The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

An Aberdovey correspondent writes to complain of the condition of the Town Band, who, he says, are deprived of some of their instruments, including the drum, which they much miss. He asks if no one is prepared to help the Band to supply the deficiency, and to save the Band from ruin. We have received a long letter which would ml two columns of our paper from D. P. who has been ordered to contribute towards the maintenance of his mother. D. P." does not seem to like to assist in main- taining his mother, and has been as awkward as possible in making the payments. Fortunately, the relieving officer has followed him closely, and he has been com- pelled to do a portion of his duty. IVe advise D. P." in future to pay the money before he receive3 a bill. We have DO sympathy whatever with well-to-do sons and daughters who will not maintain their parents.— Eds. C.N. A NUISANCE. SIR,-I have lived in this town now for many years, and have become acquainted with the various advantages and drawbacks connected with it, but I have not witnessed a more glaring nuisance of late in the place than the miser- able loft in Pier-street called the Reading Room. I was there one night for half-an-hour, and after inhaling the noxious atmosphere of the room for that time, Iifelt myself getting giddy, when I immediately walked out. I had to suffer a most severe head-ache in consequence of going there. I would not risk my health by going there agaia for a good dsal. Now is it not a shame that we have not a better reading-room, when we bear in mind that the same is main- tained by public rates. The old Assembly Rooms are now unoccupied, which in every respect are adapted for a reading-room. Why not secure them at once, BO that a he ilthv and commodious building might be placed at the disposal of the public in the shape of a reading-room, in- stead of that poisonous hole in Pier-street, which is totally unfit for use.—I am, &c.. DISINFECTANT. Aberystwyth, 17th Nov., 1875. THE MACHYNLLETH GHOST. SIB,—I see a reference in your columns to the Machyn- lleth ghost and an insinuation that the fine of Is. was too ittle in the case. When you consider the matter I think you will agree with me that it was ample. The facts are as follows A young servant girl happened to make a, noise which was immediately put down to a ghost by the foolish and superstitious people of the house. En. couraged by their folly she continued the noises and diver- sified them by throwing atones through the windows; all of which was set down to the ghost. Hundreds of persons from Machynlleth and its neighbourhood flocked to the house to see the ghost. Incredible to relate, after chapel one Sunday evening the elders and leading persons of the con- nexion assembled at the house and had a prayer meeting "to lay the ghost;" in the middle of the prayers the impenitent ghost threw a volley of stones, some of which struck the man who was leading in the prayers, and altogether behaved as only a very improper ghost would have done. and more wonderful still, the stones all came from the inside of the building, so that the wicked ghost was evidently in the midst of them. As prayers were of no use they as a last resource appealed to the police, who soon laid the spirit. Now I contend that the parties who ought to have been punished were, not the foolish young girl, but those men ■*vho, setting themselves up as teachers and preachers, were to utterly foolish and benighted that they encouraged the j-erpetration of what was, after all, but the joke of a young person irresistibly drawn on by the astounding folly of persons who ought to have known much better.—I am,&c., ANTI HUMBOG. THh. ENGINE MEN &c., ON THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. SlR,-I very much wonder that your keen eye has not noticed these past few days the drowned appearance of the enginemen and firemen on the Cambrian Railway. It is pitiable in the extreme to see the poor fellows drenched to the skin in consequence of having had to stand on the engine in a down-pour of rain for so many hours at a stretch. We who ride in our first class carriage with every comfort sur- rounding us, are apt to get unmindful of those in whose hands our lives are entrusted, and while we are in comfort those out-side are quite the apposite. Can it be wondered at then that these men will jump off their dis- agreeable footboard at every available spot, and endeavour by taking in a supply of heavy wet to keep out the heavier wet they have to encounter ? I have noticed on the Manchester and Milford Railway a nice iron covering erected over the place where the men stand, and sheltering them so nicely that I should think it is a positive pleasure to be under one of them. I do not write on behalf of the men because I have been wished to, but for humanity's sake I would most respectfully call the attention of the Traffic Manager of the Cambrian Railway to this unfinished part of their engines. I know he is a gentleman in every sense of the word, and one who cares for the welfare of the men under him, and I am sure he will win their lasting gratitude and greatly conduce to their comfort if he will cause to have one of these shelters put on each of the Cambrian engines.—I am, &c., Aberystwyth. HUMANITY. THE ABERYSTWYTH READING ROOM. SIR,Permit me through your columns to draw atten- tion to the unsatisfactory state of the reading room in this town. I maintain that a reading room in a town of this size which is supported by a public rate, should be suffi- ciendy commodious to seat from 100 to 150 persons without feeling the least inconvenience, or risking their health by inhaling the poisonous and obnoxious atmosphere of a small and dirty illventilated room such as the one now used as a reading room in Pier Street. It appears singular that the condition of this room—where a number of young men assemble nightly after the toil of the day behind counters and desks to glance over the paper, has not demanded the attention of the public officer of health —I believe that the closeness of the room, lit as it is by the bad gas every evening, is such that if reported upon by any medical man in the town, the room would be con- demned as totally unfit for use. 1 have been lately informed by several friends that the reason why they do not resort to the reading room of an evening, is simply that they consider the air of the room unfit to breathe. Now this is really serious when bearing in mind that the town has adopted the Public Library Acts, and that the wretched room re- ferred to is now maintained by public rate. I wish that the gentlemen who were selected on the Public Library Committee, of which our esteemed townsman Mr T. P. Jones is convener, would at once give the subject of pro- curing a better building for a reading room their serous consideration. I venture to say that had a spacious and healthy room been provided, five times as many persons, old and young, would avail themselves of its privileges, where they could read for an hour together without gaping for fresh air and suffering from headache in consequence. I beg to own publicly that great credit is due to Mr Wynne the chemist and a few others for the pains they have taken to carry out the operations in connection with the existing reading room. It only shows what they would accomplish had they a proper building in which to prosecute their schemes for the benefit of the town at large.—I am, &c., A LARGE RATEPAYER. Aberystwyth, 11th November, 1875. DEATH IN THE READING ROOM. SIR,-Will you please to allow me through the medium of your powerful organ, to call the attention of the Public Library Committee to the public nuisance that exists in the reading room ? I went there to-say to see the Shipping Gazette. When I entered the lower room I was nearlv overpowered by the sulphurous effluvia emanating from one of the stoves and when I went to the upper room I found that it was more than I could bear. Although my respira- tory organs are on the whole pretty strong, since I went into the public library I have not been free from an irritable sensation, followed by a dry cough. I fear I must go into the country before I can get "rid of it. I do not think the public money should be used to suffocate people. I pity the librarian, who, for the sake of the paltry sum of 220 a year, is compelled to be there. I fear that you will have to call the coroner to hold an inquest upon him before long, and no doubt he will bring in a true bill of manslaughter against the Public Library Committee. If this nuisance is not abolished soon I will with a number of ratepayers form a deputation to wait upon the Town Council to ask them to see that the nuisance be put a stop to or have the room closed.—I am, &c., A SUFFERER. Aberystwyth. MUST THE POOR ALL PERISH. DOLGELLEY AND MACHYNLLETH BOARDS OF GUARDIANS.—THE STAMPING OUT SYSTEM. gIS The white dust that was wafted about by the winds like down a short time ago, has been converted by the rains into slimy mud. The sweet, gentle south ■wind which plaved amongst the green o lage of the earth, giving life and" comfort to all that inhaled it has been driven back to the balmy regions of its birthplace by the destroying blast cf the coid north. This northern ranger has passed through the forests, fields, and gardens, and left his path strewn with the slain. The luxurious daughters of the land have put aside the yellow boots and muslin dresses, awl donned" the Shetland wool and all manner of other comforters. The sea has grown angry and foams in its rage, and the sky -rowns in blackness, and the storm- cloud of its pitiless bosom is pregnant with vengeance, which may at any moment be wreaked upon the dwellers of terra. And the poor, eh? yes, what of the poor and desti- tute, how are they to face the charge of the stormy winter ? Pull your Beriin wool vestments tighter, shrug your shoulders, ring t.ie bell for Mary to stir the fire and hand you ai sip of port, and perhaps some of your friends will sing frozen to death, and when you have thanked God for the iiutnane and tender hearted Guardians to take care of the poor, you may banish ail thoughts of the shiverinf starving wretches^ for ever from your serene mind Whv not do so ? What is it to you whether they live or die those dirty, squalid things hie moving monuments of r ags, and if thev must live, why do th-ialways want to thrust them- selves in the way of quality and refinement? Why can't they confine themselves to their horrid homes, where one hears there often is no fife, nor light. The floors are made of mud, the wails are built of mud, the paths that lead to theee dens are mud. The children and the slugs grovel together in the iigLitless chambers of the mudhovels. Why, again, dare the dwellers of such places show them- selves in the day time; and one shudders at the thought that these things go to churches and chapels where respect- able people go. The idea that they are allowed to do so They even staud Uh when other people stand up, and have I the effrontery to join in the responses and chants. This is abominable, unbearable, horrid, and revolting in the ex- j trerue yes, sir, it is enough to drive respectable people out of their senses, or out of the country. If something is not done forthwith terrible consequences must inevitably follow. Why not build a mud church for the mud grovellers of Machynileth ''somewhere on the Pennal side of the river Dovey ? And take care that the river flows over its banks to the road, so that those who piss that way may be thoroughly saturated, and should the flood now and theu sweep half a dozen wretches to eternity, what would be the use of making a bother about the event, it would only cost money. Money; Oh! yes, money .how sweet a theme upon every tongue. To none sweeter, though, than to the econo- mical Guardians of the Machynlleth Union. Noble body, this- h"roic almost. How calmly and deliberately they squabbled over the half-penny rate of some few acres of mountain land, unconscious, poor, benighted things, that those who are entrusted to their charge suffer privation and distress. To redeem the poor and needy is not the colour that will create enthusiasm amongst constituents. Small rates and workhouse test is the cry of the day. Let us cast them into prison. Tne good hard-working man who has spent his time and strength in the service of the community, which scarcely enabled him to sustain the life of his own system and of those dependent upon him. He is of no more use then throw him into the lumber room. Take him say at sixty or seventy years of age from the sweet associations of life (if any, very doubtful). Confine him within what are prison walls to him, to be dressed as a criminal, and put through discipline the same as if he were a young recruit. Thus once safely lodged in his gaol he must be maintained there, and to do so without increasing the rates is the grand point now- a-days, when even sporting is rated. A keen-eyed guardian discovers that a son of his (the criminal's) lives at such a place. He must be pounced upon, and compelled to con- tribute to his father's support. The son pleads, "I have a. wife who is always ailing, and three children, I only get fifteen shillings a week, and was at home with a bad attack of rheumatism for six months, and only re-commenced work a week ago, and I yet fed my old legs stiff from the effects." The guardians laugh derisively at his earnest plea. They say in effect, you must suffer for your father's crime, which is poverty. Butere the dispute is settled the old man gets his freedom, death knocks him on the head, the remains are soon incased by