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

bow. that I EPPS'S is an admirable food, the nicest and most nutritions "overage for the breakfast table. to made In a moment Witb soiling water or milk, and tta Sustaining Qualities are oliCÕA invaluable Ip cw. >J

I North Monmouthshire. I UPPER PONTNEWYDD. Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Campbell, the Con- servative candidate for North Monmouthshire, opened his camdaign with a vigorous speech at the National Schools, Upper Pontnewydd, on Friday evening. The meeting was presided over by Mr H. Bumford, and supporting the candidate on the platform were Lady Campbell, Mr A. A. Williams, J.P. (Pontypool), Mr Istac Butler Panteg), Mr F. W. Harding (New Inn), and Mr H. Hallewell, who has been appointed election agent to Sir Charles. There was a good attendance notwith- standing the short notice of the meeting. ADMIRAL CAMPBELL was cordially received on rising. He took for his text unity and strength. They should unite to fight the foreign resistance at present offered us in trade, and especially in the trade which affected the steel and iron industry. (Applause.) In order to cope with that foreign aggression there mnat be unity. They must have unity between masters and men. (Applause). It was a duty to combine against foreign nations and prevent our goods and great trade going into foreign coffers. Under existing conditions, the money which justly belonged to the British workman was being put into foreign pockets. He had declared himself a Free Trader, but when Free Trade meant that they were going to allow foreign goods to be dumped" into our markets and to let foreigners undersell us, then he said he was going in for reform, which would put the money of the British into the pockets of the British workman. (Applause). He would remind them that HE HAD NO AXE TO GRIND, I and it did not matter to him whether he was returned to Parliament or not. Conservatives and Unionists bad always given great attention to the education of the country, and nearly all the measures that had been passed had been promoted by the Unionist Government. In Monmouthshire the rate for educational purposes was, undoubtedly, higher than the rate in other parts of the country, and this went to show that the Education Act had not met with full approval in that part of the country, and that it had not been administered in a proper manner. He had lately been residing in Kent, where the education rate was 7d in the 4, but in Monmouthshire he found it was Is 21d in the C. He could only say that that must be due to some faults in the administration of the Act. The Education Act was, probably, not in a satisfactory condition at present, but as it was the child of the Unionist Government, they could rest assured that on that Government's return to office they would do all they could to make the Act perfect. He regarded the Aliens' Act as one of the greatest boons for the working classes, inasmuch as it would help them in their FIGHT AGAINST FOREIGN NATIONS I and help to prevent the ruining of the trade of the country and the starvation of the people. Referring to the Coal Tax, Sir Charles said it was a tax which was put on for war purposes, and as the war was now over there was no longer any necessity for imposing the tax. If he were returned to Parliament he would certainly vote for the remission of the tax. As a Naval officer he could tell them that the Unionist Government's foreign policy was a most extraordinary record, if only for the treaty they had concluded with Japan, which ensured peace in the Far East, and which would help them considerably in the fight against foreign aggression. He had himself assisted in the securing of the good feeling between England and France, and this was one of the most valuable assets they could imagine, as it assisted them in the fight against Germany. Nothing bothered the German Government more than the Tariff Reform scheme of Mr Chamberlain, which, if carried into effect, would cripple German trade. He (Sir Charles) did not go so far as Mr Chamberlain on the tariff question, but favoured Mr Balfour's policy. At present England was simply the Jaughing-stock of foreign countries in regard to hex policy of Free Trade. The Liberal party said that Mr Balfour's idea was to tax the food of the people. That was not so. Nothing would be dearer, for Unionists did not intend to tax anything coming into the country beyond what was necessary to secure a proper representa- tion of THEIB AIANUFACTURED GOOD9 IN FOREIGN I MARKETS. I If matters continued as they were, the breaking up of the Empire was not far distant, as the Colonies were on the verge of a policy of separation from the mother country. In reply to a question regarding Chinese labour, Sir Charles said I have been in the Transvaal, and over the mines when they were being worked by Kaffir understrappers. The talk about Chinese slavery is nonsense. The state of the Kaffirs was not slavery. After the war it was necessary that the mines should be worked and be productive. Labour was scarce, and I should have been sorry to see any British workmen in the positions which have been given to the Kaffirs and Chinese. British workmen would not do the work, but the Chinese are so greedy and have such a craving for gold that they are satisfied and willing to do any work in order to get money to go back to China. But they are not slaves. If they were I should opposeltheir employment, and you will no doubt agree that I have already opposed slavery when I tell you I rescued many slaves and sent them to the school of instruction at Zanzibar. I stand as a champion for freedom- freedom for everybody, great freedom for Greater Britain. So if you vote for the Liberal candidate you will be voting for the placing of British workmen's money into the pockets of the foreigners, and for the tearing up and rending in pieces of the Union Jack. In reply to other questions, Sir Charles said he favoured the taxation of royalties and he considered that public schools were now under public control, and thought that the scheme of the 1902 Act was a good one. A resolution pledging support to Sir Charles Campbell was then moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Bowen, and supported by Lieutenant. Colonel Williams and Mr Isaac Butler. BLAENAVON. I On Monday morning, Sir Charles and Lady Campbell motored from Pontypool Park, where they have been the guests of Mr and Mrs Hanbury, to Blaenavon, where they were received by Mr R. W. Kennard, J.P., the chairman of the directors of the Blaenaron Company, and shown over the works. Here they talked with the workmen, and, after luncheon, Sir Charles addressed a large meeting. LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY. I In the evening he spoke to a large and enthusiastic assembly at Llanfibangel Crucorney, near Abergavenny, where Colonel Mansel presided. Sir Charles, who was cordially received, said he did not know whether they were aware that our Colonies were beginning to consider whether they could not do better without the Mother Country. It behoved the Motherland, therefore, to look after her interests. The Education Act, he admitted, was not perfect, but Mr Balfour and the Con- servative Party were bent on improving the system by more assistance from Imperial sources. The Aliens' Act, now in operation, would stop the influx of foreign undesirables, many of whom were destitute, crippled, and members of the criminal class, and they came to this country to undersell and to try to do away with the British workman. From his long experience in other countries he knew that Englishmen were more respected abroad when a Unionist Government was in power than when the Radicals governed. He had read in a German newspaper that now the Radicals were in office the Germans could hold up their hands and I THREATBN THE ENGLISH WOBKMBN. With regard to agriculture he had that day received a letter from the Secretary of the Mon- mouthshire Chamber of Agriculture in which he stated that the speaker's answers to the list of questions submitted to him by the Chamber would, no doubt, meet with the approval of the members, and that steps would be taken to support his candidature. He had also received the support of the Farmers' Alliance. so that he might describe himself as the farmers' candidate. He should be sorry to see the Church disestablished in England. There were many farmers in Ireland who thought that when disestablishment was brought about in their country they would have to pay no tithes, but such was not the case. He was against Home Rule for Ireland, because that country was an integral part of the British Islei. (Applause). The Conservative party in North Monmouthshire have their central committee-rooms in Baker- street, Abergavenny, with rooms also at 6, Park- terrace, Pontypool.

