The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

O'lt TWR. Nid y rbai sy'n tuchan fwyaf Sydd bob amser druenusaf, Ar hyd y fforad drom. I 'Eoedd chwe' ych gynt yn tynu men; Ac or b"d llwyth, Digon i wyth, Tynent hi'n ddystaw beb na chwyn na sen A'r fen ei hun yn cadw swn o hyd, Yn gwichian ac yn tuchanllawer byd, Y gwaelod rhwth a'r ochrau, A'r echel a'r carfanau. • Ffei honot, soppan ebe'r gyrwr wrthi, Fe f'ai ganwaith harddacb iti dewi, Yr ychain sy'n slafio, A thithau sy'n cwyno. NICANDEB. Y llyfr i'w ddarllpn ydyw, nid y llyfr sydd yn meddw] drosoch chwi, end yr hwn svdd yn gwneyd i ch-i feddwl; y llvfr nas gallwch ei ddarllen yn gyflym y llyfr sydd yn galw arnoch yn fynych i aros i gymeryd eich anadl ac l °J$n a yw hyn fel y dywed yr awdwr; y llyfr ddyru gychwyn i'r enaid sydd ynoch i feddwl ei hunan ac i weithio allan y owestiynau sydd yn ccdi, drosto ei hun. Dyna y llyfr i chwi. Cyraeddodd casgliad yr Henuriaeth at y Genhadaeth Dramor y swmoX143 2s 4d. Hwn yw y nod uwcbaf gyraeddwyd eto. Ystyrir y cynydd yn ffrwyth anerchiadau dengar Mrs J. M, Saundttre, Pencoed. Disgwylir y gwelir cynydd mwy cto y tro nesaf mewn canlyniad i ddef- nyddiad y blychau teuluaidd i dderbyn cyfran- iadau wythnos<'l at y gwaith cenhadol. Daw rhoddi fel hyn yn haws, a'r tebyg yw y bydd y rhodd yn fwy o faint, ac yn fvy sicr na phan roddir ryw swm ar ben blwyddyn. Fel y wraig bono ddywedodd nad oedd hi yn un allai fforddio rhoddi gini y flwyddyh oed y rhoddai chwe cheiniog yr wythnos os dawisent. Rbydd Oymdeithas y Traethodau Crefyddol, St. Paul's Churchyard, Llundain, nifer o lyfrau i wrthweithio dylaiiwad pabyddiaeth i lyfrgelloedd yn rhad rudd. Gwneii hyn gydag arian adawyd gan yr Hennriad Samuel Cocker i'r amcan. Yn Saesneg y mae'r llyfrau. Y maent yn werth eu cael ar gyf(-,r plant a ieueuctyd yn yr ysgohon Nid oes eisieu ond anfon at Ysgrifenydd y G m- deithas i'w cael, am ddim, a'r cludiad wedi ei dalu. DealJaf fod y terfyn o ran amser benododd yr Henuriad o fewn pa un y rhaid gwasgar yr arian yn dod yn agos, fel y mae parodrwydd i wrando pob cais cymwys. Byddai yn dda genyf weled mwy o alw am y llyfrau cenhadol yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg sydd yn y Liyfrgell Kydd. Oihwng y naill a'r llall y mae yn agos i gant o lyfrau cenhadol ar yr astelloedd. Gwnelai eu darllen les mawr i astelloedd. Gwnelai eu darllen les mawr i yspryd y darilenydd gan y dygant ef yn agos at galon yr Iesu, ac at ddisgybiion iddo sydd wedi dod yn agos iawn ato Ef, mor agos fel y maent wedi tori blwch enaint gwerthfawr eu bywyd ar Ei draed. Y mae y llytrau wedi eu hysgrifenu yn ddyddorol a byw. Byddai darl'ltn nifer o honynt yn sicr o fod y ffordd oreu i dreulio oriau yr hwyr. Gwelir y rhai f.eisnig yn y rhestr o dan Missionary yn y Bywgraphiadau. Yn rhif 6673 cydrwymir tri Ilyfr bychan dyddorol: "Oriau gydag Islwyn," gan Dyfed; Oriau Hamdden yn ughwmoi awduron a llyfrau," gan Anthropos "Llenyddiaeth Gymreig, ei sefyllfa a'i rhagolygon," gan Watcyn Wyn. Dywed Dyfed, Gwelir mai Did beirniadaeth sydd yna; ond yn hytrach oriau o fwynhad yn nghym- deithas y bardd, a myfyrdod tawel yn nghanoi y meddyliau mwyaf dieithr. Yr oedd Islwyn yn fardd arei ben ei hun, ac efallai na chododu y- genedl, mewn unrhyw oes, fardd o ddylanwad dyfnach ar feddyliau mwyaf goleuedig y wlad. Rhoddodd gyfeiriad newydd i farddas Gymreig, a bydd ei ddelw yn amlwg ar lenyddiasth Cymru Fydd. Amcanwyd sylwi ar rai o'r elfenau byny sydd yn gwneyd ei awen mor felus, a'i gynyrchion mor barhaol. Nis gellir darllen Islwyn yn ystyriol heb dderbyn benditb, gan ei fod yn dyrchafu y meddwl ar unwaith i awyrgylch .Y ysbrydol a phur," Dyfed yn dyweud: Awn gydag Islwyn i'r yetorm. Y mae yn ofnadwy o