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

THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS. I Lord Hugh Cecil suggests, in a letter to The Times," that the House of Commons would be able to give more attention to national questions if private Bills were referred to provincial councils, and, further, exempted from the rule that prorogation kills a Bill No doubt such a system would tie preferable to the present procedure, and, probably. Lord Hugh Cecil's Parliamentary experience would enable him to make some other suggestions in the same direction. But there would be no necessity for any such delegation if the House of Commons kould get rid of the mere talkers, the men who repeat ad nauseam all the things which have been said by the first two or three speakers, and add nothing to the general information.

FLANNELETTE. If purchasers of this useful material for underwear all the year round would buy the best English make, which can be obtained from all leading Drapers, they would avoid the risks they undoubtedly run with the inferior qualities of Flannelette. HORROCKSES' FLANNELETTES, made by the manufacturers of the celebrated Longcloths, Twills, and Sheetings, are the best. M UflBU flHTTQTPQ damped on sel- nUlittUuJluilllJ vedge every5yds,

THE DUTY OF CYCLISTS. I At an inquest held at Marylebone, Mr. Walter Schroder offered some advice on the conduct and legal position of cyclists, which is as useful as the contents of many hand-books. A cyclist, who had acci- dentally knocked down a pedestrian with iatal result, appeared to share the opinion which is held by a great many cyclists, motorists, and others, that the roadway is intended only for vehicular traffic, Mr chroder told him that this view was a mistaken one, as it most certainly is, the roadway being intended as much for pedestrians as for vehicles. Another mis- apprehension which the Coroner corrected was the view that when a cyclist has rung his bell he has done all that is required of him, that the pedestrian must then look out for himself. As Mr Schroder said, the duty of riders of cycles is to pull up as soon as they see the possibility of danger to pedestrians." Ringing a bell or shouting is not sufficient, one very good reason why that is so, being that many people are deaf. It may be added that—as anybody can see with very little observation-the majority of accidents in which cyclists run down pedestrians are due to an assumption on the part of the rider that the pedestrian will continue the course which he is taking at the moment. A person is walking on the edge of a footpath, and the cyclist, oeming up behiu/J, fctiisks there is no Necessity to ring his bell, ignoring the fact that the pedestrian may at any moment leave the pnth, and start walking across the road. The expert cyclist knows from ex- perience that such a thing may happen, and very rarely runs anybody down.

MERRYWEATHER ON WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE PROTECTION of COUNTRY MANSIONS. EXPERTS SENT TO ALL PARTS TO Report on EXISTING Arrangements. WRITE FOR PAMPHLETS: MERRYWEATHER & SONS, 63, LOHG ACRE, LONDON, W.C.

RECKLESS MOTORISTS. I Judging from the large number of police cases that one sees reported it might almost be supposed that a large percentage of motorists consider it the correct thing to be -fined for driving at an excessive speed. Although fashion has some strange caprices, yet that can hardly be the ambition of the drivers, who muH be put to a great deal of inconvenience by having to attend the Police Court at a distance from their homes, And generally have to contribute to the exchequer a substantial fine. We do not read of many prosecutions in the Metropolis, but in the provinces the police are more active in this respect, and, seeing that only a small proportion of the cases are reported, there must be a very large aggregate of prosecutions for driving to the danger of the public. Amongst speeds recently alleged are those of 32 and 42 miles an hour, "hich are certainly fraught with peril, the country roads being bounded with hedges which conceal the approaching motorist from the view of those who wish to get out of his way.

ON SWIMMING. The hon. sec. of the Life Saving Society has drawn attention to a point which merits the consideration of councils charged with the responsibility for the education of the young. It is evident that boys and girls are almost as ready as ducks to take to the water, indeed, a good deal of difficulty is experienced during the summer months in preventing boys from bathing in dangerous places, before they have learned to swim Manv councils arrange for elementary school children to learn swimming at the local baths, but here, in the great majority of cases, the old mistake is made of "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar." The water is there, but no teacher, and the result, as the secretary points out-is that the scholar gets into 11 a faulty stroke, which stops progress aDd power in the water." In many cases, he or she is unable to swim more than a few yards, and we have even seen in two or three cases, boys trying to swim with their mouths and nostrils under water. If a teacher were employed to give instruction in swimming and life saving, the extra cost would be small, and the rate- payers would be receiving very much better value for their money.

