The Abergavenny Mail

LOCAL NEWS. f Ohas. Hod^e^' Bread, Standard or White, purity and quality guaranteed. Daily deliveries.—12, Bye Stieet, Ledbury. THE WELSH CHURCH BuL.-We would call the attention of our readers to the very trenchant article on the Welsh Church Bill by the Rector ef Ledbury (Rev F W Carnegy), which appears on page 6 of this issue. THE ODm'ELLOWS' A.M.C,-Bro J. H. Port- lock, P.P.G. M., has been appointed to repre- sent the Herefordshire Oddfellows at the A. M. C. at Aberystwyth, in the place of Bro. E. H. Hopkins, who, at the last, has had to relinquish his appointment owing to illness. HUGHES' TOBAOCO STORES. The largest stock and variety in the town. See the windows. High class Hair cutting and Shaving Saloon. Razors ground and set. Umbrellas re-covered and repaired on the premises at the shortest notice. Second-hand bookseller. A large selection of second-hand beokCJ on all subjects. Any quantity second-hand books bought for cash.—76, Homend St., Ledbury. EMPIRE DAY.-On Monday last Empire Day was celebrated by the shildren attending the Ledbury Council Schools. They all assembled in the morning at the boys' school in charge of the teachers, where they were joined by several of the managers, including Mr Spencer H Bickham (chairman), the Rector (Rev F W Carnegy), and the Rev Father Lynch, and Mr H Thacker (chairman of the Urban Council). Many of the scholars carried flags, and they all joined in singing the National Anthem in the playground, where they saluted the flag. The girls and infants then marched back to their respective schools. This was the only public celebration in the town, and was arranged by by Mr G W Paul (headmaster of the boys' school). In the town there was a remarkable absence of flags, excepting at one or two of the business houses. Useful and Decorative Antiques i. Furniture, China, Silver, etc., at reasonable prices. Prompt attention and cash to disposers of above.—W. A. Pennington, College Court, | Gloucester. MOTHERS' MISSION ANNUAL MEETING OF WORKERS.—The annual meeting of Associates and Subscribing Members of the Ledbury Rural Deanery was held on Wednesday at the Ledbury Church Room, and was well attended. Mrs Spencer Bickham (Presiding Member), read the anaual report aad balance-sheet, which showed a net increase of 25 members and associates during the past year. The fcotal number in the Rural Deanery is 784. An interesting address, on the Moral Training of the Young" was giren by Mrs Montgomery-Campbell, of Eardis- Ie, and was followed by a discussion. Tea was afterwards handed round. Among those present were -Ma Carnegy, Mrs Maddisorr Green, Mrs Julius. Mrs H Bickham, etc (Ledbury), Mrs Harris, Mrs Cartwright, and Mrs Burroaghes (Colwall), Mrs Stooke-Vaughan, and Mrs W L Pritohett (Wellington Heath), Mrs Biahop (PoMey). Mrs Skittery and MM owell (Li?e ?Mie), and Oth8. I General and Mrs Edward Clive have left Lon- don for Herefordshire. Dr Gold, medical officer of health for the county of Herefordshire, who has undergone an operation for appendicitis, hopes to resume his duties this week. John Haines and Sens, Practical Chimney Sweeps, Homeud Street, Ledbury. All Orders Promptly attended to. Distance no object. Established 1830. A FREAK EGG.-This week a black hen, belonging to Mr A Ewington, of Newbury Park, Ledbury, laid a freak egg-an egg within an egg. The two eggs were perfect in shape and shell. Carpenter's Ltd. Ales and Stout are always reliable. Brewed for family con- sumption only.—Ledbury AgentW H Alleyne, New-street. We are pleased to announce that the grounds of Orchardleigh will be open to the public every Thursday afternoon in June and July between the hours of 2 and 8. Children must be in charge of an adult. Nurse LaxtOn, Clarence House, Worcester Road. Ledbury, wishes to announce that she is at liberty to undertake Maternity Cases, privately, at the low fee of 10s. (working class), town and country, within a radius of five miles. Also any general case of sickness can be attended for a very small fee. Every case strictly private. —Advert. George Lloyd (late James Lloyd), Chimney Sweep, Church Lane, Ledbury. Distance no object. Prompt and personal attention to all orders. SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.—On Sunday last the anniversary services in connection with the Congregational Sunday School were held at the Ledbury Congregational Church, when the special preacher was the Rev W A Powicke, M.A., of Ross. Congregations were good at both morning and evening services, and also at a united children's service in the afternoon. Special anniversary hymns were sung to an orchestral accompaniment, led by Mr W Roberts, and Master Bosley was at the organ. The collections, which were for the Sunday School Fund, were in advance of last year. A STRAIGHTFORWARD BusiNEss.-Our repre- sentative attended (by special request of Mr Cullerne Bown, the managing direcoor) the Totalisator Derby draw on Wednesday last week, in eompany with representatives of the Morn- ing Advertiser," "The Globe," "Birmingham Gazette," "Bradford Daily Argus," "Licensed Victuallers' Gazette," Bristol Times," York- shire Evening News," "Oldham Standard," and "Midland Sporting Gazette." The actual counterparts of the subscribers were drawn frgm a huge wheel by a little Swiss girl, another ch'?rd drawing the horses from a smaller wheel.. These numbers and names were all shocked by the press representatives, who subsequently at- tended at the Consulate, and ia the presence of the British Consul signed a declaration that the draw had been honestly conducted. We are plaiised to record this transaction, having in naiad the various recent report" of dishonourable businesses of this nature.