arddunol. Un yatorm fawr ydyw, a phob y storm arall wedi cydgyfarfod yndai. Tymhestl o feddyliau in I croesi dyfnder o ddirgflwcb, ac yn peri i ddyn golli ei anadl yn ei chanol. Math o arwrgerdd ydyw, a'r enaid yn arwr. Efallai na fuasai neb byth yn ei galw yn gerdd arwrol, ond efe ei hun. Yr oedd mor wreiddiol, ac mor annibynol, fel na fynai ddityn neb hyd yn nod o birbell. Gwell ganddo dori Ilwybr iddo ei hun, heb ol traed neb o'i flaen, a dringo y pllderau mwyaf digysgod, i gael golwg ar yr ystorm yn ofnadwyaeth ei north, yn mawredd ei ditrod, ac yn niogelwch enaid wedi dod allan ohoni. Ystorm ysbrydol ydyw, yn ysgubo dros wyneb amber o geulan i geulan. Galluoedd tragwyddol wedi eu gollwng yn rhydd, ac yn cynhyrfu bodolaeth i'w ddyfn- deroedd. Clywir swn taranau barn, a gwelir mellt digofaint Duw yn cynwair drwy ddnwch y dymhestl. Ysgythra'r corwynt yn ei flaen, yn wlyb o waeau, ac ymwagha holl gymylau'r byd a ddaw yn y cynhwrf, ac enaid yn ddigartref ar fynyddoedd adfyd yn nghanoi y dinystr yn ymbalfalu mewn tywyllwch. Yr ydym yn arswydo yn yr olwg arno, ac yn llawenh*iu pan ddaw allan i'r golwg, i ddweyd fod haul yn rhywle o'r tu cefn. Y mae holl feddyliau'r gan yn tarddu o dair ffynonoll-Adgof, Adfyd, a Gobaith; ac felly dtlynir enaid drwy bob cyflwr yn ei hanes; cyn yr ystorm, yn ei chanol, a thu draw iddi. Yn Hunfa Machyntleth gorwedd gweddillion marwol Tafolog a'i briod. Ar y bedd gosodwyd oof-golofn brydterth gyda'r arysgrifen a ganlyn- Goreu Dawn, Dawn Awen." Er Cof am EICSARD DAVIES (Tafolog), Prif-Fardd a Beirniad, Yr hwn a fu farw Chwef. 5ed, 1904, yn 74 mlwydd oed. Codwyd y golofn hon gan ei edmygwyr (ei feddar- graff o'r eiddo ei han Heibio'r haul o'm corph breulyd,-i ganu Esgynodd fy ysbryd; Y mu. hunaf am enyd Nea daw y farn-nos da fyd. Er Serohus Gof am ELIZABETH, Priod R. Da vies (Tafolog), Gynt o Hirddol, ger y dref hon. Bu farw Gorph. 7fed, 1882, yn 63 oed. Gwraig anwyl oedd, hael, ddiwyd, bwyllogwedd, A'i huchel nod i ddeufyd uniawn fyw, A chafodd gan y ddaear wlithog fedd, Ond yn y Nef cadd deyrnas gan ei Duw. Dywedai Dr Duncan y carasai wybod enw angel Gethsemane. Ac wedi i mi fyned i'r nefoedd," meddai, mi fyddaf yn sicr o edrych am uano." Odid fawr y modrveh cilwi ei adnabod," ebai cyfaiil, "y mae yno gynifet ohonynt." "Na," ebai y doctor, yr wyf yn cradu y bydd yr angel hwnw yn hawdd ei adwaen am byth. \Vrth ym- grymu yn Gethsernanf i godi'r Gwaredwr oddiar y ddaear laith synwn i ddim na ddisgynodd dyferyn o waed ar ei aden wen. Ac fe erya yr angel hwnw mwy dan arwydd y gwaod," Yn rhif 6,268 gellir darllen (1) Pryddest ar tu hwnt i'r lien," gan y Parch S T. Jones, Rhyl, yr hon oedd yn ail oreu ar dtstyn y gadair n Eisteddfod GenedJatbol Llandudno. (2) Golyg- iadau diweddar ar brofion Cristionogaeth," gan y Parch Griffith Ellis. M-A., Bootle (3) Darlithiau ar Gyfiawnhad tiwy ffydd," gan y Dr Lewis Edwards, Bala. Byt a chynwysfawr ydyw y ddau draethawd a bydd y neb a a dailleno yn cyfoethocach duwinydd. Un o seiri rbyddion Marple yn y dyddiau fu yw awdwr y sylw fod gwydd beth yn ormod i un heb fod yn llawn digon i ddau giniawa. Adroddir yn hanes y gymdeith fod dau pan oeddynt ar gael eu derbyn yn solods4u o'r urdd wedi tynu yn ol a gomedd myned ymlaen. Y mae y dirgelwch sydd ynglyn a'r urdd yn creu llawer o chwil- frydedd ac hef;d ameuaeth a gwrthwynebiad. Byddaf i yn feddwl, yn fy anwybodaeth bid sicr, fod y tu ffewn yn debyg iawn i'r arch yn y Demi yn yr oeiau olaf o'i hanes, wedi ei agor, heb ddim ynddo. Cof genyf ofyn un tro er yatalm bellacb i un aelod ffyddlavvn Nid oes genyf eisieu gwybod diai, o-*r dirgelion," meddwn, ond a ydyw yn gwneud rhyw lea." Yr atab parod a gefais oedd,11 O! dyna un o'r dirgelion." GWYLIWR. -"—*———

