Saga Feb

[4legsgood]

16a China may be so, having power backed by friendly state? (5) P???Y.
17d Soft-skinned fish largely gutted with old Maori weapon (7) ??o?e?i (I think)

[BigDave44]

16a pally (as in china / mate) = P + ally

[BigDave44]

I can't do better than Lie-in King for the other one:

Lyomeri

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Question700374.html

[4legsgood]

Thanks BigDave44. Had considered that but can't find anything in Chambers starting with L for 17d (perhaps I've got something wrong)

[4legsgood]

Thanks again BigDave. Forgot about y instead of a vowel. Lie-in King's previous answer did not appear when I searched. Many thanks to him too.

[BigDave44]

Knowing that you've
1) tried to solve it yourself and failed and
2) seen someone else succeed,
makes it a little easier to search.

I like this crossword so much that I signed up for a subscription only yesterday.

[4legsgood]

Hi again Big Dave 44.
Many thanks for all your help. I find the Saga prize one very difficult to 'read'. Not so easy to get the feel of as say the Times or Daily/Sunday Mail. I think it is a great mag - very varied in its subject material - not just for the over 50's. I recommend it to all.