The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

Political Entertainment in Fool. Colonel's Colours Nailed to the Mast. Fighting Free Trade with Free 'Ba.cco. You oe vvuy Uitj Lords are If it had not been for nearly all Tariff" Reform- Mr Addie, well, we should ers." The landlords of not have had this meeting the House of Lords know to-night. COL. PRYCE- that if they can persuade JONES, at Welshpool, last you to accept Tariff" Re- Tuesday night. after ad- form," you won't want vocating Tariff" Reform" the money off them, and at a smoking concert." they are trying it for all I daresay he (Mr Addie) they are worth.—Mr is responsible a great deal EDGAR JONES, M.A., at for the smokes the com. Lianfyllin, last Monday pany are enjoying.-Mr. night, advoeating Land W. M. IRELAND. Reform. CHORUS: He's going, he's going to buck trade up, what-oh I We'll noon be multi-millionaires thro' Good old Joe! He's going to buck trade UP, what-oh We'll soon be multi-millionaires thro' Good old Joe! As I write these linss in my rcom (says an Express' man) my eyes wander towards tbe wall, and on a photograph of Powis Castle, giving the suthein view of that feudal fortress with its magnificent terraces. Into one c rnttr of the frame there is wedged a rent audit" Liotivanir- a ticket for a dinner, bearing th". Powis crest and motto, Ung Je Serviray (" (Jne I t'hall s*rve ") and marked in red ink Nos Transferable." In the opposite corner there is pushed a dainty play- ing oard-tbo four of Hearts. And now the third corner contains another Powysland souvelir- another card printed artistically in blue: Town Hall, Welshpool. Smoking Concert, Tuesday, February 16th, 1909, To Commence at 8 p.m. Admit Not Transferable. E. EVANS, Secretary. This (Wednesday) morning til- United PAck of hounds assembled at the Royal Oak. In front ef the Hotel a group "f "county m-n and maidens chatted together and gazed at the hounds and huntsmen aud the bmali group of mounted sports- men. Around and about were a large number of onlookers -by the Cross Pump stood a number of Welshpool workingmen, who arfl." out-of. work" A chocolate coloured E. L Doilmlt-lr motor-Cltr drove down Broad-street and turned into BArriew- str-et- In it there sat a handsome, prosperous looking English gentleman, with silver white hair and moustache. It was Mr Horaca W Chattert n. who unsuccessfully contested the Cwewe division of Cheshire as a Conservative candidate in 1894 and the Tottenham division of Middlesex likewise in 1905. At this last election he received a record number of Tory vt<«e, but Mr Percy Alden, the well-known social worker, beat him by 2,950 votes. Last Tuesday night Mr H-race W. Chattcrton was the principal speaker at the Welshpool Con- servative Club's political entertainment in aid of Colonel Pryce-Jones, who had been rejected in 1905 by only 83 votes, and who declares that Tariff Reform has for its great object THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE UNEM- PLOYED who are walking about the streets. "To commence at 8 p.m Ladies Invited. N.B. Smoking after 9-30 p.m." For some days the great question with regard to the meeting thus placarded had been Will there be free 'bacco there ?" And to this question various energetic Conservatives gave various answers to various persons But the general feeling amongst the devotees of Lady Nicotine was voiced outside the Town Hall about a quarter to eight by a local musician who was going to take part in the pro- gramme. "I've brought my own 'bacco!" he said, and then added somewhat ambiguously. "There's no depending on 'em!" But at any rate, the Conservative Club might well claim credit that they are wiser in their generation than the children of political light in Powy land ail regards working up a meeting. Admission by ticket," awakened general curiosity—it was a mere detail that at the door all comers, with or without tickets, were heartily welcome Even in the Powis Memorial Church House seldom does one listen to a solitary solo without also being asked to contribute a copper at least towards the "funds But here in the Town Hall last Tues- day night the Conservative Club offered the following programme free. gratis and for nothing Part song Comrades' Song of Hope Glee Party* Song Asleep in the Deep Mr H. M. Williams- Song Selected Mr R. H. Thomas. Quartette Spring's Delights Messrs Humphreys, Thomas, Austin and Evans. Humorous song Selected Mr F. E. Anderson. Song and chorus Jennie Bell Mr R. H. Thomas and Party. Song. The Admiral's Broom "Mr R. E. Quinn. Humorous song Selected Mr Walter Evans. Part song "Soldiers' Chorus" Glee Party. Humorous duett My Motor-Car" Messrs Humphreys and Evans. Solo (chorus by audience) Land of my Father" Mr R. H. Thomas. —National Anthem.