For Children's Hacking Cough at night, Woodt Great Peppermint Cure. Iili. 249.

THE WFEK IN PARLIAMENT. THE NEW SESSION. Amid scenes of splendour proper to one of the most impressive of State ceremonials, King Edward opened he fourth Session of his second Parliament. The winter sun shone auspiciously, and never probably on a like occasion did such a dense and enthu- siastic crowd gather along the route of the Royal procession, lined by the troops of the Household Brigade. Throughout their progress from Buckingham Palace to West- minster, the King and Queen, seated in the time-honoured State coach, with its eight cream-coloured ponies, were acclaimed with loud and continuous cheering. Within the Gilded Chamber itself their Majesties were awaited by a brilliant* assembly, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, who had arrived from Marlborough House a few minutes earlier. It was a picture glitter- ing with jewels 4nd gold, to which the crimson robes of the Peers lent the domin- ant colour. Preceded in the Royal proces- sion by the Sword of State, borne by Earl Carrington, the King and Queen advanced to the Throne, and then, the faithful Com- mons having been summoned, his Majesty read the gracious Speech with a strong and clear delivery. THE KING'S SPEECH. In its opening paragraph, the Speech re- ferred in terms of deep gratification to the recent Royal visit to Berlin. "I feel con- fident," declared the Sovereign, "that the expression of cordial welcome which there greeted us will tend to strengthen those amicable feelings between the two coun- tries which are essential to their mutual welfare and to the maintenance of peace." Among other foreign topics dealt with were the successful issue of the negotiations with the United States on matters affecting Canadian and Newfoudland interests, the difficulties of the situation in Persia, and the calamity which befel Italy in the great earthquake. With regard to future legis- lation, it was pointed out that the neces- sity of meeting a considerable excess of expenditure due to the needs of the Navy and to the Old Age Pensions Act would involve "very serious consideration," leav- ing less time than usual for legislation. Bills mentioned include Housing and Town Planning, Irish Land, Welsh Disestablish- ment, Labour Exchanges, Anti-Sweating, Shop Hours, Poor Law Reform, and a Lon- don Electoral Reform Bill. MR. BALFOUR. Mr Balfour's speech on the Address was long, rambling, and diffuse. It was posi- tively dull, a very rare thing for the Leader of the Opposition. The happiest thing in his speech was his reference to the abnor- mal number of old-age pensioners in Ire- land, which, he said, "staggers the statis- tician." He threw a sop to the Protection- ists by interlarding his speech with some of the familiar tags of Tariff Reform ora- tory; but the only portions of his speech in which there was any warmth or colour were those referring to what he called the harsh treatment of a Church school at Swansea and to the condition of Ireland THE PRIME MINISTER. In his reply to Mr Balfour, the Prime Minister was heard to. the greatest advan- T tage. The speech was one of the ablest Mr Asquith has delivered, full of power, rich with thought, alternating from grave to gay, from lively to severe, in a manner that enthralled the House. In his allusions to the situation in the Near East, he paid a warm tribute to the services rendered by Sir Edward Grey to the cause of European peace. He welcomed Mr Balfour's refer- ences to South Africa, but reminded him that the present happy situation in that part of the Empire was the fruit of the full; free, and generous rights of self-government granted to the two new Colonies by the present Administration. Mr Balfour had spoken of British capital going abroad. Mr Asquith rallied hiinN gaily on his use cf this familiar Protectionist wail. What, he asked, is the British capital that is going if) foreign, •maxke\s> W-ere does it come from? not sent forth in goods and materials? Every intelligent schoolboy knows that British capital has fertilised the world. The exports of British capital is a very healthy sign. Long may it con- tinue (loud Liberal cheers). It was notable that Mr Asquith's references to the condi- tion of Ireland were grave. Cattle driv- ing, he said, is a stupid and brutal prac- tice, and he deplored the presence of boy- cotting, but he indicated that the Govern- ment were ready and able to vindicate their administration in Ireland. UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr Barnes moved the Labour party's amendment, condemning the inadequacy of the Government proposals for dealing with the unemployed problem. In the private ownership of land and in capitalism Mr Barnes found the primary cause of this social evil. But the most significant part of the speech was its intimation that if the question was not seriously dealt with he would sooner be out of the House going about the country to rouse public opinion. Mr O'Grady, who seconded, sounded a simi- lar note, threatening to take every oppor- tunity to obstruct the business of the House should this great problem be neglected A THREAT. Mr Burns gave figures to indicate the prevailing exaggeration as to the extent of the problem of the poor, and finally sketched the six items in the King's Speech, which, he claimed, touched the very vitals of industrial life and was essen- tially^ remedial. Mr Crooks joined issue in a speech of some bitterness. The Labour party asked, he said, that the daily bread of the people should be secured and hungry people fed, and they were ridiculed in a fifty-minute address. Then, at a later stage, came Mr Keir Hardie, with the warn- ing that unless something were done, his party would raise such a campaign in the country as would make the Government sorry for its great betrayal of poor starving people. Finally, after Mr Churchill had, wound up the debate, the amendment was defeated by a majoriy of 104