USK. I Ageni—Sfrt. B. K. Jones, Stationer CHURCH DEFENCE.—We would refer our readers to the Advertisement in another column of a public meeting to be held on Monday night, at the Town Hall, Usk, when the subject of Church Defence will be discussed- As this is a matter of the deepest interest at the present time it is hoped all will make an effort to attend. DR. R. HARRIS, M.P.—At a Conservative meeting at Penge, on Tuesday night, the following telegram, in support of Dr. Rutherfoord Harris's candidature, was read from Mr Chamberlain:—" As a native of Camberwell, I hope that the constituency of Dul- wich will again return Dr. Rutherfoord Harris to Parliament, with a triumphant majority.—Cham- berlain." THB LATB SIR E. H. CAitBurr.-Sic Edward Hamer Carbutt. first baronet, MJ.M.E., M.I.C.E., of 19, Hyde Park-gardens, W., and of Nanhurst, Cranleigh. Surrey, D.L.. J.P. Liberal M.P. for the Monmouth Boroughs, 1880—6, who died on October 8tb last, left estate of the gross value of 1103,192, of which the net personalty has been aworn at £ 89,623. CHOIR SUPPHR.—On Tuesday evening, Mr and Mra R. Rickards, of The Priory, Usk, for the third year in succession, kindly entertained the choir of Usk Parish Church at supper at "The Castle," Usk. The organist (Mr Theodore Seaton) presided, and the Rector and Curate were present. An excellent repast was, as usual, provided, and a very enjoyable social evening was spent, in the course of which the toast of Mr and Mrs Rickards was heartily drunk. TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO A BUILDER.-We re- gret to announce that as Mr S. Shaw, builder, Mill Street, Usk, was re-bricking a well, at Mr J. Knight's new house at Common Trip, Gwehelog, on Tuesday morning, the side of the well gave way and fell upon him with great force when he was on the ladder, whereby his nose and face were terribly injured and his jaw fractured. Dr G. H. Jenkins was soon in attendance, and Mr Shaw was taken by road to Newport Hospital, where, from latest reports, he appears to be making as much progress as can be expected under the sad circumstances. He passed a fairly comfortable night on Wednesday and is bravely bearing his pain and misfortune. The greatest sympathy is felt with his wife who has spent some time with her husband since his admission to the Hospital. NEW YEAR'S PARTY.—Sir Alfred and Lady Maloney gave a dance to their servants at Cefn Tilla, on the 1st, when there were many invitad guests from Usk and Llandenny. The servants' hall had been very nicely decorated for the occasion by Mr Ducker and his gardening staff. At 8.30 p.m., Sir Alfred and Lady Maloney, with Miss Gladys Maloney and Mr H Owen Lewis (her lady- ship's father), entered the hall, and having ex- tended a cordial welcome to all, opened the dancing with Sir Roger de Coverley." At 10.30 there was on adjournment for refreshments in the house- keeper's room, after which dancing was resumed until 12.30, when Mr Joseph Murray, who had made an efficient M.C., in a neat speech, thanked Sir Alfred and Lady Maloney for their great kindness. During the evening the housekeeper, Mrs De Lnca, assisted by Miss Curly, saw that all the guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and a happy time was brought to a close by the singing of Auld lang syne," and God save the King."

