The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

j||! ^u.n-nicationfi lie ad- ulsfs^d :— AGSICrJl. aDITOR, iia-rdian Haverfordwest. .At.

Coal Boxes, Ashpans, Enamelled G-oods, Tin Goods, Saucei ans, Grates, Ranges, Mantle-pieces, Coal Heat- ing* Stoves, _Oil Heatlruj and Boiling* Stoves, Jones' ■ Sewing5 Machines, Volmar Washers, Lamps, Art Metal j P §.<< t Goods and Cutlery. J. v.u JL- .2. 'II SJ^A |H^ IRONMONGERS, a Or l IO Ol\f. HAYEBPORDWSST-. :rt. _f" -J!.1 .r- j¡88 ..oh.

nfodogTimber Yard, Fishguard. W. MORGAN & SON, Beg to Inform the public generally that cbuy have OPENED BUSINESS as TIMBER MERCHANTS Acd have now In stock all kinds of Thrba:t also general Building Materials. Sawiag Gas Power) done on the Premises. ORDERS RESPECTFULLY SOLICITED. Notice to the Public. S. M. G JHFFITHS, THE PRACTICAL MAN (Late Messrs. Thomas & Griffiths), DEW STREET BOOT STORES, Begs to acquaint you that he has opened business On his own account at 14a, BRIDGE STRfiBT. All orders and repairs will receive the same attention as heretofore. Thanking you for your former Orders and trusting to receive further favours. Look out for further p3wiculars scon which ( will benefit you.

LADIES' LETTER I NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. If all the fifty-two weeks of the 3-e:ir Ih,c;-e like th3 first one, it would be a better world than it is. It is the week when, good resoiu tions are new, and most of us have doubtless determined that 1909 shall see some iiule im- provement in our ways, some little failings put aside, and some good habits put in their place. It is only when the joy of the New Year begins to fade that the real struggle to keep these good resolutions begins.. Many, we know, are destined to be broken, but it is something gained to have set ourselves, a higher ideal of conduct which so many of us do, in the hope that we may succeed in bringing Uiese good resolutions to fruition. CHRISTMAS REVELRIES. Of course no Christmas party is complete i without its mistletoe, under which every man J is expected at this season, to do his duty, but | complaint is made that kissing under the mistletoe is fast becoming obsolete, like other J Jhristmas festivities that have been shoia off all their former gaieties in these most de- corous days. It is said that the custom was first introduced into this country by a Nether- lantl's princess, but history records that kiss- ng was never peculiar to the Dutch. At one time, kiss-in.the-ring, now relegated to village iairs, had its part in Christmas revelries, and -nat had really a foreign origin. It was in. icn.oci in France, and first became popular in tills country in the 16th century. NEW YEAR DEBUTANTES. this country in the 16th century. NEW YEAR DEBUTANTES. | Balls and dances will be numerous in the early days of the New Year, and it is quite usual for such entertainments to afford the I opportunity for the coming out" of debu- tains. Lady Salisbury is to give a large coun- try house ball at Hatfield on January 13tli, for the debut of her eldest daughter, Lady Beatrice Cecil-who is 17-tall and good looking, and I who will make her maiden bow at one of the Courts next season. Lady Derby will also take up the role of chaperon to her eldest daughter, f Lady Victoria Stanley, who will be 17 next J June. Lady Victoria has always been a I favourite in Royal circles, and will make her formal entry into society at one of the late Courts. ANOTHER AMERICAN PEERESS. The marriage of the Earl of Granard and Miss Beatrice Mills, is to take place in New York on January 14th, and that event will add I yet another to the many American peeresses settled in this country. Miss Mills is the I daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Mills, who fill a leading place in New York society, and she is well-known in London, where she has ¡ appeared under the auspices of her aunt, Mrs. Whitelaw Reid. The future Lady Granard will no doubt some day inherit a share of the enor- mous wealth of her grandfather, Mr. Darius Ogden Mills, who, after being a clerk in a New York store, followed the gold rush to California in 1849, and there became a million- aire banker and financier. Lord Granard is the eighth earl, having succeeded his father in 1889. He is thirty-four years of age, and is Master of the Horse in the King's Household. ROYAL VISIT TO DORSETSHIRE. The King and Queen are to pay a visit to Lady Alington at Crichel Hall, near Wim- borne, next week. Their Majesties, when Prince and Princess of Wales, were at Criehel on more than one occasion, in the time of the late Lord Alington, and their forthcoming visit will to a certain extent take the place of the annual visit which the King and Queen used to pay to Chatsworth at the New Year, during the lifetime of the late Duke of Devonshire. Charles II. visited Crichel in 1665, and it was the residence of George IV. when Regent, but like many historic mansions, it has been burnt and rebuilt, and was greatly improved iu the J time of the late peer. Lady Alington is a popular hostess, fond of acting, and some I amateur theatricals will be given at Crichel in honour of the Royal visit. There will also be general Royal motor trips, and probable visits to Lord and Lady Wimborne at Canford, Lord and Lady Shaftesbury at St. Giles's, and Lord and Lady Portman at Bryanston Park. VIOLETS, VIOLETS, EVERYWHERE. Quite every other woman one meets has a bunch of violets tucked into the front of her coat or blouse, and though the perfume is de- lightful and the appearance perfect, it is an open secret that the majority of the bunches 1 are not of Nature's fashioning. Later we shall 1 probably turn to the spray of lilies of the I valley, a bloom by the way even the very | best artificial flower-maker experience some I difficulty in copying successfully. The Queen ) has frequently been seen lately wearing a « corsage-spray of lilies of the valley, and al- ready many fashionable women are following Her Majesty's lead in this direction. AT THE FLORISTS. There has been a tremendous run upon pink flowers for table decorations this Christ- mastide, and leading florists have experienced some difficulty in meeting the demand. Lilieis. of-the-valley, too. have been greatly sought after. And with regard to flower presents, we are following this year very closely in the foot- steps of our neighbours on the other side of the Channel. Vast numbers of baskets, many containing the most beautiful and costly blooms, have been sent out already, and more still are ordered for New Year's Day. Pots containing growing oranges have also found favour amongst present seekers, and again boughs bearing clusters or oranges together with their greenery. < THE DANGEROUS HATPIN. It will be well, if, before permittmg ourselves to mix in the scuffle of the January sales, we carefuly see to it, that the points of our hat- pins are either furnished with "guards," or well- buried in the trimming of our headgear. Numbers of more or less serious accidents- caused by the points of hatpins—have occurred during the recent rush of Christmas shopping, and it is certainly time measures were takPTI to prevent women from wearing such danger- ous hat fastenings. Just now we run more chances of coming to, or causing grief in this way, than ever before, as, during tho reign of the huge hat, we sought out the longest pins available, and now our hats are smaller we are making the same pins do, with their superfluous number of inches and the danger- ous points.