I CAPT. CLIVE, M.P., AT LEDBURY. I Enthusiastic Gathering of N.C.L. I Trenchant Speech by the Member. Another most successful gathering of the Ledbury and District Lodge of the National Conservative League was held at the New Inn Hotel last (Thursday) night, when the brethren had the felicity of welcoming the Member for the Division, Captain P A Clive, M.P., to the lodge, and hearing from him an excellent address on the political-situation. The Worthy Master of the Lodge (Bro W L Pritchett) presided 6ver a capital attendance of members. He was supported by Captain Clive, M.P., the Deputy-Master (Bro J E Craddock), Bros H Cotton (Chairman of the Executive), E Godsall. E H Pritchett, R W Haoaar, H Cowell, G H Stallard, T Calder, G M Morgan, W G Fear, G Cobb, etc., etc. At the business meeting of the lodge six new members were elected. Shortly after the opening of the proceedings, Captain Clive arrived, and was greeted with a spontaneous outburst of applause. [ THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS. In opening the smoking concert, which followed the business meeting of the Lodge, the Chairman said that never in the history of the lodge had they met .when the political atmosphere was in the same condition as it was to-day, when the political situation was so critical and serious, and therefore it appeared to him a most opportune time for their member to explain to them exactly the position of the political situation at the present moment. (Hear, hear.) They always gave Captain Clive, when he came to Ledbury, a very hearty welcome-(applause)-and of all the welcomes he had ever had in Ledbury he was quite sure this would be as hearty as any one of them- (applause)-because not only was Captain Clive there to tell them all about the political situa- tion but he was there to tell them that a General Election was not far away—(applause) —and that it behoved every member of the Lodge to do the utmost for the cause he had at heart, and to do all he could to return Captain Clive once again for South Herefordshire with an increased majority. (Applause.) If there .was a word of welcome he could say that would be more pleasant than any other to Captain Clive it was that they were absolutely and perfectly satisfied with the way he had represented them in the House of Commons as the Member for South Herefordshire (applause)—and thtifc they could honestly assure Captain Clive that if all the districts of South Herefordshire were as Conservative as the Led- bury district he could say the South Hereford- shire seat was the safest seat in the House of Commons. It naust be a pleasure to him to know that he had such a number. of ardent supporters. Their Lodge numbered 346 mem- bers and they had thus far initiated 31 new members. All the more credit was due to the Lodge because quite a considerable number of them once belonged to the other political party. (Applause.) They were glad to know the illuminating light of Unionism had reached so far and wide, and Ledbury to-day was more Conservative than it had ever been in the history of the town. (Applause.) He asked them to join him in welcoming Captain Clive to their Lodge. (Applause.) CAPTAIN CLIVE'S ADDRESS. I Captain Clive was accorded an enthusiastic reception on rising to address the brethren. He said he thought their Worthy Master touched the right note when he said in his speech that they probably met on as grave an occasion as any that had brought them together. They had got to the end of another portion of this Session. They had had a Session as full of exciting moments, as full of crises as perhaps any period in Parliament that ho could remember, and he was getting to the status of an old Member of Parliament, and in spite of this critical moment they must all feel they had really got no further in the solution of the Home Rule question than they were last January. That was a very grave state of affairs. They had had now for two-and-a half years a portion of Ireland, Ulster, steadily arming, steadily training, steadily organising, steadily drilling, who only the other day com- pleted their armament by one of the most perfectly organised coups brought off by any body of men. They knew these men were determined, of that there was no doubt, and when they had a section of the community thus arming, and organising, and drilling, and they had failed to settle the great question towards the settlement of which they had armed and trained, and were prepared to settle by force of arms if necessary, which it must be the earnest endeavour of all to see avoided-(hear, hear)— then the position of affairs was very serious