WASHING AT HOME. BRADFORD'S "VOWEL XLS" WiLehing. Wrlntfat, • .ii4 Mangling Machine* SAVE TIME, SAVE LABOUR, and SAVE THE CLOTHES. Write/or Catalogue, post free on application. THOMAS BRADFORD & CO., 140, 141, and 142, HIGH HOLRORN, LONDON VICTORIA AVENUK, DEANSUATX, MANCHESTER; 130, BoLD-STKMf LZVICXPOQL. CRBSCENT IRON WORKS, SAUORD.

I THE HEROISX OF LADY MCXEILL. The heroism of Lady Hilda McNeill was none the greater because she was the sister of an earl, but from any point of view she may be said to have displayed the most conspicuous gallantry, equal to that of any winner of the Victoria Cross. Thousands of people have rescued others from drowning, and received medals for it, but there is all the difference in the world between such a rescue by an expert swim- mer and the attempt of Lady Hilda McNeill, who was not a strong swimmer, being Z5 t5 able to make only a few strokes," to save a boy who was drowning in deep, rough water. In the one case the effort means little more than making one's clothes wet, in the other it involves extreme poril to life. This distinction, it is to be feared, is not always sufficiently appreciated, but perhaps the death of Lady Hilda McNeill may serve to emphasise the point. "J-r-¡"

FOOLHARDY WAGERS. A London paper, referring to the at- tempts to swim the Channel, remarks that the mere doing of a thing is no argument that the thing is worth doing, otherwise it would be an act of merit to hop on one leg from Blackfriars Bridge to Westminster, or to wheel a perambulator twenty times round Hyde Park without stopping." Our contemporary must be sure that these foolish things which it suggests as out of Z5 the question have not been attempted. The hopping on one leg has certainly been tried, if not on that particular ground. Men have undertaken to wheel barrows so many hundreds of miles, and if anybody were to offer to bet on the subject, people could be found to wheel perambulators, or even dinner-waggons. When we see men swal- lowing glass, and walking so many miles with two gallon jars on their heads, it may well be doubted whether the force of folly ,.an any further go. Addison thought it was a very ridiculous thing for a man to grin through a horse collar for a wager, and so it was, but the foolishness of that fact has been exceeded in our times, and it would probably be impossible to suggest any performance so preposterous that nobody has been found to attempt it. I

NEWPORT. I POLICE COURT, FRIDAY. I AN APPAUENTLY HOPELESS CASE.—Florence Jones, a notorious inebriate, and a native of Henllys, made her 167th appearance for the usual offence. On the previous Wednesday she had been ejected from the G.W.R. Station, and was so disorderly that she had to be conveyed to the Police Station in a cab. Previous convictions were recorded, and it was proved that in January and March of this year she was sent to prison for one mouth for drunkenness; and later fined 30s or one month, and bound over, herself in the sum of X25, and one surety of JE25, to be of good behaviour for three months. She served the full time-four months-and only came out of prison on the Wednesday woriiitig.-The Magistrates' Clerk said it was hard to know what to do with the woman. She had been in the home in Bristol for three years, but that had had no effect-in fact, nothing seemed to reform her. She said that after coming out of prison she took two glasses, which got over her. When leaving the prison she had 4s lid, for which she worked hard when in gaol. She was now fined 40s or one month, and bound over, herself in 925, and one surety of X25, to be of good behaviour for three months, or, failing that, to go to prison for another month.