fHrARCHER&C^H GOLDEN RETURNS I "->«j| ||| ;r.:¡ Ullj¡k, ;;w, "\01 Facsimile of One-Ounce Packet. Archer's Golden Returns The Perfection of Pipe Tobacco. COOL, SWEET, AND FRAGRANT.

Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions. The Epiphany Quarter Sessions of the Peace for J the County of Monmouth, opened at the Sessions House, Usk, on Wednesday, S. C. Bosanquet, Esq. (chairman) presiding. Amongst the Justices on the Bench were :—Sir Henry Mather-Jaokson, Bart, (vice-chairman), the Hon J. M. Rolls, R. Riokards, Esq., H Humphreys, Esq., M. Mordey, Esq.. T. Goldsworthy, Esq., E. Hartley, Esq., T. E. Bowyer, Esq., Llewellin, Esq., &c. THE GRAND JURY I was sworn as follows :-Messrs. James Stevens (foreman). Edward Sheppard, G. E. Sully, Richard B. Pugsley, Charles D. Phillips, jr., G. Greenway, Robert Hurley, Edward H. Willey, David E. Humphreys, Alfred D. Simmonds, J. E. Davies, W. Lawrence, W. E. Robertson, and Sidney H. Spencer, Newport; H. Tanner, Ponty- pool W. Morris, Ebbw Vale; H. Davies, Crumlin; John Davies, Abercarn; J. T. Gough, and David F. Thomas, Abergavenny J. Matthews, Abersychan and Arthur Tilney, Abertillery. THE CHARGE to the Grand Jury was of no general interest. I H.M. PRISON, USK. The annual report of the Visiting Committee showed that the prison had been visited regularly every fortnight, and meetings of the Committee held monthly. The daily average of prisoners in the prison for the last three years was: 1903, 93 males, 21 females; 1904, 107. 26; 1905, 109, 21. The conduct of the prisoners had been satisfactory and discipline well maintained; the quality of the food had been quite satisfactory; and the condition of the buildings was good. The Borstal system of treatment of juvenile prisoners between the age of 16 and 21 had recently been adopted. The Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society continued to efficiently help a large number of prisoners in different ways. The Visiting Committee were re-elected; also the County Licensing Committee. A FOOTPATH CLOSED. I On the application of Mr Corner, the Court granted the closing of a footpath through a field in the parish of Christchurch, which was sanctioned by the R.D.C. and P.O. concerned. [ TRIAL OF PRISONERS. I I THEFTS AT NEWPORT RAILWAY STATION. I Henry Pearce (21), groom, Joseph Bowles (28), lodging-house keeper, and Emily Bowles (27), were charged with stealing, on or about 2nd November last, 16lbs of tobacco, valued at S3 4s., the property of the Great Western Railway Company at New- port. Henry Pearce and Emily Bowles were also charged with stealing and receiving respectively on 24th November, 271bs tobacco, valued X6 10s., also the property of the company. Henry Pearoe and Emily Bowles were each also charged with stealing and receiving, on the 20th October, at Newport, four lady's jackets, valued £ 5 Os 3d., the property of the Great Western Railway Company. Thomaa James, of the Empire Restaurant, Newport, was also charged with complicity in the tobacco thefts, but since the Police Court hearing James had died. Pearce pleaded guilty to all the charges. Mr Micklethwaite prosecuted., and Mr H. Acheson Moore defended the Bowles. Pearce was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, and Joseph Bowles and Emily Bowles to three months each. I ACQUITTED. I The jury found Victor Richards, a young Trelleck labourer, not guilty of a charge of indecently as- saulting Lydia Bland, a single woman, on Christ- i mas eve, and he was discharged. I THEFT OF A MACKINTOSH. I Alexander Mason, 47, a sailor, was indicted for stealing a mackintosh coat from outside the shop of Edward Dutson, at Chepstow, on December 14th, 1905. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and admitted being convicted of felony at the Gloucestershire Sessions in November, 1904. He was sent to prison for three months' with hard labour. f ALLEGED INTIMIDATION. I William Reed (24), Charles Thomas (28), John Clarke (29), Richard Jones (30), and David Jones, (56), colliers, were charged with intimidation. The case was tried at the last Quarter Sessions, when the jury disagreed. Mr Acheson Moore, who ap- peared for the defence, said he understood that the prosecution did not wish to offer any evideace and he applied that the prisoners be acquitted. The court accordingly discharged them.

