The Abergavenny Mail

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24. 1914. Topical Tattle. The fatal day in the threatened strike of Herefordshire school teachers—January 31, looms near, and unless there is a change in the situation the youngsters look like having a fine time after that date. In Ledbury, eleven teachers propose to come out on strike, and so far only two appointments to fill those eleven vacancies have been made by the County Council. The local teachers are very determined and loyal to the Union, and as a trades unionist, or rather pro- fessional unionist, I wish them luck. It seems strange that the County Educa- tion Committee should have found out all at once that they have been paying their head teachers £1,300 per annum less than they ought to. They say they have always been ready to consider any application from the teachers for an increase, but I recall cases of local teachers who were refused not once, but twice and thrice, and again and again, applications for increases of salary that were well deserved. Such treatment as this, and with no scale existing, was naturally not exactly welcomed by the teachers, hence the present trouble. ♦ There is no question that the County Education Committee stand condemned in the eyes of the public in their autocratic methods of dealing with the deputation which they consented to receive. Naturally the members of the Union expected to be accompanied by their oikial advisers, but not so the lordly Education Committee, who said they would have them in one at a time. Was that a proper manner in which to treat a deputation ? And now Colonel Decie says they have never refused to meet the teachers Literally, he is correct, but it is nothing to shout from the housetops or be proud of. Any self-respecting comb ination of men would have acted exactly as the National Union of Teachers did, and if they had not they would have lost any they ever possessed. We look like being in for another spell of endless discussions from now till next June, or after, on the isolation hospital question, which is again cropping up at meetings of our local authorities. I still hold to the views expressed in these columns over two years ago, that the best method for the Urban and Rural District Councils of Ross and Ledbury, is to combine on this question and have a hospital on the borders of the two rural districts. They will be money in pocket in the long run, to say nothing of minimising the risk of infectious diseases. I have not forgotten my own personal experience of the late autumn epidemic of 1911, and still hold that the foregoing suggestion is the most complete solution of the difficulties which have arisen through the inaction and dilatory methods of our local authorities. In my opinion the. situa- tion calls for strong condemnation. The situation to-day is not a bit further forward than it was in 1911, and I know of a case of scarlet fever not far from Ledbury, where the patient, a child of tender years, is isolated at home. The parents are of the working class, but unfortunately, the father has not been fully employed of late, not through any fault of his own, and the result is that the little patient cannot receive that sustenance which the illness demands, and which it ought to receive. Had there been isolation hospital accommodation as there ought to be, that child would have bad a far better chance of an early restoration to health and strength, but as it h;-well, there are kind neighbours, and after all there is no class in the country that carries out the old maxim of helping one another like the work- ing class. < I have had placed in my bands racently some literature concerning the British Gardeners' Association,which was established in 1904, and has bad a good growth, al- though locally it has been little heard of publicly. This defeet I understand is to be remedied in the near future, and I hear that there is every prospect of a meeting being called in Ledbury for the gardeners in the district, which when it does take place, I hope will be well attended. The association is, of course, really a trade union, or trade protection society, and the prospec- tus and programme contain some very excellent suggestions which can only result, if carried out, in the advancement of the