PONTYPOOL. I POLICE COURT, SATURDAY. I WIFE ASSAULT.—John Gibbs, labourer, Ponty- pool, was summoned for assaulting Mary Gibbs, his wife, at Pontypool, on August 15th.-Com- plainant said her husband came home, and aftjr smashing some furniture, gave her two black eyes, and, continued witness, "I don't blame him. I blame his sister. She puts him up to it. She keeps a brothel."—Defendant: I can't help what my Bister does. She (complainant) blacked her eyes with the table. (Laughter). She was blind drunk. (Renewed laughter). It's no use taking any notice of her, gentlemen, she will swear her life away. She will swear to anything. She beatlC the record.—Defendant was bound over to keep the peace, and ordered to pay the costs. After reading the usual order the Clerk asked. "Are you content to be bound ? Defendaut: If you will shove her on as well.—Defendant ultimately agreed to be bound over. MAINTENANCE.—Mr T. Watkins, solicitor, Pontypool, applied on behalf of the Pontypool Board of Guardians for an order of 3s per week against James Marshall, Reading, in respect of the maintenance of his mother .-The application was granted. WARRANT. -Archibald Bowden, 48, Cwmbran, was summoned for using threats towards Mary Vernon, at Spring Vale, on August 8th.—As the defendant did not appear, a warrant was issued. POLICE COURT, WEDNESDAY. I THBFT OF HALF A SOVEREIGN.—Elizabeth Wright ( 3), wae oharged on remand with stealing half a ncvereign, the property of James Sullivan, a coal d- ater, of Pontypool, on Autuat 20. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and said she bought a 4s lid ptir of booto for herself, a 1jd bracelet for her sister, and a quantity of ice cream and bananas. She had also given her mother .h. Mr Sullivan said he had no desire to press the charge against her. Under these circumstances, the Bsnoh bound the prisoner over to be of good behaviour for six months, and the mother was reprimanded for having received a portioa of the money.

FACTS AND FANCIES. I BOTTLES are'now being made of pap or under a German patent. They are for use particularly on shipboard, where heavy weather works havoc among glass receptacles. THERE are about one hundred grains of iron in the average human body, and yet so important is this exceedingly small quantity that its diminution is attended with very serious results. THE smallest horse in the world is a Shetland ponv owned by the Marchese Carcano, in Milan. It is 24iu. high, and when standing beside its owner the pony's back is only an inch above his knee. THE Turkish language is said by scholars to be the softest and most musical language of modern times, being better adapted to the purposes of musical notation and recitative than even the Italian. VEGETABLES are being dried now like apples and other fruit. Seven pounds of potatoes weigh lib. when dried, and other vegetables shrink in weight correspondingly. Onions, carrots, and potatoes are the vegetables most used now, but the industry will, it is expected, develop greatly.

I BURIAL OF A LEG. The Jewish World tells a story of the burial of a man's leg in Brooklyn. The limb belonged to Solomon Levenson. a Jewish shopkeeper. Levenson was a member of a German benevolent society, and entitled to burial at a cost of 200dol. in case of death. When, therefore, he underwent dismember- ment, he resolved to take partial advantage of his rights, and compelled the society to grant his leg a child's funeral, costing 50dol. The limb was accordingly embalmed and placed in a child's coffin, which was escorted to the grave by a numerous and sympathetic throng of mourners. Official rites, so report tells us, were duly performed at the cemetery prior to and during the interment.

I THE FIRST ROYAL CURSE ON RECORD. According to Scripture, curses were known from the beginning of man; but the earliest curse the world has secular record of is found inscribed on a door-socket of King Saegm. of Babylonia, 3800 B.C., in the Assyriological collection of the University of Pennsylvania. The inscription, which has been translated by Dr. Hermann V. Hilprecht, of the University, calls down the vengeance of the gods Bel, Shamash, and Nuina upon the bold dis- turber of the stone. This American collection is said to he exceeded in importance only by those of the British Museum and the Louvre. It is largely the result of the special expedition to Niffer, on the Euphrates, sent out by the University during the past six years. Part of the collection, including the stone mentioned above, was exhibited at the Chicago Exhibition, where it was awarded several medals. -0

I THE TALE OF A SOLDIER. There was a young man in the Twenty-first corps, Who thought he'd enlist for a year, perhaps morps. He did no:, fear danger, he'd met it beforps, But ere the first year of his service was orps He met a huge iion which came to his Jorps, And springing upon him resistlessly borps The gallant young grenadier down to the floorps. Then, standing above him with terrible rorps, The animal ruthlessly mangled and torps His body, as well as the clothes that he worps. And af' er the tearing and wounding him sorps, He finally left him all welt'ring in gorps, With b!ood freelv oozing from every porps. In this sad condition he thought of the lorps He acquired at school in the sweet days of yorps, I And loud, in his pain, he was heard to deplorps The day that he went with the Twenty-first corps.

I BELIEFS ABOUT FINNS. Mr. Frank Bullen relates some strange beliefs relating to Finns. A Finn, it is believed in Teutonic craft, can command what food he likes by simply sticking his knife in the foremast. Hence his fatness. By turning his cap round he can draw any liquor he likes from the water-beaker, and yet, wonderful to relate, he is always sober. No letters home writes the Finn, for the birds that hover round the ship are ready to bear his missives round the world. His power over the wind is marvellous. He can command a good sailing-breeze when all the ships around are wind-bound, and, withal, the Finn is a hard-working, humble and quiet seafarer.