— sandwiched in between Mr R. H. I homa« selected" song and the quartette Spring's Delights" were the following few and compara- tively insignificant lines: Chairman's Address. Ad. ess on "Tariff Reform" by Horace W Chatterton, Esq. Vote of thanks to Speaker, proposed by Colonel E. Pryce-Jones, seconded by Mr C. Shuker. Crowned with success, as regards the attend- ance, were the efforts of the promoters. The Assembly Rooms were crammed with men and women, boys aud girls, and children in arias, and the following statistics were supplied by a Borough J P. and Tariff" Reformer" who stuod by the entrance door. We had seating accom- modation for 600! There were over 200 stand- ing! There were sure to be 200 turned away- no room! The Earl of Powii's esiata ag«nt, who is also chairman of the Welshpool Conserva- I tive and Constitutional Club's Committee, took I the chair. On his rigiit there sat Mr Horace W. Chatterton, who made the impression on the provincial audionce that HE WAS A. "GREAT SWELL" and a good-natured gentleman of independent means. To Mr Addie's loft were seated Colonel Pryce-Jones, the adopted Tory candidate for Montgomery Boroughs, and Mr Charles Shuker, the veteran ex-Conservative agent. The Colonel smiled on a supporter in one of the front rows, and the Chairman anticipated the programme somewhat by opening the proceedings with a brief sneech. -1.1 I don't know," said Mr Addie, whether the meeting of Parliament, which is taking place to-night, has anything to do with our meeting, or whether our meeting has anything t^ do with tha opening of Parliament, but I daresay in both c-ises they may have rather important results (smiles). Perhaps the meeting of Parliament; with regard to the. welfare of this country, and p rhap* thi* meeting wir.h regard to thA wolf„,re of these boroughs, fh"y have some influence on your deirinn tn return Colonel Prvce-Jones as your member at the next election (loud cheers). I very well remember som« two or thr^o rears ago, at a meeting "f Conservative C;ub in rh* room there, when Colonel Pryce-Jones decided in fav. ur of thr^wirg in M« lot with T-u-iff Rc\. formers. There wera some at that ricne who thought that in making that declaration and announcement he rami* a v«ry great rnist." k. Hnd some thought. I dareaay, that in cuns-quence of that declaration he lost the last election. (1. is possible it may have had S Imd effect, upon the result of the last el..m,ion, If ir. lost him toe chance of b-coinin"f the member at the elec- tion, probably that deciarati >n at the u«xt ejection will' v-ry much aid him in becoming member of Parliament. "Now, ladies and genUemon, we don't want; anybody to wobble about this question ( laughter ind cheers). Colouel Prvce-loaes declared him- self at that-, tim-A as a Tariff R tormer, and he still declares him elf so (renewed cheers). VíT, don't want anybody to wobble over Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church, and in fact the plundering of the Church. We want a tnin to be of one mind, and to keep of one mind with regard to that question. We want a candidate who will be with us with regard to education and in look- ing after our schools, and, above all, in preventing, if possible-and I am sure it will be possible— secular instruction becoming c mnecred with the school of this country. We wnnt somebody who will be of onu mind, aud who will KEEP OF ONE M[ND AND NOT WOBBLE upon the question with regard to the Licensing Laws. I am sure that Colonel Prrc—Jones wiil tike c-ire so far as he cLn-altli,,u -h he would he, no doubt a temperance reformer—at be will njt Wth to take prop-rcy trdvi oth-r people with- out paving for it. With regard to the reporters who are present to-night, I feel pe'fectly sure that 'h y ,-i I r"port corrtcuy the proceedings. I think they will be able to correctly report all the speakers who will address you. That is rather an impo< t-v;t matter nowadayr, -(Iaugbtor and sLuil,) —and I fe..1 sure that we may trust aud rely upon i. :nu to cor- lectly report what is said to-nign; by the speakers" I The musical programme was th-n proceeded with. So struck did the Colonel s-em t., be by the "Comrades' Song of Hope" to-t-r he turned j baif round in his chair and gaz->d attentively at the Glee Party b«nind nim. I'ho'l ,rds .f Play the man!" "Tru^h your -ittri.i4rd were ren- dered with great effect Equally impr-ssive weia the w. rds Bowar, Beware!" m rh~ second song. The "selected" so:a pr iv»-i to be i political parody, It suggested that "e words, f the original m-lodv, "Poor old J e," are more applicable t- th- Birmingham poii: >c an, who is now so severely affl c ed. H,)w.v"'l', rhere it was: Lib'rals say they're the workinguian's best friend Why don't they try onr dwindling tralle to mend? Fine words won't fill your Little Mary," no "Protection," though, will do the trick says "Good old Joe The chorus was ca,ching fie's— going and the Colonel nodded uis head "k' as Lie thinking that meeting whereat Mr Joseph Chauiberlaiu unfolded his new fi-oal policy? At any rate he was singing, and Mr A.ddie also joined ;n the multi-millionaire "chorus attei the working man's best friend v.