County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

Births, Marriages, & Deaths. Announcements of Births, Marriages, and Deaths are in serted at a uniform charge of Is each, unless such words as "No cards,' 'No flowers' are added, when the charge will be 2s 6d. All announcements must be authenticated. Postage stamps may be sent in payment. Lists of Wedding Presents are inserted at the rate of Is. 6d. per inch in depth.

The Royal Tour. I The Royal visit to the Colonies closed very happily with a short stay in New- foundland, the most ancient of our Colonial possessions. The reception extended to their Royal Highnesses in the land of "dogs, cods, and fogs," was, on a smaller scale, a repetition of that which they had experienced in the Dominion of Canada. The islanders, who are pathetically attached to a country which few of us would care to live in, comprise people who are of British and French race. Rivalry between the two nationalities is not unknown, but on the occasion of their Royal Highnesses' visit the inhabitants were of one mind in the enthusiasm with which they demonstrated their loyalty. So it has been at every one of the twenty-six ports at which the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have called in the course of a journey which is computed to have extended over 50,000 miles. Ceylon, Australasia, South Africa, Canada, and the rest hnve vied with each other in extending a hearty welcome to their august visitors, I and from the day that the Ophir left Ports- mouth the tour has been I ONE UNBROKEN SUCCESS. I Their Royal Highnesses are due to arrive in London to-day (Saturday), and there is every reason to anticipate that their recep- tion will place a fitting crown upon a memorable episode in our history. It is understood that a further recognition of the Imperial service which has been rendered by the Duke and Duchess is reserved for them in the revival of the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales, which have been in abeyance since the death of Her late Majesty. It would be a mere commonplace to say that the Royal visit to the Colonies will have enduring results, and that, above all, it will increase the attachment of the Colonies to the Throne. The visit of King Edward to Canada more than forty years ago is remembered with pleasure by many of the people, and it was one of the most interesting features of the Royal progress through the Dominion that not a few of those by whom the Duke was welcomed had assisted in similar demonstrations when the country was visited by his father. Forty years hence the tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will be recollected with equal pleasure, for it is evident from the reports which have been received that their Royal Highnesses have left in all the Colo- nies a harvest of happy memories. The Duke of Cornwall has had many DIFFICULT, ALTHOUGH AGREEABLE, TASKS, and-to indicate but one of them-the duty of responding to a multitude of addresses, upon each of which he was expected to say something that he had not said before, was one which a practised speaker would scarcely have regarded with equanimity. But the Duke, who seems to be the orator of the Royal Family, was equal to every occasion, and it would not be easy to im- prove upon the speeches in which he re- ferred to the history of the respective Colonies, and the questions which were occupying the attention of their people. Of the Duchess of Cornwall and York we have more than once been told that she had won all hearts by the graceful way in which she manifested her appreciation of the loyalty and affection which were extended to her. To the King and Queen it must have been somewhat of a sacrifice to part with their only son during a period of several msnths, but their Majesties will be more than repaid by tho very marked success of a tour which is understood to have been the happy sug- gestion of our revered late Queen, and may, therefore, be regarded as an appendix to tfhe history of her glorious reign. 0