WHEN THE QUEEN WEARS HER CROWN. Her Majesty has three crowns, says M.A.P., but it is very seldom indeed that she wears one of them. I During the long series of functions that accompanied the celebration of her last birthday, for instance, there was only one occasion on which the Royal head was graced with a crown. This was at the Drawing-Room which her Majesty attended. The tiara which the Queen then wore was made nearly forty years ago, and weighs about eight troy ounces. It is a light shell of gold, thickly encrusted with diamonds, there being no less than 2,673 white diamonds and 523 of the rose brilliants. This was designed for use with the long strip of tulle used as a veil by her Majesty on State occasions, such as weddings and Drawing-Rooms. The Queen wears it well back on her head, and it forms a pin to fasten the ceremonial veil, which floats away from it to the hem of the train. Qn every occasion on which the Queen visited the flouse of Lords the State crown was taken out of the Tower and was b rne before her Majesty on a cushion. Except for this purpose the crown has only left the Tower twice during her reign—once for repair, some part of the setting having become loosened, and once in order to modify the ermine. The Queen has never actually worn the State crown since it was placed on her head at her coronation.

A NORTH-COUNTRY PRIVATE ZOO. I According to a writer in Chums, the most compre- hensive private Zoo in England is probably that at Haggerston Castle, Beal. It has been the life-long hobby of its owner, Mr. C. J. Leyland, who has spared neither pains nor expense to make it as com- plete as possible. Among the birds at Haggerston are the rhea (South American) ostrich, demoiselle (Numidian) crane, Liberian crane, Zambesi goose, Australian black swan, emu, and water-fowl from all quarters of the globe. When the hen South American ostrich has laid her eggs, she considers her duties at an end. Without paying the slightest attention to them, she goes on a round of visits, leaving the cock to hatch the ef{gs as well as feed and rear his progeny. Fine, however, as the bird, side of the collection is, the animals are more interesting. It includes many kangaroos, of which Mr. Leyland has bred and reared numbers. Con- sidering the bleakness of the Northumbrian coast, this circumstance proves that the marsupials are more hardy than one would think. In the park there is a herd of Canadian deer, from one of which Mr. Leyland has had a pair of cast horns weighing no less than 221b. Here, too, may be seen a magnificent herd of North American bison; indeed, it is considered to be the finest and largest in the world, for the animals are now practically extinct in their own country. Another herd is worth men- tioning-one of white-tailed gnus. The ruler of this community is a most ferocious animal, a bull that has killed two of his species, one of them older and bigger than himself. In consequence of this per- formance, he was docked of his horns but even now he defies anybody or anything that comes near him, Elories in a fight, and would give a good account of imself in a mortal combat. 0

THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "COCKNEY." More than one popular derivation has been given for this word. The laughable one, which connects it with cock and neigh, was seriously proposed in the seventeenth century; and the other, which makes it mean a dweller in the land of Cockaigne, i.e., the land of luxury and idleness, has also received a certain amount of favour. The true derivation, says the Leisure Hour, is carefully reasoned out in the Oxford English Dictionary and supported by quota- tions. The first sense appears to be "an egg," especially a small egg, such as are called in some places "cock's eggs," and an old saying current in Surrey is quoted, When the cock lays eggs, then the hen lays rashers of bacon." From this sense we pass on to that of "a cockered child," a pet; hence "an effeminate fellow," and sometimes "an affected, squeamish woman." From this it is applied to inhabitants of towns, contrasting thair effeminacy with the robust habits and bearing of country people. All these senses have gone out of use, and there remains only the well-known one of "a London man," a dweller in the biggest of towns. It may be added that the dictionary confirms the exact definition, that a cockney it one born withia the sound of Bow bells.