The C.M.S. Gazette" for January says:— "Since his return from his visit to Uganda in November, 1907, Mr. Winston Churchill, Presi- dent of the Board of Trade, has often publicly spoken on the part Christian Missions have taken in promoting civilization in Central Africa, and n a book just published, "My Afri- can Journey," he thus sums up his conclusions as to the results of missionary work in Uganda: -"lissionary work comprises every form or moral and social activity. Apart from their spiritual work, which needs no advocacy here, [ the missionaries have undertaken and are now ( maintaining the whole educational system of the country. They have built many excellent schools and thousands of young Baganda are being taught to read and write in their own language. The whole country is dotted with subsidiary mission-stations, each one a centre of philanthropic and Christian effok. Thern are good hospitals, with skilful doctors and nurses or sisters of charity, in connection with all the missions. The largest of these, be- longing to the Church Missionary Society, is a model of what a tropical hospital for natives I ought to be. Technical education is now being added to thttse services, And in fl¡¡; ;t S to be hope; the Government will be ai.-le o eo-oper- ate." (

P F wr 11 I ESTATE MARKET IN ..908. PEMBROKESHIRE PROPERTY. 1- I lie following remarks on the estate market appeared in The Estates Gazette ":—Business I as a rule during 1908 has been very slack. A considerable amount of landed property was in I the market during the month of August," and nearly the whole of it found purcha: ars at about. 25 years' purchase on low rentals. House property has been at a very low ebb. There hv,s been no improvement on the prices "ob- tained in 1907. It is difficult to jud^e of the future of land and property. The Budget of next year must be known before a decided next year must be known before a decided opinion can be given. The agricultural pros- pects of our district are doubtful, and farm3 and agricultural land let and sold freely, but at slightly reduced prices. The Small Hold- ings Act has not up to the present been taken up, but we expect it will be when better under- stood. Landowners here raise no objection to the principle of the xct, but strongly ob- ject to turn out good tenants of small hold- ings to put in County Council tenants who know nothing of agriculture. I have nothing very much to fear in the Consolidated Agri- cultural Holdings Act of laud, except the chance of increase of bad feeling between landlord and tenant and increased expense if they differ. T. RULE OWEN. Haverfordwest.