four rustic planks, and in some cases placed on a donkey cart, and conveyed to their resting place just the same as any other refuse or lumber is disposed of. His pallet of straw, thin lukewarm water, gruel and felon's dress, are left, and shall be used again to brand some poor innocent for the same sinless crime. This is the policy and regime that gain the applause of the greedy money seekers, and strange 1 yes, wonderful, to say, the preus, re-echoes the ap- plause, and deals one of its hardest blows at a generous guardian, who had the courage to deviate from the atarving policy at Dolgelley the other day, and propose that some poor, miserable, starving, bare-footed pauper, who gets three shillings a week to carry her on to eternity, should have a pair of shoes for her benumbed and lacerated feet. The cost was estimated at four shillings, but it was considered too much by the press, and denounced as luxury. But there is one, and thank God for it, who has raised his voice, like him of old in the wilderness against the flood of that iron-hearted regime which has for its motto "workhouse test." I am prepared for one, to give Mr -lones of Maes- v-pandy's name a place amongst those who have not been tarnished by losing all sympathy for their fellow-beings in the eager and thirsty pursuit of sordid wealth. I will with your permission revert to this subject again in a short time. -I am, &c. POOR MAN'S FRIEND. LLANYBYTHER FAIRS. SlE,—While entertaining the greatest respect towards the cattle dealers that have given a thought with regard to a better accommodation for the holding of Santesau and Martin Fairs, yet may be allowed to remak, as is well known, that the last movement was characterized by a lack of unanimity. These fairs generally begin rather early, and it is often the case that the cattle accumulate on the field a long time before dealers arrive; hence the defect in the last movement. It appears that an immense number of cattle had gathered on Glanduar new field at an early hour, before the arrival of any train at Llanybyther the impatient nature of the sellers while exhibiting their stock in a new field was such as to expect a sale at once, although after they went down to Llanybyther many had to be content with waiting for another two hours without being favoured with a single offer for their stock. In spite of earnest en- treaties to remain on the field, on the assurance of a cir- cular issued by the dealers that they would pledge them- selves to Glanduar, the distant farmers could not be calmed, who had by this time become quite bewildered by being "jawed at by others that the dealers would not move from Llanybyther; that they would have to pay a shilling for each head of cattle they had on the field and lastly that they were safe to lose so much a head if not taken down in time to Llanybyther. This, be it known, transpired before any train arrived, but by the time the cattle were clear of the field the first train was in with dealers, who, no doubt, had the intention of proceeding to Glanduar, and they were met by a whole fair of cattle making for the old field. By this time, owing to the morning being wet, the farmers of Cardiganshire were pouring through Llanybyther on their way to Glanduar, but were met just opposite the station by an overwhelming stock from the latter place, and they all proceeded to the condemned field. Here it may be remarked that there were not more than a dozen beasts gathered at Llanybyther when this influx streamed in, so that it can be plainly seen that not only dealers but the whole neighbourhood are dissatisfied with regard to the accommodation for cattle during these fairs. It naturally followed that the dealers, who had to make all haste with their buying so as to get ready by the time the cattle trains leave, were in the last fair obliged to put up and be con- tent with buying as well as they could, and to rest satisfied with any accommodation rather than directing the fair back again to Glanduar, which would involve the loss of a great deal of time they could hardly well spare, con- sidering that the hours were rather limited, the morning train being also behind time. Probably many of the dealers have not seen and are not aware of the good field offered them at Glanduar. It would be worth their while to arrive at the place a day previously to the next fair (to be held on the 21st November), so as to judge for themselves as to the fitness of such field. Considering that the cattle are con- veyed away by trains, it is necessary that they should be as clean as possible for the dealers' benefit. Were the old system of treading along the highways as the means of transporting cattle to the English markets again adopted, it would matter but little as to the condition they are in, and possibly after having been wallowing for a whole day in a muddy field, the old system would doubtless be more advantageous and not so injurious to the cattle; but being packed in trucks in a miserable condition really must prove detrimental after reaching their destination with respect to the prices they realize, which no doubt must prove more favourable to the dealers when the cattle are trucked and con- veyed in a proper condition. Any dealer that should happen to scan these remarks, should communicate the same to all his fellow-dealers with the view of coming to conclusion with regard to the holding of the fair of the 21st November; and by a little determination on their part, they may enjoy the pleasure of bringing their cattle into a thoroughly dry field with every accommodation.—I am, &c., A READER. LLANYBYTHER. Silt,- I am a constant reader of your valuable paper, and in your editions of the 29th October and 5th November, I directed my attention to articles touching the Llanybyther fairs and the "Llanybyther Fairs and Markets Improve- ment Committed." In the former a letter appeared, signed by a gentleman of the name of Crito," containing certain questions, startling allusions and insinuations, calculated, as he thought, no doubt, to lead the public to form a wrong opinion of the said Committee." If this gentleman had only called at the Committee room at Llanybyther, no doubt he would have been furnished with all the informa- tion he required on payment of the amount of subscription promised by him, if he was in arrears of any, by which he would have been spared the trouble and expense of writing his elaborate epistle to the Cambrian News. Allow me, sir, to ask you, or any one of the readers of the Cambrian News, who is this" Crito?" I fancy, from the production of his mind, that he is a very illustrious person. I pause for a re- ply. Unquestionably, he is the author of that cleverly written circular alleged to have been signed by forty w ri and upwards of the dealers and farmers, a copy of which is set forth in the article on the Llanybyther fairs. I am not a perfect stranger to Llanybyther, but am quite at a loss to know who is in the place able and learned enough to write such excellent articles as those written to your paper on the subject of the Llanybyther Fairs, and the Improvement Committee." I have diligently enquired throughout the place who can he be, but am not at all satisfied with the result of my enquiries. Some are of opinion that he is the mouthpiece of a certain number of people who add the title of C.D." after their names, which title, in my opinion, means" Commoc Disturbers," and who were so we-ikminded as to think that they had sufficient power and influence to remove the fairs from Llanybyther to an out- landish little village named Glanduar. A second party says that Crito is one of the "U.D's" that was foremost in the rank of those that partook of the free dinner given by the Llanybyther Committee, on the 12th October, to ail dealers and farmers that attended the new fair at Llanybyther on tnat day; whilst the third asserts that he thinks he is no one else than one of those persons who wanders vacuously about the roads of Llanybyther as if demented having notning to do but to find fault with everything and every- body, and whose principal occupation these day8 is to bluster in every form and manner abaut the "Llanybyther Improvement Committee," and to place every obstacle in their way to carry out the laudable undertaking they have in hand. But whoever he is,he may as well give up at once persecuting the good movement of the committee. The public these days are enlightened enough not to allow themselves to be gulled and led astray by sophistry such as has been published byl"Crito. ":They are able from the'exer- cise of their reason and common sense, which was planted in the human heart from the first creation, to discriminate between truth and falsehood, right and wrong and between what is hollow and superficial, and that which is solid and just. The public ought to be thankful to the Llanybyther Fairs and Markets Improvement Committee" for the great enterprise they have taken up in spite of all the opposition and obstacles offered them by Crito" and others. Their efforts will certainly be crowned with success. The fruit of tbeir labours was very perceptible at Llanybyther on the 1st November. The attendance of buyers and dealers from all parts of Engisnd, and the supply of all sorts of cattle, such as were never seen before at Llanybyther within the memory of anyone living. I am given to under- stand that the committee are on the alert; and that they are determined to improve the monthly markets to such an extent as to absorb all the small fairs in the neigh- bourhood. In order to induce dealers and farmers to attend g. t the monthly markets, the committee are now preparing to give free dinners for the next six markets to every dealer and every farmer that will bring three or more cattle to the markets, also prizes will be given for the best sorts. On the clay of the Dew fair to be held at Llanybyther on the 14:.h January next a trotting match will be held and prizes given by the committee, in order to safely establish a fair. t The most important of the improvements to be made by I the committee at Llanybyther will be in connection with the existing butter market, held now weekly on Friday evenings. In these markets will be offered for sale during the spring and sowing seasons all kinds of seeds, potatoes, artificial manure, and calves, in order, if possible, to save the farmers on the south side of Lampeter the expense and trouble of attending the Lampeter market on the follow- ing Saturday. Unquestionably, Llanybyther is rapidly increasing and improving. If anyone doubts the veracity of the statement, let him once pay a visit to the Llanybyther fair and markets and judge for himself. If the "Improvement Committee" in the place will keep on for some time, no doubt Llanybyther, under their auspices, will be one of the most important towns on the banks of the Tivy.—I am, &c., CANDID OPINION. PLEASURES. SrR, -A'ilow me space to say a few words respecting the clever (?) controversialists Olympus and Alltycrib." By referring to Olympus's" letter we find that he has his pop-gun leveled at the breast of vice. He indirectly hinted that Penny Readings, &c., can be turned into good account against the most deplorable of sins, viz., drunken- ness." "Alltycrib" seeing a foe of mean abilities came out to drown the poor illiterate "Olympus" in long highfiown clas- iical words. The purport of Alltycrib's letter is this That there are two kinds of pleasures, injurious and harmless; and no plea- sure can serve as an antidote for what he terms injurious pleasures." Can there be two kinds of pleasures properly speaking ? Nothing is pleasure that rouses the conscience to accuse— but the conscience of every drunkard stings after every spree. | What is pleasure? Gratification of the mind. A man that is pleased, feels satisfied with everything and with himself. Is a man's mind gratified with beer, or when drunk? Does he feel sac:.sfied ? No, no, he feels restless and unsatisfied. Drink can but tickle the insatiable greed of the flesh. Next if harmless pleasure cannot serve as an antidote for the injurious, it follows that some homaaopathic draughts will serve the purpose, but this is absurd. The Allwise Creator has implanted in man a desire for amusement and pleasure, but when proper modes of amusing oneself are not provided for the youths of our country, they will naturally seek them in the wrong place. Now what will prevent them? Nothing but inducements towards harm- less and useful amusements like Penny Readings. I Alltycrib" says that it is impossible for athletics to get as firm a grasp of man's mind as drink." Poor fellow, whose mind do you take as a standard ? Yours? Eh? But not content with opposing harmless pleasures, and advancing injurious (?) ones; he has in the last paper, at- tacked a party, which has undoubtedly done much towards alleviating the sufferings and want of a great part of humanity. There are many men whose reasons are unable to govern their actions in the least. Most of our great drunkards know and believe drinking to be a vice, and most of them wish to keep away from it, but in idle hours they are tempted. Now if we provide places for useful pleasures many of these men would be induced to attend, to their benefit as well as society's in general. What good will it be to appiy to a man's reason when his reason does not control his actions ? Is not pointing to the awfal results of drink, and binding in the bonds of love to oppose it, quite in accordance with reason ? Knowing that if the regalia drew men to the Templars it would keep them there, and that the regalia is far less "gorgeous than an overcoat in fine weather.—I am. &c., NIL.

