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

Slirths, Marriages, & Deaths. m 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 stampsmay besent n payment. Lists of Wedding Presents are inserted at the rate of Is. 6d. per ineh in depth.

4th Vol. Batt. South Wales Borderers. G COMPANY, USK. Orders for the Week commencing June 22ud, 1902 Monday, Company Drill, at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday, Class Firing, 4 p.m. Thursday, The Company Parade, 11.30 a.m. Saturday, Class Firing from 4 p.m. CORONATION DAY, JUNE 26TH. The Company will parade in review order, tunics, helmets, one pouch on right side, at 11.30 a.m., on Thursday, 26th, to fire a feu-de-joie. The Band will attend. By Order, S. M. WILLIAMS, Captain Commanding. Cyclists, Light Up.! Saturday, June 21st. 9.18 Sunday, 22nd. 9.18 Monday, » 23rd. 9.18 Tuesday, 24th. 9.19 Wednesday, 25th. 9.19 Thursday, 26th. 9.19 Friday, 27th. 9.18 Saturday, 28th. 9.18 Being One hour after Sunset. For Printing of all Descriptions Try the County Observer Office. APPOINTMENTS, &c., FOR WEEK Ending June 28th, 1902. June. Sat. 21-Poiitypool Petty Sessions. Cricket—Usku. Abergavenny, at Aber- gavenny. Longest Day. Sun. 22—4th Sunday after Trinity. Summer commences. Mon. 23-Monmollth Market. Tues. 24-Abergavenny Market. Usk Coronation Committee Meeting, Town Hall. Usk, at 8 15 p.m. Midsummer Day. Wed. 25-Newport Cattle, Cheese, & Corn Mkts. Abergavenny Petty Sessions. Cookery Demonstration, Town Hall, Usk, at 3 p.m. Thurs 26- Coronation Day. Usk District Coronation Commemora- tion Fete. Fri 27-Usk Cricket Club Fete. Sat. 28-Pontypool Petty Sessions, 11 a.m. Cricket-Usk v. Panteg, at Panteg.

I The King and his New Subjects. The conciliatory terms in which the King referred to the brave and determined people" who have recently been our foes, can scarcely fail to have a good effect in South Africa, and if it be true-as General Elliott is reported to have said-that the King has congratulated the Boers upon their gallantry, that is a further indication that His Majesty has not been slow to reciprocate the demonstrations of loyalty which have proceeded from many of the surrendered commandoes. It is, perhaps, a little early to express a confident opinion with regard to the future conduct of the Boers, who may have been moved in some degree by the revulsion of feeling which naturally attends upon release from the hardships of a prolonged campaign. In the case of our own troops, the fatigue and physical suffering occasioned by the struggle have been severe, but the r3 0 I POSITION OF THE BOERS I must have been very much worse, and there is every indication that they had almost reached the last st lge of human endurance. They resisted the inevitable, as brave men often do, but when, at length, the tension was relieved it is easy to understand that they were sincere in their welcome of an arrangement which put an end to their privations and conceded to them terms which are alike honourable to both parties in the conflict. Every day brings satisfac- tory news of the loyal and friendly attitude of the surrendered Boers, and it does not seem to be unduly sanguine to count upon our late enemies accepting the advice of one of their leaders, who counselled them to adapt themselves to their new circumstances, and to I CO-OPERATE WITH THE BRITISH to promote the future prosperity of South Africa. There was, from the first, reason to anticipate that a very large number of Boers would adopt that policy, but it was thought that there might be some trouble when the men who had surrendered came to meet the National Scouts, a body of burghers who were formerly in arms against us, but subse- quently took service on the British side. In such an event it would be obviously the duty of our Government to protect those who had assisted us to end a war which was injurious to the interests of both white races, but, happily, the Boers who have surrendered have not displayed any general resentment against these Scouts, and we are told that in some instances the two sets of men greeted each other cordially. There could hardly be a more severe test of the determination of the Boers to accommodate themselves to the situation, and the general absence of conflict with their former com- rades can only be regarded as a FAVOURABLE AUGURY OF FUTURE PEACE. I I As time goes on many opportunities will arise for fostering a good understanding between British and Dutch, and, no doubt, if General Louis Botha pays his anticipated visit to London, he will meet a welcome which should convince him of the goodwill of our people towards his compatriots. On the whole, the prospect is a most hopeful one, and there is room to confide that His Majesty will have the gratification of witnessing the ftilfilment of the hope which he expressed to the City Corporation, that by mutual co-operation and goodwill the bitter feelings of the past may speedily be replaced by ties of loyalty and friendship, and that an era of peace and prosperity may be in store for South Africa."