FOOD ja Wherever there j|| is a case of en- ||| feebled digestion, whether from advancing age, illness, or general |H debility, there is a case for Benger's Food. When the stomach becomes weakened, the digestion of ordinary food becomes only || partial, and at times is painful; little of the food is assimilated, and the body is consequently insufficiently nourished. || This is where Benger's Food helps. It contains in itself the natural digestive principles, and is quite different from any other food obtainable. j All doctors know and approve of its composition, and prescribe it freely. Benger's Food is sold in tins jjjj by Chemists, etc., everywhere.

Elephant's Tantrums. SCENE AT THE ALEXANDRA PALACE One of the elephants engaged for the h .:i(lar season at the Alexandra Palace fell thr"uga an iron grating into a trench on Christm is night, and was o aarmed by the accident that she broke away from the attendants, and defied capture for thre hours. Great fVirs wtre PP- tained by the management, a tl: elephant romped about amongst valuable show cases. Ultimately, however, the animal was suffi- ciently pacified to allow herself to be led to the entrance of her quarters, but many hours passed before she was securely penned.

Great Fire at Dewsbury. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £ 20,000. Damage estimated at £ 20.000 was done by a gvuat file which occurred at Messrs. Hirst and Son's woollen cloth factor;: at Birst-al, near Dewsbury, on Christmis Day. The premises and stock were fully insured, but many workers are being thrown out of employment.

0 Fell Into a Kiln. MAN IN PERIL AT NEWPORT. Hearing cries of "Help! Help!" when pass- ing the East Usk Limekilns, Newport, on Christmas Day, Mr. Walter Titley, Witham- Street, rushed to the top of the kilns and found that a man had fallen on to the dead fire below. With the assistance of Mr. John Caine, Corporation Road, who, with Mr. Titley, at some risk, stepped on to the smouldering fire, the man was extricated from danger. The police subsequently conveyed him to the Work- house Infirmary, where he gave the name of John Williams, a tramping labourer. He was burnt badly about the face, hands, and arms. He could give no account as to how he fell into the kilns.