What Newtown has Found Montgomery has Found. It is good to know thit our neighbours over in Montgomery have found what so many well-known and respected men atid wompti have found. Mrs A. Pry. who liv-s at Chirbury-road, Montgomery, says For many years I have been troubled with kidney com plaint, having had at one time inflammation of the kidneys, which left a w,-ak pgs I was terrib'y troubled with pain in my back. and with rheumatism and occasionally I had attacks of f»ciatic«», and faint.ing fits I was advised by a friend to use Doan,s back- ache kidney pills I tried thpm, and now would not, he without, them in thø honsM at any cost. The pills gave me wonderful relief frllm the pain and now wh-n I fppl the sli^h'est attack I always take a few doses and obttn'n immediate relief. I can heartily recommend Doan's bachache kidney pills." Doan's backache kidney pills are two shillings and ninepfnce oer b i or six b ixea for thirteen shillings and ninepence. Of all chemists and stores, or post free, din ct fr m Foster-McClellan Co.. 8. Wells-street Oxford-street, London, W. Be sure y(U get the same kiftd of pills as Mrs Pryce had.

Turkey herself is in the throes of a Gov- ernment crisis. Saturday's meeting of the Chamber of Deputies proved one of the most momentous since the Constitution was won. The Grand Vizier declined, owing to "pressing business," to attend the sitting to explain the changes he had made in the Cabinet, but promised a statement on Wed- nesday. A fierce debate ensued, and in the end a vote of no confidence in Kiamil Pasha was carried by the Young Turk party by an overwhelming majority—198 to 8. Thereupon the veteran head of the Gov- ernment resigned. It was announced that Hilmi Pasha had been selected aa the new Grand Vizier,