-rs-. Wr R. H. Thomas brought down the house and g ined an I encore By now the audience had been warmed up sufficiently to listen appreciatively to Mr Horace W. C'naiterion, who spoke until half pist nine. Mr Addie introduced him as one of toe most brilliant speakers on the Tariff Reform question, and we know that he has already contested the Crt-lwe division of Cheshire, aud also the Tottenham division of Middlesex" Mr Horace W Chatterton made an opening complimentary reference to the BEAUTIFUL SCENERY OF POWYSLAND. which he had beheld for the first time from the train that afternoon. The audience, of course, could not expect a Conservative stranger to, pas on to speak of the local Land Problem, of the disappearance of small holdings io connection ..itb byetnke*" and "nettle-folds." Mr Horace W. Chattrton passed on to remark that the spirit of pr-phesy mu4 have been upon th., geutleman who drew up the programme. The first item "Comrades' Song of Hope," was what th"y would sing until the next General FIectiOn-(Iaugh ter) -the next item Asleep in the deep" Was where Mr J. D. R-es would be—(renewed laughter)—and the next song "Selected" referred to his friend, Colonel Pryce-Jones (more laughter and loud cheers). Mr Horace W. Chatterton said he had been agreeably surprised to find that, coming where parties were so evenly divided, he had corn* to a land where the sitting Liberal member intends to keep an "open mind on the question of Free Trade and Protection (laughter, hear, hear, and cheers). For that expragidon of opinion, although he had not the honour of Mr Rees' iquairitance- he was not going to say one word in his dispraise —he begged to tender, not only his own sincere thanks, but of all g)od Englishmen who wished the truth to prevail (cheers). Mr Horace W. Chatterton observed that he had had considerable experience as a politician now, extending over 25 years, and he had made it a rule of his life never to let political differences interfere with private friendships. At a later stage in his speech he also made the following interesting ob;ervation The word 'Radical implies, or should mean, one who goes to the root of the subject.' That is the meaning of the LAtin. As a matter of fact it means a superficial, probably half-educated muddle-head, who has never taken the trouble to get to the root of anything ooud laughter, amid which the Colonel nodded his head). To the casual reader there might seem at first sight to be some contradiction in these two state- ments, but (writes an Express' man) when I had that chat wit1 Mr Horace W. Chatterton after the meeting, he gave a ready explanation. I asked him what would his Radical friends say to his description of them as superficial, probably half-educated, muddle-heads." With a cheerful laugh and a twinkle in his brown eyes. Mr Horace W Chatterton suggested, Oh They would probably say the same thing about me!" The mist impottant speech of the eveniDg, of course, was that from the Colonel himself, though on the programme he figured in a small part. He had only a vote of thanks to Mr Horace W. Chatterton, but so great an impression did he then make on Mr Shuker that that gentleman, in seconding the same vote of thanks, observed that He, like that patriotic Englishman, Earl Nelson, has nailed his colours to the mast." "IT IS ONLY THREE YEARS AGO," said the Colonel, since we had the last general election, and I think it is a very fortunate fact for us that we stand to-day on practically the same ground as we stood then. If you asked me to issue my addrefs, if an election came. off at once, I think I could almost give the same address again. The only fault that I could see in it then was that, perhaps, I was a little too advanced in my ideas Wq in these Boroughs— the Unionists-were one of the few to follow the great lead of Mr Chamberlain on this fiscal reform (cheers). Perhaps we did lose a large number of votas on that question. But, ladies and gentlemen, it is gratifying at the present time to know that not only in Welshpool and in thase Boroughs, but throughout the country at large, the people are caming around on this big question, and there is no question more big than the alteration of our old, antiquated Fre Trade system, because it has for its great object the employm nt of the unemployed at the present time. We do not say that it will meet-we can- not guarantee that it will find employment for everybody. But such a policy as fiscal reform is will tend to employ more of our British unem- ployed than the present system of Frea Trade.- [A Voice Hear, hear.j—Whilst I was walking up the street from the station this afternoon I met a prominent Radical, and we had a few words, and he said we fiscal reformers don't know what we want (laughter). We want this alteration in our system for the purposes of finding the increased revenue. In the second place, we want it to reduce our taxa- tion. In the third place, we want it to give more employment to OUR FRIENDS, WHO ARE WALKING THE STREETS, and out of work (cheers). We want it to increase the wages fund of the country, and we want it to give us the machinery by which we shall be able to use it to prevent foreign nations from bringing their goods into our country—[A Powysland working man (loudly) Hear, hear, sirJ-to compete unfairly with our own productions (cheers). Then we want, in addition, to use it as a, lever that our own goods may go into the markets of foreign nations on something like equal terms. It was admitted, ladies and gentle- men, tb8 other day by a strong Radical, by one of the Cabinet Ministers, that England was worse off than Germany. Free Traders in the past nmde out that the Germans are worse than we are in England. But