I lMJlES We Wiiic- an opportunity to convince you that Xjt, lVC<f-:1-B..D'S API!(J1;j iiro STEEL PILLS •-<apar^ed<> Pil Cochia. Bitter Apple We wiil seiid yrwwmplefrfe Oil receipt of Id gtcan p for pontage Bold by all Chemists at la. lid. per box. LEB, 1 MA Y?J, iLtd., Chemists 34. -L<rO\' LANS. LONDON ONE KOMENT, PLEASE. Have you given your Order for an AUTUMN SUIT ? If not, it win PAY YOU to place that order with J. M. JAMES, PRACTICAL TAILOR, &c., ST. DAVIDS. 'I Newest and Best Range of Mater- ials to Select from. 1-> r Satisfaction Guaranteed. Prices moderate. Style and Fit Perfect. A Ti-ial Solicited. THE FAMOUS I C-L&BT -S TEA. I [ rhe proprietors of the Famous Cable Tea write:— In consequence of the reduction m Tea Duty of One Penny per pound, we have decided, as from May 14th, 1906, to reduce the Wholesale price of the Famous Cable Tea One Penny per pound, but the Retail price will be changed from 2 2 per lb. to 2/ This will leave a smaller profit to the Retailer, but the Retailer must look for his compensation in in- creased sales. This popular Tea, at the popular pric, jf 2/ should have a largely increased sale, as the Proprietors are determined to keep the quality fully up to the standard. Our Local Agents, MESSES. WM JOHN and SON, Quay Street, Haverfordwest, supply the Famous Cable Tea, in 101b. and 201b. and 1501b. Boxes, -and to whom all your Orders should be sent. A PERFECT POLICY. The Corporation insures against ALL Sickness and ALL Accidents and returns 50% of all premiums paid to non'daimants. It is the only Policy of the kind. Write for Prospectus now. OTHER SCHEMES. DRUGGISTS tr BURGLARY. THIRD PARTY COUPON. INDEMNITIES. CYCLE. CONTRACT. SOLVENCY and I FIDELITY GUARANTEES I WRITE FOR PROSPECTUS. Head Office 104 WEST GEORGE STREET, GLASGOW. X. REGINALD POLE, Gen. Manager. ALFRED PTEES, THE STORES, PUNCHESTON. DESIRES to inform his Customers that he is continually preparing to meet their wants with the very best goods in all depart- ments. A SPLENDID SELECTION of the latest Milli- nery and Dress materials has just arrived from the leading markets. THE DRESSMAKING AND MILLINERY are managed by highly experienced hands, and all orders will have careful and prompt- attent- tion. SUITS TO MEASURE.—This department also receives very careful attention. The fit, style, and quality of work and cloth and price can- not be beaten. A good selection of BOOTS AND SHOES by best makers only, at all times in stock. I GROCERY AND PROVISIONS of the very best; flour, meals, etc., efc., of the very best, at lowest possible price. Also a continually new stock of Paper Hanging?. Earthenware, Ironmongery. Paints, Oils, Patent Medicines— almost anything you may require, is to be found at tiie A. REES, Stores, Puncheston. New laid Eggs and Fresh made Butter, in small or big lots, brought at the very best price possible. A FEES begs Tespe^ful- TOfryS/g- support, tti a IT king <mU tor au28— ASTOiMG VALUE I'I DAViES' SPcSJAL 383W8 SOAP. THIS SOAP Since it a t,, o du c tioxo is commanding a large and erer in- creasing Sale, which sp eaks for itselj. Etery Lcmndress and Housewife should use it. PER 4rl 4 BAR 2 lbs This soap can be obtaiizedfrom.