Imperial Felicitations. I The Royal Asiatic Society's banquet in London, on Tuesday, may be regarded as the commencement of Imperial Coronation festivities. A distinguished company, amongst whom was H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, assembled to do honour to our Indian visitors, and the gathering has been described as historic in more senses than one. Lord Reay presided, and the most distinguished guest ot the evening was the Maharajah of Jaipur, the only one of the native princes who did not sit down to the banquet. His Highness is a Brahmanic Hindu of the highest and purest caste, and entered the room just before the speech- making commenced, seating himself between Lord Roberts and Viscount Cross. He wore a maroon-coloured robe, besprinkled with precious stones, diamonds, and pearls, while his turban was of light blue, studded with gold ornaments, and he wore also the Order of a Grand Commander of the Star of India. Other native princes were gorgeously-robed and bejewelled, and all were fired with loyalty to King Edward and patriotism to the Empire. It was an auspicious occasion, and will be followed by many other brilliant functions affecting our Colonies generally. The Duke of Con- naught, who, during a seven years' resi- dence in India, had become acquainted with the majority of its native princes, extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, and made the pleasing announcement that it would not be very long before the Prince and Princess of Wales would pay a visit to our Indian Empire.

[We do not necessarily endorse all our correspondent writes.-ED. C.O."] NEXT WEEK. Do not forget that next week the "COUNTY OBSERVER" will be published on Wednesday, and that with each copy an artistic representa- tion of The King and Queen Enthroned" will be given away. It is admirably got up, and will, undoubtedly, be in great request. CORONATION TRAIN SERVICE. It may be a kindness to some of my readers to point out that the train service next Thursday and Friday, so far as it affects Usk and all the stations on the Pontypool Road to Monmouth Brauch of the G.W.R. system, will be curtailed. The following trains WILL run (I leave out those that will not, to avoid any possible confusion), giving Usk Station time :— Up 8.59 and 11.18 a.m., and 6.31 p.m. Down 10.2 a.m., 5.40 and 8.35 p.m. The latter will run from Monmouth (Tioy) at 8.5 p.m. This is a free advertisement for the G.W.R. Co., I know, but I am sure that the proprietors of the "COUNTY OBSERVER" will feel amply repaid if the Company will reciprocate this' magnanimity by reversing their policy upon the present auspicious occasion in the near future, and instead of curtailing our ordinary railway facilities by half, will increase them by as much. I may also refer here to the fact that on the Coronation Thursday the Post Office will only be open as on Sundays and on the Friday it will be open for all the usual business until noon, afterwards no postal or money orders will be obtainable. There will be only one delivery and one despatch each day. OUR COMMEMORATIVE FETE. The Usk Committee have issued their official programme for the celebration of the Coronation of King Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra, and many will doubtless preserve it as one of the souvenirs of a historic event. So far as the Committee are concerned the day's rejoicings commence at noon, when a dinner tor the aged (with paying visitors, including the Committee) will take place at the Three Salmon's Hotel, The Castle, The Cardiff Arms, and the Llangibby Arms. At 2.30 the school children, teachers, and others will meet on the Twyn Square, and the commemoration medals (kindly given by Mr Joseph Lawrence, M.P. for the Monmouth Boroughs) will be distributed, after which a procession will be formed in the order given in the report of the last Committee meeting, to be found in another column. The band will head the march to the Island, where, at 3.45, a Maypole dance will be given. At 4 o'clock the children will commence to have their tea, and from 5 to 6 o'clock the adults will be similarly accommodated. Then the juveniles will be again marshalled, and the commemoration mugs will be distributed. At 6.45 there will be a repetition of the Maypole dance at .9.15 a display of fireworks aud at 10 o'clock a torchlight procession will wind up the day and bring the crowd back to town. Those are the main points of the programme its interstices, so to speak, are filled iu with free cocoanut shies, swings, dancing, sports, &c. As to the sports there will be a race for men (17 years of age and over) across the River walking a horizontal pole over the River boys' races, divided into three sections, viz., for those six years old and under, those aged from seven to ten, and for those over ten and girls' races similarly arranged. Consolation races will increase this part of the programme. I may here state that a sub-committee are arranging for a decorated car, called the May Queen car, to carry the May Queen and her maids in the procession to the Island. The May Queen has been elected by her comrades, and all have been carefully trained for the May- pole dance by Miss Nixon, the mistress of the Usk National (Girls') School. Special services will be held in Usk Parish Church in the morning, when an appropriate anthem will be sung, with the specially com- posed Coronation hymn, &c. The Church bells will, of course, ring out merry peals during the day one can hardly imagine such an occasion passing without the acknowledgment of joyful carillons. As at the Diamond Jubilee, so now, the local Volunteers will parade in review order at 11.30 a.m., on Thursday, for the purpose of firing a feu, de joie. I presume the Baud will be there to play the National Anthem, too. e* The decoration and illumination of the town has, for the greater part been left to the private residents, and I have not the least doubt we shall make a good display. The Sessions House will be illuminated by the County Council, and the Gas Company have gratuitously provided and fixed, and will also find gas for, a star on the Town Hall and another in the centre of the Twyn Square. Next week decorative material will be at a premium in the shops, so I would advise early purchases to prevent disappoint- ment. On Friday the Usk Cricket Club fete will provide plenty of entertainment for all-comers. An excellent programme has been prepared, and it is safe to predict that it will attract a large crowd and that it will add considerably to the coffers of the organization which has yearly heavy payments to meet. GLEANINGS. In 1834, at the Gwent and Dyfod Eisteddfod, John Lloyd, Esq., of Dinas, Brecon, was awarded a premium of 10 guineas for the best poem on Usk* The Duke of Beaufort, as Colonel, will form one of the Aides-de-Camp to the King in the Coronation procession. His Grace will ride with Col. Viscount Galway and Col. W. Aitkin, C.B., immediately in front of the Headquarters Staff, which will in turn be followed by his Majesty's Marshalmen and the State Coach. COMPLIMENTARY. A contemporary has the following note :—The 11 Usk Council, said a member of the Chepstow I Urban Council, is a model body. Their meelingm are the shortest, the committees bring up their reports and ten minutes later they separate to meet again elsewhere. This is paying a great compliment to Usk. Quite so Usk deserves to be complimented in this respect, and I have often said so before- No unnecessary talk is indulged in or allowed with the result that the town's bupinest3 is transacted at the monthly meetings, the duration of which would average much leas than an hour each for the year.