FOUNDERING OF A VESSEL IN CARDIGAN BIY. During the violent storm that visited this coast on Sun- day a schooner laden with coal, and bound from Glasgow to Cardiff, was driven-in spite of all efforts on the part of the crew-on to the rocks known as Cerigdun, on the Pem- brokeshire side of the mouth of Cardigan harbour. The sea ran fearfully high at the time. The vessel was carried sidewards towards the rocks, where she was soon nearly capsized by the force of the sea, and the tops of the masts brought into close proximity to the rocks on the shore. The crew-four in number—having crept along the masts, were rescued from their perilous position by the aid of ropes, &c., by some persons. The master, Mr William Finch, is a native of St. Dogmell's, a village on the coast within a mile of the scene of the wreck. The mate was in. jured and is under medical treatment.

BALA SEWERAGE AND WATER SUPPLY. On Tuesday, Nov. 16, a public meeting was held to con- sider the question of Sewerage and Water Supply. A cir- cular, of which the following is an abstract, had been previously circulated in the town :— Surbiton, November, 1875.—To the Local Board of Bala and Fellow Ratepayers,—The town ef Bala having been found in de- fault, I venture to state in a few words that which should be done, in order to comply with the Sanitary Acts: 1st.—Though our pump water is and always has been exquisitely pure-con' taining ten times less of organic impurity than even that of the lake itself-yet it is assumed that with existing Hrrangements it may be liable to pollution; it is necessary to render this im- possible by causing all our cess-pits (if in future any be allowed), all receptacles for dung and other refuse, as well as our gutters, to be properly constructed, that is to say—to be rendered water- tight by means of cement, so as to prevent soakage. I consider our well water so valuable that at anv cost it should he pre- served from all risks of pollution. 2"(Ilv.-All solid excreta and refuse should be regularly and punctually removed by one or other methods of ecavenage. With a vigilant inspector and proper by-laws, as indicated in the medical report to the Local Government Board for 1874, this in a small place like Bala would be a mere bagatelle. 3rdly.-To carry off efficiently slops and liquid refuse, our gutters should be made larger, and should have an improved fall, wkile our present abundant pump water, if properly used, would be amply sufficient to cleanse them. If left open as much as possible, our inspector would at once dis- cover any t-taguation und remove its cause, while if the drains be closed and underground, leakage might occur, to the great danger of polluting the wells. No house refuse should be allowed to be thrown into the gutters under penalties. Each house should be provided with proper and convenient recep- tacles for house waste, dust, &c., so that these may be sepa- rately and regularly removed. It might be found that a better fall for the gutters could be obtained by allowing more than one outflow from the town, to be afterwards, when below and beyond the reaeh and danger of polluting the town wells, joined or not, by underground drains, and crrried a sufficient distance for filtration through a series of duplicate purifying tanks, or through a small plot of land ( £ an acre to be acquired), before its outfall into the river. A practical surveyor could decide the best way of carrying this out. By placing a syphon meter at the point of entrance of the gutter into the closed drains, or if there be more than one, then one at each point, sufficient force would be obtained to drive it to its destination. Having sketched out what I consider necessary, I would now mention the grounds of my objections to adopting another water supply to the town, as wbll as my objection to sewerage in general. The waters of most of the streams available are polluted with peat and some with washings of farm yards, as well as with the pro! ducts of the decayed vegetation of the glere through which they pass. Hence the prevalence of fever among the villagers who use them Some of these brooks are practically dry for months together in summer, and frozen in winter, which would even if these waters were good, endanger a constant supply.' Under- ground drains, however well constructed originally sooner or later get out of repair, either by sinking or breaking of pipes in consequence of frost, settling, &c. I have seen a great many drains taken up, some old and some comparatively new, and I have invariably found the ground adjacent to them saturated with sewage. On enquiry 1 find this also is the experience of many surveyors and builders of thirty and forty years' sttudiilg. In the report alluded to, we find-" the dangers from house drains receiving pipes from water-closets, sinks, cisterns, and baths in the interior of houses of the better class," lucidly pointed out. In it also we are told Again and again in the experience of this department a district has been found under some terrible visitation of enteric fever from filth operating through house drains or water supply." Again we are told, in considering the admissibility of water closets it has always to be remembered that the working of an ordinary water closet is easily deranged, and that water clesets when out of order, and especially if in the interior of houses, are apt to become very dangerous nuisances. The ordinary water closet is therefore a thoroughly ineligible form of privy for those who are unlikely to take proper care of it; among such classes of population it is of course unfit that any form of in-door privy fhoulcl ever be sanctioned, but even in the best ordered houses the occasional danger of in-door water closets must not be disregarded." Lastly we learn that "the contilgia of enteric fever consist of swarms of the lowest form of vegetable life which are carried with the effluvia of drains into the air wa breathe or into the food we eat or drink." Now inasmuch as these morbific fer- ments or contagia are found tp be self multiplying only in water and moisture, while they quickly lose their vitality in dry air, it follows that any method of removing sewage by means of water as a vehicle, is an abomination which, like many other abominations need be tolerated only in populous places and inasmuch as during the putrefaction of organic refuse large volumes of gaseous products result, and these in escaping are liable to cany along with them contagia generated in the same medium, it follows that their escape from closed drains in con- nection with houses must be under pressure, to the great danger of the occupants. Ventilation and traps diminish, but do not remove, tho danger. Before committing ourselves to these dangerous methods of sewerage, let it be found that we cannot keep our premises clean without them —I am, vours faithfully, WILLIAM PRICE ./ONES. The meeting was held at the Town Hall, Bala, to take into consideration the best measures to conform with the Sanitary Acis, so as to preserve the cleanliness ;w, i health of the town, and to secure an abundant supply of pure water for the inhabitants. The meeting was well attended by ratepayers and landowners within the district. Mr Edward Evans, solicitor, Chester (who is a large owner of property at Bala), was voted to the chair, and after a few remarks upon the subject of the meeting, called upon Mr John R. Jones, solicitor, Bala, to read the letter by Mr W. P. Jones (who is also a large owner of property in the district), of which an abstract i!s given above. The let- ter having been read the question of sewerage and water supply was discussed at great length by Messrs Evan Jones, Dr Hughes, John R. Jones, W. T. Phillips, Thomas Jones, and Griffith Jones, and at the conclusion of the speeches, Mr Thomas Jones, chemist, proposed, and Mr Evan Jones, Mount-street, Bala, seconded— That this meeting desires to recommend the Local Board of Health of Bala to delay for the present proceeding with any plan of sewerage, scavenage, or waterworks, with a view to their obtaining further skilled advice and information on the question of the drainage of Bala, and that before deciding on any plan thay will give to the ratepayers another opportunity of consider- ing any scheme proposed. The resolution having been put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. An unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for having presided, and also to Mr William Price Jones for his valuable suggestions regarding the best and most effectual means of disposing of the sewage, &C., of Bala. [We should have reported the meeting more fully if timely notice had been sent of it.—Ens.] —