- VINCENT DAVIES, PROTISION STORES, BRIDGE STREET, H AYERFORDWEST. BOROUGH OF THE TOWN AND 000. OF HAVERFORDWEST. FAIRS FOR 1908 THE FAIRS for 1908 will be held u I* lows, unless unfotseon crrcamstaaoM make an alteration necowazy:- DECEMBER Tuesday, Ittk. THE PIG PAIRS Will be held on the day after the Cattle fit* Dealers acd others attending the Ha west Fairs are hereby cautioned against Itet practice of Lacerating with a Knife or oe. Instrument for the purpose of Msrking any animal, and Notice is Hereby Given thai, der Statue 12 and 13 Victoria, Cap. M, ■■ persons found Lacerating any Animal will fct liable to a Penalty of B5. ISAMH REYNOLDS, Magor. Havertordwest and St David's. T HE City Hotel Omnibus or Brake will, until further notice will run on Saturdays between St. David's and Haver- fordwest, leaving St David's at 7 a.m., rerarn- ing from Haverfordwest on the arrival of the 2.40 train. Fares 2s. 6d. Extra charge for luggage. G. MARTIN, Proprietor. MERRYWEATHERS' HAND FIRE PUMP Still the Simplest, Gent, and Mast Reliable FIRE EXTINOUISHER. 1 ■ Noihiag 10 gei out cf order. j 3- Koi'aing to corrode. 5. Nothing' to explode. !il r -M 2540 oui of the 4199 • §■ fiEta 4fjl London Fires were exiin- j| "3jf| e'.iished in one \-ear by these fe WmosW* Pumps. p" Writ" or cnll— 63, LONG ACRE, W.C., LONI)ON. THE SLADE TIMBER YARD FISHGUARD. J. M. GUILD, (Late W. William & Son.) Timber Merchant, HAS a large and varied stoik of Good BulM- ing Timb.-r (in Red Pitch-pine, Wh»t» and SJllUC), FI oring Boards "Cld Match boards, Yellow Pine, Spruce Arcl angal White, American White Wood, Carolina Pine and Oak sawn Boards. Pr^p-ircl Mou.amg- ccmpnsin* ArtbitT'iVfi, Pasfces. Sills, Sk-^rag g(, i also Split and fawn Hoof aLd Ce:iiTN* Lath* Wire-cut and other Nails Speciality—Welsh Oak, Ash, and EITJ", Snaft*. bpokes, and Felloes, Shovel and Mat.t0(ií Bticka- Ladders; Cart Material cut to j. WheeJblocks turned and Gates and Barrowe made to order. Estimates given to supply Enifdmg*. OFFICES.—SLABS, FISHGUARD. -+ P. G. WILLIAMS Grocer, Fruit Rabbit cud Egg Merchant, Station Road, LETTERSTON. Groceries and Fruits cf the Best Quality at lowest Prices. Delivered free by own Cart. Best' prices given for Rabbits, Eggs, efc. Cart will call at any address upon receipt Of a Post Card. Sole Agent for the Home and Colonial wonder ful Tea at Is. 6d. per lb. Trial order solicited 24j&—68 HAVE YOU HAD YOUR wan HOLLOWAY'S MB ALMANAC FO R A | i'l;1rateA Cr■ -n- i J A Ciladdar t I replete with Davas i oi import an* Event* 5 B A Free Ratiway g | Traveller's ir.sur- e an" C-n for I I £2C. ft A!7Z KAXKR OTHER M | l INTERESTING FEATURES J SENT FREE I 011 receipt 01 Poet Card addressed to M THOMAS HOLLOWAY, Owfkw-a St., LCNOON, wa., f .t