indeed. They saw now the Nationalists arming, though he might say that he had far less faith in their power of organisation than he had in that of those hard-headed men of Ulster. Only that night he was informed by a friend that arms were being imported into the West of Ireland, either with or without the connivance of the customs. When they got two bodies arming and a PERFECTLY INCOMPETENT GOVERN- MENT such as they had now looking on and contribut- ing nothing towards the solution of the problem then indeed he thought they must agree that this talk of civil war was no mere moonshine, that it was solid fact, and possibly, awful as it was to contemplate, becoming soon a reality. What had the Government done ? Let them see how much credit they could give them. Captain Clive then went on to review the history of the Home Rule question from 1906 down to the present day at some length. He pointed out that in 1906 when the Liberals had so large a majority that they could do what they liked in the House of Commons, and they were strong enough without the Irish vote, they were not so determined about Home Rule and it was not an immediate part of their programme. Their only attempt at that time to deal with the Irish ques- tion, so long as they were independent of the Irish vote, was by the National Councils Bill, and that Bill the Irish refused and it was dropped. Then came the first General Election of 1910, when their majority was reduced by some 200, and then they became dependent on the Irish Nationalist vote, and Home Rule sud- denly assumed an importance in their eyes which even their best friends could not attribute to its merits, and which they had to realise was attributable solely to the fact of their depend- ence on 80 Irish votes, and not from any noble motive did they propose to break up that form of Government under which they had existed. for 110 years. At that time the Liberals were determined to stick to their places by any means in their power. And they passed the Parliament Act, which on paper looked a great performance. They no longer possessed a Second Chamber with the power to say to a Government that any particular question should be referred to the judgment of the people. (Applause.) That from time immemorial had been the prerogative of the House of Lords. (Hear, hear.) That power had been taken away from them and that was why they had THE PRESENT CRISIS. The Home Rule Bill had been three times before the House of Commons. Once it was rejected by the House of Commons, the second time the House of Lords threw it out, and the people confirmed the action of the Lords, and the third time the Government, by passing the Parliament Act, had taken away that power from the peopel. Now, whether the Lords accepted it or not, unless something happened in the meantime it would go to the King for his assent and would then become the law of the land. And that was why the men of Ulster felt that fehis question rested in their hands when it was likely to be passed by the sheer force of the Irish Nationalist vote, and there- fore the Ulster men, wishing to escape from that rule which they mistrubt, armed and organ- ised themselves against it. (Loud applause). What was to be the end ef it ? The Govern- ment were evidently getting nervous. They recognised that they had no force to deal with 120,000 men who were fully armed. They did to his mind a thing which was wholly improper. They began to sound officers of the Army on what they would do if they were ordered to shoot oa the men of Ulster. They had since admitted that that was an improper thing to do, so there need be no argumeut about it, and they had passed an Army Order that such a question was not to be put to an officer. It was wholly wrong that officers who were dependent upon their profession should be asked to answer a question as to what they would do if oertain difficulties arose. No more difficult problem could be set before an officer. There could be no more difficult choice for an officer to make, and for some of the Labour members, and even Radicals, to get up and say it placed before the country the choice of the Army versus the people, was the grossest mis-statement of fact, and the grossest attempt to mislead the people since they placed the Chinese bogey before them. (Applause). He must say that a more remarkable example of what the country thought of all this could not be given than the very REMARKABLE RESULT AT IPSWICH. (Loud and prolonged applause.) There they had Mr Lloyd George, breaking through the rule that a Cabinet Minister should take no part in bye-electiens, going down, and trusting to the force of his eloquence to get Mr Charles Masterman into Parliament by means of the electors of Ipswich. The Unionists were able to send down a man who stood highest in the minds of the people at the present moment, Sir Edward Carson. (Loud applause.) Mr Lloyd George said Look what I have given you, old- age pensions, the Insurance Act—(laughter)— which I and my friend Charles Masterman have given you ? Look how I have taxed the rich and given it to the poor." On the other hand they had Sir Edward Carson, not using the word I, but