The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

MERIONETH COUJNTY COUNCIL. The first meeting of the County Council for Mer- ioneth was held on Thursday of last week in the Shire- hall at Dolgelley when every member returned in the recent election was present. As. the Liberal members came into town on the previous day to attend a pre- liminary meeting and the majority of the Council remained in town over night, they rather found time hang heavily on their hands until twelve o'clock the hour fixed for the first meeting of the Council. It was whispered that the proceedings of the first meeting would be somewhat formal, for the list of aldermen had virtually been decided upon, and it was further said that only one Conservative had found admission into the select circle. He was the Hon C. H. Wynn, of Rhug, son of Lord Newborough. a gentleman who has been a constant attendant at Quarter Sessions and who takes great interest in the welf are of his neighbouring town of Corwen. The Liberals state three reasons why they selected the majority of aldermen from the ranks of Liberalism. First, that the majority of the Council had been returned by the Liberal party of the county as representative of the Liberalism of Merioneth. and that it would be a betrayal of trust to weaken the representation by the election of Conservative alcer- men. In the second place, that an indifferent Liberal had a superior claim to the office at the hands of the Liberal majority in the Council than the best Con- servative as such. And, in the third place, that as one half the aldermen remain in office for three years and the other half for six years, every Conservative alder- man elected at the first meeting will help to swell the number of Conservatives in future Councils should a reaction set in in favour of Conservatism or some tem- porary incident arise which might induce the electors to be as Conservative, for a time, in the future as they are now and have been for years past Liberal. A few minutes before twelve o'clock nearly all the members of the Council had arrived and took what seats were available on the bench in the Shirehall, which is constructed in the form of a horseshoe for assize purposes. Below is a large table with a seat at its head for the Clerk of Arraigns and accommodation ;for the bar and other members of the legal profession, backed up by the dock. Then there is a gangway, and next accommodation for about 200 of the public. 'On Thursday last about 100 people of the district attended to hear the proceedings of the first Council, and to mark the increased interest which is felt throughout the county. These subsequently began to take part in the proceedings by applauding certain remarks, bul; were called to order by the Chairman, who rightly said that the Council must be allowed to deliberate its affairs with dignity and order and not, like the French Chamber, be disturbed by marks of approbation or disapprobation from the gallery. Presently, the Clerk of the Peace (Mr Robert Jones, Tortmadoc), accompanied by Mr Holl, his assistant, arrived and took the seat of the Clerk of Arraigns and Mr J. Charles Hughes, solicitor, representing the •undereheriff, appeared on the bench from the Grand Jury room and stood near the Judge's seat, a massive wooden structure shaped like something between a sentry box and a hanging press tor women's dresses. Of close upon a dozen doctors who desired to be present at the birth of the County Council,four or five only had been selected for the honour. Dr Edward Jones, chairman of the Merionethshire Liberal Association, took his seat on a front bench within a few feet of the chair on the right, and, next after Mr Lewis Lewis of Barmouth, was supported by Dr Jones, of Harlech,while the Rev Michael Jones, of Bala, terminated the queue. On the left, Dr Charles Williams, of Hengwm, took a aitnilar position, as far as regards distance from the chair, as that taken by Dr Edward Jones on the opposite side, and Dr Roberts, Isallt, the genial member for one of the Festiniog districts, backed Dr Williams up from the top corner of the jury box, and he was also supported by young Mr Vaughan, of Nann&u, Mr Jones, Plasyracre, Bala, and Mr Roberts, Glandwr, Corwen, who flat alongside Dr Williams. Mr R. O. Jones, solicitor, Featiniog, with Mr Pope, Q.C., alone