DEHC!OUS

I Llandrindod County Court. I EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS. The only contested cases which came' before Judge William Evans at the above Court on Tuesday were brought by the Radnorshire Coal, Lime, and General Sup- Court on Tuesday were brought by the' Radnorshire Coal, Lime, and General Sup- ply Co. against William Norman Swetten- ham, civil engineer, Llandrindod Wells, and against W. N. Swettenham jointly with Miss Swettenham. Miss Swettenham. I. Mr A. L. Careless appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr H. S. Clapham for Miss Swetten- ham, whilst Mr Swettenham conducted his own case. The first claim taken was for £ 2 12s 4d for goods sold, and the debt was formally proved by Mr D. Sibbald, book-keeper, Rad- norshire Co. Office, Knighton. Mr Swettenham (to His Honour): My case is that this Company has systematic- ally defrauded the public for many years with regard to their weight. with regard to their weight. His Honour: Have you had this coal? Mr Swettenham: Yes, some of it. His Honour: Has it not been delivered? Defendant: Yes some of it. He could give proof of his allegations. J Mr Careless: That has nothing to do with this case. Defendant made no com-1 plaint whatever about weight, and we have letters here in which he asks for time to pay. The Court then went into an examination of the items of the bill, and subsequently Mr Careless put in a letter written in De- cember, 1908, in which defendant offered to pay £ 5 on account, but excluded a sum of £ 13 4s 7d. His Honour (to defendant): That stops you. Mr Careless: Will your Honour give an expression of opinion about Mr Swetten- ham's statements? His Honour: They are quite improper. There will be judgment for the amount claimed. In a further case, the same Company claimed for £13 4s 7d against Mr and Miss Swettenham jointly. A sum of £9 6s 5d was admitted. Mr Clapham said Miss Swettenham's de- fence was that she was not carrying on the laundry at Llandrindod for the period in which the coal was ordered and delivered. The goods were not ordered by her or de- livered to her. She was away at the time. Mr Swetteham objected to some items for corn. That had nothing to do with him or Miss Swettenham. The corn would be for Mrs Swettenham. She kept a small poultry farm. His Honour: Do you have a chicken for dinner occasionally? Defendant: Never unless one happens to get killed. His Honour: What about the coal? Defendant: I claim a percentage .deduc- tion for robbery. His Honour: You must go to another court for that. I shall refer this case to the Registrar. He will go through the items, and assign each of them. Defendant: Can your Honour entertain the case of robbery? I can prove it for a long period. His Honour: No, sir; that is a very serious accusation to make. Defendant: I know that, and have made it with full sense of the responsibility. His Honour: I will leave the Registrar to deal with the whole matter first. Later in the day, the Registrar went into the accounts, which were strongly contes- ted by defendant, but in the end the plain- tiff Company obtained judgment.

C.M. Presbytery at Newtown. A meeting of the Montgomery and Salop Pres- bytery was held at Newtown on Thursday week, the Rev Edward Parry, M.A., Moderator. THE COMPENSATION ACT. The Welsh Assurance Trust wrote stating that when the deacons received notice of an accident under the Workmen's Compensation Act they should at once write to the Assurance Trust informing them of the same. They would then promptly receive the needful further directions. In the meantime they would exercise their discre- tion regarding medical examination. It was decided to print the letter in "The Monthly Treasury." COLLECTIONS. The Rev E. Parry submitted a very gratifying report of the foreign mission collection within the Presbytery, amounting to X1432s 4d. This is an increase of j611, which Mr Parry attributed to the visit of Mrs Saunders and the local deputation to the various churches. Mr G. Dickens-Lewis urged the churches to complete the collections in connection with the Forward Movement, so as to enable a full report to be made at next meeting. Mr J. Hamer Joneb presented a satisfactory report on the Harvest Thanksgiving Fund, the collections amounting in all to JE87 18a 7d. Of this sum X5 14s 6d was set apart for the loan f"" and .£82 4s 7d voted to the Mochdre building fund. the report of Mr Richard C. Pryce, on the Presbytery fund, showed receipts amounting to £ 55 2s 6d, and payments to the extent of £ 50 7s 4d. THE MOCHDRE CHURCH. The Rev E. Parry described the progress made with the building of the church at Mochdre, and said the work was now almost completed, and the church would be opened on March 31st and April ht. The total cost would be about £ 650, and there was now in hand .£540. The hope was ex- pressed that the building would be opened free from debt. Mr J. T. C. Gittins read a letter from the Clerk to the Montgomery Education Committee and the Mochdre Committee's report thereon. The report was adopted, and it was agreed that any negotiations be left in the hands of the local Committee. Mr Parry took as the subject of his valedictory address, A Retrospect of the Presbytery of 30 years ago," which proved most interesting. PROGRESS. The following figures show the progress made in the Presbytery in that time (the first figure is for 1875 and the second for 1907): Churches, 20, 24; deacons, 33, 84: communicants, 600, 1,473 teachers and scholars, 1,789, 2.124; hearers, 2,407, 3,553 i and total collections, Y,1,450, £ 2,630. The collections towards home and foreign missions in 1875 were X14, compared with the following col- lections in 19u7: Foreign missions, £ 131; home missions, £ 50; Auxiliary, £ 40; English causes and Forward Movement, 1907, £ 27; total, £ 248. On the motion of Mr William Morris the hearty thanks of the Presbytery were awarded to Mr Party for the enthusiastic and successful way in which he had discharged the duties of moder- ator. Mr "William Evans, Buttington Hall, was 1 1. 1 ingralieu. SCHOOL EXAMINATION. The date of the Sunday School examination was fixed for April 2nd. and the Rev D. D. Wil- liams, Manchester, was appointed examiner. It was agreed to adopt Acts xiii to xxviil as the field of study for the year 1909-10. APPOINTMENT. The following appointments were made:—Loan Fund, the Rev O. Matthias and Mr E. P. Lewis; Sunday School Secretary, the Rev H. Williams; delegates to the General Assembly, Rev E. Parry, Rev J. G. Jones, Messr3 J. C. Gittins and E. Brown; to the Association, spring and summer, the Rev H. H. Hughes and Mr William Gittins; and autumn and Winter, the Rev W. J. B. Mendus and Mr William Morris; and to the English Conference, Mr J. H. Davies, Welshpool. REPORTS ON CHURCHES. The state of the causes at Mochdre, Newtown, and Peaiel was inquired into by the Rev W. J. B. Mendus, and the deacons and minister of the churches gave very satisfactory accounts of their work.—The Newtown Church reported improve- ments in their Sunday School, an increased mem- bership, a good Band of Hope, a better financial pesition, and that much use was made of the library.