position of gardeners in general. The Asso- ciation runs its own journal, a monthly publication written up in chatty style, denoting the progress of the various branches, which I hope in the near future will include one from Ledb ury. I notice in reference to the. Insurance Act a case where a man whose approved society is an insurance society complains that He has put in a proper claim for sickness benefit and received 'none. His only remedy is to. write to the Insurance Commissioners, Buckingham-gate, S. W., but they do not always respond. They should be written to once a week, and if they still remain silent, try bricks. » il ll ,-N o statesman  davs hab  made? "No statesman nowadays ha6 quite made bia position unless he h" occasionally Ij played the part of a professor," says the Morning Post." The suffragettes say that is why John Burns is qualifying as a profes- sional chiakei-out. Would it bp dangerous to give a work- horse child LM ? asks the Daily Sketch." Unlets tbe payment were spread over a term I of years. I met a young teacher the other day who bad a grievance says a "Daily Sketch" correspondent. When he meets one that hasn't, especially in Herefordshire, it will be even better worth recording. "Is a tidy husband a nuisance ? aska the Daily Mirror." No wife ever admitted that her husband was tidy. "Ink in many cases is a disinfectant," says the Standard." The journalist vindi- cated at last. TATTLER. I I

LOCAL NEWS. I LEDBURY PARISH CHURCH. I RECTOR: REV. F. WC;R-,NEGY, M.A., R.D. I CURATE REV. 0. F. R. STRICKLAND, B.A. I ORGANIST MR. F. A. HOBRO. Friday-Choir Practice (full) 8 p.m. LESSONS FOR SUNDAY, JAN. 25. 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. MORNING. I EVENING. Isaiah 49. Jer. I,I Gal. 1, 11. Acts 26, 1-21. 8 a.m.—Holy Communion. 11 a.m.—Matins. Hymns 1, 438, 231. I 3-15—Children's Service. 6-30 p.m.-Evensong and Sermon. Hymns. 445, 431, 235, 214. Collections-Church Expenses. Church Army (Captain Nash)—Church Room, Sunday evenings, 6-30 p.m. Daily Matins 10 a.m., except on Wednesdays, Fridays and Holy Days, when it is at 11 a.m. Daily Evensong at 5-30 p. m. Monday-Coal Club, Church Room, 10-30. Wednesday—Communicants' Guild, 8. CATHOLIC CHURCH, Southend Street. RECTOR-REV. F. C. LYNCH. Morning—Masses 9.0 and 11.0. Sunday School held at 3-30. Evening Service and Benediction 6.30. Mass daily at 8. Catechism each morning at 9. Benediction and Sermon on Thursdays, 8 p.m. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, High Street. PASTOR-REV. H. A. BARNES. Morning 11. Evening 6.30. WESLEYAN CHAPEL, Homend Street. SUPT. MINISTER—REV. GEORGE DYER. Sunday—10-30 a.m., Rev G OystoD 6-30 p.m., Mr R Lawrence. Collections—Circuit Funds. Monday, 7-45 p.m.—Wesley Guild. Wednesday, T-30 p.m.—United Prayer Meeting. SUNDAYS. Newent—11 a.m., Mr H T Warren 6-30 p.m., Rev G Oystoo. Staunton—11 a.m., Mr M Bullock; 6 p.m., Mr J Davis. Pendock—11 a.m., Prayer Meeting; 6 p.m., Mr Hart. Redmarley—3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Mr Williams. Birtamorton—11 a.m. and 6-30 p.m., Rev G Dyer. Colwall-ll a.m. and 6 p.m., Mr H Bray. Much Marcle—3 p.m., Rev G Oyston. Bosbury-6 p.m., Mr J T Bray. BAPTIST CHAPEL, Homend Street. Sunday-ll a. m. a.nd 6-30 p.m. Preacher- Rev W Pontifex. Sunday School—10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Praise and Prayer Meeting, 7-30 Wednesday—P. W.E., 7-30 Friday-Christian Endeavour. 7-30 Chas. Hodges' Bread, Standard or White, purity and quality guaranteed. Daily deliveries.—42, Bye Stieet, Ledbury. OPENING OF NEW DRILL HALL.—On Thurs- day, February 19, the new drill hall in New- street, of C (Ledbury) Company of the 1st Battalion the Herefordshire Regiment will be opened with the annual ball of the Company, I from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. It is hoped that this function will be under distinguished patronage, to be announced later. John Haines and Sons, Practical Chimney Sweeps, llomend Street, Ledbury. All Orders Promptly alund -d to. Distance uo object. Established 1830. Carpenter's Ltd. Ales and Stout are always relialle. Hrewtil for family con- sumption ouly.-Ledlaury Agent: W H Alleyne, New-street. INVITATION DANCE.