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,---->_.---ABERYSTWYTH.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL.

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ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL. MR. GIBSON'S CHARGES TO BE IX- VESTIGATED. CAPTAIN DOUGHTON'S PROTEST. The fortnightly meeting of the Aberystwyth Town Council took place at the Council Chamber, on Tuesday. The Mayor (Councillor D. C. Roberts) presided, and those also present were: Aldermen Peter Jones, T. Doughton, D. Roberts, Councillors John Jenkins (ex-mayor), C. M. Williams, R. J. Jones, E. P. Wynne, R. Doughton, 1. Hopkins, J. P. Thomas, G. Croydon Marks, R. Peake, E. H. James, with Mr. Arthur J. Hughes, town clerk Mr. H. L. Evans, borough accountant, and Mr. Rees Jones, borough surveyor. A COMPLAINT. Mr. W. K. Hall wrote acknowledging the receipt, of the town clerk's letter, and saying the Council had allowed one of its members to continue tipping at the end of the Terrace, although there was a resolution on the books that tipping should be stopped on May 1st. Speaking for himself, and for himself only, he begged to enter his strongest protest against the Council's partial and unjust conduct. The Mayor: Does anyone desire to make any comment on this letter ? Councillor R. J. Jones said they had a special meeting at the end of the last council meeting, at which the time was extended for a fortnight. It was now June 6th, and the fortnight extra had expired. He thought that some explanation should be made. Alderman Peter Jones said at the special meeting they thought it advisable to have the place between the wall and where the debris was previously tipped well filled up, fearing that it might sustain damage through not having a proper backing. J rom the present appearance of matters, he thought that in a week an ample quantity of material would have been placed there, which would attain the object desired. The Mayor: As soon as that has been done the carting will be stopped ? Alderman Peter Jones Yes. AN APPLICATION. Mr. Purton wrote to the Mayor applying for per- mission to fix the water meter from 42, Terrace-road, at No. 1, North-parade, for the purpose of using for an electrical sign,and tapping same for the purpose I p of washing the windows also to connect the hose with in case of fire. Alderman Peter Jones said it was rather an im- portant matter, having separate connections, and he thought they should ponder over it. Many applications for similar powers would be applied for if they acceded to this one, and he suggested that they should refer it to the Public Works Com- mittee. Councillor R. J. Jones seconded, and it was agreed to. MR. GIBSOX'S DIATRIBES. SPECIAL MEETING TO BE CALLED. The Mayor was about to proceed with the next item on the agenda, when Alderman T. Doughton rose, and said that before commencing the business he would like to have the indulgence of the Council for a few minutes, as the matter he wished to bring forward was a case of emergency. It was a speech made by Mr. John Gibson and reported in the Welsh Gazette of May 25th. If the Mayor could not allow him to go on, he would move the sus- pension of the standing orders. The Mayor: It is a matter for the Council, but I think you may say what you wish to say in refer- ence to it. Alderman T. Doughton: Thank you. I shall read a portion of the speech made by Mr. John Gibson, as it appeared in the Welsh Gazette." It is as follows: There was in this town at the present time a building where little children were done to death regularly all the year round. He knew that to be a fact. It was told to him by an official, and he (the speaker) investigated the circumstances, and proved them to be correct. He could not make a definite statement in its particularity, because the law of libel did not allow him to make it, but there were plenty of people in official positions in the town who knew this fact as well as he knew it, and he told the meeting plainly that these people who knew this fact were just simply hypocrites until they rid themselves of the responsibility that was before them, and put a stop to the death-trap. They would say, Surely this cannot be truth. Surely you are exaggerating.' He knew how often he was accused of exaggerating, but he assured them again that the words he used were literally true, and no nurses, and no doctors, and no district visitors, and no Downie's Bequest would prevent these little children being fed on things that they knew would kill them, and their naked bodies put on to wet flags, so that they might die speedily, and rid their parents of the responsibility which gathered about them." Alderman Doughton went on to say that he noticed that two members of the Town Council were present at that meeting—his worship the Mayor and Mr. C. M. Williams, and he was sur- prised that these remarks were not challenged at the time. Mr. C. M. Williams: To put you right I may say that I had to leave the meeting before Mr. Gibson began to make his speech, otherwise I would have challenged his statements, Alderman Doughton said he was very pleased to hear that. He saw there were some of their medical men at the meeting as well. He (the speaker) took it that the Town Council were the only local body that ought to take notice of that, particularly in regard to tne sanitation of the town. Whether Mr. Gibson meant that or not he (the speaker) could not say, but at any rate Mr. Gibson said distinctly that there was a building in Aberystwyth at the present time where little children were done to death. If one had spoken to him (Capt. Doughton) two or three hundred had, and bad said they were horror-struck at the expressions and the language Mr. Gibson had used. It was strange to him (Capt. Doughton). Mr. Gibson took very good care that these remarks were not shown in his paper, but they ought to be proud that the Welsh Gazette had brought these facts out instead of allowing this gentleman to shelter behind the hedge of privilege to make these statements. He SE id that he bad proved them and had investigated the matter and proved it to be true. As a member of the Town Council he (Capt. Doughton) took the responsibility of asking the officials of the corporation, one by one, if they knew of anything approaching the state of things as described by Mr. Gibson. They said "No, certainly !vn." ilr (C-ipt. Doughton) was a mem- ber of the Public Works Committee, and since the present inspector had been appointed—he believed in the hitter end of January or the beginning of February-it had been his practice to go round with the medical officer and visit the whole town in turn. By the reports that came to the Public Works Committee, upwards of 800 houses were inspected and reported on every month. Mr. Gibson said in his speech that the state of things he had referred to was well known to peo- ple in official positions in the town. Who were they 1 Mr. Gibson himself stated distinctly that they were hypocrites unless they took action. How could they take action unless they knew of this ? Was not Mr. Gibson a hypocrite himself when he made deliberate statements like this and had not courage to come forward and say There's that house." The Mayor: You have not asked him, Mr. Doughton. Alderman Doughton I am not supposed to ask him; it is not my place. We have paid officials. Alderman Doughton, proceeding, said he was sorry that the Mayor, who was present at the meeting referred to, did not ask Mr. Gibson to prove the statement he made; he was surprised at that. If he (the speaker) had been there he could not possibly let this have gone on without somehow challenging him to prove it. As far as he (Capt. Doughton) could understand it, this was a case which, if the Chief Constable would not take action, it should be reported. He would like to suggest to the Council to report it to the Home Secretary, and let the Public Prosecutor take action, and bring this man forward, and take him on his own words. It was something awful. At the Council they all tried to do their best, accord- ing to their little knowledge or their little common- sense, and he believed he could safely say that there was not a watering place in the country that would compare with Aberystwyth in regard to sanitary and other matters, and here at the begin- ning of the season, just the same as ever, Mr. Gib- son had started. They knew Mr. Gibson in the Council, and everybody in the town knew him; but the papers in which the reports appeared went probably all over England, and such statements were damaging to the town. Personally, he did not care for Mr. Gibson he cared for Mr. Gibson no more than Mr. Gibson cared for him, and there was no love lost between them but it was damag- ing to the town, and he was sorry it had been allowed, the Mayor being present. He thought he was echoing the voice of the whole Council when he uttered his strongest protest against Mr. Gibson's utterances, as they were not true, to the Council's knowledge. The Mayor said he had allowed Capt. Doughton to make his statement, and they would now pro- ceed with the business. Capt. Doughton might put a resolution on the agenda in any way, or might, if he desired, speak on it. He (the Mayor) might say in reference to his own position that he was at the meeting taking the chair, and it was his duty to conduct the meeting. He never heard a word about the matter Mr. Gibson spoke upon before that gentleman spoke, and he (the Mayor) had no idea to what he referred. He was not at the time in a position to enter into an argument with Mr. Gibson on the matter one way or another. He made the statements publicly, and he (the speaker) presumed that the matter would be brought up at the Council as they saw it had that day. It was not my position," concluded the Mayor, at the time in any way to enter into