RURAL LIFE. BY A SON OF THE SOIL. A FOREST PEST. The Goat Moth (Corsns lignincrda) is a masf- nificent brown, black, and grey insect, measur- ing in some cases over three inches from tip to tip of wings, and one and a-iialf inchJong. Like some other beautiful things in Nature, however, it does great damage — at any rate, from man's point of view. In the caterpillar stage it spends a number of months feeding upon the wood of the Sycamore, and working' great havoc with the trees. For as it feeds, it tunnels backwards and forwards, up and down, .and through the choicest timber, making it I THE GOAT MOTH AND CATKIIIMI.A2. "worthless for market purposes. After two years' life of almost continuous eating, the calorpiJiar in Uie summer, usually about Jufie, passes into the pupa. stage, covering itself with fine bits of wood. After thus reposing for a few weeks near th* bark of the tree, it .shakes off its <Iui 1 cover- ing. and the perfect insect appears. Then Lhe •egiTs arc laid in crevices of the bark, and iL now generation of humpy grubs is given birth, which, if unchecked, will spread itself broadcast, ECOXYUCS FOR SHBVBBEP.IES. For some reason or other the deciduous "Spindle-trees are not as well known as they deserve to be. The European variety is perfectly hardy- and can be used in the shrubbery in any part of the British Isles. It may be interesting to wte that it &eems to be suited particularly c to tttc neighbourhood of the sea. It take.s rather a lotig while to reach the etage when it can pro- duce berries liberally, and this is certainly a AraAback. However, once the shrub has reached A fair size and become thoroughly established, it is pretty regular in fruiting afterwards. Its ornamental value consists in the clusters, of rich orange berries borne all over the tree during autumn, and it is particularly handsome, well re- paying the patience of waiting-. The tree, which never attains a great size, is of easy culture, suc- ceeding in almost any ordinary toil. If it can be planted where plenty of light and "un reach it the richness in colour of the berries will be in- creased, shewing them to i-lic best advantage, and producing a most pleasing and decorative effect. SIX AT A TnJE. The subject of my illustration is another of !he many ingenious devices that owe their origin to America. One does not get an oppor- tunity of putting to a test many of the appli- ances and tools that one comes across from time to time, but some .suggest, themselves at once as being likely to serve the purpose for which they are intended. No doubt a few of my readers will be able to find out whether such a contriv- ance as that shewn makes a good hedge-cutter. Hcdcutting is at best a slow job, and an in. vention to assist it and reduce the labour which r MULTIPLE BLADED SHEARS. it involves would be much appreciated. The Multiple-bladed Shears have been devised for that purpose. The tool consists of two bars; on one the fixed blades are set and the movable 'bi ades are riveted, their ends being fixed to the other bar. When the handles are operated, the 'two bars move together and apart in parallel Tnotiqp, and the cutting blades open and close like ordinary shears. THE VALUE OF AN An Incubator, with care and a. few minutes' daily' attention, can be worked with excellent re- emit; after a little experience, and soon pays for itself. With a good brooder or artificial rearer not a single chicken need be lost, and there is absolutely no vermin to trouble the young birds, ■which soon begin to thrive when given proper food. It should be added that Incubator chickens are quite as vigorous as thoc hatched under a hen. They are reared altogether in a quarter the space, and there are no greedy hns to devour the food or trample on the chicks. For these reasons alone it is contended that if hatch- ing is carried on to. any extent the cost of machines can be saved in one season. The ques- tion of time-saving should be mentioned, and even with the trimming of lamps and turning of eggs there may be a saving over the time spent' in. attending a broody hen. With Incubators there axe no foul nests or broken or soiled eggs, whilst there is but one lot of birds to see to. Of course, there are losses with Incubators, which with ordinary care and attention can be averted and guarded against. Before purchasing an ap- paratus, readers are warned to ascertain that it is of good and reliable make. Even if the first -cost seems rather heavier, it will quickly be re- couped, which if a cheap machine is bought troubles may fall thick and fast upon the Juckless owner. A GOOD GUN DOG. A correspondent's inquiry about Clumber -Spaniels prompts me to give a drawing of a typical specimen of the interesting breed. It has become very popular during recent years, and a remarkably fine display was made at the Kennel Club's Crystal Palace Show last month. Some of its popularity is no doubt due to the inte- rest which the King has taken in it. and much .satisfaction would have been felt had Sandring- ham Boss, from the Royal kennels, been able to claim the judge's award, for it was a really oxcellept type of a working gun-dog. That par- -ticular exhibit reminds me of a fact which many A TYriCAL CI/CMBER gPAXIEL. sporting dog owners would do well to bear in mind. His Majesty, with the spirit ot a true sportsman, entered for competition the best gun- dog there was in the Rovai kennels, while on thr- lwh,)ie, and particularly in some classes, exhibits of sporting animals were scanty enough to 13 that other kcnn-el owners were not do5n*their duty quite R6 they might. That the shov# made by Clumber Spaniels "was eo_ good, only drew more attention to the absence ot other valuable breeds. A NITRO-BACTERIXE TEST. Early in the year the Royal Horticultural Society obtained a supply of Professor Bot- tom'ey'9 Nitro-h.icterinc,- and applied it in their garden at Wisly >° ,°*porimental culture oi peas. The soil at Vcsiey described, in the Journal of the i sook-ty. by Mr. F. J- Cbith" j den, F.L.S.. who ooiKU*CI<iir the investigations, as a naturally hungry one. Half of the experiment was tried on :<:Jl that h1;d been crapped with ( e'ery^ the previous rj!C, other liaif being on .-oil that bad been iallo-we.j for a year. Each In it divided into twelve equal plots. The soil in eo:nc of the plots was inoou- lared as direct.I by Professor Bottomley; others were nianured with dung; ( other* received a dressing _of '»ime: others wit^i super- phosphate and kaini> and others with calcium^ cyanamide. Four rows or peas were sown on each plot. Half of tho seeds were inoculated, the other half were not. total length of rows of Peas in the trial was over a quarter of & mile. Tne .produce of each of tho plots was picked separately when the pods were of mar- ketable tize arid carefully weighed, the total weisht of the crop when "hdld being 7-Acwt. The totals are: Weight of Peas from inoculated seeds, 45011). weight of Peas from non-inocu- lated seeds. 515.b., a difference in favour of non-inoculation amounting to 14 per cent. It is stated that Nitro-baetorine had no influence on the earless ct the crop. The experiments