—An invitation dance will be held at the Feathers Hotel Assembly Room, Ledbury, on Thursday, February 12, from 8.30 p.m. to 3 a.m., for which Miss Fardon's band has been engaged. Tickets may be obtained from Miss Barnham, Miss Duncombe, Miss C Vaughan, Mr S Bowen, Mr R Duncombe, Mr G Haines and Mr E W Reed. George Lloyd (late James Lloyd), Chimney Sweep, Oburch Lane, Ledbury. Distance no object. Prompt and personal attention to all orders. LIBERAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN ENTER- TAINED.—On Thursday afternoon at 4-30 o'clock the Picture Palace, the Royal Hall, Ledbury, was packed principally with Liberal women and children, who assembled on the invitation of a small committee of Ledbury Liberals to witness a special programme of pictures and variety. There must have been quite 600 children in the hall, and probably another hundred or more adults. The pietures shown were Honour thy Father" (Cines) and "The Light in the Window" (Bison), both two-reel films which the children cheered enthusiastically. Mr Victor Gabb, the well-known local amateur lady impersonator, contributed two songs, attired in the latest fashionable garb, and the Misses Vera and Enid Thacker and Gertrude Johnson contributed a sketch entitled Sharps and Flats." Mr W G Davis was at the piano. As the children left the hall each child was handed an orange, provided by the committee, who were Mr A Carless, Mr W G Davis, Mr G Haines, Mr T C Hamblin, Mr F W Juckes, Mr A C Lewis and Mr H Thacker. Needless to say the children spent a very happy time for two hours. HUGHES' TOBACCO STORES. The largest stock and variety in the town. See the windows. High class Hair cutting and Shaving Saloon. Razors ground ane. set. 1. Umbrellas re-covered and repaired on the premises at the shortest notice. Second-hand bookseller. A large selection of second-hand I books on all subjects. Any quantity second-hand books bought for cub. -76. Homend St., Ledbury

OUR WEEKLY CALENDAR. Events advertised in these columns or for which we have received printing orders. TO-DAY (FRIDAY)— Sale of live and dead Farming Stock at the Furnace Farm, Newent, for the repre- sentatives of the late Mr James Lodge, by Messrs Arthur Clark and Son, at 12 for 1 o'clock. TO-MORROW (SATURDAY)- Football Matches (see Fixtures). SUNDAY- Church Services. Ledbury Brotherhood, Town Hall, Ledbury,, 3 p.m. MONDAY- The Aitractives," Royal Hall, Ledbury, S. TUESDAY Ledbury Stock Market. The Attractives," Royal Hall, Ledbury, 8. WEDNESDAY- Invitation Whist Drive, Parish Hall, Kem- ple y' 8 p.m. Ledbury Police, 11 a.m. Quadrille Party, New Inn Hotel Assembly Room, Ledbury, 7-45 p.m. The Attractives," Royal Hall, Ledbury, 8. THURSDAY— National Conservative League Ball at Feathers Assembly Room, Ledbury. Sale of Out-door Effects and Household Furniture at the Express, Ledbury, for the exors. of the late Mr Thos Bottom, by Messrs. Pope, Smith and Anthony, at 2-30 p.m. Sale of live and dead Farming Stock at Lower House Farm, Newent, for Mr D Dowdeswell, by Messrs Arthur Clark & Son, at 12 for 1 o'clock. Whist Drive and Dance at the Parish Hall, Tarringto n, 7.30 p.m. FRIDAY- Sale of Household Furniture, Outdoer Effects, 5 tons of Hay, etc., at Little Ease, Leddingfcon, for Mr John Ship- ton, by Messrs Pope, Smith and Anthony at 2.30 p.m. Sale of Household Furniture, Out-door Effects, etc., at The Hill Farm, Cradley, for Exors. of the late Mr Richard Betteridge, by Mr Arthur G Griffiths, at 11 a.m. The Attractives," Royal Hall, Ledbury, S. SATURDAY- The Attractives," Royal Hall, Ledbury, 3-0, 6-30 and 8-43 p.m. Football Matches (see fixtures). FORTHCOMING EVENTS. February 4-Sale of Dwelling House and Land and Goodwill of Baker's Business at Ashper- ton for Exors. of the late Mr George Sum- mers at the Mitre Hotel, Hereford, by Messrs Bentley, Hobbs and Mytton at J p.m. February 5-Annual Home Missionary Meeting, Wesleyan Church, Ledbury, 7-30 p.m. February 7-Jumble Sale at Mnch Marcle Schoolroom, 3 p.m. February 10-lst Annual Special Sale of Store Cattle at Ledbury Cattle Market, by Messrs. Pope, Smith and Anthony. February ll-National Deposit Friendly Society Concert, Town Hall, Ledbury, 7.30 p.m. February 11—Whist Drive at Putley Schoolroom, 7-30 p.m. February 12-Invitation Dance at the Feathers Hotel Assembly Room, Ledbury, at 8 30 p.m. February 12—Opening of New Drill Hall and, Annual Territorial Ball, 9 p.m.