To PRESERVE OLD DOCUMENTS. Those who collect old documents, stamps, engrav- ings,. or other valuable papers, can easily preserve them in their original condition by covering them with a three per cent. solution of collodion. This solution can be applied with a soft brush without the slightest danger to the objects thus treated. It is mainly useful where delicate colours that are soluble in water are to be preserved in their pristine beauty.

xllr- A. T. Lawrence, K.C., Raised to the Beiieh. We have much pleasure in noting that the appointment of Mr Alfred Tristram Lawrence, K.C., to succeed the late Sir Robert Wright as one of the judges of the High Court of Justice, was officially an- nounced on Wednesday night. r, Mr Lawrence has long been looked upon as a likely occupant of the Bench, and his legal ability caused him to be appointed a Commissioner under the London Govern- ment Act. He is Recorder of Windsor, has acted as Commissioner of Assize on the IS orth-eastern Circuit, and recently as Judge on the Northern Circuit. He was educated at Cambridge and called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1869, after which he joined the Oxford Circuit, and became well-known as a sound lawyer and painstaking barrister. 0 He has an intimate connection with Mon- mouthshire, his father being the late Dr. David Lawrence, formerly of Pontypool, and more recently a resident in Usk, and at Llangihby Castle. Mrs Hopton Addams- Williams, wife of the Master of the Llan- gibby foxhounds, and Mrs Arthur Evans, late of Llangihby Castle, are his sisters, and the late Mr John Lawrence, M.F.H., was his uncle. The new Judge is a D.L, for the county of Nairn, where he has a charming resi- dence, and is a good all-round sportsman. He married his cousin, the daughter of Mr George Lawrence. Z> The "Globe" says the appointment is altogether admirable-so admirable that there will be little or no grumbling that yet another of the 'plums' should have gone to the Oxford Circuit. He is not only a sound lawyer and an able advocate, but is possessed of plenty of plain sense, which should stand him in good stead on the Bench. When he and Mr Lyttelton were in chambers together, it was the fashion for men on the Oxford Circuit to read with them, and there are few members of that circuit now who have not passed through their pupil room."

I The British Association. The British Association brought an ex- ceptionally successful conference, held at Cambridge, to an end on Wednesday after- noon, Mr Balfour presiding. The treasurer stated that the money taken ( £ 2,660) and the number of tickets sold (2,789) had only been exceeded three or four times. Grants of money amounting to £1,000 were voted to different sections for scientific research, and Professor George Darwin, next year's president, has undertaken to act as a sort of ambassador of science from the Old Country to the budding science of South Africa. Major Baden-Powell said- the day was not far distant when we should be using the highway of the air for travel. t) The great question is what form the motor-cars of the skies shall take. He agrees with Sir Hiram Maxim that the aeroplane, and not the balloon, is the thing. The Rev. J. M. Bacon narrated hin expe- rience of the upper currents of the air, and their relation to the hearing of distant sounds, and suggested that there was much to be learned yet of the tides and currents of the unexplored ocean which forms the outer envelope of the globe.

Change ia Summer Holidays. It was remarked by somebody that the chief use of work is to make leisure enjoy- able. The majority of people find that the chief use of work is to make the pot boil, but there is a good deal in the idea that we should not enjoy life half as much as we do if it were not for its contrasts. The man who does no work from Monday morning to Saturday night, cannot take the same de- light in a holiday as he who comes from the desk of a stuffy counting-house, nor is the man or woman who lives in a beautiful country able to derive the same pleasure from Nature's beauties as the dweller in a town, who only finds himself in a rural district once or twice a year. The Satur- day Review," in an article on the desire for change which takes people away at this season of the year, does not seem to recog- nise very fully THE BLESSINGS OF CONTRAST, 1 and argues that our forefathers got on very well with the minimum of change in their habits; they lived and died at a good old age, without having worried themselves in seeking change of scene." No doubt they did, largely because they had no choice, and possibly by keeping in one groove they may have prolonged their lives. But we do not need the Westminster Catechism, or anything else, to tell us that long life is not the chief end of man's existence, and that it may be possible to purchase longevity too dearly. The writer speaks truly when he says there are vast numbers of women in working class society to whom nothing is more irksome than to have to take part in pleasures to which they are unaccustomed," but, at the same time, there seems to be some confusion of thought when aversion from environment in which a woman finds herself uncomfortable is made to cover a summer holiday, to which anybody can adapt herself without the slightest difficulty. The same confusion seems to attend the remark that the lower you go in the scale of general intelligence, culture, and refine- ment, the less desire of change is found." Standing by itself that is a perfectly ac- curi to statement of fact. A clergyman working in one of the poorest of East Lon- don slums, said, Look at those people st. outing and dancing over there, you may think that they would be a good deal happier if they were taught some more rational amusement, but they are QUIT. HAPPY A& THEY ARE, I and although many of them come to church, | and live respectable lives, yet they would j not thank you for placing them in what you conceive to be a much pleasanter environ- ment. You would only succeed in making them profoundly uncomfortable, and at the first opportunity they would return to their present recreations." The man who said that knew the poor of East London, and one scarcely knows whether to feel thankful or otherwise that his statement is an exact one. But these poor folks enjoy a holiday at the seaside as much as anybody, as the sands of Yarmouth, and Margate, and the mud of Southend, testify abundautly. They might not feel at home at a il swell water- ing place, but nature meant them to enjoy a holiday after their own fashion, and they have no difficulty in doing so. It has often been pointed out that the constant pursuit of one occupation, without periods of relief, tends towards insanity. The summer holi- day interrupts that monotony, and to the people who have the opportunity of taking it, such relaxation is a good investment. Probably the writer in The Saturday Re- view thinks so too, and, having drawn the fee for his article, is at the moment enjoy- ing the "change" which he deprecates.