-,T- ) jSLANX) and SON, Carriage Builders." 1 i HAVERFORDWEST. Steam Factory, Old Bridge, Haverfordwest

AGRICULTURAL POLITICS. (By a Lobyist). UNDER WHICH KING, BEZONIAN? Mr. Asquith has, in the phrase of Sir W. S. Gilbert, a short and chippy chopper for those have been dubbed the peer obstructives of the Liberal purpose, but apparently he has an obsequious cheek for those obstructives who are of his own household. At all events, this is, the view I gathered from his reply on Thursday night to the very practical question of Mr. Lawrence Hardy, as to whether he would place the new abandoned Hops Bill in the same cate- gory as the Irish Land Bill and the Housing and Town Planning Bill-as a measure that is to be introduced immediately next Session, and to be rapidly passed through its early stages. If Ministers be really sincere of this business why should they hesitate to give this pledge? Or is it that they who are so prolific of flam- boyant and turgid threat against other antagon- ists of their purpose tremble at the knees be- fore the Harold Coxes, the Wedgewood, the Leif Jones's, the Byleses, and the Dundas Whites, who perceive, in every attempt to pro- tect British workers and British industry and to mulct the unfair and ungenerous foreign competitor—to, in fact, place the latter under the same conditions as operate against the home producer—a sacrilegious assault upon their much adorned idol, Free Trade? Should these men be allowed to dominate Liberalism and to dictate to the Liberal purpose rather than statesmen of the calibre of Mr. Lloyd George and Earl Carrington ? Let it not be forgotten that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Agriculture are absolutely at one over this mafter. Under which king, Bez iar.-under the influence of the most in- trepid oratorical champion Liberal possesses, a man who by his Patent Act and Shipping Act has done more to placate the aroused suseepti bilities of the industrial classes than any other man in his party, and one of the most sagac- ious Ministers the Board of Agriculture has known, or the influence of these men? Which does Liberalism prefer? SIR WILLIAM COLLINS'S POSITION. Naturally, Sir William Collins, the chairman of the Hop Committee-one of the clearest and most cogent brains of the liberal Party- is deeply chagrined over the business. That he the real sponsor of this abandoned Bill, should be accused of a want of loyalty to Free Trade must be particularly irritating and annoying to a man of his political texture and economic temperament. Wherein, after all, is the heter- odoxy of opplying the principle of Merchandise Marks Act to imported hops, and to compel every bagful to bear the name of the planter, tlie name of the country, the year in which the hyps are grown, and the weight After all. Lnglioh hops have to .be marked with the c of growth, so that--as Mr. P. W. Wilson, a colleague of Sir Wm. Collins in tne Liberal representation of St. Pancras points out—in this respect the foreign commodity is being merely put on the same level as the English. Would it, however, not be as well for tiiose admirable Parliamentary friends of the hop-grower, Mr. Hardy and Mr. Courthope. to discover* whether this very suggestion—that I the foreign producer—should be subjected to the same conditions as the home producer—is not deemed an offence by the Byleses, the Leif- Joneses, and the Harold Coxes of the Free Trad., civilisation. It it fair to deprive the for- eigner of any advantage which he enjoys over the lionie-growe Does not conomie purity demand that the home-grower shall be penal- ised ? # To such questioning—with its seeming justi- fication—does this economic fanaticism reduce us. THE RESTRAINT OF THE CONSERVATIVE. I am bound to say that over the Hops Bill Conservative M.P. s have exhibited the most admirable restraint. We know how some of them feel over the matter of the use of pre- servatives. I need only instance Mr. Courthope in this connection. They have, however, all subordinated their personal and political pre- dilections in order that the general admirable provisions of this most useful Bill might be placed upon the statute-book. The Parliament- ary papers indicate that notice of ninety odd amendments to the abandoned Bill, and notice cf two additional clauses were given. Not a single amendment and neither of the suggested u7 owed their paternity to a Conservative The author was in every case cither a Liberal M-P. or a Nationalist M.P.; and in but i few cases they have no Parliamentary connec- tion with the hop-growing areas than they have with Dan, Bcersheba, McGopotamina, or Tim. L bactoo- In 1he great majority of cases the Purpose of the amendment was to deprive the measure of the flagrant sin of possibly penal- ising the foreign hop-grower in his competition with the British hop-grower, or, rather, of plac- irg them both on a common basis of industrial commercial quality. There were seven amendments which bore on the surface this distinct and explicit purpose; and only one of the seven authors of these amendments has aught but the most remote and infinitesimal association with either the industry or the hop- growing areas. The anxiety, too, to preface the words "hop substitutes" with the word "delet- erious," or substitute "deleterious substances" for "hop substitutes"—proposals which would have rendered the whole measure inocuous and futile, if not a farce—was sponsored by over a dozen legislators. While this is so, the substi- tion of the words "any substance which is poisonous or likely to be injurious to health" for "hop substitutes"—an even more flagitious attempt to avoid the purpose of the Bill—had more than one author.

Premier's Double. A ^ew Zealand gentleman, who happens to bear a close resemblance to Sir Thomas Bent, the Premier of Victoria, had somfe amusing ex- periences while in Melbourne. This gentleman I is a Mr. Edmund Wickes, of Graymouth. The story lie tells was related to a Christchurch Press reporter on his return to New Zealand. On landing in Melbourne Mr. Wiekes was astounded and amused to see the policemen salute him. He boarded the Wainui, of which steamer his son is engineer, and his son was I grec*.ed with the Temarj "Hullo, you r8 in good company; you've got Sir- Thomas with tor five weeks Mr. Wiekes underwent similar experiences. At that time Sir Thomas Bent was ill, and Mr. Wickes was being continually stopped by Melbourne citizens who shook hands with him and congratulated him on his recovery. At his hotel there were numerous people who wanted to be introduced to Sir Thomas," and even a close personal friend of Sir Thomas Bent was deceived by the resem- blance. One i^ght Mr. Wickes decided to stay at hi? ;i,> hotel. Rising at his usual time (5 a.m.) he found that breakfast would not be Teady for some time, and he decided to get the meal outside. Entering a. restaurant, he sat down at a table,, but was invited by the waitress to go to the private room. Nothing loth he com- plied with the request. Hearing some feminine giggling outside the door, he invited the wait- resses in. To his astonishment one of them remarked, "We know you, Sir Thomas; you have been out all night. Ob.. He I