represent the legal profession. No clergyman offered himself for election. The Nonconformity of the county was represented by the Rev Griffith Evans, who also is a retired farmer and a repre- sentative member on the Fishery Board of the fishermen of Aberdovey and Towyn, the Rev Hugh Cernyw" Williams, the 'respected Baptist minister of Corwen," the Rev W. Caradog Jones, Independent, of Corris, and the Rev Michael D. Jones, principal cf one of the Bala Indepen- dent Colleges, the founder of the Welsh colony of Patagonia, and, perhaps, apostle of Cymro, Cymru a Chymraeg in North Wales. The rev gentle- man discards the clerical garb and wears the "breech penlin" of the old Welsh yeoman and, as far as possible, nothing but the best of homespuns of his native country. With the exception of the Rev Cernyw "Williams, all the ministers occupied seats on the Chair- man's left. The Festiniog, Penrhyndeudraeth, and Trawsfynydd members—an intelligent-looking body of men-pretty well filled the jury box. Mr Hughes, who did a brave fight in the Cycfal and Teigl districts as a working man's candidate made one of the top row with Mr Hadyn Jones, who was returned unopposed for the urban district of Towyn. Mr Thomas Jones, Brynmelyn, who has helped more than one candidate to a seat and has at last been deservedly rewarded with a seat for himself, on Thursday occupied the position usually filled at assizes by the bailiff who has to take charge of the jury when they leave the box to consider their verdict and see that they are kept without fire or light, food or drink until they come to a decision. Mr Dunlop, who once contested the county in a parliamentary election in the Conservative interest, and was returned unopposed as a Liberal to the Council for the Cwmorthin and Ystradau districts .of Festiniog, headed a second row of councillors on the deft consisting of Messrs Morris Jones, Plasucha, who has done good service for his county in the matter of the Merionethshire scholarships, Mr Ellis Pugh Jones. Of Dolgelley Board of Guardians fame, who was returned unopposed for Llangelynin, the Rev Caradog Jones, the Rev Griffith Evans, and Mr Morris Thomas, the sturdy Liberal of Corrie, who in turn were backed up by Messrs R. O. Jones, solicitor, and his confrere Mr Parry Jones, banker, Festiniog, and by Mr Meredith, Penrhyn Dovey, from the opposite end of the county. 'The county magistrates and Conservative members of the Council took a somewhat back seat. Mr W. R. M. Wynne, the chairman of Quarter Sessions, sat at the extreme end of the bench on the left, where the teller of the court of Assize goes through the ceremony of counting when the Clerk of Arraigns reads out the names of jurors. Mr Webster, chairman of the Towyn Local Boardjof Health ever since its establishment some sixteen years ago, who defeated Mr J. Hughes ..Jones, of Aberdovey in a good stand-up fight,sat along- side, and Mr W. E. Oakeley, the hospitable owner of -the Tanybwlch estate, who placed the Rev G Ceidiog Roberta hors de combat, completed the trio. Mr R. J. Ll. Price, of Rhiwlas, wandered about near the chair as • if he preferred the liberty of selecting the best place whence to command the situation when occasion occurred. When he spoke on the place of meeting he ranged himself alongside the leader of the Dolgelley section, Dr Edward Jones, and with his pleasant coun- tenance, faced the bulk of his supporters in the jury box. Mr Jones, Ynysfor, and Mr Davies, Caerblaidd, sst at the table in the well of the court, and on the, opposite side was Mr Edward Griffith, of Springfield, i who had done battle in Llanfachreth against the "House of Nannau without success. 3 Mr Charles Hughes, the under-sheriff, having i stated that the first businees was to appoint a chair- man of the Provisional Council, Dr Edward Jones, 'in accordance with an understanding that had been arrived at. proposed that Mr Pope. Q.C. and deputy chairman of Quarter Sessions, should be voted to the chair The proposition was carried unanimously, and the Council proceeded to the election of aldermen i by open voting. The papers having been filled up and j handed to the Chairman, he read out the name ot the voter and the persons for whom he voted. No fewer -than thirty-one or thirty-two members voted for fourteen aldermen as their names finally