The Tenby Observer Weekly List of Visitors and Directory

PEMBROKESHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. These Sessions commenced on Tuesday last. The surveyor was ordered to inspect and report on the station-house at Maenclochog. The chief con- stable reported that during the past quarter 19 persons had been proceeded against for indictable offences, 9 of whom were discharged, and the re- mainder sent for trial; 210 persons were also pro- ceeded against for offences punishable on summary conviction, 45 of whom were discharged, and the remainder variously punished. The governor of the jail reported that 33 persons were at present in prison. The increase in rating value of the Narberth Union was referred to the county rating committee. Yesterday, there were only two prisoners for trial. Gabriel Jenkins, charged with maliciously wounding a sheep at Newport, no bill, and Peter Campbell, soldier, charged with an abominable crime, not guilty.

MARRIED. On the 7th inst., at Barnes, Surrey, by the Rev. J. H. Bridge, Arthur Innes Acland, youngest son of the late Mr. Robert Innes Acland, of Boulston, Pembrokeshire, to Jane, eldest daughter of Mr. Henry Brown, surgeon, Mortlake, Surrey. On the 25th February, at Christ Church, Banke- Pore, Patna, by the Rev. Alfred Norrish, William urns Beatson, M.D., of H.M. Indian Army, /,V1 burgeon of Nagpore, Central India, to Anne, emest daughter of the Rev. T. Williams, rector of l^angum, Pembrokeshire, South Wales.

To the Editor of the Tenby Observer. SiR "Agricultural returns of Great Britain" T preSen e?,to Parliament, and have recently been circulated generally, and are worthy of the notice of your readers, as tending to show the progress which agriculture is making, and its comparative state in different parts of the country. Most people, doubtless, remember the jealousy with which the proposal to make these compilations was regarded; farmers at first began to suspect that, though nominally intended to show the pro- gress of the nation, these statistics were really wanted to show that rents were so moderate in comparison with the yield of crops and the head of cattle maintained, as to justify the landlords in a demand for increased rents. This groundless fear may perhaps still linger among some of the occupiers of land others may be too careless or too idle to make the returns asked for; and, of course, when the making of them is purely voluntary, they are likely to furnish but imperfect information. But, making allowance for all these drawbacks, these returns still seem to supply us with some important and interesting facts. I assume that your readers will be chiefly inte- rested in such of these facts as concern Pembroke- shire, and, though in a less degree, in such as relate to the counties immediately adjoining our own. As to Pembrokeshire, there is one alarming symptom, namely, a decrease in the amount of green crops, which stand thus in the last two years,— Pembrokeshire. Carmarthenshire. Cardiganshire. Acres. Acres. Acres. 1866—12,166 9,970 12,875 1867-11,821 11,880 12,948 In corn crops there is an increase in Pembroke- shire, and a decrease in the two neighbouring I counties. They stand thus,— 1866-59,436 72,060 61 101 1867-69,562 71,666 60,529 rrom these figures it appears that the green crops are less than one-fifth of the corn in Pembroke- shire, less than one-sixth in Carmarthenshire, and rather more than one. fifth in Cardiganshire. There is, however, a considerable increase in Carmarthen- shire under this head during the past year. Assu- ming the proportion of green crops to be one important test of good husbandry, Cardiganshire would be the best cultivated of the three Western counties, and Pembrokeshire is losing ground: but is it such a test ? I feel convinced that it is so, and that not only from personal observation, but also because I see, by the same returns, that the proportion of green to other crops in Scotland is very far in excess of that which they bear in Wales, and indeed amounts generally in that country to one-half of the area under corn. For example, the first Scotch county on the list, Aber- deenshire, has, in 1867, Acres. Corn Crops.207,768 Acres. Corn Crops 207,768 Green Crops 102,091 showing, in this one county, a far greater extent of green crops than the six counties of South Wales united produce. Now, I believe that the best farmers in Great Britain are to be found in its northern division, and that they are also, and probably on that account, the wealthiest men, and, therefore, we shall do well to consider the North British mode of cultivation. Our climate is certainly well suited to the growth both of grass and green crops, while com, or at least wheat, is often a disap- pointing crop. In the same county of Aberdeen, out of the 207,768 acres under corn, only 799 were wheat; while out of 59,562 under corn in Pem- brokeshire, 7,196 were wheat. It is true that Scotland is probably less fitted for the growth of wheat than Wales, but I think it is also true that we lean over much to some crops perhaps not so well suited to the soil and climate as others which we neglect. I shall be answered, they are richer people up there than ourselves." May I beg those who answer so, to consider where the riches have come from; is it not from the soil? A most respectable man holding a large mode- rately tilled farm in Wales, rides into the market town and puts his money ( £ 400) in the bank; one holding the same acreage in Stirlingshire, spends £ 1,600 in one year in artificial manures. These are different measures which I have known of trust in the land, and have been differently repaid.-Yours, &c., H. G. ALLEN.