USK. Agent-.Ifri. E. K. Jones, Stationer MENTIONED IN DBSPATCHBS.—Squadron-sergeant- major Dyment (whose letters trom South Africa we have recontly published) is mentioned in the latest South African Army Orders "for gallantry and good service in action. THE M.P. FOR SOUTH MONMOUTHSHIRE.—We regret to hear that Colonel the Hon F. C. Morgan, M. P., met with an accident when returning from the Court at Buckingham Palace on Friday night. Slipping on some steps he sprained his leg which obliged him to rest in his house in Portmaa Square for some days. BURGLARY.—Usk Railway Station was broken into on Sunday night or Monday morning. An entrance was effected, apparently, through the booking hall window, and the ticket window was smashed, to gain access to the station-master's office. An effort was made to open the safe, but without success, and the only things missing the station keys which were kept in the office- This is the second time the station has been burglariously entered. There is no clue as to the culprit or culprits. SALMON ANGLING.-The recant freshes have brought up the salmon, and it is said that in the upper reaches of the River more finh have been seen than for a great many years. On Thursday, above Chain Bridge, they were particularly lively, and fioe sport was obtained. We have heard of the following kills:—Friday—Rev II. J. Bates, oue, 16lbs. Monday—Mr E. F. Bisshopp, one, 12lbs; Colonel Morris, one, 131bs. Tuesday—Mr J. Pitt, a grilse, 31b. Wednesday-hlr H. W. Pride, one, 301bs Mr M. King, one, lOlbs. Thursday—Rev Hare, three, lllbs, 121bs, and 201b; Colonel Morris, two; Mr R. W. Rickards, one, 121bs: Mr Barker, one Mr Kirkpattick, one-, Mr H. W. Pride, one. 111b. FOR Nsw ZEALAND.—At a smoking concert, largely attended, at "The Royal," Usk, 011 Friday evening, Mr Ernest Marfell was the recipient of a handsome silver-mounted dressing case replete with every toilet requisite, as a parting present from his Usk friends on the occasion of his departure for New Zealand, where he will joiu his uncle. Mr A. J. Green, who made the presenta- tion, referred to the respect and esteem in which recipient's family were held in the district, and expressed the hope that he would succeed and prosper in every way in the new country to which he was going. Mr E. Marfell suitably returned his thanks for the present. A very enjoyable evening was spent.-On Monday, in Lodge at the Three Salmon's Hotel, Primo W. Billingham, S P.. on behalf of the members of the Sir Herbert Kitchener" Lodge, R.A.O.B., presented Bro. E. Marfell with a silver-mounted and inscribed smoker's case-two briar pipes, amber-stemmed and silver. mounted, silver match box, and pearl- handled cigar cutter. He expressed tte best wishes of the brethren for the recipient's future, and Mr Marfell suitably acknowledged the gift.— Mr H. G. Powell supplied both presents. -Me Marfell was given a hearty send-off on Wednesday night, when he left Usk by the last train in order to join his boat at Gravesend in the afternoon of the following day.