stood. This was the result of the deliberations of the Liberal mem- bers who on the previous evening had divided the -county into three sections and allowed the members of eash section to select their own aldermen. Five were allotted to Festiniog and Penrhyn district. five to Dolgelley, Barmouth and Towyn district, and four to Cerwen and Bala. Three only—those who had been returned unopposed-were elected from within ,.1;be Council and four from the number of defeated candidates. Young Mr Vaughan's vote was watched with interest, and was found to be as fol"ows Messrs W. R. M. Wynne, John Vaughan, the Hon. c. H. Wynn, E. Oakeley, John Williams, Gwern- hefin (Sir Watkin's Merioneth agent), David Jones, Goppa, Trawsfynydd, and R. J. Ll. Price, all, except- ing, perhaps, Mr David Jones, Goppa, Conservatives. Mr Dunlop's vote was as follows Mr W. E. Oakeley, R. J. L1. Price, Rhiwlas, John Jones, Ynysfor. W. Davies, Caerblaidd, W. R. M. Wynne, A. Osmond Williams, the Rev Michael D. Jones, Messrs Thomas Jones, Brynmelyn, Andreas Roberts, Colonel Evans Lloyd. E. H. Jonathan, and Charles Williams, Hen- gwra—»ix Conservatives and six Liberals. The fact that Mr Dunlop voted for the Rev Michael Jones was received with laughter and the laughter was renewed when subsequently the Chairman announced that a vote had described Mr Oakeley as Al. F. H. master of foxhounds. The next vote-as to which of the fourteen aldermen should go out of office at the end of three years—was conducted in secret. The rjpapera were filled up and deposited in a ballot box, and Mr Dunlop and Mr Morris Jones, Plasucha, were ap- 4pointed scrutineers to count up the votes and I report upon the result to the Council. They retired for this purpose to the grand jury room, and the Council proceeded to talk over the question cf the next place of meeting which as the Chairman observed, would probably indicate where meetings of the Council would in future be held. A few memberswere in favour of following the example of the County Agricultural Society, and holding the meetings at Towyn, Harlech, Dolgelley, and Bala in rotation, but the great fight of Dolgelley versus Bala, waged some years ago by the late Marquess of Londonderry, on the one hand, and the late Mr Robertson and Mr Price, Rhiwlas, on the other, was I renewed, and now as then it was decided in favour of Bala's having a share of the honour with Dolgelley, so that no doubt when the matter comes to be per- manently settled, the meetings will be held alternately at Bala and Dolgelley. The majority of the Talsarnau and Penrhyndeudraeth members, somewhat curiously. threw in their lot with Bala. though one would think that for them at least a visit to Dolgelley would be cheaper and more convenient. The business was mainly conducted in the English language, but during the discussion on the place of meeting, Dr Edward Jones and the Rev Griffith Evans spoke in Welsh. This caused the Chairman to say that he believed that by an Act passed in the time of Henry VIII. (prior to which the legal business of the country was conducted in Latin) all the legal business of Eagland and Wales must be conducted in the English language, and there- fore he must ask councillors to confine themselves to that language The remark was received with general surprise, and it was all the more unfortunate, because at the meeting of Liberal members held on the previous day, when some one proposed that all the proceedings should be conducted in Welsh and the minutes kept in Welsh, it was agreed that members should be at liberty to speak what language they preferred. Dr Edward Jones observed that if the Chairman's ruling could be enforced it would disqualify one-half the members from taking part in the debates. It is said that nearly all, if not all, the members can understand English, but that a great many are unable to express themselves confidently in that tongue. The Chair- man's remark caused general dissatisfaction, and will, so it was afterwards said, destroy the very good chance Mr Pope had of being permanently elected to the chair. As has been said before, all the members cf the Council were present. They were-Messrs William Foulkes Jones, the Terrace, Corwen Robert David Roberts, Glandwr, Corwen Hugh Cernyw Williams, London-road, Corwen; Robert Edwards, Bryushop, Gwyddelwern, Corwen