THE FIIEE TRADE FANATICISM. Of course, these proposals were reinforced by what I may call direct frontal attacks-by deliberate suggestions that clauses and portions of clauses which would offend the nostrils or limit the opportunties of the foreigner should be eliminated. As a fact the whole purpose of the Bill stank rank in the nostrils of these men —these politicians who would administer the thumb-screw or would apply the gentle Inquisi- tion-method of blowing out with a Gargantuan over-dose cf liquid to all who would dare un- hallowly breathe in the neighbourhood of the Free Trade fane. And yet it is these men who are jeopardising the edifice by giving it a character its authors never desired it to possess. After all, Cobden himself could negotiate with France so that English trade in France should enjoy equitable and equable advantages with French traders in England. FAIR AND DEBATABLE SUGGESTIONS. Heaven forfend it be deemed I would say that all the amendments had this eharaetei Let me illustrate what I may call the more reasonable attitude of saner men, of a politi- cian, say, of the earnest propagandist views of 3 Mr. Chiozza Money. Frankly, I think that there j is cogency and force in the following suggestion of the hon. member-a suggestion avowedly drafted in the interest of the foreign importer: Where, in any district out of the United Kingdom, it is proved to the satisfaction oi the Board of Trade that it is the custom to grow hops in small quantities and to send them to a central establishment for curing and packing, the Board shall submit the sub- stitution of the name of such central es- tablishment for the name of the grower, and it shall notify to the Board of Customs the districts to which such exemptions shall apply. Of course,I admit that there would have to be adequate precautions taken that this concession was not evaded—and evasion without precau- tions would be easy. At all events, the proposi- tion was debatable and fair. In the same way, too, though I do not approve of it, and fear that its acceptance would have provided a loophole which would have been seized with a good deal of avidity, I concede that there is ground for argumentative consideration in the suggestion of Mr. Essex, a teetotal M.P., who is not such a fanatic as to be a prohibitionist and an arrogant shutter-up of all public- houses :— Any person who shall sell or offer for sale any beer in the making of which hop substi- tute has been used shall declare that fact to any purchaser or intending purchaser, and in default therof shall incur an excise penalty not exceeding £100. Of course,t he unfortunate fact about this sug- gestion is that it would permit the use of hop substitutes. When, too, would the declaration of the fact be made? Would it be upon the barrel. If so, how many of those who resort to a public house would see the barrel? Would it be upon, the bottle? In how many cases, again, in a public-house does the person who quaffs a bottle of beer read the, label? In ¿.ow many private cases is the label heeded or per- used? I must say too, that Mr. Patrick White, the Nationalist member of Meath, made a not injudicious suggestion on a proposed additional clause, which would-pray heed this, ye hep- growing readers—have compelled every importer of foreign hops to lodge at the British Consul at the port of embarkation two copies of an invoice containing all the information demand- ed of the foreigner by the Bill, which would have compelled that Consul to forward one copy to the Customs officials at the port of de- barkation who should refuse delivery unless the marks on the packets corresponded with the facts stated in the invoice, and which would have also compelled that Consul to, from time to time, make inquiries in order to see that no misleading invoices were sub- mitted to him. A PARLIAMENT WITH THE JUMPS. These, however, are practically the only al- loying suggestions in this dreary desert of an- tipathy and prejudice. I do not think Mr. Courthope was quite fair on Thursday afternoon in his suggestion—though considering the vivid character of his interest in the matter, we can quite understand it-that the Government in abandoning the Bill have been guilty of a breach of faith, or in his assertion that by this abandonment Ministers had made them- selves the laughing-stock of the country. After all, the condition precedent which Mr. Asquith laid down for transmuting the Bill into an Act did not exist-that is, an unanimous senti- ment oi sympathy; but fail though the Govern- ment has failed through the perverseness of an invincibly prejudiced section of its own follow- ing, it has achieved a measure of success-in that it his made assured the lines on which any legislation must proceed. Hop substitutes are to be prevented, and the foreign rival of the British hop-grower is to be compelled to observe equal conditions, and to trade on terms equitable to the British hop-grower. "This parliament has got the jumps"—thus I over- heard one legislator remark to another. It has, or rather a section of its membership has. Every quivering aspen applls its nerves-and means to this section Protection. Every whis- pered hope spells Protection. Every suggestion of provident self-care spells Protection. Every wise proposal for the protection of the British trade by even the most trusted of the leaders of this section means the unfair harrassment cf the foreigner and the heightening of the price to the home producer. The men of this section have got the jumps, and are haunted by ghosts. v But why, oh why, did not Mr. Asquith accept the Conservative suggestion and embody clause 1 in a definite Bill? He would then, at least, have prevented the use of hop substitutes.