Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

MARKETS WXLSHFOOL GENERAL, Monday.—Wholesale price Butter, Is Id to Is 3d per lb eggs, 7 to 8 for Is fowls, 3s Od to 4s Od chickens, 4s 6d to 58 Od ducks, 4s 6d to 5s Od; rabbits, Is 3d to Is 4d per couple apples, 2d to Od per lb walnuts. 6d per 100 LIVERPOOL CORN, TUESDAY.—Wheat, quiet trade, old unchanged, new about id to Id lower. 1 Hard Manitoba, 7s Od to 7s Oid; New Kansas 5s lljd to 6s 2Jd. Beans, Saidi, 28s Od to 28s 3d. Peas, Calcutta, 5s 4d to 5s 4Jd. Oats,new, 2s 3d to 2s 5d. Maize, slow about gd lower, prime mixed, 3s 10d to 3s lid; River Plate, 3s 9d to 3s 91d. Flour, unchanged. BIRMINGHAM CATTLE, TUESDAY. — Fair sup- plies, but trade quiet. Prices ruled as follow:—Beef, Herefords, 6id to6|d; shorthorns, 5id to 6d; bulls and cows, 4|d to 5Jd; calves 6|dto8d; sheep, to 8d lambs, 7d to 71d per lb. Bacon pigs, 8s 4d to 8s bd porkets, 7s 6d to 10s Od sows, 6s 4d to 61 61 per score. I' SALFORD CATTLE, TUESDAY. — At market — Cattle, 2,515, and trade very quiet sheep, 6,798, with good demand and prices in sellers' favour calves, 112, with satisfactory trade. Quotations :— Cattle, 41d to 6d sheep, 5id to 8fd; calves, 6d to 8?fd per lb. LivfBPOWL CATTLE MARKET,MoNDAY.—Numbers: Beasts, 1,223 sheep, 5,895. Quotations :—Best beasts, 51d to 6d seconds, 5jd to 6Jd thirds, 4d to 4fd best Scotch sheep, 7id to 811; other sorts, 5id to 71d lamb, 61d to 71d per lb. There was an increase of 381 cattle, and an increase of 1,419 sheep and lambs. Demand slow for cattle, sharp demand for small young sheep, other neglected, at about late rates. LONDON B AYI AND STRAW, TUESDAY.—Prices:— Good to prime hay, 75s to 85s Od inferior to fair, 60s to 70s good to prime clover, 75s to 95s inferior to fair ditto, 70s Od to 80s mixture and sainfoin, 75s to 85s Od straw, 28s to 40s per lead. CORK BUTTER, Thursday.—Primest, —s prime —s; firsts, 82s; seconds 79s; kegs,-s; third, 77s kegs -s fourths 72s; fifths —s choicest —e; choice —s superfine 85s kegs —a fine mild 83s mild 78s choicest boxes 86s choice boxes, 82a. lLl2 cwt of fresh butter A, 88s to 85s B, 73s to 72a factory seconds. 71. Total number of firkinil 327. SHREWSBURY GENERAL MARKET.—Quotations:— Fresh butter, Is Od to Is 3d per lb eggs, 7 to 8 for Is; pigeons, lOd to Is; rabbits, Is 6d to Is lOd fowls, 4s Od to 5s Od dreaged do., 5a Od to 5s 6d ducks, 530d to 6s Od; dressed do., 5s 6d to 6a 6d per couple pheasants, 5s Od to 5s 6d per brace hares 4s Od to 5s Od each. OSWESTRY CORN MARKET, WEDNESDAY. — Tie following were the quotations:—White wheat (old) 43 6d to 4s 8d white wheat (new), 430d to 43 4d per 751bs red wheat (old), 4s 6d to 4s 8d red wheat (new), 4s Od to 4s 4d per 7blbs old oats, 14s Od to 15a Od new oats, 10s Od to 10s 6d per 2001bs; malting barley, 17s Od to il9a Od; grinding barley, 13s Od to 13s 6d per 2801bs new Leans, Os Od to Os Od per 2401bs. OSWESTRY GENERAL MARKET, WEDNESDAY.— Quotations :—Butter, Is 2d to Is 3d per lb; eggs, 7 to 8 for Is; beef, 7d to 8d; mutton, 8d to 9d lamb, 9d to 9Jd veal, 7d to 8d fowls, 4s d to 5s Od; ducks, 5s Od to 6s Od; rabbits, 2s Od to 2s 2d per couple Geese, 71d to 8M per lb; cabbages, 2d to 3d cauliflowers, 2d to 4d each potatoes, 18lbs for Is; English tomatoes, 7d to 8d per lb; boney, Is per jar pickling onions, lid shallots, lid to 2d; Brussels sprouts, 2d to 23d per Jb; celery, 3d to 4d per stick; filberts 9d to 10d per quart; walnuts, 8d per 100. OSWESTRY WEEKLY CATTLE FAIR.—There was a good show of stock at the Smithfield on Wednes- day cows and calves sold at better rates, a general improvement in beef being recorded. The sheep and pigs trade was firmer. Messrs Whitfield & Sons sold 167 cattle and calves, and 905 shppp and pigs. Messrs Wm Hall, Wateridge & Owen sold 53 fat cattle and a number of sheep Messrs Whit- Held and Rogers, and Mr T Whitfield, Junr. had their usual sales. Prices ruled as follows :—Beef 6d to 61d per lb; veal, 7d to 8d per lb mutton, 6Jd to 8d lamb, 61d to 8d per lb pork pigs, 8s 6d to 9s Od bacon pigs, 8s Od to 8s 6d per score. ELLESMERK, TUESDAY.—Quotations as follows Wheat, 4s 6d to 4s 8d per 75 lbs; malting barley, 18s Od to 20s Od per 280 Ibs; oats, 11s Od to 12s Od per 200 The butter, la Od to Is 2d per lb eggs, 7 to 8 for Is; fowls (hens), 2s 6d to 3s 6d chickens, 3s 6d to 5s 6d ducks, 4s Od to 5s; rabbits, Is 6d to Is 9d per couple; apples, lid per lb. WHITCHURCH, FRIDAY. — Wheat, 4s Od to 4s 2d per 75 lbs; barley, 3s 9d to 4s 3d per 70 lbs oats 2s 6d to 3s 6d per 50 lbs eggs, ft to 8 for la butter Is Id to Is 2d per 16 oz; fowls, 3s 6s to 4s 6d; ducks, 4s 6d to *5s 6d per couple potatoes. 10d to lid per 201bs beef, 7d to 9d mutton, 8d to 9d lamb, 8d to 9d veal, 8d to 9d; pork 7d to 8d per lb rabbits, Is 6d to is 8d pei couple; apples, 2d to 3d per lb.

+ CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending November 15th, 19C3. Miles open, 265!. Passengers, parcels, horses, carriages, dogs and mails, £ 2,289; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £ 3,353 total for the week, JE5,642 aggregate from commencement of half-year £ 151,749. Actual traffic receipts for the correspond- ing week of last year Miles open, 250. Passengers, parcels, &c., £ 2,224; merchandise, minerats, &o.. £ 3,158 total for the week, £ 5,382; aggregate from commencement of half > ear, £ 145,559. Increase for the week, passengers, parcels, Ac., £ 65; increase, merchandise, minerals, &o., X195 total increase for the week, £ 260; aggregate increase passengers, parcels &c., £ 5,260 aggregate increase merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 930; aggregate iu. crease from cammencemeufc of half-year, £ 6,190.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL. THE BOROUGH FINANCES. CONSENT TO AN INQUIRY. An ordinary meeting of the Aberystwyth Town Council was held on Tuesday morning, there being present—the Mayor (Councillor Isaac Hopkins), Aldermen Peter Jones, W. H. Palmer, and E. P. Wynne, Councillors Robert Doughton, G. Fossett Roberts, Capt James, D. 0. Thomas, W. Thomas, T. H. Edwards, J. Gibson, jun., T. J. Samuel, and R. J. Jones, with Mr A. J. Hughes (town clerk), Mr H. L. Evans (borough accountant), Mr Rees Jones (borough surveyor). THE DEPUTY MAYOR. The Mayor announced that he had appointed the ex-mayor (Councillor E. H. James) as his deputy. THE BOROUGH FINANCES. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Rufus Wil- liams, J. Gibson, sen., H. H. Davies, Fred Morgan, J. C. Rea, and J. Watkins, appeared before the Council, having been appointed by a public meet- ing of ratepayers to present a resolution passed in reference to the state of the finances of the town, which were discusssd at an open meeting of the Ratepayers' Association recently.—Mr Rufus Wil- liams, who is chairman of the association, acted as kipokesman and presented the resolution of the public meeting passed in the following terms In view of the state of the Corporation finances as shown by the report issued by the Ratepayers' Association this meeting requests the Town Coun- cil to hold an inquiry, open to the ratepayers, in reference to the statements contained therein. Mr Williams said the deputation did not wish to go specifically into the matters mentioned in the report which had already been fairly widely circulated by the local papers. — The Mayor having asked if that deputation bad anything else to say, Mr Rufus Williams said if the request was granted and an enquiry held he hoped it would be conducted by an eminent firm of auditors.—Mr Wm. Thomas said the Ratepayers' Union some months ago wrote them on this subject, and the Town Council replied asking them to specify the items complained of. It would help them to have the items in a concise form instead of having to read speeches which would cover a page or two of it newspaper:-—Mr Williams replied that they did not ask the Council to read columns of newspaper reports. They had sent in with that application a copy of the report issued by the Association, and he thought Mr Thomas should have acquainted himself with it.—Mr Samuel thought if there was anything wrong in the finances of the town it should be thrashed out, and they should have any enquiry that was necessary. He agreed with Mr Thomas as to a former communication with the Ratepayers' Association, and said the Council was really waiting a reply from the Association. He thought the items should be specified.-Alderman Palmer said if there was anything wrong with the finances they should gee to know it. It was stated there was something wrong, but why did not the ratepayers appoint auditors? Auditors were ap- pointed each year by the Mayor and the ratepayers, and they said the accounts were properly audited. The election of auditors would take place in a short time. If the deputation pointed out where things were wrong the Council would get a report from those auditors. If the ratepayers took an interest in the matter they should appoint their auditors.—Mr Edwards said it seemed to him the question was whether they should have an enquiry or not. They could ask the deputation a few ques- tions first and decide on the application after.—Mr Thomas said let them acquiesce with the request of gentlemen present and of those they represented, but by all means let them have the items pointed out in a concise way before the Council moved.