Henry Davies, Tyfos, Llan- drillo, Corwen Richard Jones, Plasyracre, Bala; Edward Peters. Tynaut, Rhyducha', Bala; Richard John Lloyd Price, Riiiwlas. Bala; Thomas Jones, Brynmelyn, Llandderfel Michael David Jones. Bodiwan, Bala; Edward Jones, Caerffynon, Dolgelley Morris Jones, Plasucha, Dolgelley Robert Pugh, Helyglog, Dolgelley Robert Vaughan, Brynllinfawr, Trawsfynydd Lewis Lewis, Hillside, Barmouth Charles Williams, Hengwm, Llanaber, Dyffryu Samuel Pope, Q.C., Hafodybryn, Llanbedr; Ellis Pugh Jones, Hendre, Llwyngwril William Robert Maurice Wynne, Peniarth, jTowyn John Jones, Llwyngrug, Mallwyd Morris Thomas, Bridge-street, Corris William Caradog Jones, Bt'ynawel, Corris William Davies, Cae'rblaidd, Festiniog. Jonn Hughes, Hafod- fawrissa, Festiniog Robert Roberts, Isallt, Blaenau Festiniog; John Parry Jones, District Bank. Blaenau Festiniog Robert Owen Jones, 41, High-street, Blaenau Festiniog David Griffith Jones, Glasgow House, Blaenau Festiniog; David Griffith Williams, 32, Church-street, Blaenau Festiniog; Alexander Milne Dunlop, Hafodybryn, Llanbedr; William Parry Evans, 27, Church-street, Blaenau Festiniog; John Jones, Ynysfor, Llanfrothea, Penrhyndeudraeth William Edward Oakeley, Plas, Tanybwlch; John Humphreys, V ronwnion-street, Trawsfynydd Robert Hugh Pugh, Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd John Benuett Jones, Brynyfelin, Talsarnau John Rowe, Glasfrya View, Penrhyndeudraeth Richard Thomas Jones, Penygarth Villa, Harlech; James Meredith, Penrhyn, Dovey, Pennal Henry Haydn Jones, High-street, Towyn Griffith Evans, 8, Glandovey-terrace, Aber- dovey and James Webster, 17, Sea View-terrace, Aberdovey. Mr J. CHARLES HUGHES, commencing the proceed- ings of the first meeting, said that as undersheriff he he had to represent the Sheriff that day. He believed the first duty lie had to perform at the first meeting of the- Provisional Council was to ask the members of the Council to appoint a chairman of the meeting for that day and of the second meeting. Dr EDWAIW JONES proposed and Mr R. D. ROBERTS, Corwen, seconded the appointment of Mr Pope, and the proposition was carried unanimously. Mr PorE, acknowledging the appointment, thanked the Council very sincerely for the honour they hnd done him in placing him in the chair of the first meet- ing of the Merioneth County Council. His duties for I the first two meetings, of course, would be very simple; t'ce but possibly the knowledge which previous experience I had given him of proceedings in municipal matters might be of some service, and he certainly should do his duty with impartiality, without fear or favour, and to the best interests of the county. The first duty would be to request the services of a clerk for the Pro visional Council. On and after the first of next April 1 the Act of Parliament gave the Council as clerk the 1 Clerk of the Peace, but until the 1st April, when the Council came into all their rights and powers and privileges,they had no clerk except such as they might appoint. As the Act provided that the Clerk of the Peace should take the duty upon been requested to do so, perhaps some member of the Council would move that Mr Robert Jones, clerk of the peace, should be requested to act as clerk of the Provisional Council. The Clerk of the Peace was formally appointed, on the proposition of Mr W. R. M. WYNNE, seconded by Mr DUNLOP. The CHAIRMAN said the next business the Council had to deal with was the selection of fourteen county aldermen. He did not know whether it was necessary or desirable that he should explain the form of election. Each member of the Council had a right to vote for as many qualified persons to be aldermen as he choose within the number of fourteen. There was no double voting. He should not vote unless there was equality of numbers, and then he should give his casting vote. Papers were then handed to each member and after being filled up, handed back to the Chairman who read out the name of each voter and the persons named on the paper with the following result:— Messrs S. Pope, 36; C. H. Wynn, 38; John Vaughan, 2; Colonel Evans-Lloyd, 5; W. R. M. Wynne, 3 Richard Jones, Plasyracre, 31; Edward Peters, 31 Wm. Williams, 81 Edward Griffith, 31 John Evans, 32; J. Hughes Jones, 30; Wm. Davies, Pant, 30; E. H. Jonathan, 32; A. O. Williams, 32 J. Cadwaltwdr, 31 Rev J. C. Roberts, 31 Andreas Roberts. 