pointing over the sea to the men of Ulster, who were merely lfaying" We are loyal British subjects, and loyal British subjects we wish by the help of Y08 men of Ipswich to remain "(applause)--and to their lastiog honour the men of Ipswich refased the shekels of Mr Lloyd George and stoofi by the flag of Sir Edward Carson. (Loud cheers.) Some people thought they went too far in the House of Commons on Thursday last. (Laughter.) He confessed to having assisted in making that I noise-(hear, hear, fti>d applause)—by which they prevented the farce of discussion on the 3rd leading of the Home Rule Bill. He asked them to imagine the effrontery of the Prime Minister saying they hid to pass the Bill, but that was not the Bill that would become law. They asked him to tell them what the Amending Bill was. They asked to be told what it was to be. That was a matter which had been wholly withheld from them up to the present moment. The Amending Bill, if it ever saw the light of day, was fee see it first in the House of Lords. What would be done they did not know., If it did not pass they were committed to the polity which would END IN CIVIL WAR. 1 He did not believe Mr John Redmond cared. Men who could cheer defeats to British arms in South Africa must have a hatred of England, which he was afraii had not (lied down yet, and therefore would not object to a campaign agai nst the men of Ulster by the British Army on their (the Nationalists') behalf. While they express indignation that officers should suggest they would not obey orders, they insisted that that same British Army should fight their battles in Ulster. What more intolerable position could they have ? He frankly confessed he did not know what the end of it would be. They were advancing far faster than most of them in the country realised, far faster towards civil war jj~<han they thought. They coald not have a large Cody of men arming themselves and another body of men arming themselves, with a Govern- ment that was dependent on the vote of one of the parties to remain in oiffce, without giving rise to a serious position. The whole ground was prepared for an outbreak which had not occurred for 250 years..Nothing was impos- sible while this Government was in power. All they could hope for was that the Government, who undoubtedly were weakened, who were not the homogenous body they once were, would perhaps break down in some way they could not foresee, and they would have a General Election, perhaps in fchje month of July. (Cheers). He thought it was a possibility it was hard to say how it wasto come. A Govern- ment in power that was living on mis-state- ments of facts, that mis tr us is each other and the people, were not such a strong and able body as to all outward appearances they might seem, and he would ask them to be ready for an election, at any rate in the Autumn, an election he felt certain which would result in the overwhelming defeat of the Government. It would be one of the most critical elections that any of them had ever taken part in, and unless they eould defeat them by a large majority, the whole subject would be reopened. The Irish Nationalists wanted Ireland to be a nation, an independent nation, but on terms. They wanted A LITTLE MONEY IN IT. I That was where the whole thing broke down. It seemed contemptible that they should say they wanted to be a aafeion, but wanted two millions with it. If they did break out then they would lose their two millions a year, and they were not prepared to govern Ireland with- out money. The Nationalists had got this one idea before them of Home Rule, but they had shown no competence or ability in governing themselves. They hai done nothing in the House of Commons for the betterment of. Ireland, and all that had been done in that direction had been done by the Unionists and partly by the Liberals. The speaker went on to instance various Acts of Parliament, and spoke of the wonderful work of Mr Horace Plunkett, who had established one of the most excellent systems of agricultural organisation the world had ever seen, and yet a man like Mr Arthur Lynch, who fought for the Boers against England, was preferred to him as a Member of Parliament. Home Rule was the subject on which the coming election must be fought. Nothing could go ahead until this matter was settled, and he sounded a note of warning against people saying they had better give Home Rule and have done with it, as they were then only at the beginning of the difficulty, as they would leave 40 men in the House of Com- mons who would continue to agitate grievances and for more money, and they would establish a new question in Ulster which would be a-very important one. He did not suppose that the Irish question would be fully solved in their lifetime, but it was not going to be solved by Home Rule. It would be solved, he believed, by the Unionist policy, inaugurated by Mr Arthar Balfour--(loud applause)—who as Chief Secretary for Ireland was the first Chief Secretary to travel about the country and see biIlgs for himself. They had had 25 years of hat policy and he believed another 25'years of it would solve the Irish question. (Applause.) The latter