-Mr Williams said a copy of the report had been handed to the Town Clerk.—Mr Gibson junr., took it that if the application were granted the case would be put before them there. Mr Thomas seemed to want the case put that day.—Mr R. J. Jones said every member of the Council was desirous that every enquiry should take place. There was nothing to conceal, and if he understood the Rate- payers' Association, it was the system of keeping the accounts that thpy objected to. He did not know that they complained of anything else except that the Corporation had been spending out of revenue what they considered should come out of the capital account. He thought the Council wauld be able to give an explanation on that point that would satisfy the ratepayers. If they wanted to adopt a new system of keeping the accounts, he thought the suggestion of the Chairman of the Association was a good one, and they should engage a chartered accountant to go into the whole ques- tion. He was sure the borough accountant would agree to that. He s&w the Torquay abstract of accounts the other day and they were practically the same form as those of Aberystwyth. He believed, however, that they may be issued in a simpler form so that the ratepayers might more easily understand them. He moved that the appli- cation of the deputation be granted; that a fully qualified chattered accountant should be engaged, and that the question of his remuneration be left to the Finan -e Committee to decide.—Mr Daniel Thomas seconded the proposition. He said there was a rumour aboard that there was money miss- irg and be thought that the ratepayers should be satified on that point.—Mr Gibson Sr., one of the deputation, said be was sure that the deputation which had come there from the ratepayers were anxious there should be no idea that that was a trival objection to some formal way of doing business in reference to finances. As regarded preparing a concise account of what was com- plained of, great care bad been taken and much time expended in preparing as concise an account as could well have been put in words. The sub- jcct was an intricate one the material before the Committee of Investigation was not easily acces- sible. If Mr Thomas bad a copy of the report he would see that for its purpose they had grouped under three headings what they considered defi- ciencies in the abstract. That was concise enough for anybody. They had abstained from going info details, and they bad abstained, he thought effectively, from placing blame on the borough accountant or auditors and the Town Council had a perfect light to force any of their officials to obey any orders they gave them and it was the ratepayers' duty to presume that whatever appeared in public with the sanction of the Town Council was according to their desire and inten- tion.—Mr Jones had referred to money being spent out of revenue on capital account. That in itself was a serious thing, perhaps capable of explanation, but what they wera wishful for was to get at the bottom of the whole financial situation in that borough. It had a large increase; it had a large expenditure and it was essential that the interest which had arisen to the Ratepayers' Association and made itself felt in other ways should be put an end to. They were exceedingly anxious (and he was sure they would believe them) that they did not wish to convey in that report or elsewhere any impression that either the officials of the Corporation or members of the Town Council were in any way guilty of wrong use of the Corporation moneys or property. They themselves must agree that the system was not what it ought to be, and that the Town Council should take the ratepayers into their confidence let them work together and try and put that thing in a way which would be a credit to the Town Council and a credit to the town itself. If the investigation would reveal that the Corporation accounts were alljright and could be put in no other form, the Ratepayers' Association would be wrong but if they proved their case, then the Council would admit they were wrong, and he hoped would adopt any method necessary for carrying on the town and its affairs with ease.—Mr R. J. Jones We are all ratepayers.—Mr Gibson: Of course, we are all ratepayers, and there should be no differences between us on fundamental things.— Alderman Palmer remarked that after what he had heard from Mr Gibson, he agreed with the resolution. He added that he thought that as long as the ratepayers had power to elect auditors they should have done so.—Mr Rufus Williams ex- plained that the reason they did not do that was because they wanted a retrospective audit. They thought it was a proper thing to go to the Council as masters of the situation and ask them to set their house in order, rather than that it should be done from the outside.