32; R. M. Greaves. 3; General Owen Jones, 3; E. Edmund Roberts, Cefntreforisa, 2: Edward Williams, Corris, 1 J. Corbett, Y nysymaengwyn, 3 R. E. LI. Eichards, 2 John Roberts, Perfeddnant, 1 Thomas Jones, Brynmelyn. 3; H. E. Robertson, Paid, 1 Dr Walker, 1 John Jenkins, Bodweni, 1 Wm. Allsopp, Barmouth, 1; W. H. McConnell, 1 Dr Jones, Cdrwen, 1 W. E. Oakeley, 3; Edward Vaughan, Penisarllan, 1; W. Tegid Jones, Goppa, 3 John Jones, Ynysfor, 2; Wm. Davies, Caerblaidd, 2; John Williams, Gwernhefin I R. J. LI. Price. 2; Michael D. Jones, 1 and Charles Williams, Hengwm, one. The Council then proceeded to decide by ballot which of the fourteen aldermen should go out of office at the end of three years and which should remain in office for the full term of six years. Mr Dunlop and Mr Morris Jones, who were appointed scrutineers, after a lengthened absence from the room, on their return reported that votes had been recorded as follows Messrs E. H. Jonathan, 41 G. Ceidiog Roberts, 40 E. Peters, 39; Andreas Roberts, 38 John Evans, 36 Wm. Davies, 35 Hon. C. H. Wynn, 30 Wm. Williams, 8 J. Hughes Jones, S J. Cadwaladr, 7 Richard Jones, 2; Edward Griffith, 1 and A. O. Williams. 1. ( The CHAIRMAN accordingly declared that Messrs Jonathan, G. C. Roberts, E. Peters, Andreas Roberts, John Evans, William Divies. and the Hon C. H. I lVynu would retire on the 7th November, 1891, but be eligible for re-election. The remaining seven would remain in office for another three years. The CHAIRMAN stated that successful and unsuccess- ful candidates in the recent election must return a statement of expenditure with the view of showing that they had not committed the highly illegal act of excessive expenditure. Each candidate was authorised to spend £ 25,or,if his constituency was more than 500, at a certain rate in excess of that. As. how- ever. there was no one empowered before the 1st of April to receive the returns, the Local Government Board had written suggesting that the Provisional Council should app!y for an order constituting the clerk of the peace the proper officer to receive the statements. The suggestion was adopted, on the proposition of Mr WYNNE seconded by Dr EDWARD JONES. The CHAIRMAN observed that many matters would require attention before the first meeting of the County Council, such as the selection ot the design of the common seal and so on; and he thought those matters shoald be settled by the Provisional Council. The 7th November was fixed for the annual meeting and at that meeting the Council would decide upon three quarterly meetings. Mr WILLIAM DAVIES asked when would the proper time arise to consider where should the meetings be permamently held ? The CHAIRMAN said that would be decided by the full Council after the 1st April. Perhaps the Council could proceed'to discuss the time and place for the second meeting of the Provisional Council when they would have to elect chairman and, if they liked, vice- chairmen. He should have to gammon it, and whit was said would guide him. 1 Mr PRICE, Rhiwlas, moved that the next meeting of the Provisional Council should be held at Bala. He added that he would not go over the arguments that, had been well threshed out in the newspapers as to the advantages of Dolgelley and Bala, but he would say that those who had seen the room at Bala would admit that that room was better fitted for the holding of such meetings than that room at Dogelley. At Bala the members would be able to sit comfortably at the table, but at Dolgelley the members had to sit higgildy-piggildy. Some of the councillors looked as if they were a petty jury trying a case and their worthy chairman of Quarter Sessions looked as if he was in the dock. (Laughter.) The councillors found considerable inconvenience when they had to fill up the voting papers, for they had no place on which to write. He also thought that train arrangements were on the whole more convenient for Bala than for Dolgelley. Mr JONES, Plasyracre, seconded the pro- position. The CHAIRMAN, inviting a discussion on the subject, ventured to say that anything more inconvenient for the purposes of a Council, where everybody was upon an equality, than the construction of that court it was impossible to conceive. At that moment they had a part