ABERYSTWYTH. TOWN COUNCIL, TUESDAY, Nov. IC)TH,-Pregent The Mayor (Mr John Watkins), presiding, Aldermen Thomas Jones and John Davies, Councillor Philip Williams (ex-Mayor), John Jones (Bridge-Eid), J. P. Jones, Thomas Griffiths, John Rees, John Joies (Great Darkgate-street), Thomas Hugh Jones, George Gfreeii, and Thomas Davies Mr W. H. Thomas (tovn clerk), Mr David Lloyd, Mr J. J. Atwood (Corporationsolicitor), Mr Zopbar Humphreys (surveyor), and Mr Da'id Jones (borough accountant). MONTHLY STATEMENT. Mr DAVID JONES, the borough accountant, presoted to the Board his statement of the receipts, disburaTients, assets, and liabilities of the Corporation for the minth of October. PUBLIC WORKS CSMMITTEE'S REPORT. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, brought in the folowing report: Mr Thomas Jones's Applicatioizfor Additional Gro?tnf.-It is nanimously agreed to recommend that Mr Thos. Jouess unpli- ation for an additional piece of ground be granted, viz.,twenty feet of frontage from the piece already granted and nnning parallel with the road from the steamer's stores towardsG-aig- goch, and within thirty feet to Graig-goch garden wall, md to extend 100 feet in depth westward, making with the pfece al- ready granted 370 feet in front, and extend 100 feet in cteith to- wards the sea for the whole length. The whole at an ainusl ground rent ofel4 14s with a lease for seventy-five years. s' Mr Doughton's Application for Ground whereon to met a Smith's Shop.-It is unanimously agreed to recommend th,t Mr Thomas Doughton's application for a piece of ground wha-eon to erect a smith's shop and yard be granted, viz., thirty fet in front parallel with the road running direct from Custom Hase- street to Rofawr, on part of the ground where his present wodon smithy is situated, and to extend from front to b'ick west\ard thirty feet, at the jannual ground rent of 3 s. per foot froufige, with a lease for seventy-fiva years. The smithy is to be ere ted of'stones or bricks with a roof of slates. It was agreed, on the proposition of Mr JOHN RfES seconded by Alderman DAVIES, that the report shoulc be adopted. Mr JOHN JONES remarked that on account of the illiess of Dr Morris Jones, which the committee regretted, tiey were unable to proceed with the settlement of the metecro- logical instruments question. The committee did notfcel disposed to go into the matter without Dr Jones's attend- ance. HARBOUR COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, also read the follownj report:— Sinking the Bed of the River Ystwyth and Ground for Pro- posed Camber.-It was unanimously agreed to give Mr Thomas Bateman permission to sink the bed of the River Ystwyth Up. wards from the present level of the River Rheidol to the ei- trance of his proposed camber. Also that the ground granted for the construction of the camber be also sunk to the level of the bed of the Ystwyth, with a slight incline therefrom towards the eastern end of the camber, provided no deviation be made from the present course of the River Ystwyth. All to be done at Mr Thomas Bateman's expense. Also that Mr T Bateman shall be two years from the commencement of his lease to form his com- pany and decide whether he will proceed with the patent slip and cambor, and three years more to complete the whole works, failing which the ground and all erections thereon to become the property of the Council free of all claims. Tllat the whole of the intended works be constructed under the supervision and to the entire satisfaction of your Harbour Committee. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, in answer to a question, said the Council did not bind Mr Bateman to layout any stated sum of money, but they had left the matter open. Alderman JONES thought the Council's principal interest would be to see that Mr Bateman erected substantial works, as be, no doubt, would do. Mr JOHN JONES, in answer to Mr GEORGE GREEN, said that Mr Bateman would pay a ground rent of Is. for the first year and B5 per annum afterwards. The report was then unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr PHILIP WILLIAMS, seconded by Mr T. H. JONES. THE FIRE ENGINE, Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, referring to the subject of providing a fire engine for the town, said the committee, to whom the consideration of the matter had been referred, were only a week old. and consequently thty had not much time to examine the question and prepare a report. They, therefore, asked for another fortnight. They would bring in a report at the next meeting. THE GAS CONTRACT. The MAYOR stated that the Public Works Committee would report at the next meeting on the terms for a new contract with the Aberystwyth Gas Company for lighting the public lamps for the ensuing year. THE SEWERAGE WORKS. The MAYOR said the next item on the agenda paper was to execute contracts with Mr William Edwards and Messrs David and John Jones for constructing sewers in Ship- builder's-row, High-street, and Prospect-street. Mr THOMAS DAVIES produced a plan and asked to be allowed to make an explanation. He said that nine feet was ample depth for the drains in High street and Prospect- street. It was not necessary to go deeper than nine feet in order to drain the cellars, as some of the present cellars were four feet, some five feet and some six feet. It was not necessary to go down 11 feet 6 inches. Nine feet was enough and to cut through three feet of hard rock was very expensive work. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, complained that the time of the Council was being wasted, and he urged Mr Davies to move an amendment if he did not agree with what was about to be done. Mr DAVIES replied that he wanted the Council to see the state of the streets, &c. He, however, would move that the execution of the contracts should be delayed. The motion was seconded by Mr GREEN, Mr ATWOOD remarked that it would serve the Council perfectly right if they got no one to contract on a future occasion. It would be unfair to the contractors. If the work could be executed at a lower price tenders should have been sent in when the work was let. It was not fair to the contractors, after sucking their brains to make use of their empty skulls. The Council knew what he meant. Alderman JONES, who professed to speak in the interest of the town, and apart from personal considerations, said the Council ought to endeavour to find out if there had been no mistake made in the survey of the streets, seeing there seemed to be great pancies in the two surveys. If they could save anything by not excavating the rock as deeply as it was proposed, it would be well to save it. Of course the con- tracts could be made with the parties contracting just the same, after making a difference in the depth of the drain. The TOWN CLERK remarked thcit if the.matter was de- layed as postponed the Council would be extremely unbusi- nesslike in their transactions. Two sets of tenders had already been invited, and two lots of men had tendered for the work. The SURVEYOR said that if the Council would allow him to explain he thought he could show that he had sufficient facts to prove that list. 6m. for the drainage of High and Prospect-streets was not an inch too much. Now as to lift. 6in. in High-street. The pipe of 18 inches would b, with the junction, 1ft. 9in., leaving, before they started 9 ft. 9 in. Allowing one foot only for the houses, that would again reduce the figures to 8 ft. 9 in- Then, taking 18 in. to go down to the cellars, the total depth left would be only a little over seven feet. Some of the cellars were seven feet deep. Mr GREEN—Would you be kind enough to say what answer you gave at the last meeting when you were asked the depth of the cellars. The SURVEYOR—You say, I said nine feet. Mr T. H. JONES—You said nine feet. The SUltVEYOR-Well, if I said nine feet, which I do not believe I did, I made a mistake. Mr GREEN—You said nine feet, and that was your reason for going 11 ft. 6 in. with tho dram. What depth are the Cellars now you have measured them ? The SURVEYOR -In High Street 6ft. bin. Mr GREEN—And last week you said nine feet. The SURVEYOK—It is not nientioneu ii. tne paper, and the paper gave a very fair account of what was said. Mr GREEN ther. remarked th<it at the last meeting a ques- jion was put to him by Mr Roberts which he (Mr Green) was uot quite prepared to answer. He did not know that lie came into the Council for the purpose of contracting for work. He supposed that he stocd on the same basis ns other Councillors, to sptak out his mind when he be- lieved there was anything wrong, and to make suggest- ions, but not to be asked to contract for work. He had, however, since the last meeting made enquiries, and he was now prepared to find a person who would undertake the contract according to the original estimate, and complete it to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. It was mar- vellously ridiculous for anyone to say that, it was necessary to have a pipe of 15in. diameter for High-street. That street had an area of 1.000 yards with a fall of 1 in 11. Now the whole surface of Penglaise Hill, or three-quarters of a mile in extent, was drained by a sewer of smaller capacity. If, therefore, the size of one pipe was right the other must be marvellously wrong. The drain at the back of his house consisted of a nine-inch pipe, and the fall was only fob in the yatd. That pipe was only seven feet from the surface and it was sufficient to carry away the sewage in the biggest fi,odi. If a nine-inch pipe with the fall he had stated would do in one case, surely a nine-inch pipe would be large enough in High-street whiTethe fall was greater. The SURVEYOR aid that, by making the drains 11 feet 6 inches he was only recommending what was a proper depth for permanent work. AIR GREEN remarked that be should t ike the trouble, after the whole of the drains had been made, that was Bridge-street, High-street, Mill-street, &c.,—and collected in the sewer that was now made, to gaugfj the sewage at the j outlet at the highest flood, and whatever course was now adopted he should let the Council know the result. His opinion was that the water would not rise five inches at the outlet. The result would show whether he was right or wrong. The MAYOR did not think the pipes were too large for permanent work. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, said he measured three cellars in Shipbuilders'-row, and he found one to be 6 feet, another 7 feet, and another 8 feet. Mr DAVIES-Not below the level of the street. Mr JOHN JONES added that what he bad quoted was the measurement of cellars to new houses, and he did not know how a nine foot sewer would drain those cellars. The SURVEYOR said he believed application would shortly be made for permission to make cellars in High-street and Prospect-street, and of course the sewer must be made sufficiently deep to meet the drains from the cellars. Mr DAVIES remarked that by giving 8 feet to the cellars there would be a fall of more than three feet to the sewer if it was 11 feet 6 inches deep. Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, said it seemed to him that the Council were doing Committee work. It was open for Mr Green and Mr Davies to go to the Surveyor's office and have looked at the plans and specifications. It had been said that there was no vertical section of the work but on making enquiries the statement was found to be uri true. Mr Green and Mr Davies could go to the Surveyor's office and satisfy themselves, and not take up the time of the Council. He was perfectly certain that 11 feet 6 inches was a safe depth for permanent work; and he understood that Mr Parry was going to add cellars to his houses now a pipe drain was made. They must go under the cellars to drain them, and if the sewers were made deep enough to go under the cellars, there would not be one inch to spare, even if the cellar should be only six feet deep. The TOWN CLERK pointed out that if the drains were deeper when the cellars were constructed, they would no doubt, have been made deeper than they were at present. The Council were now doing a work that would last for hundreds ot years, and it would therefore be well to have a good drain even if it did entail the cutting of a few feet extra, or in having the pipes a few inches larger. Mr GRIFFITHS referred to the "rat-hole in Pier-street, which some people complained of as being too large when the drain was made. When it was lately opened it was filled up with sediment to the very top. Alderman JONES—That was a differently constructed drain. Mr GRIFFITHS continued by observing that he believed there were now no water closets in High-street. When the sewer would lie finished he supposed there would be some forty-five water closets draining into it. As Mr Thomas, the Town Clerk, had said, a few inches in the pipes and a few feet in digging was now of little conse- quence. In twenty-five years High-street would be one of the finestistreets in the town, and the houses then erected WDuld be far superior to those now standing in the street. The population was very large even at the present time. Under those circumstances he would move that the Council should execute the contracts. After a little further conversation, Mr PHILIP WILLIAMS seconded the motion. Mr DAVIES then proposed, and Mr GREEN seconded, an amendment that the work should be postponed. The pro- poser and seconder, and Mr T. H. Jones voted for the amendment, which was ultimately declared lost. Several Councillors declined to vote. The contracts were then signed, all the men saying, in answer to Mr Jones, Bridge-end, that they perfectly under- stood what they were about. The SURVEYOR stated that the text section of drain. age would comprise Great Darkgate-street, Upper Great Darkgate.street, St. Michael's Square, Princess-street, and the Meat Market Square, the plans and estimates for which he would lay before the Council at their next meeting, in order that they might take them into consideration. VICTORIA TERRACE PLANS. The MAYOR said the last subject on the agenda paper was to "take into consideration the legal proceedings taken by Messrs Murray and Thomes, architects, Liverpool, against the Corporation in respect of plans sent by them for the erection of houses in Victoria Terrace." The TOWN CLERK explained that the plans were alleged to have been damaged, and a claim of JE30 was put in at a Liverpool court. He had stopped that proceeding, and now the action bad been removed to a superior court in London. If the architects had been successful they would only have obtained -210 for their designs, but now they claimed £30. He believed the claim arose out of a feeling of annoyance, in consequence of the reject;on of the plans by the Council. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr JOHN JONES, Bridge-end, seconded by Mr T. H. JONES, to instruct the Town Clerk and the Corporation Solicitor to defend the action. THE HARBOUR WORKS. Mr GREEN gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that all works at the Harbour Pier should be brought to a stand until a complete system of plans and specifications for the work had been prepared and approved by the Council. The proceedings were then terminated. PE eTY SESSIONS. WEDNESDAY, "NOVEMBER 17TH.— Before Alderman John Watkins, Mayor, Mr. Philip William (ex-Mayor), Alderman Thomas Jones, and Aidernan John Davies. Assaut.-J obn Cole, Thespia-street, boatman, charged William Jones, Prospect-street, mariner, with assaulting him on tie 11th. Complainant said defendant assaulted him while putting out a rope on the Rofawr. All he wanted was peace arid quietness. Thomas Williams said after some high words Jetween the parties he saw defendant strike com- plainant, vho did not return the blow. After that each one went tl his business. David Jenkins also gave evidence. and said fefendant took his coat to go to work and not to fight.-Tiued 5s. and costs, or fourteen days' imprison- ment. Assaults and Drunkenness. Joseph Lloyd, David Roberts, Join Thomas, Tanyfynwent, of Llanbadarn, were charged by Sergeant Henry Meade, Militia Barracks, with assaulting lim on Monday, the 15th. Mr Edgar Atwood appeared for complainant, who said that on the evening of the 15t'a he was going up Llanbadarn-road in company with Mr Harold Atwood, and when they get near Mr Green's house oie of the defendants struck him and knocked him into the hedge. His face was very much bruised. Had not donI anything whatever to cause the assault. It was the defaidant Lloyd who struck him, and it was Thomas who cane up and tried to take Lloyd away.—Mr Harold Atwood orroborated the complainant's statement, and said the thre( men were drunk.—A similar charge was then beard afainst Lloyd and Roberts, who were charged with assSilting Harold Atwood at the same time and place.-Slpt. Lloyd said he heard the defendants pass the house in fhich he lived, and they were all making use of most hlaslhemous language. A third charge of drunkenness was prefered by Supt. Lloyd against the three defendants, who weredrunk, and very disorderly.—Thomas said, in answer to the charge, that it was not likely he would be drunk on lve glasses ofale.-Joeeph Lloyd was fined 10s, and costs, for being drunk and using bad language, and 21. and costs, for the assault on Sergt. Meade. Roberts was fined 10s, aid costs, for drunkenness, and 10s, and costs, for the assaulton Mr Harold Atwood. Thomas was fine1X and costs, Dr drunkenness, the charge of assault being Mthedefen. l&on. Bup. a warrant was granted. farcew°-Thoma'3 T^°umas' m™r> prospect-street, was chfrged hjAlderman Thomas Jones with having stolen a piece of b/«h wood from the Rofawr, on the morning of the 10th.C Joseph said that about two o'clock on the morning of the 10th he saw a man coming from Ship- builders -ro< towards the new saw mills. In about ten minutes saw the defendant Thomas returning with a piece of wood (poduced) under his arm. When the wood was produced th people in the court laughed, it is supposed because the^lue of the wood was not great. The officer said the defddant admitted taking tha wood from near Mr Jones's saw rills, and he did not think there was any harm in taking it.-William Jones, a man in Mr Jones's employ, identified thtpieca of wood, and said it was worth about 4d.—Mr ThcPas Jones said he lost a great deal of wood, but did not iuspect the defendant. He suspected many others, and i ever he could prove a case he would certainly make an exaiple of the offender.-The Bench considered the case provd, and defendant was ordered,to be imprisoned for forty-eigh hours. Embezzlemdt.-Cliarlc-s Lewis, Pier-street, baker's assist- ant, in the eoploy of. Air Bishop, confectioner, Pier-street, was charged .itb embezzling the sum of 2s 6d belonging to his employer.-The complainant said he had employed the prisoner for wout ten weeks. Found him to be honest for six weeks, ant then he began to be money short every day. -On the 15tbhe was sent out with about 5s worth of goods Seeing him posing the shop called him in to send him to Trefechan witl lfj'.worth of ginger nuts. He left his bas- ket in the sh(P and never came back. There was la 7d 2 deficient Inth basket, and Is for the ginger nuts. He was also short of s 8d in the morning for rolls.-The prisoner admitted the harge, and was sentenced to two months' hard labour at Caigan. Assault.6une Lewis, High-street Court, was charged by Margaret ->ewis, High-street, with assaulting her on thd 12th Novttiber. The defendant did not appear, and the usual deails of a neighbours squabble having been given, defendots was fined 2s 6d, and co,ts. School Boa?i (ases.-Aune Hayes, Portland Lane, was fined Is for no sending Margaretta Hayps to school, John Evans, Moor-ireet, wa3 fined Is, Hugh Morris, Is, Patrice Murphy, Moo-street, Is, Thomas Davie?, Portland-lane, 2s, William Moris, shoemaker, Moor-street, Is, Kicharcl Jones, Buarth Cottag, labourer, Is, John Jones,jGray s Inn Lane, 2s 6d.