I Ilarliets. MONMOUTH, CATTLE, Monday.—Good supply, excepting pigs, which were not numerous, but quite equal to a quiet trade. There was a good attendance, and trade in beef. veal, and lamb was brisk, the prices for beef and lamb being slightly in advance of last market. Trade in stores slow. Quotations:—Best beef, 6d to f)d per lb; secondary qualifies, 5td to 6d veal, 7d to 7td wether mutton, 7d to 8d ewe mutton, 5!¡d tou-ld; :f 4 lamb, 7;rJ to 8d; pork, 9 to 9s 6d per score. Auction prices.—The following prices were realised under the hammer of Messrs. Nelmes, Poole, and Atkms, Monmouth, Newnham, and Stroud Cattle: Heifers, £11 15s. to £ 21 15s; bullocks, X15 to X19 5,3; cows lIud calves, X12 5s to X17 10s fat calves, 43s to 67s; store calves, 26s to 47s wether tegs 36s to 44s 6d; ewes, 28s to 42s; lambs, 18s to 308 6d; porkers, 29a to 44s 6d. NEWPORT, (JOR, Wednesday.—There was an average attendance at this market to-day. It, is reported that wheat, after an exciting week, is 2s. per quarter dearer; maize is firm and 6d dearer, and barley 6d. dearer, while flour (fines) is at "27s. per sack. NEWPORT, CATTLE, Wednesday.—There was rather a smaller attendance than usual at this market to- day,and a fair all-round supply, there being a good deal of foreign cattle on offer. The prices under- went no change, last week's quotations being maintained. NEWPORT, CHEESE, Wednesday.—There was a fair supply, with a brisk demand and a good attendance at this market to-day. Quotatione :—Caerphillies 52s. to 60s. per owt.; fancy daries, 6 is. to 63s. Derbies, 48s. to to 60s. truckles. 50s. to 53s. doubles, 44s.; and Cheddars. 48s. to 53s.

I Cricket. USK V. ABERGAVENNY. The return match between the above teams was played at Usk, on Saturday last, in fine weather. The previous encounter ended in an exciting win for Abergavennv by 7 runs. Usk won the toss, and Wallace and Hill went in to face the trundling of Harris and Perkins. Five wickets fell for 31, and then G. Edmunds followed on, and hit out splendidly. He scored 7 fours in succession, and then obtained a single, before he was bowled by Beckwith. The innings closed for 71. Aber. gavenny went in and scored 65. the finish being as exciting as at Abergavenny. Six wickets fell for 46. Beckwith and Perkins made a good stand, and the total was brought to 62, when the former was unfortunately run out, and the remaining wickets fell for the total given, leaving Usk victors by six runs. Roberts took five wickets for 29 runs and Hill three for 21. Score:— USK. A. G. Wallace, lbw, b F. Perkins. 11 F. Hill, o J. Beckwith, b M. Harris.. 1 T. Rees, b Harris 4 A. C. Hiley, at A. Goodwin, b Harris 10 F. J. Edmunds, c W. D. Lewis, b Harris 2 G. Edmunds, b Beckwith. 29 W. F. Roberts, c Goodwin, b Perkins 5 S. A. Hiley, b Perkiiis 1 F. Hiley, c N. Smith, b Perkins. 1 H. Humphreys, not. out 0 J. H. Marfell, b Perkins 0 Extras. 7 Total. 71 ABERGAVENNY. A. Goodwin, b W. F. Roberts 0 F. Perkins, b Roberts 9 N. Smith, run out 18 M. Harris, b F. Hill 12 W. P. Lewis, c H. Humphreys, b Roberta 1 S. White, lbw, b Hill 3 L. J. Morgan, b Hill 4 J. Beckwith, run out 14 W. Phillips, not out 3 C. Mitchell, c H. Humphreys, b Roberta 0 C. Pryer, c and b Roberts. 0 Extras i Total. 65