of the Council upon a higher level, some in the dock and some sitting down below. Sitting there he found it difficult to say who were councillors and who were not. There were yie representatives of the press sitting in the place usually occupied by the bar but whether the gentlemen sitting immediately behind them were councillors or not he could not determine except by asking their names and referring to the list. It was desirable that the public who had access to the meetings in order to satisfy themselves as to the way in which the business was conducted, should be distinguishable from the members of the Council, which was a deliberative body. They had not in that building a room of the requisite size. and he did not know of any other room belonging to the county except that at Bala, which the Council could acquire without paying for It. It was. he thought, a question which did not justify any charge upon the rates of the county, as it was after all a question of the convenience of county oouncillors. Dr EDWARD JONES, in Welsh, said he was not going to give reasons in favour of Dolgelley at that meeting, as the matter could not be decided until after April 1st. It was very possible when the full Council assembled that other places besides Bala and Dolgellev would be mentioned for the place of meeting. There was, however, an old sentiment that after all Dolgelley was the best place of meeting. (Applause in the body of the hall.) Many meetings had been held in that hall and he thought it could be made to do for County Council purposes. If Dolgelley was convenient for the first meeting of the Council he did not see why it was not convenient for the second, and therefore he proposed that the second meeting should be held at Dolgelley. The Rev GRIFFITH EVANS, Aberdovey, seconded the amendment in Welsh, remarking that Dolgelley was much more convenient to Aberdovey and the eastern side of the county generally. The CHAIRMAN said he was afraid he must ask the Council to conduct the proceedings in English. He did not like to pronounce a very decided opinion with- out having carefully examined into the question, which he had not done, but his impression was that all legal proceedings were by law bound to be conducted in the English language. He might be wrong, and if the law was as he supposed, it might be set right by the Legis- lature but if it should turn out that it was so, they must not go against the law in the County Council and conduct their debates in Welsh. They must be con- tent to conduct their proceedings in English. He believed that a statute of Henry VIII., which he hoped to be able to find in some library in Dolgelley in order to satisfy himself-enacted that all legal pro- ceedings in the countries of England and Wales was to be conducted in the English language. He was not perfectly certain whether it paid in the language of the people "or in the English language." If it was in the language of the people," he certainly, if he were to decide the question, should give a liberal con- struction to those words. but if by Act of Parliament it said it must be in English, then there could be no other construction on it. Dr EDWARD JONES hoped that if that was the Chairman's ruling it was not correct, because if it was so it would disqualify some of the county councillors from taking part in the deliberations of the County Council. Mr PRIes, Rhiwlas, thought that the appointment of a thoroughly reliable interpreter would meet the wishes of all. The CHAIRMAN said that would be a perfectly easy matter, as far as enabling those of the Council who did not understand Welsh to understand the proceedings, and that was what was done in courts of justice. His impression, however—he did not feel sufficiently cer- tain on the matter to give it as a ruling—was that there was an Act of Parliament which confined r proceedings in all legal matters to the English language. He would take care before the next meeting to investigate the matter and see how far the Act was elastic, and how far it was imperative. Mr MORRIS THOMAS, Corris, remarked that in the present state of the country the Act to which the Chairman referred was quite inoperative. At many Board of Guardians' meetings Welsh was spoken and was not objected to. The proceedings were conducted in Welsh and carried on as