this Cabinet Minister admitted, though very reluctantly, that times are even worse in England than they are in Germany. • Well, ladies and gentlemen continued the Colonel, characteristically waving his arm, What are the facts with regard to chat ? We see thousands of our fellow-countrymen—the very best of their kind—young men, young women—go not only to the colonies, but go to foreign countries to find work. Yes! Not only in thousands, but in tens of thousands you can | count them—by several hundreds of thousands every year! From Germany you find that the numbers who migrate are getting less year by year. Then, when you come to the savings in the banks, very often you find that quoted. The savings in the Post Office banks are greater per head of the population there than in our own i country. Well, ladies and gentlemen, what I say is ) Pbis-that so long ab our people are unemployed, so long as there are PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO BEG FOR WORK, so long as We fi id that our leaders of industry have t > take their factories to foreign countries, so long as that exists, there must be something wrong in our sysvm, when we allow the pr. ductions of foreign countries from Franoe and Germany and Americt to come in. And it is because I belier» that the present system of Free Tiade is ind'cally wrong, and because tbe Dumber of the nn inployed is increasing rather than deciea«ing, and that capital is now almost a glut, in the mu k tt, partly b cause of wantof in the Gov-rnmeut, and partly because of this system of Free Trade, that I for one am stronger in ftvour of this policy now than I was at the last election" (hear, hear, and ioud cheers). During Mr Shuker's speech the Colonel lit a cigar. P'ssibly at that very moment the Welsn Rtdical M P.'s might have b-en discussing the King's Speech in th^ sm >ke-room of St Stephens Maybe also some of them might sigh after their I oid colleague, the Colonel. His politics are anathemi, but the most extreme political opponent would b., the first to acknowledge the excellence of his cigars. One. more was the audience able to return to thu musical programme, but now, also, courteous stewa-ds hastened up and down the room carry- ing trays loaded with piles of the fragrant weed, and cigarettes, whilsh a number of cigars were likewise in evidence. There was plenty of free 'bacco after all! But it is an open question whether this generous entire abolition of the duty off tobacco was of sufficient consolation to some I Conservative workingmen in the audience. These bad come to the meeting with bogus beer tick-ts" that bad been presented to them in a Powysland public-house the previous night by AN INCORRIGIBLE WAG Originally thwse pink tokens with" beer" written across them had done service for the Y ooianry Band Cruel indeed -as the practical jok-r, woo assured his inquiring friends that each ticket was good for a quart." Still crueller was he to th- lover of spirits, who asked "Am I bound to hive b,,er ? and was assured that he could take it out in whiskey. But most cruel of all was the wag to the workingman whom he promised sh >u!d help him to guard the beer barrel in the Towu Hall, and to measure out the glorioui j beverage. A. | in p oposing ana seconding a vote ot tnanss to the Chairman, Culonel Pryce-Jones and Mr W, M. Ireland spoke most appreciatively of Mr Forrester Addie's services to the cause. While there were "smokes" in abundance at the meeting, Mr Ireland suggested that they would not need the carpet which our opponent had to tread upon in the plist wfek." So delighted were the Conservative leaders with the success of the smoking concert that one ot them suggested that more of these entertainments will be given in the near future. We used to have them 20 years ago," remarked this prominent Tariff Reformer"—who has done sufficiently well under Free Trade, even in Welshpool, to be able to retire trom business. Ca.8tl.regh was the candidate then, and the Colonel's father after him. And we had suppers, too

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Questions for Tariff Reformers. I If to tax paper is to b^uetit the paper makers, who is to compensate the printers and publishers for having to work with '.x ,¡ paper? Tax imports and YuU make work," says the Tariff "Reformer." Take a concrete instance. Tax paper because it is a "manufacture," and there will be "more work for British paper mills. But far more men work as compositors, machine men, publiqhers" assistants' etc., than as paper makers, and obviously, if paper was taxed, printers and publishers would have less work to do, because paper w uld be dearer. And no tax could be imposed to compensate printers and publishers for the tax on paper because practically all British books and journals and newspaper must be printed and published in this country. You cannot, for instance, protect the compositor who sets up the Daily Mail," because it cannot be set up abroad under any circumstances. And what is true of a tax on paper is true, mutatis mutandis, of leather' copper, straw-plait, and a host ot other "manufactures" which are raw materials of industry The tax which is one man's Protection is another man's ruin.