portion of his speech Captain Clive devoted to the I NEW BUDGET, in regard to which he said the object of relieving the burden of the rates was pretty evident. But it was like Home Rule-they were asked to pass the Bill without knowing the Amending Bill. They were first asked to pass a Finance Bill to enable Mr Lloyd George to raise ten millions of money a year, before they were even shown the measuce which would contribute that sum to the relief of the rates. They who lived in the country towns which were wholly dependent on agriculture rfiould be particularly careful how they watched the proposals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who made one remark which filled him (the speaker) with alarm. Mr Lloyd George had get into the way of talking about 9d —(laughter)—and he said that 9d in the £ off the rate would not be much to give the people in a town where the rates were 11s or 12s in the E. He Eaid he would give more to the towns than to the country districts. Those people who lived in the towns had larger privileges for their rate8. They got things which justified the higher rates, things which people in the country districts could not get. Rates io. the country were levied not only on buildings but on land, whicii the farmer had to pay la part, aad he believed sifter all thioy wotirdfindl that this relief would go more towards the towns and not t. thp country. One other comment he would make. It was better to tax the rich man through his luiuries than throagh his income, j whibh was divided in wages among a large num- ber of poureg people. If they taxed his laxoriea he perhaps did with less luxuries, but if they taxed his income he passed it on retail to those under hitoi, and he would pass it oa to a large number of poorer people. Tax him on his foreign motor, his foreign wines and goods to the tone of 250 millions a year which were imported into this country, and he defied anybody to prove that it was going to come back en the poor people. (Applause.) That was why he was stiii convinced that perhaps orfe of the best friends of Tariff Reform is Mr Lloyd George, because by this wholesale method of taxation he rendered Tariff Refofta more eligible than it had been before. (Loud applause.) If they held with the policy he had se? before them, that this crisis in Ulster was the greatest thing in their lifetime, he hoped that they would go on as they had been doing, inviting fresh members to join the lodge, and that they would go on disseminating the truths of Unionist policy. In ooncluding a masterly speech he appealed to them to maintain the best traditions of the Brirish flag. REMARKABLE OUTBURST OF I ENTHUSIASM. At the conclusion ef his speech Captain Clive was the recipient of a round of applause which was particularly lengthy, during which he resumed his seat after having spoke ior an hour. A hearty vote of thanks to Captain Clive for his address, proposed in exceedingly happy terms by Bro John Preece and seconded by Bro Cotton, was received with a remarkable demon- stration of enthusiasm, to the singing of Foijhe's a Jolly good fellow," and round after round of cheers, to which the hon member responded briefly, in which he made fitting allusion to the Welsh Church Bill. An excellent programme of harmoay was contributed by Bros. D Smith, jun., E W Reed, H B Whyld, G F Palmer (songs), and E J Hall (piecolo solos), Bro E W Reed being at the piano. It was a meeting that will live long in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to be present. '—— ——

A SON-IN-LA W'S WILD ACT. I Drunken Welsh Striker Smashes I Windows. At a spo-cial sitting at the Ledbury Police Court, held on Wednesday last, before Mr S H Bickham and Dr Miles A Wood, Harry Jones, labourer, of Ebbw Vale, npw residing at Hall Barn Cottage, Much Marcle, was brought up charged with maliciously break- ing four windows and damaging several window-frames, the property of the Execu- tors of the late Major A Money-Kyrle, at a icottage in the occupation of John Davis. John Davis, plaintiff, was the only witness, and said that on Tuesday morning about 4 o'clock defendant came round to his hoase. Jones was drunk and plaintiff refused him admittance. He was his son-in-law he was sorry to pay. Defendant did not wait for him to get up and dress but started breaking the windows with a hatchet. There was about 16 square iaches of glass damaged and also some frames, which would cost about 10s. When he bad dressed he came down but could not find Jones anywhere. He did not wish to unduly press the charge as defendant was a good workman, but when he was drunk be was mad. There had been a strike at Ebbw Vale where he was working and he had come to stay with him while the strike was on. Jones had a baby two months old so he asked their worships to be as lenient as possible. Defendant I am guilty. I am sorry it is the first time in my life. Plaintiff: I wish your worships to know that I only wanted the property protected. Defendant said be did not receive any strike pay. Mr Bickham said he would be fined £ 1— 103 costs and 108 for the damage, or 14 days hard labour. Defendant aked for three weeks to pay, which was granted.