THB POSTMASTER GHNERAL/S REPORT. I The fiftieth report of the Postmaster General contains several passages which are of great interest to !,he public. For example, it is, ou the face of it, surprising to find that with a rapidly increasing population the number of letters delivered in London has decreased. The explana- tion, however, is adequate, the reduction in the number of letters being no doubt due to an increased use of the telephone, arising out of extended facilities, and the enormous increase in the use of picture post cards. The officers of the department think that illustrated post cards shew a tendencey to displace letters and official cards, but they scarcely need entertain any apprehensions on that account, it being tolerably certain that the demand for these cards, even though it may continue for some years, will, ot in any event be a permanent one. Another feature of the report is a detail of the number of letters and parcels which were insufficiently addressed, or bore no address of any kind. In the letters which were insufficiently addressed, the stuff found X20,910 in cash and bank notes, with £ 613,618 in cheques, money order*, postal orders, stamps, and other forms of remittance. The unaddressed letters contained cash, or its equivalent, to the value of EIO,000, one enc'osure being a cinque for £ 1,500. A third Mibject, dealt with is that of the reduction of postage rates to the Colonies, and improved facilities for the transmission of monpy. In tha latter respect, dibtinct progress has been made, and, with regard to the former, negotiations are in progress with the object of elltablisbiug peuny postage with Australia.

THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME "PICCADILLY." I It is not generally known that it was a canor who gave the name to one of the most famous thoroughfares in the world. Early in the, seventeenth century there flourished at the corner of what is now Sackville-street a tailor named Higgins, who amassed a large fortune by the sale of the then fashionable Spanish lace collars, called "Pickadilles." Retiring from business, he invested the proceeds in buying up the property on the west of his shop, building a new street which he christened Piccadilly.

The Far East. Two Russian Destroyers Mined. Tokio, Friday; Two Russian destroyers are reported to have struck mines off Liao-tisshan yesterday; one foun- dered and the other was towed into the harbour.

Japanese Seize a French Steamer. Tokio, Friday. A French steamer coming from 0 Port Arthur has been captured by the Japanese and taken to Sasebo.

More Japanese for the Front. Rome, Friday. A despatch from Tokio says that- thirty thousand more men are proceeding to Liao-yang. 0

I More Siege Guns Sent. St. Petersburg, Friday. The Chinese report that the- Japanese have taken twenty siege guns from Yinkow to Tashikiau by the railway.

I Marshal Oyama Directing. Marshal Oyama is reported to be personally directing the siege- operations at Port Arthur.

A Battalion's Mutiny. Belgrade, Friday. The relief battalion here declined to march against the Albanians im revolt.

Panic on a Race Course. New York, Friday. Thieves scattered dynamite caps; in the betting ring at Hawthorne- race course yesterday, with the- intention of robbing bookmakers. In the panic several persons were- injured, the caps exploding when* trodden upon.

The Bishop of Southwell. The Bishop of Southwell passecv, a fairly quiet night, but is* y 0 weaker.

A Bogus Confession. Franz Schneider, who confessed he had robbed a man, supposed to- be the late Mr Loomis, was dis- charged at Birmingham to-day, the- police declaring his story am. invention.

Cricket. Sussex, out, 95. Surrey, 31 for 4 wickets.

Stocks. 8 Stocksfquiet, cheerful. Printed and Published by "THB COONTY OBSHavan," NzwspArxia and PniNTiNa COMFANT, Limited, by JAHIS HSNRT CiiABz, at their Offices, Bridigw Street, Usk, ia the County ef Moomoutk, Saturday August 27 th, 1901.