A Tragedy at Llanymynech. YOUNG MAN KILLED ON THE LINE Dr. Aylmer Lewis, the district ccroner, held an inquiry at the Bradford Arms Hotel, Llanymynech, on Saturday week into the death of John Edward Richards, aged 35, son of Mr Richords, of the Bradford Arms Hotel, whose mangled body was found on the railway near the station the pre- vious evening. The father said he last saw his son alive on Thursday evening. His son was a sober man, but hq did not consider him mentally strong. Owing to his conduct some twelve months ago, Dr. Beresford attended him for some time. His mother often took his breakfast to bed because he was not well. Rees Davies, carpenter, Llanymynech, said he saw deceased about 4-50 p.m. on Friday near the school. He spoke to him, and there was nothing unusual in his appearance or conduct. Richards afterwards walked in the direction of the railway. Richard Roberts, signalman, Llanymynech, was on duty at the signal box on Friday when the Welshpool train reached Llanymynech. He heard the engine whistle and saw the train stop. He had seen Richards cross the line on another occasion to go to the fields. There was a footpath over the line. Charles Mann, locomative inspector, was on the engine of the train which was due to reach Llan- ymynech at 5-4 on Friday. When nearing Llany- mynech he heard the whistle of the engine and the application of the brakes. The driver re- marked that he had knocked down a man, and, on looking over the side, he saw the man's boot. When the train came to a standstill he went back and found the man dead. It was quite light at the time. The train was travelling at the rate of 25 to 30 miles an hour. By the Coroner: He thought the train was drawn up in about a hundred yards after passing the body. The engine driver first blew his whistle about fifty yards before he reached the man, and he was of opinion that the man had sufficient time to step out of the way He must have been in the centre of the line when he was struck. He could clearly have heard the train coming from a good distance. John Pierce, the driver of the engine, said he first saw the man standing in the six-foot near the end of the girder of the bridge on the Llany- mynech side. When he touched the whistle ot the engine the man deliberately walked in front of the engine with his face to it. If he had fallen the engine would have cleared him. By the Foreman: If Richards had stopped where he was when first he saw him, the train could have passed him without hurting him. George Griffiths, labourer, Llanymynech, said he knew Richards, and was otten in his company. Richard told him in conversations that he was in a very miserable way, and that be had a good mind to throw himself under the train. He last caw him on the previous Sunday. J. James Tinsley, chemist, Llanymynech, said a few months ago Richards came to his shop and asked for prussic acid. He did not supply him with any because he would not say why he wanted it. On another occasion he asked for prussic acid and he refused to supply him. He thcught Richards was rather weak-minded. He was not a drunken man P.C. Ec-cleston said he considered Richards a man of weak intellect. The Coroner, in summing up, said he thought there was no doubt as to the mental condition of the man and, after a short deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in a fit of temporary insanity." Tne Foreman added that they had I vote of condolence with the father and mother in their trial; and the Coroner said he should like to associate himself with the vote of condolence passed.