—Mr Wm. Thomas said there had been a misapprehension, and he was quite satisfied with the explanation given. The basis of the enquiry would be the report of the Association, and he would be satisfied if each mem- ber of the Council had a copy of that report.— Mr Gibson (senior,) said the Association was desirous of distributing the report broad-cast, but they did not think it would be fair to the Council to do that. If the Council so desired copies of report would be distributed.—The resolution was then agreed to, and Mr Williams thanked the Council for their courteous bearing, and the deputation then with. dxew. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. The Local Government Board wrote sanctioning the application for power to borrow £1215 for erecting public conveniences.-Mi R. J. Jones raised the question whether the lavatory on the Castle would be carried out by the Council or let by contract.-On the motion of Mr Samuel seconded by Mr Edwards it was agreed that the work should be done by the Corporation. THE SUMMER BAHD, A communication was received from Mr Russell on behalf of the string band engaged on the Promenade last summer repudiating the state- ment that it was a band made in Germany and asking the Council for a testimonial.—Tbe letter was referred to the general Purposes Committee. PROPOSED NEW CYCLING TRACK. A communication was received from Messrs Tom Rees and J. E. Evans, secretaries of the Cycling Club, applying for a lease of the Flats for the pur- pose of an athletic and cycling ground.:—The letter was referred to the Committee. SUGGESTED NEW LIBRARY SITE. A letter was read from Mr Carnegie asking that information in accordance with his terms condi- tional on his grant of £ 3,000, which were referred to Committee.—The Sub-committee appointed to select a new site for the library reported that they had selected premises in Alfred place, occupied by Mr Isaac Lloyd, the coachbuilder, and belonging to Mrs Edwards, Terrace road, and they suggested that these should be obtained.-Messrs Roberts and Evans, solicitors, wrote on behalf of Mrs Edwards, saying they were obliged to the Council for the offer but Mrs Edwards was particularly anxious to retain the property, having made arrangements for the erection of two houses in accordance with terms already granted by the Council. They hoped the Council would allow them an extension of time for building owing, to the ill-health of the present tenant.-The matter was referred back to the Sites Committee and Finance Committee. REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE. A communication from Mr Longley, Pier street, with reference to the removal of the railings on the library building; and a letter from Mr Evan Edwards, the Laurels, asking the Council to in- struet the Corporation men to carry away refuse from his house, were referred to committees. THE RHEIDOL RAILWAY. Mr Watkins, on behalf of the Steam Packet Co., wrote calling attention to the state of the road on the harbour and saying they were losing freight owing to the difficulty of getting carts that way.— The Town Clerk reported that the committee had met Mr Montague Smith with regard to the rail- way embankment beyond the station and pointed out to him that unless the line were raised to the same level as the Cambrian Railway there was a dangw of some parts of the line being flooded from the river. Mr Smith said he would communicate with his company on the subject. (With regard to the road on Rofawr, it was suggested that the Rail- way Company should pave between the rails and one foot on each side of the rails in front of the sheds at a cost of £ 50; and that the road from the sheds up to the poiut where the railway left the road should be macadamised at a cost of £22. Mr Smith said he would also bring this matter before the Company.-Alderman Peter Jones inquired if the Council could not do something further, and it was resolved that unless the work was done in a reasonable time that proceedings should be taken against the Company. THE TELEPHONE SERVICE. A communication was received from the Post- master General, in reply to the Council's complaint of delay in the service, stating that it was caused through pressure of work between Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and London. Special attention had been given to the work ah the exchanges recently set up in Mid-Wales, and he would have no hesitation in providing adequate facilities for the disposallof the traffic. THE FLOODING OF NORTHGATE STREET. A letter was read from