regulary as among the English people. The CHAIRMAN durst say that might be so but that was uot the question before the Council at that moment (Oh ) The question before the Council was. "Is Bala the most convenient place for the next meeting what- ever language is spoken ?" Mr MORRIS THOMAS said he had to travel eighty miles, reckoning to and fro, in order to get to Dol- gelley, and the member from Dinas had to travel over 100 miles. Though Bala might be convenient to a great many people, he thought that taking the county generally, Dolgelley would be the most convenient place. The Bala people could get to Dolgelley easily, and the train arrangements were good from the Pen- rhyndeudraeth side. Mr W. R. M. WYNNE thought that, with the pre- sent train arrangements between Dolgelley and Bala, Dolgelley would be the most convenient place for the next meeting. Probably the arrangement which had been come to by Quarter Sessions to meet alternately at Ba!a and Dolgelley would ultimately suit all parts of the county. Mr W. P. EVANS, Festiniog, said the opinion of the people of Festiniog was that the meetings should be held in rotation at several places in the county. As representing Festiniog, be should vote for Bala for the next meeting. Mr PRICE, Rhiwlas, said that as the majority of the Council came from the Festiniog end of the county the expense of meeting at Bala would be less to them than meetiug at Dolgelley. It would also be cheaper to councillors living in the Corwen end. If Council meetings were held often the question of expense would become worthy of consideration. Mr MEREDITH, Pennal. thought it obvious that Dol- gelley was the most central place of meeting, when all parts of the county were considered. Councillors living on the eastern side of the county expected that coun- cillors living on the northern side would, in fairness, meet them by allowing the next meeting to be held at Dolgelley. At least, he hoped that Dolgelley would be selected as the place of meeting in winter and then when summer came, with longer days and better train arrangements, he and others living in the eastern and southern parts of the coanty would be glad to visit Festiuiog and Bala, and, after transacting business, walk on the shore of the beautiful lake. (Applause by the public.) The CHAIRMAN called for order, and said that the public must understand that they could not be allowed to take part in the debates of the Council. If the public were allowed to intervene in the deliberations of the Council it would beoome like a French Chamber. Mr DAVIES. Caerblaidd, said that convenience to the majority had been referred to. If general convenience was meant it must be a question of the convenience of the majority of the members. If they looked at the argument of numbers, it would be found that oat of forty-t^o members of the Council there were no fewer than twenty-three members living on the (Bala and Corwen, Festiniog and Maentwrog side. Mr PRICE, Rhiwlas-Twenty-two I made. Mr DAVIES, Caerblaidd, added that be would accept twenty-two. Moreover, seven of the aldermen had been selected from that side making twenty-nine out of the fifty-six. There was therefore an absolute majority in favour of Bala being the place of meeting. Now they had to go to Dolgelley once in a way to the great inconvenience of Festiniog. Corwen, and Gweddelwern members, surely the Dolgelley people would meet these members at Bala. Ultimately, the CHAIRMAN put the question to the Council when fifteen voted in favour of Dolgelley and twenty-three in favour of Bala as the next place of meeting. Mr MORRIS THOMAS, Corris, suggested that the railway companies should be approached with the view of giving easier terms to members of the Council when travelling to attend the meetings. The CHAIRMAN, however, thought it would be easier to make arrangements with the companies when the place of meeting had been permanently settled. The question therefore was postponed, and the Council rose. At three o'clock an adjourned meeting of Quarter Sessions was held when there were present Messrs W. R. M. Wynne, chairman. S. Pope, deputy-chairman j Dr Lloyd Williams, Dr Lloyd, Barmouth, E. Gillart I Jones, and R. Prys Owen, Glanrafoo. There was no business of public importance to the transacted and: the Sessions were further postponed.