NEWENT TOWN HALL. Generous Gift to the Town. In Memory of the late Mr Henry Bruton. A very interesting announcement was made at a special meeting of the Newent Parish Council, held at the Petty Sessional Court on Tuesday evening. Colonel W F N Noel presided, and there were also present the- Vice-Chairman (Mr W H Martin), Miss Hutch- inson, Messrs Douglas. L J Smith, B T Holloway, E J Bellamy, W Bourton, J Hawes,. F Cowles, and W Akerman, with Messrs a Tunnicliff (Clerk to the Burial Board) and H Davis (Clerk to the Parish Council). The Chairman said he had received a com munication from Messrs H W and JameF- Bruton, Gloucester, to the effect that they had purchased the old and historical Town Hall of Newent from Mr J J Clark, of Newent, and they proposed to make it over to the town to perpetuate the memory of their father, the late Mr Henry Bruton, who was a native of Newent. Ur J J Clark nendea proviso that the base- ment and weighing machine should remain for his use for his life. The Chairman paid that he bad written on behalf of the Council to thank Messrs Bruton for their generous offer. The following Committee was appointed to go into the matter and report at the next meeting :-Messrs Akerman, Douglas, and E F Bellany. Newent Town Ilall, otherwise known as the Market House, isa detached building standing in an open space in the centre of the quaint old town, and is a fine example of timber work of the XVI. century. It was restored in 1864 by the late Richard Foley Onslow, whose Arms and those of Mrs Onslow in stained glass decorate the window in the screen dividing the hall from the ante-room. The hali is approached by two outside stair- cases, and is 29 feet Gin. by 29 feet 3 in. in area. It was offered for sale by auction as part of the Onslow Estate on July 22ad. 1913v but was then withdrawn.

PUTLEY. WHIST DRIVE.—A whist drive in aid ot line funds of the Putley Working Men's Club and the Putley Boy Scouts will be held in the School- room on Wednesday, February 11, at 7-30 p. m. Refreshments will be provided.

Mr. O. W. Jessett's Band (violin, cornet and piano). Open for Engagements for Balls, Dances, Parties, Social Gatherings, Concerts, etc. Moderate Terms.-Apply, Mr C W Jeesett, 22, Church Street, Ledbury. NATIONAL DEPOSIT FRIENDLY SOCIETY.—On Wednesday, February 11, the local branch of the National Deposit Friendly Society are promoting a concert in the Town Hall, Ledbury, at 7.30 p.m. Further particulars later. Are Your Eyes Right? We test them without charge and supply the exact glasses yon need at very moderate prices. Spectacles and need at veroy f the latet patterns. Rimless and Semi-rimless patterns almost invisible. Glasses are not recommended unless actually required.— MINCHIN, Chemist and Optician, 15, Westgate, Gloucester.