Messrs Smith, Davies, and Co., on behalf of Mr Richardes,Penglaiso, saying that no one had, perhaps, suffered more than Mr Kichardes by the recent floods, and if the Council could suggest steps to prevent a recurrence he would be glad to hear from them. THE CASTLE GROUNDS. The committee appointed in reference to the improvement of the Castle grounds submitted their report. They recommended the construction of a footpath from the North Tower (nearest the College) for a distance of forty yards; that the path leading from the guns to the beach be closed that a new footpath with an easier gradient be opened from Graig Goch end and that the space between the path and roadway be planted with shrubs; that retaining walls be built on the por- tions facing the sea, and the top sloped at a convenient angle.—Mr Gibson, Jr. hoped the erection of those hideous walls would not be proceeded with before the Council bad an oppor- tunity to discuss the matter and the Surveyor said only very necessary work was being done at present. -The report will be considered at the next meeting. THE HARBOUR GROYNES. The following were minutes of an adjourned meeting of the oouncil: The borough surveyor, by direction of the Harbour Committee, presented a plan showing the repairs proposed to be made to the existing jetties at Rofawr, and additional jetties and other work recommended by him for the pro- tection of Rofawr, at an estimated cost of £ 600, and it was resolved, that the work be coisfined to the necessary repairs of the existing breast work, at an estimated cost of £192, and that the construc- tion of the additional groynes be deferred, pending an application for a. loan to defcay the cost thereof. Some discussion took place with regard to this and ultimately it was agreed that £ 240 be expended so as to include repairs of the groynes. PUBLIC WORKS. The Committee reported that the Town Clerk was instructed to enquire of Messrs. Owen Brothers whether they bad abandoned their application for a lease of the piece of land adjoining the Work. men's Dwelling in Greenfield Street; the Town Clerk was instructed to communicate with Mr. Roderick Richardes, callinghis attention to the over- flow of water from his land adjoining Penglaise Road, and to intimate that unless steps are taken to remedy the cause of complaint, proceedings will be taken against him the Town Clerk was instructed to take proceedings in ejectment against Mrs. Mary Parryf unless she gave up possession of the shed. ue-w, oce a pied by her near the River Rheidol; the Borough Suiveyor was instructed to take down the said shed immediateiy possession was given; the Town Clerk reported that the hoarding erected by Mr Barnett Pareezer in Queen's road had been removed the Borough Surveyor was instructed to prepare and submit to the commit- tee an estimate of the cost of covering the open drain in Smithfield road; the Town Clerk was in- structed to request Mr A. T. Walmisley to furnish a monthly report to the Town Council showing the progress of the work on the new breakwater in the harbour. The Sanitary Committee reported that they had considered the report of the Sanitary Inspector. FINANCE. The Finance Committee recommended payments amounting to z6943 10a lid. The application made by Mr John Jones, Chalybeate Street, to extend the term of his tenancy of a shed in Smithfield Road from the 12th November to the 30th November, 1903, which was referred to your Committee with power to deal with it, was considered, and granted, subjeot to payment of rent for the extended period at the rate of the present rental. Your Committee recommend that the application by Mr Bert Jones for a lease of a piece of land on the Flats, adjoining Mr J. R. James's Bakery, be not granted. The report was adopted. With reference to the application of Messrs H. and A. Howell as to their premises in Northgate Street, the matter was referred back to the Committee. NEW LEASES. The Mayor affixed the seal of the Corporation to a new lease of 58, Cambrian Street:(Miss Felix); 27, High Street (Mrs Rachel Evans); premises on the corner of Alexandra road and Chalybeate Street (Mr Isaac Jones and others). THE PROMENADE LIGHTING. Mr Wm. Thomas asked the members to keep their eye on the four new single lamps ,on the Promenade, which were half the power of those before. Perhaps they would be satisfied with them.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS. NOVEMBER. 21 Sale of Steel Safes at the Assembly Rooms, Towyn, by MessráGiIlart and Sons. Printed and Published by David Rowlands, of 21, Berriew Street, Welshpool, in the County of Montgomery, and at Towyn, in the County of Merioneth.—Thursday, November 19, 1903.,