THE PICTURE PALACE. I On Monday night there was a fairly good house at the Picture Palace, the Royal Hall, Ledbury, when the programme was a very good one. The star film was The War Makers," a Vitagrapb production, which was excellently mounted and acted by some of most famous of the Vitagraph picture players. The Abandoned Well" was a very good A.B. drama, while a Cines film af views of the River Tiber was an interesting picture. Harry Mayer's cartoons (Selig) were very humorous, and An Elopement at Home a capital Vitagraph comedy. The Keystone comedy to end up the programme was a scream, entitled Love Sickness at Sea. The Palace was closed on Tuesday, conse- quent on the cancellation of Mr H B Irving's much-talked of visit, and the foregoing pro- gramme of pictures was again shown on Wednesday. For the week-end the star film is "The Cipher Message," a very finely produced detective drama by the Selig Company. "The Actress" is a Kalem drama, and a Kineto interest film is "The Construction of a Four- Cylinder Engine." Comedy is represented by three films, The Schemers" (Vitagraph), "Smith Visits the Moon (a Gaumont trick film), and "A Healthy Neighbourhood," another of those Keystone screams. Next week's programmes promise to be exceptionally interesting, and this will be the eloaing week of the season at the Picture Palace. For the first part of the week, the great Itala production, "The Burning Train," and the Vitascope film "Fight for a Fortune" have been secured, and with no other attractions in the town there is every probability of crowded audiences at each of the houses on Whit- Monday, when there will be three performances, at 2.30, 6.30 and 8.45 p.m. For the week-cad the great topical film "The Derby" will be screened, and there is sure to be a large attendance to see the reproduction of the race for the Blue Riband of the English turf. Other films are The Cameo Ring" and" Relief cf Lucknow." The Palace will close down after the second house on Saturday, June 6th.

GREAT CLEARANCE SALE.—Owiag to shortly leaving the premises, Mr Arthur Brown, dealer in china, earthenware, brushe3 and dry goods generally, of 18, New-street, Ledbury, announces in our advertising columns a great clearance sale of the whole of his stock, which must be cleared in the next few weeks.

BOUQUETS. WREATHS. CROSSES. Harps, Anchors, Sprays, or any other design made up by expert hands with the choicest Flowers in season, at reasonable pr' ces. Carefully packed and sent to any pa: & of the Carefully British Isles at short notice. Bedding Plants A SPECIALITY. ANY QUANTITY AT ALL PRICES. Lists on application. Boxes of Cut Flowers Sent post free for Is 6d, 2s 6d, and upwards. Fruit Trees, Roses, Shrubs, Herbaceous Plants, Alpine Plants, and Spring Bedding Plants, at reasonable prices. Silver Sand, Peat, Loam, Charcoal, Mats, and all requisites for the gaiden supplied at cut prices. New Gardens laid out, old ones renovated. Tennis Courts, Croquet Lawns; Bowling Greens, and Cricket Grounds. & A trial order solicited. Satisfaction Guaranteed. W. BUNN, Nurseryman, COLWALL/ 'c DAVID SMITH & SON Monumental Soulptors, ,LEDBURY. MONUMENTS, TOMBS, HEAD. STONES and CROSSES of every description, ia Marble, Granite and Stone, fixed in any part of the kingdom. OLD MONUMENTS RENOVATED. Designs and Estimates sent free on application. I

— t Strtbo, marrtaoest IDeatb.s. DEATHS. MELLIN.—May 19, at Tarrington Common, Tarriugton, William Mellin, aged 47 years. SADLER.—May 22, at The Firs, Much Marcle, Mary Sadler, aged 80 jears.