[We do not necessarily endorse all our correspondent writes.-ED. C.O."] THE OCTOBER FAIR. This fair on Tuesday was not such a large one as used often to be seen on the streets in the old days still the numbers ran out something like the folit)wing :-Cattle (including cows aud calves), 514; horses, 185 sheep, over 500 and pigs, about 60. In April, 1885, when the market question was prominently before the public, the animals were counted at the monthly market and at the fair, with the following result, as to the fair, according to Mr J. H. Clark's Usk past and present "-330 cattle, 45 calves, 345 sheep, 112 lambs, 152 pigs, and 93 horses. That fair was considered a smaller one than usual, and it is well-known locally that the April fair is not nearly so large as that in October in any year. The fair this week was a quiet one so far as the trade done was concerned, if one is to judge from the consensus of opinion heard in the town However, comparing the April fair, If j5, with the October fair, 1901, the difference is in favor of the present one so far as the couutiug of heads goes. Of course many circumstances affect markets and fairs, and perhaps it is not in any way wise to be insistent on making statistics an absolute guide as to the trend of events. I merely state them as being to some extent interesting, especially to the 11 ratepayers of the town. USK COLT SHOW. In another column will be found the report of the Colt Show, held in connection with the Usk Shire Horse Company, Ltd., and there is little left for me to say with regard to it after reading the interesting speeches made at the little meeting which follows the Show, and which I commend to the notice of all whom it may concern. The report, however, does not give the full praise which is due to the Company by the work of their horses, inasmuch as no mention is made of the fact that in the class for suckers sired by other horses, the youngsters did not come up to the standard of those sired by Llynclys Renown, whose produce also took the champion prize. Mr Townsend's double success in the class for mares again points the moral that it pays to keep good fillies. The successful animals lack regis- tration only (I believe) to bring a fancy price if they were on offer. Whilst on the subject of sales, I may, perhaps, mention that Mr. Henry Williams' gelding which took the prize in Class 6, realized after the Show several pounds sterling more than had been previously offered, and was parted with at a very satisfactory figure—close on CIOO, I believe. The gelding was a grey, from a descendant of the Pope, and by Bey Prince V. LLANHILLETH LOOP LINE. This question is again being taken up with all seriousness by the people of Pontypool, and the public generally will hope that they will succeed in their effort to get the G.W.R. Company to open it for passenger traffic. This would mean not only better facilities for the travelling public, but an increased volume of trade for the townspeole of Pontypool, whose market is the natural one for the district, and at which un- doubtedly, being so near the main agricultural portion of the County, the people of the hills would get better value for their money than in the towns higher up, the effects of whose jealousy have been to a certain extent nullified by the decision of the Pontypool magistrates to hold a fortnightly petty sessional court at Llauhilleth, commencing on November 12th. There is no doubt in the minds of local men, who should know, that the loop line would be a paying one to the railway company if it were opened for passenger traffic, and it has been pointed out that to business men it would be invaluable. To take, for example, the butchers and dealers of the hills." To be in time for the Monmouth and Ross cattle markets, they must leave home the day before otherwise they must depend on purchasing second-hand. From Ebbw Vale to Ross is about 20 miles as the crow flies, but to go by rail one route now means a 70 wiles'j'oLii,tiey I Then, again, there is the holiday traTic. Thousands, in the Summer months, utilise brakes, who, if the loop line were available, would patronise the Railway Company, and be enabled to visit places of interest in the county, now practically not get-at-able by them. The desirability of the improvement may be argued from so many points of view that the question becomes one of much more than local interest, and, as I have said before, the success of the movement iu its favour would be hailed with great pleasure by the public at large. PONTYPOOL CATTLE MARKET. Poutypool, I am afraid, has a white elephant in the cattle market the U. D.C. have built, at considerable expense. At any rate, it would appear so from reports to hand up to the present time. A change of day for the market, or, as an alternative, the adoption of a scheme of fairs, is to be considered with a view to inducing apparently unwilling agriculturists to bring in their stock and the necessary butchers and dealers to attend and buy the same. I should go in for well-advertised fairs myself until the market is properly known and established. LADY GEORGIANA LEGGE. The Bishop of Southwark is glad to announce one more step forward in the work of the Grey Ladies, the body of women workers who do so much for the diocese of Rochester. A branch house has been established at Gravesend under the headship of Lady Georgiana. Legge. The parishes which are being ministered to are St. George, St. James, and Holy Trinity, which contain down by the riverside some of the very poorest streets and courts which exist in the diocese. INEBRIATE HOMES. The second annual report on the certified ine- briate reformatories, established under the Ine- briates Acts, 1898-9, issued on Wednesday, shows that during the last year 16 male and 128 female cases were admitted. There are now five reformatories, with 416 beds available. The female cases include four girls under the age of 21. Some committals proved to be certifiable lunatics, and over 25 per cent. were mentallv deficient. So long as they were drinking their eccentricity and violence was ascribed to their habits, but after liquor was removed the real state of affairs became evident. OUR VOLUNTEERS. The fund for the returned volunteers is gradually growing, and by the end of next week all will hope to see it amount to at least-X20, which, if the subscribers so decide, will provide a suitable memeuto for the four recipients, and an heirloom to hand down to their descendants with pride and pleasure. OF MELANCHOLY INTEREST. In a letter written from Pietpotgeitersrust by Llewellyn Gibbs to his mother, at the Mumbles, he gives details of the engagement with the Boers in which Trooper Osmond Haggett got fatally wounded. He concluded 00 After a good half-hour's fight, and nearly half of our chaps were either killed or wounded, we heard the Boer leaders shouting their orders to charge if we did not surrender, so we thought it was time to give up, which we did with as good grace as possible. They then looted all our property. I dressed up Haggett's wounds --who, by the way, comes from Usk-but I am sorry to say he died in hospital. If we had not surrendered when we did, they would have s mply wiped us out."

The Returned Volunteers. Many of the townspeople having ex- pressed a desire to show, in some form or other, their appreciation of the services rendered by those who from TJsk volun- teered for active service in South Africa, and no one having yet taken the lead in the matter, we purpose opening a subscription list in the COUNTY OBSERVER for that pur- pose, and shall be glad to receive and acknowledge in our columns any contribu- tions-large or small—which the towns- people may wish to make. Address The Editor, "County Observer," Usk. « —

SECOND LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. In response to our appeal for the above Fund we have received, and now gratefully acknow- ledge. the following additional subscriptions £ s. d. Already acknowledged 11 8 6 Dr. Rutherfoord Harris, J.P. 110 Major Cxetiei-al Migiiou 1 0 0 Rev C. H. Fardell 10 0 Mrs E. L. Lister 10 0 Deaconess Eleanor 5 0 Rev W. M. Willett 5 0 ,Mr If. A. Addis, J.P 5 0 Mr H. W. Pride 5 (> Col. Rocke. 5 0 Mr F. J. Edmunds 2 6 Sergt.-Inst. Chilton 2 6 Mr. T. Rees, junr 2 (> Mr G. Edmunds, junr 2 0 Mr E. Rowen 2 0 Mr W. Billingham 2 0 Mr T. J. Smith 2 0 Mr and Mrs J. McCarthy. 2 0 Mrs Cherry 2 0 Rev J. G- Williams 1 a Mr W. Workman 1 0 Mr N. Crump 1 0 Mr P. T. Clift 1 q Mr W. J. Nicholas. 1 C, Mr G. Gunu (j. D.D 6 £17 0 0 lhe ^subscription List will be kept open for another week, and a third List will be published in next Friday's issue. As it is hoped to call the Subscribers' Meeting during the following week, will intending donors kindly send in their amounts without delay ?