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SANITARY REVIEW OF WELSHPOOL. Dr Arthur Crump, as me-Jical officer of health for the borough of Welsnpool submitted the following rep irt last Thursday to the Town Council: During 1908, 74 deaths were registered in the Borougn; adding to this two deaths of residents who died in institutions elsewhere, we have a total of 76 recorded deaths, giving a corrected d.-aih rate or 12 4 per 1,000 inhabitants. This favourably compares with a general death rate for tne Coumy of 15 in 1907, and an average dearii rate fur the past ten years for the Berough of 14 S Of these deaths, ten were of infants under oue Y"'tir, Kivu.g an intautile wOltallty rate (if 71.4 per 1000 births, as compared with an average infantile uaoitality rate of 123-1 tor the las ten years for C||e average for the county gener- a y of 9o 5. Both these rates are satisfactorily lo w, euig well below the aveiage rates for both borougn and county, On analysis of the deaths, U 42 of P"rs ms of 65 and V leyen p.-rsons dn-d from malignant disease (cancel) in some form or other, the same number succumbed to bronchitis or pneumonia, nine persons died of cerebral apopl xy, and six from phthisis (conSump,.„n). gm„g a death rate from this disease ot 9 per l,u00, Weishpool being well below any otner district in the County in this respect. I may say that three of these perauns-tl nurse from a London hospital, an attendant from a luuatic asylum, and a clerk trom London-csme here ,n an advanced state of the disease to obtain the benefit of pure country air During 1908 three persons met their death by accident II In tue past year 140 bit tbs (71 male and 69 female) were registered in the borough, giving a natural increase of 64 to the population, as com- pared with 53 in 1907; this give- a bitth rate for the year undsr review of 22'S per 1,000 ot the population, which shows an increase of 14 births over the previous year and for the first time for five years I have to report that the birth rate is not lower than the year before. Also there were but two illegitimate births against thirteen registered in 1907. Attached to this report will be found a detailed statement of vital statistics. PHYSICAL FEATURES AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT. Welshpool is situated in the Upper Severn Valley, the town being placed some three-quarters of a mile from the river Severn, at the entrance to a deep valley. It is protected on the north and north-east by steep wooded slopes. On the west the wind blows down this valley, and the south- west and south winds sweep down the main Jfn-rfi ?[,rS*-Covered tills of the Golfa (lOoO feet) on the north-west, and the hills ot the Gungrog and Rhallt (800 feet) on the north protect the town; on the west in gentle undula- tions rise the woods constituting the Deer Park of Powis Castle, culminating in Pen-y-parc (1150 feet). VA Eastward across the river rises the long level crest of the Long Mountain (133S feet), whilst on the north-east the Breidden Hills (1324 feet) stand conspiciously in the landscape. Welshpool is a market town and an important distributing centre. Unfortunately the old stable industries have disappeared, and the occu- pations of the inhabitants is chiefly agriculture. INFECTIOUS DISEASE. During 1908 the town itself was remarkably free from infectious disease, two cases of scarlet fever and two cases of diphtheria being all that were notified. These latter occured in Clifton- street in April. Both cases recovered, thorough disinfection was carried out, isolation as far as practicable, and the usual samtary precautions taken, with the result that there was no further spread of the disease. An outbreak of scarlet fever occurred :n the Trewern district in August, four cases being notified. All recovered. I found that the diseafie originated in the house of a person who had recently returned from Liverpool, where, in the bouse she came from, there had been a death from this disease. By immediately closing day and Sunday schools, and taking steps for the isolation of the families, together with the ordinary sanitary precautions, the disease was stamped out. In the early part of the year mumps were very prevalent, especially in the lower or Waterloo end of the town, necessitating the closing of the Gangrog-lane School for three weeks from the 13th of January. WATER SUPPLY. The town water has been chemically analysed at regular intervals during the year, and the analyses have been satisfactory. There has been an entire absence of water borne disease. The gathering grounds not being entirely free from suspicion of pollution, I think it would be advis- able if this chemical analysis was at times supple- mented by a combined chemical and bacteriologi- cal examination, the latter being capable of indicating traces of pollution, imperceptible by chemical analysis alone. During the summer the supp!y was sufficient and the service constant; but in winter, during frost time, a most serious nuisance occurs in the higher parts of the town, many bouses and also the Christ Church Infants' School being without water for even flushing the offices. Whatever may be the predisposing causes of this shortage, I am positive the existing cause is due to the water pressure (which is never high) being lowered by people leaving their taps running and tying down the ball valves of their cisterns to prevent freezing and consequent frost bursts; much more supervision should be exercised over this waste of water, and notices distributed and summonses issued against these people who wilfully waste water, as it is a matter of great sanitary importance, notto mention the incon- venience a-id annoyance to householders who rightly are protesting against paying their water rate. The weeds in the reservoir require remov- ing, and several of the mains owing to corrosion ought to