I Cricket. I USK V. NEWPORT GARRISON. This match was played at Usk on Saturday, on a wet and slow wicket. The visitors came with a good record, but made a poor show against the trundling of T. Mayes and F. J. Edmunds, and were dismissed for 24 runs. The score stood at 13 at the fall of the 2ud wicket, and four more fell without any uddition. Mayes took 7 wickets for 13 runs, and Edmmids 3 for 9. Usk knocked off the necessary runs before the fall of the second wicket, and magnanimously closed the innings at 105 with only five wickets down. F. J. Edmunds was top scorer with 40 quickly compiled hard hitting, W. F. Roberts also batted well, and F. Hill, T. Rees. and S. A. Hiley entered double figures as well. Score:-

CORONATION CELEBRATION COMMITTEE. The ninth meeting of the Usk Committee for organising the local festivities at the King's Coronation was held at the Town Hall, Usk,'oa Tuesday evening, when there were present:- Mr H. A. Addis, J.P. (chairman), Revs, H. B. Robinson, J. G. Williams, Deaconess Eleanor, Mrs Bowen, Messrs. J. H. Clark, H. Humphreys, J.P., G. Edmunds, W. Workman, J. Billingham, R. Morgan, G. Mundy, J. Haggett, S. A. Hiley, T. J. Smith, H. Ault, A. W„ Trotman, A. G. Graham, R. A. Rogers, E. Williams, and A. F. Lucas (hon. sec.) The Chairman, as treasurer, stated that the total receipts to date amounted to j695 18a Id. (Applause). It appeared that in some cases children attendiug Usk day or Sunday Schools were from parishes that had not joined Usk for the celebration, and after some discussion, it was carried that tickets should be given to all children attending the schools of the town. Satisfactory progress was reported with regard to the tea arrangements, Mrs W. Thomas having taken the superintendence of the "cattirig-up," &c., and three other ladies having volunteered assistance in this respect. Additions were made to the list of ladies willing to preside over the tea tables. The Chairman stated that as he calculated there would be a considerable balance left after carrying out their programme as arranged at present, it seemed to him that they might do more for the old people. Accordingly he proposed that at the dinner the men should be given a packet of tobacco, and the women a packet of tea. The Itev J. G. Williams seconded, and it was agreed to. In reply to Deaconess Eleanor it was stated that in the case of non-smokers the tea would bo given. It was further resolved on the suggestion of Mr Mundy, that the old people who wished to go to The Island should be given tea tickets. Deaconess Eleanor's offer of the loan of ther following things was thankfully accepted :— 423 cups and saucers, 339 spoons, 217 small plates, 91 cake plates, 68 basins, 9 sugar tongs., 38 milk jugs, 2 tea cans, 1 arn, 20 teapots, 1 boiler, and 14 long table cloths. The Deaconess said a doaen more tablecloths would be required, and the tea pots would not be sufficient. The G.W.R. Company had promised to lend sleepers to form the bridge over the brook at the entrance to the Island. An application from Monkswood that tha Committee sell them 40 presentation mugs was not acceded to, it being remarked that the mugs; might be wanted in Usk. If there were any to spare after Coronation Day Monkswood mi.,Ilt, if they continued to wish it, have them. It was decided to ask the Gas Committee of the U.D.C. to light the street lamps on Coronation. Thursday and Friday, and to keep them lit; till 2 a.m. A ballot for the order in which the procession should be formed resulted as follows:—First, Wesleyan; 2, Llanbadoc; 3, Usk Church; 4, Congregational: 5, Baptist 6, Catholic; 7 unattached Mr Price, confectioner, applied for permission to have a standing on the Island, and it was resolved that the application be acceded to, subject to his accepting the site to be pointed out by the Committee, and that this permission apply to any I other applications of the kind.