0 t LLANGIBBY. I Agent-Mrs Nash. Llangibby Village. I ACCIDENT TO MR GRIFFITHS.-As Mr Griffiths, The Ton, Llangibby, was leaving home on horse- back, on Saturday, the horse stumbled, and Mr Griffiths was thrown on his head, his foot catching in the stirrup. He was kicked in the spine and dragged some 100 yards. Dr de Gruohy was sent for, and attended to the injuries, which were serious. RINGING IN THE NEW YIFAR.-The death of the old year and the heralding of the new year was celebrated by the ringing of the Llangibby Parish Church Bells, which commenced just before mid- night and was kept up until well into the new year. New Year's evening a well-struck quarter peal of grandsire doubles, 1,260 changes, was rung in 47 minutes by the following:—R. Williams, treble; J. Roberts, 2; H. Gwatkin, 3; C. Williams, 4; A. Williams (conductor), 5; E. Nash, tenor. By kind invitation of the Churchwarden, Mr Hopton A. Williams, M.F.H., an adjournment was afterwards made to his residence to supper, where an excel- lent repast was served in rare old English style. This function over, the usual toasts were given and songs rendered, a very enjoyable evening being spent.

MONMOUTH. A#eM.-Mr. OaYrey. Bookseller. Monmouth. INQUEST.—On Saturday, Mr B. H. Deakin held an inquiry at Monmouth, touching the death of John Hard wick, who died suddenly on Thursday in last week, when he fell on the road near the Plough Inn, and expired in a few moments,-Lucy Hardwick, widow, identified the body and said her husband was a labourer, and 33 years of age.- Dr Miles said he had attended deceased for the last 18 months for heart disease. Death in his opinion was caused by heart failure. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.-Mr S. C, Bosanquet presided at Friday s meeting when a circular was read from the Stroud Board of Guardians inviting co-operation to get the Militia called out in winter as a means of ridding the nation of the unemployed. Colonel Walwyn objected on the ground that the weather was then too cold for camping. Billets were objectionable and out-door instruction could not be given at that season. The circular was laid on the table. Contracts for groceries were given to Messrs. Hall and Co., coal to Morgan Bros.. 15s per ton delivered; milk, A. E. Jones, Is per gallon. TOWN COUNCIL.—The Mayor, Councillor A. E. Jones presided at Monday's meeting, when the bill for printing the registers of Parliamentary voters, £ 9 15s 3d. was ordered to be paid.—The winner of the Corporation Cup sent a request that the prize this year take some other f orm, as he already possessed several cups. It was decided by eight votes to two that the Corporation prize for the Volunteers shall continue to be a cup suitably engraved.—The Mayor promised to confer with the officer commanding the Volunteers to see if some handicap system can be arranged by which all may have a chance of winning the prize.—Mr Breakwell gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that timber wagons, etc., carry two lights in the borough, as well as in the country. R.D.C.-This authority met on Friday in last week, Mr S. C. Bosanquet presiding. A committee recommended that the steam roller be converted so as to be used as a traction engine for hauling stone when not engaged in rolling, at a cost of X229, thereby effecting a saving of about £ 100 per annum. Sir Henry Jackson moved that the report be not adopted. Mr C. Pritchard seconded and this was agreed to by ten votes to seven.—Sir Henry Mather Jackson called attention to a resolution passed by the council at the last meeting which he thought ought to be removed from the minutes before they were signed. At the last meeting the county council wrote pointing out that a surveyor of the Monmouth District Council had given certain evidence in an appeal case against the county council without permission. The county council, did not suggest dismissal or any punishment, but wrote simply calling attention to the matter. The Monmouth council, however, passed a resolution exonerating the surveyor from all blame, and added that they wished to put on record that in their opinion the matter should not have been brought before them in the manner it was. The county council, said Sir Henry, wished to avoid all friction, and he thought the last part of that resolution ought to be rescinded.—Mr T. Jones gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the resolution be rescinded.