the matter, and I had never heard a word about it before. I do not know to what he referred. I have never spoken to him on the matter since. It is a matter for the Council to inquire into cer- tainly". Mr. C. M. Williams asked if the Mayor would allow Capt. Doughton to move a resolution that the matter be considered by a committee of the whole Council. There could not be any doubt whatever that a very serious reflection had been cast upon the town authorities mainly, and he thought they should not delay in having the matter taken in hand, and thoroughly investigated. Of course they would call Mr. John Gibson to prove the statements he made. If he (the speaker) had been present at the meeting at which Mr. Gibson made the remarks, he should certainly have asked Mr. Gibson to state where this place was, and he also would have challenged one or two other statements that he made. If the Mayor would allow Alderman Doughton to move a resolution on the lines be bad indicated he (Councillor Williams) would be glad to second it. The Mayor: I will allow him to move the resolution. Alderman Doughton accordingly moved that the Council be appointed a committee to investigate this matter, &c., and call upon Mr John Gibson to prove his utterances. Councillor Williams--I beg to second that. Councillor Isaac Hopkins proposed that the matter be dealt with in the usual way, and be put on the agenda for the next meeting. They would not allow other things to be passed without being put on the agenda, and he contended that the mayor was acting unlaw fully if he allowed this resolution to pass that day without going first on the agenda. The Mayor said he was going to allow the resolution to be put for this reason: This was simply a matter of inquiry, and it seemed to him that there could be no harm to anyone—any member of the committee or anyone outside that they should that day pass a resolution to inquire into it. Of course, these were matters in which there should be proper notice given to every mem- ber, but this was the first opportunity since the last council of this matter being taken notice of, and he thought it was a matter that should be brought forward immediately. There could be no harm to anyone in the inquiry being immediately held, and for that reason he held that it was proper for the council to pass a resolution to that Ii effect. It was not a question of the expenditure I of any money or a question of any resolution that j would commit the council to anv course of action, II or which would hamper them in any way. c Councillor Hopkins It will be a question of money if you go to law. You have nommenced it in the wrong way. The Mayor repeated that it was simply a resolu- tion for inquiry. i Councillor j. P. Thomas Would you also give notice to the officials of the corporation to be present. The Mayor It means giving notice to everyone, I suppose. Councillor Thomas The medical men, too. The Mayor: I should say so. The resolution was carried nem. con., and it was agreed to fix the date of meeting after the other business was disposed of. GENERAL PURPOSES. The council proceeded to the reports of com- j mittees. Councillor E. P. Wynne, chairman of the General Purposes Committee, moved the confirmation of the following:— The application of Mrs. Lewis for permission to place eighteen bathing machines for gentlemen, and Mrs. White for twenty-two bathing machines for ladies, was considered, and your Committee recommend the same be granted.—Mr. Rogers, Inspector of Hackney Carriages, presented his I, report, which was read and adopted.—The follow- ing applications from donkey owners for permission to be allowed to place the following number of donkeys on the beach for the season, viz.:—Mrs. Jones, five donkeys; Mrs. White, five donkeys; Mrs. Morgan, five donkeys; total, fifteen donkeys; were considered. Your committee recommend the same be granted.—The application from Inspector Morgan for a suitable uniform was considered. Your Committee recommend thatInspector Morgan be supplied with a patrol jacket, trousers, and cap at a cost of £2 17s. 6d.—Mr. W. L. Hughes was re-appointed to check the arrivals of trains during the ensuing season. They were agreed to. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Councillor C M. Williams, chairman of the Finance Committee, moved the confirmation of the Finance Committee meeting held on May 30. Labour sheets and bills amounting in all to E423 2s. The other recommendations were as follows:—Your Council recommend that tenders be invited for printing and advertising, &c., for the year ended March, 1900.—Your Committee recom- mend that the Town Clerk's Office be connected with the Exchange.—A letter was received from Mr. Serjeant, on behalf of Messrs Allsopp & Co., for an extension of time for carrying out the work at St. George's Hotel. Your Committee recommend that the time be extended from July, 1899, to 1st January, 1900, for completion of the work contained in the terms for renewal of the lease.