ARTHUR J. VIRGO. MONUMENTAL WORKS, Gathttdral Close, Hereford Memorials in Marble, Granite or Stone. Designs Furnished. Brick Vaults & Steea Sz&ve Country Work a Speciality The Oldest Businett i. Herojord.

NEWENT. r BOARD OF GUARDIANS—Mr G Cloke, sen., presided over the fortnightly meeting of the Board of Gaurdians on Tuesday. The Master reported the number in the House as 52, against 73 for the same period last year tramps relieved during the fortnight 179, as against 140 last year. The Board acknowledged, with thanks, the following gifts:-Two hampers of vegetables from Major W P ThackweH; papers and* periodicals from Mrs Beechey, Miss Newbury, Miss Dyke, Messrs W J Cook and Sons. The Board agreed to support a communication from Derby Union on local taxation effects. With regard to the Mental Deficiency Aot, the Chair- man said the County Council were prepared to hand over the arrangements for the mentally deficient in the county to amalgamated Boards of Guardians, there being about 600 in the county, to be provided for in a suitable building to be yet arranged for. Gloucester County Council repayments of j57 18s 2d oa behalf of the registrars, and E262 38 4d on the lunacy account were reported.—Dr. Johnstone, Corse, wss granted 14 days' leave, he providing a locum tenens.—Mr Beach asked why the Redmarley rates had risen from 2s 4d to 3s, and Mr Hayes also inquired why Staunton rate had risen from 2s 4d to 3s 2d. The Clerk explained that the county rate was higher, and that a larger work- ing balance mast be kept.-It was notified that the Gloucester County Lunatic Asylum charge from June 1st would be gs 6d per patient per week.-Mr G Freeman will hbrse the water carta at the rate of 8a per day.—A communica- tion was received from Gloucester County Council re classificatioa of roads under the Road Board, and after a lengthy discussion the matter was adjourned.— Mr E Wood, A. R. S. I., Inspector of Nuisances, gave his usual monthly report, which was satisfactory.

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NEWENT POLICE COURT. I l YESTERDAY (THURSDAY). 1 Before Colonel Noel (in the ehair), Messrs H Drummond Deane Drummond, G L Acworth, T H Hulls, and J L Stelfox. POOR RATES. 1 The following poor rates were presented, and were signed by the Magistrates :-Newent 28 8d in the 4, Tibberton 21 6d, Corse 2s lOd, Kempley 25 8d, Tayton 2s 8d, Upleadon 23 4d and Pauatley 2s 8d. DANGEROUS MOTOR DRIVING. I Robert Spencer Ingram, of 19, Denbigh Gardens, Richmond, who did not appear, was summoned for driving a motor car to the danger of the public at Huntley on April 23. P.C. James Davey stated that at about 10.55 on the morning of April 23 he was on the Glouces- ter-road at Huntley, and saw a motor car coming from the direction of Ross. The distinguishing mark was SS 384. The car came round the bend of the road at 0 dangerous pace. Witness shouted to the driver (defendant), who was the only occu- pant of the car, as he heard no horn sounded, why he was driving at such a rate. Witness could not see the number of the car at the time, but defendant, after going about 150 yards, pulled up. Witness asked him for his license, which was produced, defendant's name being on it. Witness told defendant that he would have to report the matter aad defendant replied "I hope you will let it pass this time. But I suppose you have to do your daty. I shall not be able to appear as I shall be in town. You might tell them (the Magistrates) that I stopped when you shouted." Witness told him that he did not pull up immediately. Witness told him that he was driving too fast and defendant admitted that he was going about 30 miles an hour. Witness put the speed at between 40 and 50 miles an hour. William Harper, blacksmith, of Huntley, gave corroborative evidenoe, putting the speed at 30 or 35 miles an hour. Edward Dobbins, labourer, of Huntley, also gave evidence, and said that there were three people on the road at the time. He considered that the speed was dangerous to the public. The Clerk produced a letter from defendant, expressing his inability to attend. He admitted that he was exceeding the speed limit, but as it was a straight road he did not think the speed was dangerous. He hoped the Bench would take inte account the fact that he pulled up when the constable shouted to him. A fine of Xi and the costs JE1 6a was imposed. DISMISSED. I George Huggins, of Newent, was charged with a common assault upon Howard-Thos Taylor, at Kilcot, on April 28. