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

5 I Viscount Tredcgiir and Church Defence. Speaking at a Church Defence meeting, at Bassaleg, Viscount Tredegar said that probably there would be introduced in the next Session of Parliament a Bill for the Disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales. It was, therefore, necessary to counteract a great many speeches and writings which they heard and read. It was well that they should have statements of facts of his- tory about the Church question, and those who were in possession of them should impart them to others who were not. They had now very much high-class writing, and in their rolling periods the great writers did very much to depreciate anything like an established Church. They could take, for instance, Mr Herbert Paul, a distinguished writer, whose essays were clever and interesting, and often formed pleasant reading. The characteristic of such high intellectual Radicals was to sneer at the ancient institutions of the country, seeming to think that they were too old. Perhaps they were not of great actual use but there were a number of people in the country who appreciated, liked, and revered them, and were anxious that they should be preserved When these sneers were in- dulged in they should be prepared to meet them. Another statemeut by a prominent person was that there were a great many people in the country to whom the disestablishment of the Church would not make the slightest difference. There were a great many people, doubtless, to whom it would make no difference if King Edward were deposed, and somebody else put in his stead but there were a great many people to whom it would make a great difference—(cheers)—now and later on. With regard to these great, intellectual writers, un- less they studied their works they h,.ir(.I,y knew the harm they did, and lectures on the Church were, therefore, necessary to show what the position was,

I The Crumlin Viaduct Tragcily. I Mr M. Robert3-Jones, coroner, held an inquest, at Crumlin Police Station, on Friday in last week, on the body of James Lewarne, of 64, Cwm-street, Abertillery, who threw himself over Crumlin Via- duct on Wednesday moruing. Deceased's son, Rees Lewarne, stated that his father was 55 years of age, and that cluring the past nine months deceased had suffered from influ- enza. About two years ago he lost his aunt, who reared him. Recently'ha had been idle for about five weeks, and had ouly commenced work on the Monday. After further evidence had been heard, The Foreman of the Jury suggested that some- thing should be done to prevent people getting on to the viaduct, as it was now an easy matter for anyone to gain access to it by going through a goin garden belonging to a house built. near the bridge. The Coroner thought th-, t reasonable precautions were taken by the Railway Company, but in view of the expressions from the jury they might take further steps. A verdict of" Suicide during temporary Insanity" was returned. --=-

Tidal Wave along the Coast. I New York, Friday. 11 Rear Admiral Evans telegraphs that the whole coastline of Jamaica has been changed by tidal waves.

A Rescuer Killed. I New York, Friday. The Sun correspondent says that the Rev Mr Platt, a Baptist Minister, was killed while trying to extricate an Englishman from the debis at Kingston.

Official List of Killed. I The War Office has issued the following list of killed at Kingston :— Major Hardyman. Lieutenant Lamont, West India Regiment. Quartermaster-Sergt. J. Sykes, R.A.MC. Company-Sergeant-Major Sugden, West Iudia Regiment, and wife. Ten native Privates West India Regiment, Sapper Warburton, wife, and daughter, or Quartermaster- Sergeant Gane. Wife of Sergeant J. Venesse. Daughter of Staff Sergeant A. W. Grant, R.A.M.C.

W^HSIHT rOU't'iisf. Cold weather predicted. J Printed and Puh1i"be.t hy "TJ!lE COUNTY OBSERVEH," { NBWSPAIJEK and PPJNTING COMPANY, Limited, b JAMKS H'NRY Ci.AHK, at their Offices, Stieet, IJsk, in the ( 'flloty If Monmouth, Satimiuj, January 19th, I!iU7.

THE PERSIAN PARLIAMENT. I Persia, at the present moment, is very much in the same condition as Egypt was before it came under British control, and a visitor from Mars, seeing bow order has been evolved out of chaos in Egypt, would probably ask why the Persian and other Oriental nations did not place themselves -in the hands of a European Power. In 4some cases the answer must be that the people are held in chains of a despotism, but it is the one redeeming feature of the reign of the late Shah, that he created A national Parliament which has prepared a constitution and has surprised the world by the businesa-like manner in which it has set to work. The task which confronts the new Parliament is a supremely difficult one, and, uuless it adopts the old policy of makeshift, the country must undergo a pro- cess of reform such as only men of the jfirst ability can conceive and execute. The oriental method of farming out the taxes, with all its attendant horrors of exaction And oppression, had brought to the court a -considerable accumulation of money, which was not, however, sufficient to meet the requirements of the lite ruler, who had acquired a taste for costly European luxu- ries, but never grasped the fact that the .enjoyment of those luxuries in western coun- tries was only rendered possible by the existence of a vast system of manufactures, trade, and commerce. Thero is, however, .reason to believe that the new Shah will adopt a more enlightened policy, and it will be interesting to see how he deals -with the situation. public policy to reduce their number, see- ing that the main cause of suits being so remitted is the smallness of ttle claim, or the inibility of the plaintiff to pay High Court costs if he should fail. As to the judgment summonses there is a good deal of difference of opinion, some judges refus- ing almost invariably to commit a debtor to prison, while others are less reluctant in this respect. On the one hand it is clear that if committals were altogether abolished some people who could pay would not pay, while on the other hand there is much ground for the comment of his Honour Judge Parry that the old system of im- prisonment for debt has not been altogether abolished. But unless the learned judges are taking too serious a view of the tax upon them it is clear that something must be done to relieve the pressure, either by appointing more judges or in some other way. An inquiry of experts on the subject would certaiuly result in some practical and useful suggestions.