—Your Coun- cil recommend the cancellation of the Harbour Annuity Certificates, Nos. 14, 16, and 19, in the names of Rev. Richard Hughes and Catherine Ann Hughes and to grant new certificates Nos. 88, 89, and 90 in lieu thereof, and to authorise the Mayor to affix the Corporation Seal to same.—The Town Clerk submitted revised copies of Draft Leases and agreements which v. ere approved of by your Com- mittee and instructions were given the Town Clerk to have the same pri.ited without delay in order to expedite and cheapen the cost to applicants for Leases.—The following Sub-Committee were appointed, viz., Mayor, Chairman of Finance, Alderman Peter Jones, and Councillor R. J. Jones, to consider the revision of the salary and draw up and define the duties of the Town Clerk and Clerk to the Urban Authority.—A letter was read from Mr. Hughes, Solicitor, on behalf of Mr. Isaac Hopkins, with reference to the renewal of the lease of his houses in South Road in which conditions were stipulated which the Council cannot accede to, consequently the Committee made no recom- mendation.—Your Committee again in passing the salary of Mr. Hugh Hughes, clerk to the Borough Justices, for quarter ending 31st March, call attention to the great excess of payments over receipts, the quarter's salary being E25, and the amount received in respect of fines and fees for some period being P,9 17s. 9d., showing a deficiency for the quarter of P,15 2s. 3d.—A letterwas received from Mr. John C. Rea stating that the various clubs had agreed to appoint a competent man to prepare plans and report as to the best way of laying out the grounds in Plascrug Flats, which plans he proposes to submit at an early date.— The application of Mr. Oscar Beddoes for a lease of a building site at Rheidol Terrace was considered, and your Committee recommend that the applica- tion be granted on the following terms:—Frontage 18 feet, at Is. 6d. per foot,— £ 1 7s. Conditions: That a dwelling house be erected on the site within two years from 12th November, 1898, subject to a plan to be approved of by the Council. These were all confirmed. THE HALF-YEARLY RATES. A SATISFACTORY STATEMENT. Councillor C. M. Williams then moved the j recommendation of the following The Borough I Accountant submitted the estimates of receipts and j expenditure for the half-year ending 30th Septem- I ber, 1899, Your committee recommend that a | General district rate of Is lOd in the £ and a j water rate of Is in the £ be passed. Councillor j Wiiliams said they would observe a very pleasing j feature in reference to the general district rate— j that the Council were able to further reduce the rate from 2s 2d, as it was last year, to Is lOd this year. Looking over the past almost twenty years, and taking an average of the whole of the general district rates, he believed they would find the rate this year to be a shade lower than it had been on the average (hear, hear.) They hoped that tke rate for the winter half of the year would be reduced to Is 3d, so that really it would make a general district rate for the year ending March, 1900 of 3s Id, or it was possible it might be 3s. | Iu addition to that he made inquiries the previous day of Mr. Atwood, rate collector, as to what the | poor rate for this half-year would be, having regard j of course to the fact that this year the Council had J not levied a borough rate, as in former years. He 1 believed they had for many years levied a rate of E500 on the borough fund. This not being asked for this year enabled the poor rate to be reduced from Is 9d to Is 3d. The water rate of course needed no comment they bad made a water rate of 2s for many years, so taking the aggregate rates-general district and poor rates-for the half-year ending March 1900, as far as they could possibly make them out, they would simply amount to 5s. 4d. in the pound. Last year the amount was 6s. 3d.; in 1898 it was 7s. Id.; and in 1897 it was 6s. 8d; so that they had really made a very substantial decrease in the course of the three years and if they took the two years they had come down from 7s. Id. to 5s. 4d. He thought this was very satisfactory. If they took the average of the two rates for twenty years it came to 6s., so that in bringing it to 5s. 4d. they were making an eleven per cent reduction. He was sure the ratepayers would fully appreciate the reduction. There was sometimes a great deal of talk about heavy rates, but generally the people who talked about heavy rates did not take the trouble to investigate the abstract of the accounts, and see how a large portion was being spent. Last year, he believed, out of their rates no less a sum than P,4,000 and and some odd hundreds were actually paid as repayments of loans and interest —practically half their rates going in this direc- tion. Of the water rate they found iEl,000 going in