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor stated that on April 28 he was at Kilcot between 4 and 5 in the afternoon. He went to get a drink with some comrades. They sat outside on a bench. He had a few words with his uncle, and defendant heard his uncle say, The reason why your place was condemned was because your rent was not paid." Defendant said I have heard so much talk about you and yoor fighting, now I will see what you are like." Whilst witness was sitting on the bench defend- ant struck him two blows and gave him two black eyes. When witness got up off the seat defendant struck him two or three times, and told him that if he would go out into the road he would give him some more. The landlord came out and advised him to go home. The landlady refused to draw witness any drink. The Clerk: Why did defendant strike you ?— Witnass Well, he said to me Howard, you made. me pay X2 at Ross." That was three or four years ago. It was then that defendant struck me. Defendant: Nothing was said about it by me. In fact I was never fined £ 2 at Ross. In reply to the Clerk to the Magistrates, wit- ness said he never attempted to strike defendant at any time. Defendant stated to the Court on oath that he was at Kilcote Inn and prosecutor was there. An old man on the road came in and offered to sing. After the old gentleman had sung, prosecutor wanted to fight the old man and witness told him be ought to be ashamed of himself. Prosecutor threatened to strike his (prosecutor's) uncle. Witness again said to him he ought to be ashamed of himself. Prosecutor went up to wit- ness and struck at him and he pushed him away. Prosecutor went up to him to strike. him again and defendant struck him in self-defence. Henry Taylor, carpenter, stated he was at the Kilcote Inn and saw the parties in question there. Prosecutor went to the Inn drunk and the land- lord refused to serve him. An old man arrived and asked to be allowed to sing. The party consented and after the old man had sung, [trosecutor wanted to fight him and was asked to ?leave by the landlord. He did not go and after- wards he wanted to fight witness or anybody else. Defendant did not strike him hard. He fell when be was pushed. Prosecutor: How did I come with two black ef es ?—Why you fell over the form. The case was dismissed.

d. W. STEPHENS, collector of FINE. ANTIQUE FURNITURE, China, Plate, etc l —29, Charch Street, Hereford, Near Cathedral Kerth Porch)

COMING GENERAL ELECTION. Radieal Forecast of the Result. The Standard" is informed on the best authority that the organisers of the Radical party have now handed to Mr Illingworth, the Chief Whip, a statement regarding their prospects should a General Election take place within the next two months. The tenor of this report is interesting, because it will, no doubt, largely influence the Govern- ment in their decision as to the date of the appeal to the country, which can scarcely be long delayed. In the view of these organisers Ministerialists, on an immediate General Election, will win 35 seats and lose 28. That result is calculated on two assumptions-viz., that an understanding is arranged with the Labour party to prevent three-cornered contests;. and that an aggressive Radical policy on An army plot to thwart the aspirations of the. democracy is carried out. How Mr Asquith, in his capacity as War Secretary, could fall in. with so cold-blooded a plan of misrepresentation of the situation as it stauds at present is not clear. The report contains notes on the position. They regard Oxfordshire, Wilts., Berks., and Somerset as forlorn hopes, while the eastepu counties are expected to show some gains. Little hope is expressed for the Midland Counties, excepting possible gains at Crewe, North-East Derby, and West Bromwich. In the six northern counties they have ear- marked Holderaess, Whitby, and Ripon in Yorkshire; and North Lonsdale, Darwen, Southport, and Newton in Lancashire. We must wait and see."