LLANWNEN. BADGER.—Mr Hughes, of Neuadd fawr, shot one of the badgers (female) ever seen in this neighbourhood, within a ie hundred yards of the_village last week. It measured thirt.y-thre0 inches from tip to tail, and weighed over twenty-four pounds. FLOOD.—Owing to the heavy rain that fell on Saturday Sunday, November 13th and 14th, the Grannell and its tribO' taries overflowed their banks to such an extent that the inhabitants of the place do not remember such a flood. Man> roads were rendered impassible, and several persons had to their houses.

BARMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting was hfld on Friday, Jfovembe' 12. Present: Messrs Charles Jones, William JJones Morris, a'1, Lewis Lewis. Several applications were s«nt in for the office 0 schoolmaster for the Bonkldu School, Mr W. Evans, Abiry^ wyth, was appointed. Mr Evans is to commence his duties once salary £ 55 per annum, with a prospect of an increase pr<T vided the Inspector's report be satisfactory. The Clerk instructed to advertise for an ex-pupil female teacher, or an sistant monitor for the Barmouth School, Several bills were 1*^ sented, and cheques signed for the same. A precept was to meet the expenses up to the 25th of March next, a precept September last being still unpaid. The Clerk was instructed 0 apply 'o the overseers for payment, and on failure to comply, Board will enforce payment. A month's notice was ordered to given to the attendance officer that his services would not be quired any further.

Exchequer receipts from April 1, to November 13, 1875, ,£44,1.')5.a:O, last year same period, 243,004,630 expendi- ture this year, £ 47,855,697, same period last year £ 47^077^008 balances this year, £ 1.913,115, last year,

LAMPETER THE LATE EISTEDDFOT).—We understand that the treasurer of this undertaking has now paid the last claim made upon the committee, and that he has still in his hand a balanceof about £ 60. The Rev R. Jenkins, B.A rector of Bettws, and the Rev C. G. Edmondes, M.A., of St David's College, have been appointed to audit the acrounts, and it is probable we shall have the pleasure of publishing a balance sheet in our next issue. It appears that the total expenditure amounted to nearly .£300. SCHOOL BOARD.At a meeting of the managers of the Nat'on^l School, held a few days ago, it was ivsolved that the school should be transferretl to the School Board. The trnstees oi tie late Mr Harford, of Falcondale, have also intimated their willingness to transfer the Maestvn School to the Board, and also to convey a site for the new Infant School. TREGARON.