To the Editor of the Tenby Observer. SIR,-In reply to Dr. Dyster's letter of the 20th ulfc., permit me to repeat ,¡ my assertion, that the General District Rate has been doubled in amount, and that within the last ten years. This has arisen principally from the drainage of the town having been paid for at once out of the rate, instead of by money borrowed, the repayment of which could have been extended over thirty years. This has been a great hardship to tenants, as the house property of the town has been improved in value full ten per cent. by being well drained; but the occupiers are not allowed to reap the benefit, as in many cases the landlords have raised their rents up to the improved value. Another reason against paying for permanent improvements directly out of the rates is, that we are taxing ourselves in order to save the ratepayers twenty years hence, when probably the rateable value of the town will, from its extension, be doubled. Since I have been a ratepayer, permanent im- provements to the amount of many thousands of pounds have been made and paid for directly out of the rates, while during the same period the public debts of the town have been considerable reduced; indeed, I believe that in 1859 the amonut of the outlying bills due by the Corpo- ration must have been three times what they are at present. The debts due on mortgage and on bonds have been reduced upwards of £ 2,000. The improved management of our finances rests with themselves more than the burgesses think; for who are the men who vote away their money in the Town Council? Not the large ratepayers, that they may be assured, as they are interested to keep down the payments, but those who pay but little to the rates. Let ratepayers look to their own interests, and in future return only those who have a sufficient stake in the welfare of the town to exert themselves to promote its prosperity, and yet not waste the public money. I am, &c., A TENANT OCCUPIER. Tenby, April 1, 1868.

Desirable BOARD and RESIDENCE, in a Private Family, suitable tor a Lady and Gentle- man, or Two Ladies. Terms, One Guinea per Week. inclusive. Atldiess, 24, Norton, Teuby, if by letter to C. P. LADIES' WALNUT DESKS, WORK-BOXES, and DRESSING CASES, at the Library, Tenby;

proving agricultural district, requiring lime and coal, and an easy access to the consuming towns. This line supplies both. It will form a junction with the South Wales and the Pembroke and Tenby Railways at Whitland, thus bringing itself into connection with the lime and coal of Carmarthen- shire on the one hand, and of Pembrokeshire on the other, and with the best markets in the kingdom. But this district is also rich in minerals. The Glogue slates are known far and wide for qualities hardly inferior to the best Carnarnon, and with an increasing demand, the present quarries could send over the line a large mineral traffic. Then, again, the Llanfyrnach lead mines are now in full work and productive. These indicate the resources of the country which the proposed line would mate- rially assist in developing. We have so far assumed that the terminus would continue at Glogue, but a glance at the map will show that in time this rail- way must push its way into the Tivy valley, near Cenarth, forming a junction with the Carmarthen and Cardigan line when it is completed. We say deliberately when it is completed, conscious that the mere assertion of our belief in such an event excites an incredulous smile. But it must be ac- complished sooner or later, and if the affairs of that company are left in the hands of the present managers, there is no reason why they should not, and that at no distant period, extend the line from Llandissul to Cardigan. That being the case, the little railway from Whitland will prove of immense service. However, the promoters do not now aim at more than a cheap line from Whitland to Glogue, and they are prepared to make it if the landowners will co-operate with them. They have the re- quired capital, so that no one will be asked to take shares. They nevertheless expect the landowners to assist by selling or renting their land at as low a rate as possible. The land in this case is the great difficulty they have to encounter. Several proprietors have signed an agreement promising to sell on terms which are considered satisfactory, and there is good reason to believe that the others will do so as well. In that case the line will certainly be made without loss of time. Any obstruction, however, might prove fatal by forcing the line in another direction. Indeed it has already been sug- gested that it would be more economical to go to Newcastle-Emlyn, and the only reason for not en- tertaining the proposal is the fact that the Carmar- then and Cardigan line terminates at Llandissul, and this railway is wanted immediately Welsh- man, April 3rd.