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THE LATE QUEEN MARIE OF HANOVER. The death of Queen Marie of Hanover cannot be otherwise than a matter of sor- row to our own King and Queen, seeing -that they were united to her Majesty and the members of her family by many ties of kinship and sentiment. Since the banish- ment of the late King of Hanover by the inexorable resolution of Prince Bismarck, their home has been at Castle umberland, in the Salzburg province of Austria. Queen Marie's son, although he has not relin- quished the r*>g'il rlaim wliielt WfH1 main- tained by his father as long as he lived, is known by his English title of Duke of Cumberland, and h- mirriod, in 1878, the youngest -ister ot Queen Alexandra. Castle Cumberland is stii-l to 1) quite an iinal' English homA, and members of our own lioyal Family have bweu frequent and welcome visitors. It wii for Austria that the King and Queen of H itiover made such conspicuous sacrifices, as have evoked the admiration of Europe, and it need scarcely be said that they enjoyed thecord-al friend- flhip of the Austrian Royal House, and the marked sympathy and goodwill of the j people bv whom they were surrounded, j The same kindly feeling is extended to the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland by Austrians of every clas". from King- Josepu to the humblest peasant.

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

INCREASED WORK FOR COUNTY COURTS. J "Some striking figures have been published shewing the increase of business which has taken place in the County Courts. The increase in the number of-actions is so large that it cannot be explained by in- crease of population alono. and various other reasons are adduced. His Honour Judge Edge referred recently more in sorrow than in ati^i?, to the graat number of cases which are remitted from the High Court. Judge Parry lias drawn attention to the increase of judgment summonses, and in the number ot cases under the Work- men's Compensation Act, concerning many ■ of which the County Court has to exercise a paternal vigilance of administration of funds. Then, 0 of course, the enlargement of the jurisdiction of County Courts from actions for £50 to those fur EIOO has di- verted much legal business from the High Court. with regard to the remitted1 acrions it would not bs iu accord with -¡ for shelter during the severe weather. Then that happened which has happened in many other places, men and youths creeping into the gardens at night and capturing the birds with huge nets. By this means, the writer adds, a silent desert has been made of a countryside that used to echo with the songs and calls of birds. It would be easy to state once more the remedies which are required for such abuses, but it is useless to continue a subject in which those who might easily apply the cure do not appear to take the slightest iutereat.

AUTUMN AND WINTER DRESS MATERIALS From the Centre of Manufacture AT FIRST HAND & FIRST COST, CARRIAGE PAID. The New WYLWYRWELL FABRIC Full Dress Length of 6 yards, 52 inches wide, for 6,6. 2 Lengths for 12/3. 3 for 18/- Also a large variety of other exclusive materials. fancy Tweed, 1/- per yard. Serge, 1/3. Wool Cheviots and Wool Mixtures, 1/5. New Tartans, 1/9. Faced Cloths, 1/6, 2/- and 2/11. Costume Cloths, 1/9 and 2/2, etc., etc. Any Length cut from the piece. Range of Patterns and Illustrated Price List POST FREE. (Patterns need not be returned.) LUTAS LEATHLEY & CO., Department 2A, THE WAREHOUSE, ARMLEY, LEEDS.

A PRISONER GHARGED FOR A SHAVE. I There was a criminal court in ancient Greece which is said to have sat in the dark. It would seem to be desirable to revive this Athenian custom if such a prac- tice is to be permitted as that which is reported from Salford prison, where a prisoner awaiting trial was charged Is. 61. for a shave. Oue of the magistrates, re- ferring to this custom remarked that an unshaven ftce in the dock might afford an unfavourable impression to the jury,, and, no doubt, it is so. If, then, a prisoner had not the necessary Is. Ga. he might be unjustly prejudiced in the conduct "of his case, and that is a tiling which all con- cerned in the administration of the liw must be anxious to avoid.