PONTYPOOL. Agents—Mr Fieldhoase, and Mr O. T1 Churchill, The Market Messrs, Edwards and Co., and Mr A. E. Davies. BLAENSYCHAN HAULIERS, A mass meeting of the hauliers employed at the Blaensychan Colliery was held at Abersyohan on Friday in last week to consider the new agreement. After a long discussion the agent (Mr James Winstone) advised the men to sign the agreement, as he considered it would be very unwise to take any action which would throw other men out of employment, and entail a loss to themselves and the community. He understood that nearly the whole of the hauliers in the coalfields had already signed the agreement. It was unanimously decided to sign the agree- ment on the understanding that immediate action be taken to consider the hauliers' question.

THE DANGER OF FLANNELETTE. On Friday, Dr D. J. Jones held an inquest at Garndiffaith, touching the death of the six-year- old son of Ephraim Beach, Tumble Houses, who died as the result of burns received on the 24th nit. Ann Beach, the mother, stated that on the morning of the accident she got up early to prepare her husband's food before he went to work. She then went back to bed but had scarcely done so when the deceased came rushing upstairs enveloped in flames and crying, She immediately wrapped a blanket around him, and sent for a doctor. Her boy, who slept in an adjoining room, and wore a flannelette garment, went downstairs unawares to her. Dr Wilson stated that when he saw the child practically the whole of the right side of the body was burned. The child lingered for over a month, and died of exhaustion, following the burns. The jury, in returning a verdict of 11 Accidental death through burning," recommended the parents to use flannel instead of flannelette dresses for their children.

I URBAN COUNCIL MEETING, I Mr W. H. Griffiths, chairman, presided at the monthly meeting on Friday, and there were also presentRev P. A. Degan, Messrs. W. H. Pitten, E. Probyn, P. B. Ford, D. W. Simpson, W. T. Woolley, J. Rosie, P. Eckersley, J. J. Harmston, I E. Fowler, G. Udell and the clerk (Mr H. H. Haden). The Streets and Sanitary Committee reported that they had instructed the Surveyor to metal Upper George-street as soon as possible.-The Surveyor estimated that the cost of making up Conway's Lane for a distance of 420 feet, and a width of 20 feet, with a 9-inch core foundation, would be about J6195. With regard to the repair of the road, which is a private one, a long dis- cussion took place and it was eventually decided that the Surveyor should lay only bottom metalling. A letter was read from the Pontypool Gas and Water Company, in reply to an inquiry from the Council, stating that they were prepared to light the market at the same cost as they had previously stated, but that all additional lamps would be paid for at the rate of 25s each. Dr S. B. Mason, Medical Officer of Health, reported that during the month six deaths and 17 births had occurred, giving rates of 11-4 and 32'8 per 1,000 per annum. Three deaths were due to bronchitis and pneumonia. One case of erysipelas had been notified. The sickness in the district had increased owing to the variations of temperature, and the excessive moisture had brought about chest affections and influenza. The Town Hall trustees reported that they had accepted the tender of the executors of Mr M. Hogan of £10 for the painting of the Court Room. They had also accepted the tender of the Ponty- pool Electric Light Company for £ 6 15a for an electric fan for the hall. The Surveyor reported that the work of the erection of the Fire Station was progressing favourably. -Captain J. M. Cope, the newly ap- pomted Captain of the Fire Brigade, in the annual report says that the fire brigade is in a splendid state of efficiency, and the apparatus all in good order and condition, with the exception, perhaps, of some of the lengths of hose. Five fires occurred in the district during the yeair. The Council horses had been taken out for trial runs with the manual engine and steamer, and, in his opinion, they were the most suitable horses for the work. A large and commodious fire station is now being provided in Osborne-road.—Captain Cope recommended the fixing of alarm bells at the residences of Fitter Jenkins (Osborne-road), Fireman Jenkins (Albion- road), and T. Trueman (Bridge-street). S The Committee appointed to deal with the proposed widening of the Bridge over the railway between Upper and Lower Bridge-street recom- mended that the bridge should not be widened, but that a footpath should be placed on the side of the road. After discussion, the matter was deferred. A report was read from the joint committee appointed by the Pontypool, Panteg, and Aber. sychan Urban District Councils to deal with the water supply question, in which they asked for powers to employ a water expert to report on the present sources of water supply, such report to include the obligations of the company under their Acts, and the extent to which they had carried them out; also as regards storage capacity, size, and condition of mains, and generally as to the Pontypool Gas and Water Company's facilities for supplying the residents of the higher districts. They also recommended that Mr E. Cook (late Surveyor to the Abersychan Urban District Council) should be engaged as assistant to the expert.—In moving the adoption of the report, Mr Harmston drew attention to the complaint of several ratepayers in the higher levels who were being pressed for payment of their water-rate by the Pontypool Gas and Water Company, whereas some of them did not get a drop of water in their houses for the whole quarter.—Mr Rosie said that several ratepayers had spoken to him about the conduct of the water company, and he had advised the people not to pay for anything they did not receive. (Laughter), Continuing, Mr Roie said I he thought the ratepayers had been very kind to the Company, because in the early summer they could have got the Company fined over and over again for non-compliance with their regulations.- After further discussion the Clerk was instructed to write to the directors of the Gas and Water Company drawing their attention to the grievances and at-king them to show some consideration.