USK. Agent-Afrs. E. K. Jones, Stmtioner SCHOOL BUILDING FUND.—Thia fund has reachect a total of E,571 7s 6d, including amounts promised and the loan. REV. E. W. W. PUGH.—The District Magazine this month announces with regret that the Rev K. W. W. Pugh has definitely decided to lena Usk in January. He is going out to the Mission fiald in British Columbia. TltAP ACCIDENT.—In negotiating the awkward turning iito the Abergavenuv-road from the Railway Station, Mr. W. H. Hartmau, of Cefa Ila, U-k, and his coachman, were precipitated to rlie ground from the trap on Tuesday eveniu". Fortunately no serious damage was doue. ° MR. JUSTICE DAY'S SUCCESSOR.—It is announced that Mr Jelf, K.U.. who acted for the patitioners in the Monmouth Boroughs' Election Petition has been appointed a judge in the Kind's Bancb Division, in succession to Mr Justice Day retired. Mr Jelf has held the Rscordership of Stirewsoury since 1879. TKOSTRHY COURT SALE.—As we stated last week there was a good uttendance at this sale, from 35G to 400 sitting down to the excellent luncheon provided by Mr. W. Marfell. Implement* realized fairly good price, and the following were the prices obtainel f)r the stock:-Stock eweti, 398 to 478 6d per head, wether lambs, 2ts tcp 34s 61 ewe lambs, 24s to 31s Gd fat heifers, £ 14 to £ 19; cows and calves, X16 to £ 17 10s • horses X27 10s to J638 10s. DEATH OF MRS. STONB.—It is with regret we have this week to record the death of Ilrs. Stone the wife of Mr. Enoch Stone, of Castle Pirade, Usk, which sad event occurred on Wednesday- afternoon. somewhat suddenly. Mrs. Stone had been ailing for some time, and was taken seriously ill on the previous day. She was 59 years of age. Mr. Stone will have the sympathy of all the towns- people in the sad loss he has sustained. The funeral will take place on Monday next at 4 p.m.

FOOTBALL. USK V. U3KSIDE ENGINEERS. This match was plaved at Usk on Saturday last,, before a goodly number of spectators. visitors won the tass and Usk kicked off towards the wood. The return kick found touch at half- way. The homesters dribbled to the Engiueere* 25, but, the visitors worked back to half-way, and thence to Usk's 25, with a rush. The hoinetiters started a bnit of passing, but it broke down at half-way. Another good dribble was made by Usk which took them to the Engineers' 25. The visitors obtained a free here, which drove Usk back to half-way. Hill saved a rush by kicking to touch, but the Engineers got to Usk's line, by good footwork, and T. Weare saved. TotS homesters cleared their lines, and a good dribble by Hill transferred play to half-way. A. Williams made a good run, and put the leather into tolicit at the Engiueers' 25. The visitors from a mark got away. Usk started another bout of passing but it was spoiled before the leather had travelled far, and the visitors had hard lines in not scoring after thill, just being held outside the line. Usk tried to get from here, but failed, and M. Buckley, picking up in the loone, scored. The same player failed to convert. Half-time was then sounded, the score standing :— engineers 1 try Usk Nil -T iNewporc re-started ana A. weare returned.. Play settled at half-way, Newport got a free and took play to Usk's 25. The hornesters dribbled ta the visitors' 25, where a mark was made and A. Williams made a good attempt at goal, the ball just falling short. Several marks were made by Williams, which left play at Newport's 25. The visitors tried a bout of passing, but T. Weara spoiled it, by tackling his man, who lost the balL The Engineers' dribbled to Usk's line, but F.. Williams saved with a nice kick to touch at bi own 25. J. Knight picked up the leather and made a good opening, and at the psychological moment passed to A. Weare, who ran three parts of the Held and scored a magnificent try. A. Williams made a good but ineffectual attempt tOlJ impiove the score. The visitorli kicked out, and A. Williams returned. Newport worked to Usk's quarters, with a good dribble. From a scrum near the homesters' 25, A Weare got away nicely and took play to half-way, where one of tha visitors got pumped." He soon resumed, however, and with play at half-way the whistles sounded with the score standing Usk 1 try Uskside E lgineers 1 try. Usk team Back, R. Etheridge; i-backs, A 4 Williams, T. Weare, H. Hill. F.Stibbs; ^-backsl A. Weare and J. Kuight; forwards, F. William". D. Murray, F. Stratton, J. Morgan, F. Davies J. :teai, F. Watkius, aud J. Madley.

Mating of all Descriptions at the Offlec of this Paper.