THE FAMINE IN CHINA. I Although we are at so great a distance, and have so little in comra.m with the Chinese nation, it is scarcely possible to contemplate without emotion the effects of the disastrous famine which is ravaging a large area ia the most thickly populated -&ç:

portion of Eastern China. There are records of similar calamities in that country, and no doubt there have been many such visitations of which nothing is known in Europe, but, judging from what we know of famines in India, we can form some con- ception of the sufferings of the millions who are in a condition of starvation in the province of Kiangsu. In India the effects of famine are mitigated by the beneficent work of Government officials, but, in China, the Government have no idea of dealing with the situation beyond a conviction that the unhappy people must not be allowed to quit the province which is suffering so terribly from the failure of the crops, a result of excess of rain. The task of deal- ing with a disaster of this kind is one of such magnitude that private charity cannot hope to deal with it, but an effort to raise a substantial sum is being made t)y foreigners in the treaty port of Shanghai, who cherish the hope that there action may stimulate the Chinese Government to take some steps in the direction of assisting the people who are in danger of perishing from starvation, and are entirely unable to do anything to help themselves.

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ON SWIMMING LESSONS. It is sad and depressing to read of people at Hampstead watching a woman drown, but, speaking generally, and with no particular reference to this case, which certainly seems to have been somewhat extraordinary, it should be remembered that if a man cannot swim be would only be sacrificing his own life if he went out of bis depth in order to attempt to save another. The appropriate comment on such cases as these is, that everybody should learn to swim, and it is gratifying to know that during the past few years rapid progress has been made in this direction, especially in the elementary schools, where swimming is coming to be regarded more and more as a necessary part of a child's education. Con- temporaneously with this development we have the commendable effort of the Life Saving Society to teach people how to rescue a drowning person, and to resuscitate those who are- only apparently drowned. The most marked progress in this useful work is being made among the children, and in a very few years there will no doubt be some appreciable results.

IMPORTANT TO MOTHERS.—Every Mother JL who values the Health and Cleanliness of her Child should use Harrisonls' Reliable' Nursery Pomade. One application kills all Nits and Vermin, beau- tifies and Strengthens the Hair. In Tins, 4|d. and 9d. Postage ld. Geo. W. Harrison, Chemist, 118, Broad Street. Reading. Agent for UskP. AULT Chemist, Medical Hall.

The Supply of Cut Flowers. I It will not be Ion,, before we shall see in our gardens the flowers of spring, which first appear on the sunny coasts of Devon- shire and Cornwall, and on the beautiful undercliff which stretches along the south- east shores of the Isle of Wight. But already we find a varinty of cut flowers in the market, and if we inquire whence they come we shall have the satisfaction of learning that this industry is not one of those which have been almost monopolised by the foreigner. We get our eggs and large quantities of poultry frcn France, butter from Denmark, and toys from Ger- many, cheese, honey, hams, canned meats, and a hundred other things from the United States; but the flowers that we see iu our markets come largely from those parts of the British Isles which enjoy a mild winter. From time immemorial s v- eral varieties of narcissus have been found in the Scilly Isles, some of them growing wild, and others being cultivated in their gardens by the farmers. Mr Augustus J Smith, to whom the islanders owe much, introduced some of the varieties, but others had been growing long before, and the islands having lost their evil reputation as an abode of smugglers, Mr Smith set about introducing good order, and promoting habits of industry among the population. It was this Mr Smith who discovered

THE POSSIBILITIES OF THB FLOWER I TRADE. I Having tried the experiment of sending a consignment of lilies to London, he drew the attention of his tenants to the matter, and in a few years the islanders had built up a trade with the London flower market, which now extends to hundreds of tons. So many cut bleoms must be required to make a ton that we can scarcely realise the extent of their production, and if we said that so many millions of dozens of lilies and narcissus were exported, it would afford very little information to the average reader. In addition to this source of supply we have the Channel Islands, which

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produce a wealth of flowers, particularly in Guernsey, and they, too, export them in large quantities. But while we get our cut flowers mainly from the British Isles, that supply is supplemented by large con- signments from France, and especially from the Riviera. Twenty-five years ago the cultivation of flowers for export was pur- sued only on a small scale, but so rapidly has the industry advanced that Nice is said to be to-day the most important centre of flower exportation in the world. When the potentialities of this industry began to be realised, the natives of the Riviera threw themselves with energy and enthusiasm into thm cultivation of flowers, and it is stated that there are now something like 9,000 flower farmers in the department of the Alpes Maritimes alone. Not only in the neighbourhood of Nice, but in that of Mentone and other towns, the land is made beautiful with wide expanses of roses, violets, hysroinths, and other flowers. In the maiii the fields of the Riviera supply the Parisiau markets, but large quantities of cut blooms find their way from the sunny south to this country.