King and Kaiser. Paris, Friday. The Echo de Paris says the relations between the Kaiser and King Edward VII. have improved; the two sovereigns have been conducting regular correspondence, in which the Kaiser has evinced a conciliatory spirit.

John Burns' Socialistic Address. Mr John Burns in bis election address, to-day, declared himself in favour of the abolition of the House of Lords; immediate representative government in the Transvaal; universal suffrage for men and women and legislative independence of Ireland in Irish affairs.

Fire at Portheawl. a A fire to-day destroyed the Electric Light: Works near the Esplanade Hotel, at Porthcawl; the inmates of the Hotel were aroused but the- Hotel itself escaped.

I Earl Russell's Appeal Dismissed. The appeal by Earl Russell against the con- viction by the Guildford Bench for motor scorching was dismissed at Surrey Quarter Sessions to-day.

The Weather. Mild, rainy weather predicted.

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I MONMOUTH. I POLICE COURT, FRIDAY. Before Major G. G. GRIFFIN, and the MAYOR INDECENT ASSAULT.—Victor Richards, 27 labourer, Trelleck, on bail, was charged with, criminally assaulting Lilian Bland, single, at Trelleck, on December 24th.-Prisoner was com- mitted to Quarter Sessions.

PONTYPOOL. POLICE COURT, SATURDAY. VIOLENT ASSAULT. John Gibbs, labourer, and John Clarey, collier (on bail), were jointly charged with violently" assaulting Edward Gallivan, a collier, on Boxing: Day, causing him to become an inmate of the Pontypool Workhouse Infirmary, with a (broken jaw and two fractured ribs. Superintendent James put in a medical certificate that Gallivan was unable to attend, and prisoners were then remanded for a week, bail of £ 10 each* beins accepted. MAINTENANCE CLAIM. William lhomas, a sinker, formerly residing at Owmffrwdoer, was charged on a warrant with running away and leaving his wife and five., children chargeable to the common fund of the- Pontypool Union. Mr T. Watkins (clerk to the guardians), stated that prisoner went away in October, and surrendered when he came home at Christmas. Proceedings were taken mainly as a deterrent to, others. Prisoner said he was quite prepared to re-pay the £ 2 17a expended by the guardians. He was committed for a month's imprison- ment. William Linney, collier, Pontnewydd; William Lawley, collier, Pontypool; and George Edmunds,. Pontnewynydd, were summoned by the Pontypool Board of Guardians for arrears of maintenanco amounting to 16s, 12s, and £1 respectively.—ME T. Watkins, solicitor, Pontypool, prosecuted, and defendants were each ordered to pay within 14:1 days or go to prison for 14 days. I POLICE COURT, MONDAY. ALLEGED THBFT IN THE HARKET. -,Tames ParrylÝ labourer, Pontypool, who had a long list of previous convictions, was brought up in custody charged with stealing i-cwt of potatoes from the Pontypool market on Saturday, and remanded until Saturday.

111 r'DE 1% ALLDAYS SK, Contractors to tbfl War Cflfl Bily. Office, Post Office, and other Government Department*. /^VPl P C W„telorter™andA8entr I tLLj Alldaya & Onions Pneumatlo Engineering Go. Ltd. ^London Sbowrooma:— BIRMINGHAM. I ao. Rucklersbury, Mansion House. B.C. Printed and Published by "THE COUNTY OBSEBVBH," NEWSPAPER and PRINTING COMPANY, Limited, by JAMES HENRY CLARK, at their Offices, Bridge Street, Usk, in the County of Monmouth, Saturday January 6th, 1906.

South American Troubles. New York, Friday. A telegram from Santo Domingo, says that, after two days' fighting near Puerto Plata, the army of General Morales was defeated, with the- loss of 120 killed and wounded five generals were killed on both sides.

An Ammunition Steamer on Fire. A message received in Cardiff to-day, states that. the British steamer, Carlisle, caught fire and sank at Saigon. Several of the crew are missing, and others are injured. The Carlisle had on board a, million pounds' worth of ammunition belonging to the Russian Government. She had many exciting adventures in the late war, while trying to run a blockade.