NEW BUSINESS.—It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that Mr Jenkin William Evans, chemist, Medical Hall. Lampeter, is going to open a branch estab- lishment at Tregaron on Tuesday, December 14ch. Tre- garon is making rapid progress. It was only the other week that the London and Provincial Bank opened a branch in the town to the great convenience of the tradesmen and farmers of the district. A SECOND ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.-On the 2nd of May last Thomas Evans,tailor, of this place, attenpted to com- mit suicide by cutting his throat. He was bought before the magistrates on that occasion and delivtred up to his friends on their undertaking to look after him. On Tues- day morning, the 16th, about six o'clock he umped into the river about a hundred yards above the briige." David Evans, smith, rescued the would-be suicide aid he was taken home. He is in custody and will be ag.il brought before the Bench. It is clear a man of this kiid oughc to be put in safe keeping. ::>

MACHYNLLETH BOARD OF rUARDIANS, WEDNESDAY, Nov. 17TH. —Present: Jr R. Gillart, chairman; Mr Owen Daniel and Mr Eva* Evans, vice-chairmen; Messrs Thomas Owen, Kicha'd Williams, Hugh Hughe?, Morgan Ed- wards, John lorgan, Hugh Evans, Rowland Morgan, John the Rev. D. Morgan; Mr D. Evans, acting clerk. Statistics.—N'niber in the house on Jia last day of this week 32, corres-onding week of last year, 37 vagrants re- lieved during th past fortnight, 42. Out-relief, Machyn- lleth district, pr Air Thomas Thomas, £:36 17s to 172 paupers Darov?n district, per Mr D. Howell, JE60 12s to 306 paupers Penal district, per Mr John Jones, £ 58 3s 9J to 258 paupers. Ba-lance in the bank, JM06 18, 10d. Unqualified vicciitators.-The Clerk r-ad the following let,er S:i,- iLLa directed by the Local Government Board to acknow^dge the receipt of your letter of the 25th October, enclosirS a copy of a letter addressed to the Guar- dians of the Mac'ynlleth Union by Mr Lloyd, the public vaccinator for tht-^chynlleth district, in reference to the employment by him of an unqualified deputy; and in reply to the enqufy contained in Mr Lloyd's letter to state that the possessioi of a certificate of proficiency in vaccina- tion would not eriitle an otherwise unqualified person to act as deputy to apublic vaccinator, as the deputy must, t pro,vkion3 of the 30 and 31 Vie,, cap. 84, sec. 4, revis^L?egU Jat10?3 °f Her Majesty's Privy Council, be a thp PI^ i ,m^lca^ Petitioner."—The Chairman directed He Clerk to forward a copy of the letter to Dr Lloyd. to thl WnMu Workhouse. —The contract for the alteration* Machyn-

CEMMAES. DEATH OF MRS HUGHES, GLANAVON.-TIUS melancholy event cannot be passed over without notice. The deceased lady was in her 83rd year, and had for half a century held a prominent position in this parish as the wife and afterwards widow of the Rev John Hughes, well known for a long period as former Rector of the parish and magistrate of the county, She survived her husband some twenty y-ars, and had the good fortune, not often enjoyed by the wUows of incumbents, of still continuing to reside in the immediate vicinity of a home endeared by associations of past usefr' ness and happiness. With her daughters, who survive mourn her loss, she took an active interest to the end in all that concerned the welfare of the parish. Her remains were buried on Monday by those of her husband and sons. The funeral, which was strictly private, was attended by the Rev W. Richards, Dr Lloyd, Mr J. O. Jane:" Mr D. Howell, the Rev J. M. Jones, Mr R. Owen, and a few of the neighbours. On the first Sunday in October she was in church, and attended th holy comn.union. On the first Sunday in November her funeral sermon was preached by the Rev W. Richards, who took his text from iievulations 14, 13 v.