THE POOR-LAW REPORT. Boards of Guardians to be Abolished. The following are the principal recommenda- tions contained in the majority and minority reports issued by the Royal Commission on the Poor-law and Relief of Distress MAJORITY SCHEME. ]. The placing of all public relief under one authority in each area. 2. Rearrangement of areas so as to coincide with the areas of the great local authorities. 3 The placing of Poor-law expenditure on the county or borough council funds. 4 Classification of relief. 5 The breakirig-up of workhouses and, in con- sequence, separate treatment of the aged, the sick, the feeble-minded and epileptic, the children, the able-bodh d, aod the vagrants. 6; A combination of labour exchanges, partial home assistance, and industrial and agricultural institutions and colonies for the help of the unemployed. 7. Detention colonies for wilful and idle persons. 8. An encouragement of the small home system for the aged and of the boarding-out system for children 9. An improvement of medical relief fo as to co-ordinate it with provident dispensary work. 10 A modification of disfranchisement so that medical relief Tuuld not disfranchise at all and other assistance would disfranchise only if received for not less than three months in the year. THE MINORITY REPORT. A.—THE NON ^BLE-BODIED. A.—THE NON ABLE-BODIED. 1. Boards of guardians to be abolished. 2. Their powers to be transferred to county and county borough councils, and exercised through committees- viz., provision for (a) Children of school age by the Education Committee; (b) Sick, permanently incapacitated, infants, and aged needing institutional care by the Health Committee; (c) Mentally defective of all grades by the Asylums Committee; (d) Aged pensioners by the Pensions Com- mittee. These committees to provide suitable institutionkl treatment, or, if required, home treatment with home aliments. 3. Registrars of Public Assistance to be ap- pointed by the Councils for the purpose of (a) Keeping a register of all cases receiving assistance; (b) Assessing and r«covering all charges for treatmnet, on principles to be clearly defined by law (c) Sanctioning all grants of home aliment proposed by committees. 4. Each committee to be under a district division of a national department, and appeals from the registrar and the supervision of home aliment under a separate division Grants in aid to be conditioned by efficiency in local services. B.—THE ABLE-BODIED. 1. A Ministry of Labour to be established to supervise the following reforms:- 2. A connected system of labour exchanges, resort to which to be compulsory in certain scheduled trades. 3. No "half-time" under 15. Employment under 18 limited to 30 bqurs a week, with 30 hours' technical training. Reduction of hours of railway, tramway, and omnibus workers. Relief to mothers of young children to exclude industrial employment. 4. Arrangement of public works to extent, on average, of X4,000,000 a year on a ten years' programme, expanding in bad and contracting in good years. Afforestation, coast protection, and land reclamation to be included. Labour to be taken on in the ordinary way. 5. Government subsidy to trade union or other Boctotles giving out-of-work benefit. 6. Maintenance with training for unemployed. 7. Detention colonies for those neglecting to maintain families, to register at an exchange, or to keep discipline in a training establishment. 8. Adequate home aliment for mothers of young children whether widows or wives of men is training establishments.