I NEWPORT. POLICE COURT, SATURDAY. THE MACHBN OUTRAGE.—David Josiah Evansr quarryman, was committed for trial at the Assizes on a charge of wounding with intent to murder Evan Bowen and Sarah Jane Evans, his sister, at Machen, in October last.

— [Mr Micholls continued from Page 4.] -Did they think this country would be safe in its ieeping 1 He knew that the Government was considered to contain all the talents, all the -wisdom, and all the ability of the whole country. 3ut the simile that had been borrowed from history of calling this A GOVERNMENT OF ALL THE TALENTS I -was a somewhat unhappy one. It was exactly a Ihundred years ago-in January, 1806—when the Government was formed which had come down in history with opprobrium as the Government of all the talents." What happened to it? Fourteen months afterwards-in 1807—this Government .resigned, and he could not help thinking that as history was supposed to repeat itself, it would do so in the present case, and in March, 1907—aye, .and even before then-the present Government of all the talents would cease to exist as igno- miniously. (Cheers). And why? Because the members of it-clever as they might be indi- vidually-were each so determined to carry out his own fad that he would not give in to the rest. (Applause). How could the interests of the Empire be considered safe with a Cabinet that was divided against itself ? (Hear, hear, and cheers). It was made up of the Premier, Mr Bryce, Mr -Morley, the Lord Chancellor, and Mr Lloyd-George, .all professing Home Rule; while Mr Asquith, Mr Haldane, and Sir Edward Grey all professed to be -against Home Rule. Sir Henry Campbell-Banner- -man gloried in being a Little Englander, while at -the same time other members of the Cabinet -declared themselves to be imbued with Imperial :instincts; while some would disestablish the 'Church and make it the first plank in their -platform, others wished to upset the present -:Education Act, and others declared for Local Option. He said that the great difference "between the late Government and the present was that the Unionist party had always shown a desire to build up from below, while the Radical party was WISHFUL TO DESTROY I what was above. (Cheers). They had an example of this in what the Minister of Education said at Bristol the other day. Mr Birrell then fore- shadowed how the present Government was going to upset the Education Act of 1902 That was a good measure. It provided an educational ladder by means of which the poor man's child, like the child of the rich man, could ascend from the very lowest to the very highest rung. It was an Act that had produced harmony where formerly there was confusion, which had co-ordinated the elementary, secondary, technical, and higher education, and when the present strife was over the people of the future would regard it as a great Act of constructive legislation. Had they not an example of this in Newport? Did they not see how the inhabitants benefited by it? (Hear, hear). The Act endeavoured to provide the best education that could be devised by the wit of man and the love of God In his opinion they could not have character without religion, and he would oppose any attempt to upset religious instruction in our voluntary schools. He would do nothing to prevent religious instruction being given in non- provided schools according to the wishes of the parents, so that each parent should know that his child was being instructed in the dogmas and creeds he thought best for his child. (Cheers). He would also resist to his utmost the welfare of the little ones being sacrificed to the exigencies of political warfare; he would resist their being made pawns of a political game, shuttlecocks of party. The new Government had given NO SIGN OF CONSTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION. He had a scheme, and might he say that his chief object in seeking to represent them in Parliament was to be of some benefit to the working classes, and he knew that that was impossible unless he could foreshadow measures which would lead to more employment. With regard to the statement of the Labour party, he never was a member of the Employers' Federation, and, of course, he was not one now. (Cheers). He was for over thirty years engaged in business, living in Lancashire, head partner of a firm founded by his great-grandfather, one hundred and twenty years ago-a firm of bankers and shippers to all parts of the world. The firm had also a large business as cotton spinners, and they thought they could manage their business relations with their working people on their own system. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He ventured to think that his commercial ex- perience was likely to be of greater assistance to an industrial constituency like the Monmouth Boroughs than the theoretical formulae of economic pedants. (Cheers). Coming to fiscal matters, the speaker said, Epochs arise in the history of every country when the administrative machine requires to be taken to pieces and re-adjusted to the altered necessities and growing demands of the hour. Does not the unhappy state of the unem- ployed show that a policy that was good sixty years ago, when we were almost the only workshop of the world, needs overhauling to-day ? (Hear, hear). Other countries have prospered under a different system, and does it not savour of arrogance, that we, with the comparatively small population of forty millions, surrounded by the 450 :millions of civilised Europe, should consider that we only are absolutely right in OUR FISCAL SYSTEM j and all the others irretrievably wrong 1 (Cheers). The Radical party would have you believe that they are right and all the rest of the world wrong. They remind me of the unhappy lunatic who looked from his window upon the thousands of people passing underneath and thanked God that he was the only one who was sane; and of the juryman, who differed from the other