ABERDOVEY. TOWYN LOCAL HOARD, THURSDAY, Nov. ii.-Present: Mr J- Webster, chairman Messrs Win. P,irry, Wm. Rees John Williams, John Daniel, R. G. Price, Thomas Ree^, Richard w MUm °yd' '\nd Allam Huut; W" P- Davies, e.erfc, and D. Williams, inspector. The TowYJt Surveyor's Report. With reference to the com- plaints and claim of Mr Davies, late of the Peu'r^llt Arms tlis fiicts are as fellows: On the night of the occurrence of the flooding of the cellar, somo person or persons diverted the whole of the stream at the upper eud of the town, by placing stoneS- and sods across the stream that runs the other way. During the night heavy raiu fell, and the water flowed over tue streets m>B>- the top of Frankwell-strt et to Church-street, doing great damage. At this time of the year leaves, ferns, &o. blocii up the gratings. To remedy the overfloodinK for the future I have soia'to allow0! ^^0 t0 bB* plac"d at the uPPer Part of the toWUr IshaUlei™itt m°reratur,tj PHSS tbaD tha drain will contain, totg tLat^ufcW,t,Me °,f >Ulr to propose an>" to the gratings There are uo M,m!f otber matter from coming Arms, ^o that during he,^ sho^tb^ZrVhe house. Taere is also an open window to the cellar anY'r i ve many times advised the occupiers to put a .trong^gla^VJdo* in so asm stop the water from filling its way into the Ihey said it was not their business. I also advised th#m to raisfl the iront door step three inches, in order to prevent the water from getting into the house. I visited the prenis-s of Mr W. W. Jones, and I find there is a six-inch pipe for the main drain. He has built over a portion of the drain, aud the nuisance is the result of his own action. There is no proper connection with the drain, nor even a grating. I advised them to get a drain, and place a trap to it. In reference to Richard Richards's com- plaint, it is caused by a stoppage of the drain by leaves at the back of Mr Ivewell's house. The water passing the house not get into the cellar. He has an open grating entrance to tbfl cellar, and the rain goes through the grate. He has in very wet weather heavy springs in his ti, liar. The weather his beeJl unprecedently wet, and we ought to be thankful that Ile have not been visited with such disastrous fljods 11 have occurred in different parts of the country- Mr Price added that the stones had been mlJi" ciously placed in the entrance to the drain, in order to turn the water over the streets. The stones were too large for child" ren to lift.-Tao Chairman remarked that the Board had DO done all that was in their power to do, and there their respolis bility ende(I.Ilr Thos, Rees thought t'nit it the roa. L had b,e]2 raised by order of the Board they were liable for the aamage. The Clerk said he had been informed that the Board had nev«r raised the road, but that it had been raised by the necessary reo pairs.—Mr Price remarked that the road had been in the saØl6 state for forty years, and that was before the Board's formatio0' —In answer to Mr W. Rees, the Clerk said the Board were bouoJ to provide ordinary drainage for the town, but they could not be held responsible for the consequence of floods, neither were the? responsible for the action of th jse persons who had mtliciousl? placed the stones in the drain, because it was a thing the lio»r" n°r belp.—The discussion on this subject then ceased-< With reference to Mr Richards's complaint, the Chairman sa1, there was a great deal of wafer flowing on wet days in front Mr Newell's shop He observed that there was no grating )e- tween Mr Roberts s shop and Mr Owen Daniel's shop, --Ur rrlc: said that the dirty water from Vaenol ran into Towvn -T|i6 Chairman supposed, if that was tho 0-ise, the Board must gifB notice to the Vaenol authorities to keep their "dirty water" to themselves.—Sir Price said, it'the Chairman proposed that, would second it.—The Surveyor for the Yaenol district said had made arrangements to prevent the water running dowil So complained of and in future there would be no nuisance. A Light for the Frogs.—The Board then proceeded to into consideration the application of a member of tha Board f°r a lamp to be placed in the lane near the Talyllyn Rxilway Bri Mr Hunt gave notice to that effect at the last meeting, Mr?1'1^ —Will you allow me, Mr Hunt, to ask you a fewsimple questions.J Mr Hunt—Very well. Mr Price—Does anybody besides y°urW, ask for the lamp ? Mr Hunt—Yes numbers. The Clerk- the people in that district pay rates? Mr Price—Not a penny. Mr Hunt—You are always throwing obstacles in way of additional lamps. You objected to the one at the t station, notwithstanding it is one of the greatest benefits can be bestowed upon Towyn. The Chairmau—Even if the tion wkere it is proposed to place a lamp is outside the gas trict, we can extend the district. Mr Price—Extend it then. don't object to tho lamp being placed at the place only people benefited must pay lor it tbemselvea. Mr JJ.. rr!r a lamp to be put up to benefit those who do nnf « Hunt—I don't see how the Yaenol Dennis Pa^ at by the putting up of a pump in High-street. ^? '°Ulfd you know. Mr W R.es-! never heard u-imp in the place where you propose t0 nut one. Mr Fr,iC, I have been asking the people and 1 thfut it is ouly were of a few persons. I also think that if an additional ^ampttier0 required some deputation should wait upon the should be a petition from the ratepayers. Mr John Wilham appears all the members of Towyn are against granting j plication. Mr W. Parry—No; I am not against it. then* those who do not pay rates, but is there no way of getting tn to pay ? The Clerk—You may make a separate rate. Mr —I have no objection to paying towards it. The Chairman-' would be a very small sum. Mr W. Rees—Who would benefit it ? Mr Hunt—Everybody in that district. Look at the tra in that neighbourhood. Mr Daniel—It wouid not cost the Pe much to keep up a lamp at their own expense. Mr Hun■ should not have asked for the additional lamp only I know i j, as the main is there it would only be necessary to pravide ft P and lamp. The Clerk—It may be that a great number of ho^u will be built in that district, and then it may be made a sepa gas district. We have pretty well made the contract witltt Gas Company for the current year, and therefore it would very proper question to bring on before the next contract is tered into.—It was then proposed by Mr Price, and seconde Mr W. Rees, that the application should be "laid on The Turnpike Roads.—The question relating to the niainte^ ance of turnpike roads in the district was then discussed. answer to Mr Price, the Chairman said the Turnpike^t8]ie Trustees had sent no deputation to the Board asking over the management of the roads but the Board c0' ,irt, of overtures to the Trustees to that effect. As the anion money the Trust would have to expend on the roads _W'J bo small, and the rates in aid considerably heavier in thefutu the question arose whether it-o^^Hhelre.atr^ take the management r0(ld in the ALtrl vev dis'ri<* from the case of aference wouid entail more expense upon Local.0 Bo»r>t 5^' he didlwt^e ^OW the Boa^d woulSben^ fit bv taW*.?ver 'management of the roads.-The Clerk sag zested tb»t it would be well to throw the whole of the roads, eluding the Aberdovey portion upon the shoulders of ^fnF0th& and scrutinize the accounts when they were bef Magistrates. hen the Trust applied for a rate iu U1 11int re- bound to show that they had a deficiency, and the aU a(,rUtiny quired, and any member of the Board could demand a (ha into the accounts. If that were done it could be seen « accounts agreed with the estimates, and so a cheque w'on had upon the expenditure. Of course it would be a little tro some to the members of the Board, but he thought the trowa9 would be amply repaid.—Mr Thomas Rees asked if ^^ard not a contributon of £ 6 per annum by the Trust to the do towards the repair of the Aberdovey road.—The Chairman. plied that he had made an arrangement to that effect, but it w only for one year. Tne contribution in the following would have been almost nominal; but now he thought to should be a contribution made by the Trust.—Ic wa^ t Pfhe cided to allow the matter to stand over, and give notice at w proper time to re-transfer to the Trust the portion of turnpi^ road in the Aberdovey district now repaired by the Local Boar^ Inspector's Report.—Mr Owen Williams reported as follows Towyn—Vicarage-lane: Complaints are made that heaps g ashes are deposited in tho upper part of this lane, and I h# given notice to one of the residents not to put any more rub^1 there. The plea was that there was no place to put the ash0. A house occupied by Ed. Jones, the property of Mr Corbet, Frankwell-street, North-side, had a pool of stagnant water and quantity of filth in its neighbourhood. I ordered the to be remedied without delay. A noxious smell existed at back of the house of Thomas Jones, butcher. I ordered removal of everything that leaded to cause the nuisance.-—Dref' newydd: Two houses occupied by Ann Pughe and Catherine Griffiths. A. Pughe complains that C. Griffiths causes wat< £ to accumulate so as to prevent its getting into her o'f house. It is thus caused to get into A. Pughe's house, eausl0tj a great nuisance.—Aberdovey I employed a man to fence a'>°^_ the reservoir and to put tho barriers surrounding it in a efficient state, with a view to prevent cattle getting inside. John Jones, Tynewydd, complains that water from one of V1, brooks that feeds the reservoir flows through bis ba> fleiot rendering that portion of it worthless. He says that the Bo»r ought to recompense him and lay pipes to convey the water fr0\* the field.—The report was taken into consideration, and orde~ made where Decessary. The Board then adjourned.

LLANWNEN. BADGER.—Mr Hughes, of Neuadd fawr, shot one of the badgers (female) ever seen in this neighbourhood, within a ie hundred yards of the_village last week. It measured thirt.y-thre0 inches from tip to tail, and weighed over twenty-four pounds. FLOOD.—Owing to the heavy rain that fell on Saturday Sunday, November 13th and 14th, the Grannell and its tribO' taries overflowed their banks to such an extent that the inhabitants of the place do not remember such a flood. Man> roads were rendered impassible, and several persons had to their houses.

BARMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting was hfld on Friday, Jfovembe' 12. Present: Messrs Charles Jones, William JJones Morris, a'1, Lewis Lewis. Several applications were s«nt in for the office 0 schoolmaster for the Bonkldu School, Mr W. Evans, Abiry^ wyth, was appointed. Mr Evans is to commence his duties once salary £ 55 per annum, with a prospect of an increase pr<T vided the Inspector's report be satisfactory. The Clerk instructed to advertise for an ex-pupil female teacher, or an sistant monitor for the Barmouth School, Several bills were 1*^ sented, and cheques signed for the same. A precept was to meet the expenses up to the 25th of March next, a precept September last being still unpaid. The Clerk was instructed 0 apply 'o the overseers for payment, and on failure to comply, Board will enforce payment. A month's notice was ordered to given to the attendance officer that his services would not be quired any further.

CORWEN LECTURE.Mr Thomas Hughes, iVTachynlleth, a lecture on Monday evening, November 15tb, at the Ca vinistic Methodist Chapel. On "John Elias, Ch'istiO* Evans and Williams of Wern." The lecturer Sav?..Dfr interesting an amusing account of these three, describj £ them as the three mighty ones of Wales at that time. audience was very large and very plea.-ed with ihe lei* The proceeds were devoted to the British school. The London Gazette notifies several promotions 'rT vices against the pirates up the river Congo. The Sultan, one of the ships of the Starboard divisio1^. the Channel squadron, which sailed from Spitbeadon

CORWEN LECTURE.Mr Thomas Hughes, iVTachynlleth, a lecture on Monday evening, November 15tb, at the Ca vinistic Methodist Chapel. On "John Elias, Ch'istiO* Evans and Williams of Wern." The lecturer Sav?..Dfr interesting an amusing account of these three, describj £ them as the three mighty ones of Wales at that time. audience was very large and very plea.-ed with ihe lei* The proceeds were devoted to the British school.

The London Gazette notifies several promotions 'rT vices against the pirates up the river Congo. The Sultan, one of the ships of the Starboard divisio1^. the Channel squadron, which sailed from Spitbeadon day. November 13th, for Vigo, was compelled to by"stress of weather on Sunday, and it is reported narrowly escaped getting ashore off t.'ne Sussex weather having moderated she sailed again on J»l>