particu- lars as are necessarily furnished by officers and individual guardians-but in connec- tion with these cases there frequently arise points of essentially public interest and im- portance, which ought to be reported to the ratepayers, whose only medium of informa- tion is the newspaper. That consideration should never be forgotten by guardians. They have a duty to those they represent, and it is not always fulfilled by secret dis- cussion. By the way, we must direct the Forden Board's attention to the complaint made by our representative that at Wed- nesday's meeting the Wotkhouse Master declined to show him his journal, as has hitherto been the practice. This complaint is aggravated by the statement that the Master subsequently submitted the journal to the reporter for a fcontemporary news- paper. The Master evidently requires to be made sensible of the fact that he is but a public servant, and that his fortnightly record is public property. Privately he may dispense his favours whenever he pleases, but in his dealings with public documents the Board raust see to it that he acts impartially by the representatives of the press. THE WINTER ASSIZE. More saddening than serious was the solitary criminal case heard by Mr Justice Pickford. It was -that of a young man of superior education and appearance whose youthful indiscretion sacrificed honourable positions, and eventually brought about a condition of impecuniosity that prompted him to dishonesty. The story of that cheque book illustrates a remarkably dar- ing character, without, however, anything of the artfulness of a practiced swindler. Artlessness was, indeed, his only redeeming virtue, and the wonder is that after the first forgery he remained without the clutches of the police for so many weeks. Thanks to a merciful judge, this fallen youth will, while in prison, be spared a degrading and demoralising association with habitual criminals, and thus be enabled to enjoy an exceptional oppor- tunity for salutary reflection upon a foolish and unfortunate past. In the slander ac- tion the good lady whose integrity was pub- icly outraged had substantial solatium in 175 damages and an unconditional apology. t appears to have been a case of mistaken dentity, and the obvious moral needs no laboration. Readers of our full report of he other civil case will doubtlessly agree vith the finding of the jury, whatever their lifferences as to the amount of money twarded. Running through the whole case here was an ugly shadow of domestic tragedy, which provoked the judge, to speech of wholesome detestaton. JiJjKK Y tilli FLOCK BOOK SOCIETY. I On our agriciltural page will be found a full account o the annual meeting of the Kerry Hill Flck Book Society, whose ex- cellent work, e are glad to know, is at- tested by an ver-increasing membership. Following a mst gratifying review of the Society's progess by that distinguished doyen of the teed (Mr Richard Morgan), a variety of uusually important subjects yielded debate piquant and informing. Expert warning to keep the "Kerry Hills" true to the typ of hill sheep would seem to be superfluas advice to tender such a Society, but it kindly reception denotes appreciation of ;he care which must be ex- ercised to maintain the valued reputation now acquired ly this breed. Considerable discussion was sxcited by the proposal that ewes should betattooed and also tagged on the ears. Regading the former some differ- ence of opinionexists as to the most effica- cious method, or does there appear to be complete agreement on the best kind of tags. These diJerences should, however, be harmonised wihout much difficulty. An increased regisration fee for rams is cal- culated to mafe more select the choice of sires-a matte: of supreme importance. The only regrettable note struck at the meeting took tie form of a request for a larger contribuion of money from the auc- tioneers out o their profits derived from the annual shov and sale. As Mr Marshall pointed out, his firm has expended no small amount in acquiring the show and sale ground, equippng it, advertising it, and generally booning the undertaking. Nor should it be forgotten of farmers in their gratitude to Mssrs Morris, Marshall, and Poole that they had established a show and sale at Kerry before the advent of the Flock Book Society, tie secretarial work of which they fulfil for i nominal fee. The Society ought to feel ejtremely fortunate in having the active co-oreration of such an influen- tial firm of auctioneers. ';7.- —