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THE EARTHQUAKE IN JAMAICA. Kingston Sinking. I New York, Friday. A wireless telegram from Jamaica to Florida, says that Kingston is sinking gradually, and crevices have formed some hundred feet deep. New York, Friday. A despatch from Kingston, to- day, says the dead number one thousand.

All English Officials Safe. I The Governor of Jamaica cables to the Colonial Office that no English official has been killed or injured. Sapper Warburton is among killed.

List of Injured. I The War Office also give follow- ing list of injured :— Lieut. H. C. Sidgwick, R.A.M.C. Captain Marley, Lieutenants f eader, A. Priestley, and A. C. Dixon, West India Regiment. Major Hatton and Second- Lieutenant Roome, Garrison Artillery. Quartermasters Kingchurch and Price, W.I.R. Sergeant Sharpe, R.A.M.C.

4 Steamer Aground. The mail steamer Konigin Regentes went aground off Sheer- ?I ness in fog to-day. H.M.S. Grinder 0 is taking off the mails and passengers.

CSinrclies Destroyed by Fire. I The Church at Anllesley, Notts, was destroyed by fire last night, it is supposed the fire was wilfully caused. The Church in the next parish of Kirby was destroyed by fire yesterday.

A Bankrupt Found Shot. I Mr T. G. Tyler, against whom a receiving order in bankruptcy was made at Birmingham ..yesterday, was to day found in his office wioii a shot wound in his temple. A revolver was found on his knees. He was taken to hospital.

£ 500 tostiu transit. I I A package of five hundred sovereigns has been stolen in I transit between Bristol and Taunton. It was consigned to a local bank.

The G.E.B, mvidewl. The Great Eastern Railway I dividend is announced at the rate of five per cent carrying forward eighty-eight thousand pounds.

Among the FAMOUS WRITE! who contribute clever Serial and Stories to Cassell's Magazine are MAX PEMBERTON, RIDER HAGGARD, TOM GALLON. WILLIAM LE QUEUX, PETT RIDGE, EDGAR JEPSON, and others. The Stories and Articles are lavishly* ittastrated bp leading Artists and front Photographs. Monthly, 6d. THE QUIVER is acknowledged to be the Premier SUNDAY MAGAZINE, and is famous for the literary excellence of its stories and articles. 4 It Is profusely Illustrated taith DroM- ings bg Celebrated Artists, and With Special Photographs. Monthly, 6d. THE BRIGHTEST and most entertaining Weekly Paper i&4 Cassell's Saturday Journal. It contains Series of A rticles of Special Interest, Powerful Dramatic Serial, Jbort-e Complete Stories, Illustrations, and some thing of interest for everyone, Liberal Prizes in Entertaining Competitions. Every Wednesday, Id., also Monthly, 6d. The Graphic says "LITTLE FOLKS is the Best Magazine for Children." This opinion is heartily endorsed by everyone who sees this Famous Period- leaf, which delights thousands of Children every month. Monthly, 6d. The Thrilling Tales and Comdete Short Stories of Human interest, the Clever-, Articles, Humorous Storiettes, etc., to.. gether With the bright Illustrations makv The Penny y Magazine* What it deserves to be-The most Popular- Paper of its class. LIBERAL PRIZES, etc. Weekly, id. AI80 Monthl ea. "CHUMS," The Ideal and most Popular Boys" Taper, Contains Stirring Tales of Adventure and School Life of a High-toned and Inspiring character. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. Bicycles, Watches, Weekly Money Prises, etc., constantly being offered in Easy Competition*. Weekly, 1d. Monthly, 6d. -AI The Greatest Value Ever Produced is the- Musical Home Journal. Every week it contains New and Copyright Songs, and Music by Leading Writers and Com- posers. A'so Pieces for Piano, Organ, Violin,, etc. Helpful Articles, Questions and Answert, on Musical Matters. Valuable Prizes in Easy Competitions. WEEKLY, id. MONTHLY, 6d. All who have a Garden should buy The Gardener An Illustrated journal containing Practical Hints on Horticulture for each week in the year, and other in format on of inestimable valtie. Every Professional and Amateur should read it. Weakly, 1C. CASSF.R.T. & VY. VIMIVKB. London.

DESTRUCTION OF WILD BIRDS. I One of the subjects to which newspaper writers are tired of drawing attention is that of the wholesale destruction of beauti- ful wild birds. It is true that the legisla- ture has passed Wild Birds' Protection Acts, but they are a dead letter in the greater part of the country, and there is every reason to apprehend that they will so remain until some of our choicest birds are extinct. The latest specific comtdaint comes from Berkshire. Until a week or two ago, a correspondent says, the part of the Thames valley in which he lives was the haunt of large numbers of sweet singers, who gathered in the garden shrubberies