RYDERS' SEEDS For the Garden in Penny Packets, from Orchids to Mustard and Cress. You can buy larger packets, but if a pennyworth is "0 enough why buy more? Half the seeds u' sold in more expensive packets are wasted. Write to-day for our Catalogue, which will be sent FREE, with beautiful Coloured [e Plate, by return of post. RYDER & SON, SEED SPECIALISTS. ST. ALBAISTS. Beware of Imitators. I

Lord Joicey and the Borough Liberals. We have obtained the Right Hon. Lord Joicey's consent to publish the letter which he addressed to Mr Hugh Lewis prior to the recent meeting of the Montgomeryshire Borough Liberal Associa- tion, and as it is a firm and unambiguous state- ment of policy we have great pleasure in pre- senting it to our readers. Dear Mr Lewis,—I have your letter of the 7th instant, which only reached me last night owing to my movements from home. I have read the report of the speech carefully, delivered by.Mr Rees in Montgomeryshire, but before giving any definite opinion upon it I should like to be sure from him that he has been reported correctly, as from my experience I know that oundensed reports of speeches very often give a different impression from a verbatim one. I think there could be no harm in asking Mr Rees to explain himself more fully to you, and, while per- sonally I am the labt who would be disposed to press any representative to conform entirely or in every detail to the views held by the Liberal Party, on questions of great principle I think we should expeot this. So far as I am concerned, I think you know me sufficiently well to know I am a thorough Free Trader and have no doubts about the wisdom of the country following this policy, and I should not be disposed, on a question of this sort, which I consider a vital one, to support anyone who held an opposite view. I have never done so. From the conversations I have had with Mr Rees, I cannot think that he is wavering on this important question, and I feel sure if it were the case that he would bring the matter before those he represents, particularly through his Association and the Council which represents it. I consider that Mr Rees is a man of great ability, and few, if anv, could represent the constituency better, provided he continues in accord with the views generally of the constituents. I should personally deprecate any public action in the matter until Mr Rees has had full opportunity of laying his views before you. I am sorry I shall not be in Wales for some time.- Youis sincerely, Tmnv-r February 9th, 1909. JOICEY.

Two Belgian policemen who were shot at Ghent by a young Russian anarchist have died of their wounds. During the Salisbury murder trial, the judge expressed surprise that the police should have allowed the kitchen and pas- sage of the house to be washed over. He could not, he said, imagine a greater piece of folly.

My theme is not of ancient kings, Nor yet of knights of old, Who eate in state or rode bedecked In robes of cloth of gsld An humbler theme, though mightier far, My fancy tends to lure The enemy of coughs and colds- WoW Great Peppermit Cam

News fh Tub HEna. The jury in the Bishop divorce case, which was heard at Dublin, were unable te agree. A census of the Berlin unemployed taken by trade unions shows that 101,300 men are out of work. In trials in the Clyde the new British destroyer Swift did thirty-eight knots—or lorty-three land miles-an" hour. A terrible story of twenty-eight hours on a wreck as a result of which three sailors r went mad and four lives were lost, was told at a Board of Trade inquiry at Grimsbv. iv,ert.ain dlstncts of Berlin have been of ° a State of panic b-v the series -ppm to lr°US ,attaeks 011 women, which seem to have become epidemic. Mlit w 6i °llhe estate of the late Mr the Liverpool shipowner and Snf?h2f fn TCef S £ W),000. He left £ 2,0,000 to cnarities. Death duties on the estate amount to £ 135,000. The death has occurred", following an op- eration for appendicitis, of Earl Grosvenor, the heir and only son of the Duke of West- minster. The Earl, who was in hL fifth year, was a godson of the King Thousands of khaki-clad men marched through the streets of the metropolis in an effort to rouse London's support for the Territorial Army. As a result of a week's energetic recruiting, the force has increased by 2,600. A frightful disaster is reported from Mexico. A gala audience of about a thous- and were watching a special performance in a wooden theatre at Acapulco, when a cinematograph film caught fire. Bunting decorations helped to spread the flames, ? Piace became a roaring furnace, ple^S j Pr'Su^ were im^olated. Peo- to rJLh ^d'fouSht- fiercely in their efforts to reacn the few narrow exit^ -North Surrey District School at Anerley bSv to ^inP0SfSTn the first Poor-law scholarshin V-i-f n?i°G 9°unty Council the prize* -nH mg school to present ae pr.ze^ ^nd open new class-rooms Mr Barns clam,ed. as President of the Local gjOT'SLBrl.S' be «he "fflSal goi idtner ol ^o,000 chndren of the State anrt justmed the increased cost of their edu?a Hon by figures indicating the diminution of juvenile crime. u or Staines was the scene of a distressing motor fatality. A party of six chiS were playing in the London-road, and one of tnem, a ten-year-old boy named' Percy Flurry was knocked down bv a car in which Mr S. Brotherhood was being driven by Herbert Kite. In trying to avoid an ac- cident the car swerved and dashed into the other children. The boy died later of a fractured skull, his little sister is not ex- pected to recover, and his younger brothers are severely injured. An important announcement is made bv the Admiralty. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford vacates his appointment as Com- mander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet next month, and that command then undergoes re-organisation. Its principal units will be- come the Second Division of the main Fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne, and Vice-Admiral George Neyille will fly his flag at Sheerness as commander of all the nucleus crew vessels forming the Third and Fourth Divisions. In order to urge upon the Government, on the eve of Parliament's reassembly, the need of dealing effectively with the'prob- lem of unemployment, a demonstration OT- ganised by the Church Socialist League was held in Trafalgar-square. The meeting was remarkable for its orderliness and for the fact that the principal speakers were min- isters of religion. A resolution, moved by Dr Clifford, was carried, embodying the "right to work" principle and demanding that the Local Government Board should distribute the money voted for the relief of the unemployed. Among those who celebrated the eve of a new Parliamentary Session were the un- employed. About 3,000 men assembled at Tower-hill, where they were harangued by Mr Jack Williams, indignant with the po- lice for forbidding a distribution of food in Balgrave-sauare. Mr VLct,,L Gray- son, M.P., who declared that he would have opened Parliament himself fcfr threepence. Thus encouraged, the melancholy army marched through the city to the West-end squares, carrying in procession a variety of pictorial legends. With the resumption of business at West- minster, the dormant activities of the Suffragists have re-awakened. Three of the militant section attended, without invi- tation, the Admiralty reception of Monday night, and at a favourable moment the bold- est of the trio, mounting a chair by Mr McKenna, inquired whether "Votes for Women" would be in the King's Speech. While the scandalised First Lord sought as- sistance, the lady improved the occasion by addressing his guests, but was finally han- ded out of the building.