eleven, who said, with a tone of pity, that he never in his life met such a set of obstinate men." (Laughter and cheers). He (the speaker) had been a Free Trader all his life, but he would have them realise that we had not got Free Trade in this country. He was not a free importer of manufactured goods which could be made equally as well here. If every other nation would trade as freely as we traded with them, and opened their ports to us as we freely opened our ports to them, that was Free Trade, and he would welcome it. Our Free Trade was not reciprocated. We were being treated to unfair trade of the very worst description. (Cheers). He did not mind being called a Protectionist if it was clearly understood that he desired to protect the labour of British working men, not that of our foreign rivals. What he wanted to see was Protection against Protection. No skill on the part of our working men, no enterprise on the part of our manufacturers, could stand against duties which varied from 20 to 100 per cent. He would tax the £ 140,00u,000 of imports of manufactures according to circum- stances, hoping thereby to induce foreign nations to reduce their tariffs. He would in no case tax raw materials, but only those manufactured articles which we could equally well produce ourselves. "But," he added, "there is still a greater problem, that is to obtain-which is Mr Chamberlain's ideal and mine- IMPERIAL FREE TRADE throughout our Empire. I ask you by your votes to show that you want a conference summoned between ourselves and our brothers over the seas, so that we may see whether by preference or some other means a method cannot be devised whereby we can increase the ties that bind us together. That conference must be an unmuzzled conference —without any restraints whatsoever. I would have you realise the immense danger the Empire runs if you entrust the present Government with your votes at the coming election. As you know, they would impose conditions upon such a con- ference, and the conditions they would impose would endanger the unity of the Empire. Do you consider it, as the present Premier has called it, a sordid bond' to bring within the sphere of practical politics the realisation of the great ideal of Imperial Free Trade throughout an Empire which contains one-third of the inhabitants of the civilised world 7 (Hear, hear). I feel that just as England was a gainer by Napoleon's policy a hundred years ago, so England may become stronger and learn a lesson from the fiscal policy of our foreign rivals to-day. Are we less daring 7 Are we less enterprising than onr ancestors? ('No,' and cheers). Can we not show our foreign rivals that we can be as independent of them as was England a hundred years ago ? Is it not an ideal worth striving for ? Does it not appeal to our imaginations, to the imaginations of the working classes—who are always Imperial-that we should make this effort to obtain this Imperial Free Trade, this Customs Union or Zollverein, throughout the Empire, a system that has done so much for our foreign rivals and added so much to the happiness and prosperity of their people ? Let us try to do this on a far grander scale, and thus renew the strength of this great Empire of ours, the greatest civilising factor in history, one of the most potent for good, the most freedom-loving Empire the world has ever seen." (Cheers). On resuming his seat Mr Micholls was accorded an ovation for his masterly speech, and Mr T. B. R. Wilson then moved a vote of confidence in the candidate, and a pledge of loyal support, which was seconded by Mr J. W. Hunt, and supported by SIR JOSEPH LAWRENCE, M.P., I who said he liked the ring about Mr Micholls' speech. It was a fighting speech. He never doubted that Mr Micholls was sound on the tariff question, but he was now quite satisfied that he was sound in wind and limb, and that he was going to win on that issue. (Hear, hear). The Prime Minister, in his Dunfermline speech, said that, if they were going to have retaliation, food and raw materials must be taxed, because those countries which were the main offenders in this respect did not export anything else. But the fact was that in 1904-the latest year for which the figures were available-we imported from those very foreign countries, not our Colonies, which had a high tariff, 120 millions sterling worth of wholly or mainly manufactured goods. The proposed abolition of Chinese labour would pave the way to the loss of the Transvaal, and would destroy one of our constitutional principles. Mr Alfred Williams spoke to the resolution because Mr Micholls was a supporter of the Education Act, and Mr John Pope supported it as a working man Tariff Reformer. In reply to I QUESTIONS, which were banded up, Mr Micholls sa;d he would not consent to the further taxation of food, which would make the lot of the working man harder than to-day; he was in favour of the abolition of wayleaves and royalties, so long as existing rights were respected; nationalisation of land was an impossibility he looked upon Chinese labour as a regrettable temporary necessity, but, as showing that it had not displaced white labour, 6,001) skilled white men, earning C5,000,000 a year in wages, had secured employment as the result of the introduction of that labour. (Hear, hear.) The vote of confidence was carried by a very large majority. On the proposition of Mr Micholls, seconded by Mr T. Parry, the Chairman was heartfly thanked. In reply his lordship said that if any people in the meeting had pinned ,their faith to the new Government doing away with the House of Lords they would be sadly disappointed, as the Govern- ment had not been in office five minutes before they created seven new peers, and he would not be surprised when they turned up in the House of Lords if they sat on the Conservative side. (Laughter.) The meeting closed with the National Anthem, and cheers for the candidate and Mrs Micholls.