be renewed. The filters, I am informed, are now in good order and have been regularly washed, and a new sand washer has been provided and fixed. It is proposed, and a report has been presented on the subject, to form an emptying sluice, and also to concrete the banks of the reservoir during the year. DAIRIES, COWSHEDS, AND MILKSHOPS. The public are gradually awakening to the extreme importance of a pure and uncontaminated milk supply, the necessity for which cannot be over-rated, as milk is the principal food of infants and sick people. I am able to report that the milksellers, in the majority of cases, are willing to do all they can to guarantee a pure and whole- some supply. Cowsheds are much improved and compare favourably with tbeir previous condition personal cleanliness of milkers, cleanness of milk vessels, and care in the distribution of the milk is what I am continually pressing upon them; we are improving, but not yet perfect. It is not our duty to take samples for analysis foi butter fat; this should be done by the County Council's appointed inspector. Periodical examinations, however, for impurities and disease causing germs might advantageously be taken, although, as the law now stands, I fear there is little redress to be obtained. SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE, &c. I am informed the sewers are in proper working order, regularly -9ushed, and of sufficient capacity for the wfints of the town. The proposed Henfaes scheme, on the adoption of which I congratulate the Council, for the disposal of the town's refuse and the treatment of che sewage, has my warmest support; the time is undoubtedly at hand when we should dispose of our crude sewage in some I other way than by merely allowing the sewage effluent to flow untreated into the Severn \t any time this question may with justice become acute; in addition, frcm an industrial point of view, it is bad as it is manifestly impossible, as we are situated at present, to allow any noxious trade effluents to pass into our sewers, and twice during the past year it has been the misfortune of the town to lose an industry entirely through his cuse. The nuisance, too, caused by dispos- ing of fish refuse and the burning of waste paper during the past year has caused serious annoy- ance, threatening the corporation with litigation. The present method of removal of refuse is both costly and insanitary; undoubtedly the proper way of dealing with refuse is by cremation in a destructor. COTTAGE PROPERTY. <fcc. The insanitary condition of some of the old and wornout cottages is the worst feature of the town crowded together, as they are, in narrow courts where little sunlight and fresh air can reach them. It is earnestly hoped that considerable alterations will be made in many of them during the coming year to improve their adequacy and fitness for habitation. A great advance during the year has been the mltting "f an open-air gy muasium on the site where the demolished insanitary property in Puzzle Square once stood; also the provision of a. recr«ati,.n ground for the children uf the town; and lastly, but by no means least, the laying out of an excellent golf course on the burgess lands. During the year, too, several good-class houses have buen built in Salop-road, and a large residence on the Red Bank A long feu and much needed want would be the provision of public baths and wash-houses, where the working man could, if be wished, get a h. -t bath. SLAGGH rER-HOUSES. BAKEHOUSES, FACTORY AND WORKSHOPS. These have been regularly inspected. The bakehouses nave been whitewashed according to law and are in good asd cleanly condition. There are no underground bakehouses. The slaughter- houses hsve caused no complaints, and are both clean and the majority quite sanitary. The only factory m the borough is at present not working. Toe various workshops and w->rk-piaces appear to he in fa r order, with sliffi-ent iif space, adequate ventilation, and in cleanly c .-ndition. We nave no offensive trades. Thanking you, gentlemen, for th kind consider- ation I fiive, at ail times received at your hands and assuiing you that in the future, ae ia the i a-t, it wiil always be my earnest endeavour to act fearlessly and impartially for the good of the coexmuuity in the matter ot its public health."

Miss Marie Novello Williams and Party, at Caersws. The above talented artist and party visited the Ancient City on Friday evening week, and gave a delightful programme of music, which varied from a simple cumic melodie to the most difficult of Wagner and Lizt, &c The concert opened with a vocal trio, "The Angels night song," a p ison scene, composed by Wales'g eatest musical genius of the 19th century (Dr. Joseph Parry). A delightful trio, which was superbly rendered by Mioses E. Hall, Winifred Lewis and Fenway, the richness of tone, perfect blend and balance, and unity of movement, being most charluing. Rarely have I heard much better, and .nus naturally prepared my mind and thoughts L > L-r a continuance of this high standard of singing. But in this I was wiitingly dis- appointed, as the remaining vocal items fell 6hort of what I naturally expected aftAr so fine an effort. "Good-bye" (Tosti), by Miss Hall was fair, and being encored she sang •• Nant y Mynydd," a very bad choice, which proved so in her rendering. Faulty intonation reigned throughout nearly every movement of the song. A Welsh air or a short English melodie would have been a far berter choice Again, her second selection, Y Fam a'i Baban," is scarcely up ro the standard of an artistic concert. Her duett from Stabat Mater (Rossini), with Miss Lewis was good technically, but I again question the choice of this particular item for a mixed Welsh country audince Most of them, if not all, were products of the We sh soil, and naturally would m re readily welcme and appreciate the rendering of