New Financial Works. Two law books dealing with capital and invest- ment have recently made their appearance. One is entitled "Capital and Investment," published by Effingham Wilson, 54, Tb read need le-street, London, price one shilling, and the other is Future Investment," a revised reprint from "The Stock Market Review." Both are written clearly and concisely, and to render them addi- tionally serviceable they are provided with charts and tabular matter, which deserve to be carefully studied. Active Investment" deals specially with the large return which can be obtained from the active market movements of investment securities. The latter work is issued by the General Securities Corporation, Ltd., 5, Alber- marle-street, London, where also can be obtained "Capital and Investment" at the price named. They are clearly printed and neatly beund.

Loss of 120 Lives in Durham Mine 120 men and boys have perished in an explosion at che West Stanley colliery, Durham. Thirty- four were brought to the surface alive, though in a terribly shaken state; and it, is regarded as practi- cally certain that the remainder have fallen vic- tims to the afterdamp, even if thev survived the explosion The rescue parties that made strenuous efforts to explore the workings found the bodies of men and boys and pit ponies in all directions. Many of the victims were almost beyond recognition, and others had literally been blown to pieces. BUTCHERS' RIDE, SKIN AND WOOL Company Limited, New Canal-street, Birmingham. —Current Prices: Hides-95 and up, 51 41 85 to 94, 5-4; 75 to 84, 4f —4|; 65 to 74 4i-4j; 56 to 64, 41 If 55 and under, 4 £ —4f heavy oowp, 4J—4; light cows, 4J—4; bulls, 3|—3^ warbled and irregs., 3}—4f Calf. 17 acd up,7; 12 to 16, 81 9 to 11, 8f light, 8 Hoitee hides, 21/ 19/3, 18/ 16/ 14/ 11/ 7 9. 7/ Wools- Lots, 9/6, 8/9, 8/6, 8/1, 7/10, 7/6, 7/1, C/3, 5/6. Wools—AL 6/9, A 5/8, B 4/4, c 2/10. Welsh Wools —4/4, 2/10, 1/11. Fat—B«st beef, 3 £ d seconds, 2id; best mutton, 3d; common, lid. Mixed fat, 2jd, Bones—Marrow 1/2. Waste, 9d score. Nearly a month ago European seismographs regi-tered severe shocks, equal in violence to those caused by the Messina catastrophe. Only now has news come through of this lost" earth- quake, which proves to have occurred in the mountainous Persian province of Luristan. In a sparsely-populated district sixty vi-lages were wholly or partially swept away, and the loss of life is estimated at between 5,000 and (3," while twice that number of cattle have perished The I Parliamentary Gazette for Session 1908, shows that 26 members spoke over 100 columns of Hansard, beginning with Mr Balfour with 5COt, and ending with Mr John Redmond with 102J. The Prime Minister has 353 to bis credit; Mr Lloyd George, 2785 Sir Samuel Evans, 190f; while Mr winston Churchill with 1261 was just half-a-column ahead of Mr J. D. Rees with 126 columns. THE Cambrian Railways Company receipts for the week ending February 14th showed increases of .£80 on passenger traffic and .£80 in respeefc of v merchandise, minerals and live stock.