music that had been penned from the same source. l'he beautiful trio at the opening is & Conclusive proof ot this. Welsh music has in the past been able to holds its own, and I have, no misgivings as ro its future. I mav note hero that out of fifteen items on the programme only three were penned by Welsh composers. To sustain this programme we had five artistes, four of which were the products of the Welsh nation, and had been nursed in the Eisteddfod cradle. Further comment is needless on this particular point. To revert to the programme, I may say that Miss Winifred Lewis, the contralto, or rather the mezzo-soprano, is a charming singer, highly gifted with a wide range of voice, intelligently delivered and controlled. Her singing of Soul's Awakening was surely good, but not up to expectations, her second attempt in the sung Friend was a very fine triumph of pure vocalisation, but this was attained at the expense of sacrificing clear articulation of the words; a very grave error, which she would do well to seriously consider. No doubt a most gifted artist, may she not be satisfied on the stand she now makes, but have as her motto: I fyny fo'r Nod (Excelsior). Her part in the duett Maying" was very sweetly sang. Mr Kenway, who joined, also pang "Nirvana" and a comic ditty, and also joined in the two trios, and did well in both items. In reference to the talentei pianist, my duty ends by saying that her fingering of the instru- ment was most extraordinany and a marvel in every way. Her selections may have b<*en too much alike in character. Possibly the outstand- ing item was her playing cf "La Campanella." this being her best selection and effort in my humble opinion. A truly Welsh artist yet placed in the front rank with all th greatest Engiish and foreign pianists of the day. Before bringing my remarks to a close, I have a word fit praise and appreciation to the young girl accompanist, Miss Blanche John. She was smart yet most unselfish, and accompanied evrry item with artistic effect. Musical Caersws owe a debt of gratitude t > the friends, who ventured to a thinly populated dis- trict with such fine variety of talent, but I fear that had the concert not been so well pitronis ed by people from Carno, Trefeglwys, and Llandinam, it would have been a total financial failure. Probably, had a good oid fashioned stump orition or a farcical comedy been placed on the boards we should have had a more representative gathering from the village. I hope the taste for g »od music is not on the waue; leaders of the different chapels and churches have a responsibility in this respect. I should like to know what they are doing. I trust they don't enjoy rivalling one another as to who should be the greatest," while the rising generation i-uffer fr, m want of accomplished teachers and advisers If the work and deeds of tfcose who c nsider themselves leaders in this district during tLe past ten or fifteen years would be scrutinised. I question if an atom of musical advancement can be shown by any church or chape throughout the district- religious music is of primary importance, and yet it is in a most disgraceful state in the country. The continual bustle and bubble is carried on with apparent assiduousness, but the volcanic strife and uproar ends in the usual ntousy results. Y -mynydd a edgor ar Cygodeu," this is a most interesting subject which may have my further notice at some future time. M.

On the Cambrian AFTER ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. Next Friday the debenture and shareholders of Cambrian Railway stock will assemble for the 90th time. What the directors have to tell them is hopeful in tone, but the figures in the Revenue account are not so cheery Comparing receipts and expenditure with the last sif months of 1907 there is a net decrease in receipts of £ 1 075 and an increased expenditure of J.70G I he wages pllld in the maintenance and removal of perman- ent way amount to -t 12 879 16,; lid, a decrease of £ 49; wages in connexion with the working of locomotives, £ 10,371, a -iecrease of £ 79, on the repairs and rel,-wals account the wages have increased by .£73. whilst the waee item amounts to £ ,21,324 under traffic expenses as agaiuat £ 21,939 paid in 1907. a decrease of .£15. The salaries of the office staff have also dropped from £ 3,028 in 1907 to £ 2,99S The increased expendi- ture as shown in the balance sheet is due to rolling stoelk expenses, which total £ 45,127, an in- crease of £ 4.912, whilst the maintenance of way works, etc., is responsible f"r an extra outlay of Xi,los. Concerning the receipts the Directors have the following optimistic note in th,- r report: The decrease of £ 837 in the passenger recei. is is less than might have been expected having regard to the counter attraction ot the great exhibition in London, and to the wet weather which prevailed on the C' "-s- in Auu-.t and Sep- tember. There is an increase of £ 602 m the revenue from merchandise ai d live g:, ck, hut a decrease of £ 993 in the im». ra! traffic, which is due to the co itmned depression m the building trade. The outlook is more hopeful for the, cur- reiat lialf YI.r." i ne Direct- rs also report i hat the net revenue will enab e the Company t.. pay the arrears of ic'tregt ou t:,e "C" debenture stock for the previous halt year, also full curr. nt interest on the A B and C oebentures. The tail- way station at Ab<-rystwy:h will probibiy in future beLworked jointly by 1he Great Western and Cambnan Railways. The bill wili be intro- duced into the present session of P«riinmei t. if it gams the appr;val-a, it aim st certainty will — of the general bvrly .,f ptock holders. M' Daviti Davies, the County Member—and with him Mr H.F. Slattsry -r"ltir from the dirFctdrsbip I his year, but both offer themselves for re-eieciion.

For Chronic Chest Complaints. ¥( zodz Great Perperrrirj Cure. 1/11,2/9.