the same way. He thought the statement must be very satisfactory, especially as in other water- ing places, as he saw from a return recently pub- lished, including a large number of towns, the J rates were all higher than at Aberystwyth. In the J face of the great improvements the Council were making every year, it must, as he said before, be very satisfactory that they were able to carry these works out, not by maintaining the same rates as in the past, but with a considerable reduction. Councillor R. J. Jones seconded the motion. Councillor Hopkins: How can you pass that J when I see the expenditure on one side of the sheet I more than the receipts I Councillor C. M. Williams: We are making the rate, Mr. Hopkins, to cover that deficiency. First of all, you have an expenditure of £ 3,942. Then you have our probable receipts £ 1.554, and then there is the difference between these two, £ 2,388 6s. lid., which has to be provided. The recommendation was agreed to. HARBOUR WORK. Councillor R. Doughton, chairman of the Harbour Committee, moved the adoption of the following minutes of a meeting held on May 29 :—■ The Harbour Master reported the arrival of a vessel in the Bay with explosives, and that the captain had not complied with the bye-laws in giving him due notice. Your Committee recom- mend that the town clerk be instructed to write to the owners calling their attention to the matter.—A deputation of the hobblers attended your Committee complaining of the withholding of a sum of 9s. by the Harbour Master out of a sum of P,4 3s Od, being their fees as hobble money. The chairman was desired to make enquiries and clear the matter up. —Your Committee recommend the purchase of a lantern of 300 candle power at the sum of £8 10s. j This was agreed to. PUBLIC WORKS. The Chairman of the Public Works Committee (Alderman Peter Jones) presented the following minutes of a meeting of the committee held May 29, and moved their adoption: An application was received from Mrs. Jane Jones, 19, Bridge-street, for permission to erect bay windows on her | premises, which was granted, the same not to pro- I ject from the line of the wall beyond that of Mrs. | Samuel's house, also the steps leading to the shop not to project beyond the same line.—A plan of a Ii dwelling-house and .shop premises for Mr. Evan Owen, being 25. North Parade, was submitted to your committee and approved of.A plan was sub- mitted by Messrs James and Co. of proposed ware- house buildings and approved of subject to a cart entrance being made in the front so as to avoid loading and unloading of goods in the public street,-The Borough Surveyor was instructed to see Messrs Hosking and Miller with a view of amending their plan.—The Borough Surveyor sub- mitted quotation of gully gratings. Your Com- mittee recommend the purchase of twenty-four Crosta Patent Gratings at an average of £2 each. —The Borough Surveyor was instructed to com- plete the unfurnished portion of the paving at the lower end of Custom House-street. The Hafan Sett Quarry Co's tenders to supply the Council with about eighty tons of setts at 15s lOd" delivered at Aberystwyth, was accepted.—Mr. Isaac Rees pre- senced a plan of additional buildings at the back of his premises in South Road. The Borough Sur- veyor was instructed to inspect the same and report to the next meeting of the Council. The Surveyor having reported on the last matter, Councillor R. J. Jones asked when there was any i. probability of the chanelling in the streets being completed, particularly Lewis' Terrace and Cam- brian-street. He would like the Surveyor to tell him when he would be in a position to carry out the work. It had been before the Council for some I years now. Alderman Peter Jones said they agreed to an estimate some time ago for portions of the town I which had not been done to be channelled and 1 flagged. It would be necessary for the Council to j consider the advisability of applying for the necessary borrowing powers to enable this work to be done. Councillor R. J. Jones: Will the Public Works Committee take that into consideration ? Alderman Peter Jones I think it is a question for the Council themselves. Councillor R. J. Jones said he believed there was an inquiry pending as to one or two important I matters. He supposed this could be included. Alderman Peter Jones: It will have to be done by resolution. It was then agreed that the matter should be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Councillor C. M. Williams suggested that the surveyor should prepare plans at once. The Surveyor said they were not quite finished but he would see that there was no delay on his part. Councilor R. J. Jones asked if any steps had been taken with regard to the inquiry. The Mayor said the plans would have to be sent to the Local Government and the inquiry would follow. Councillor R. J. Jones You passed a resolution to make some improvements in the Town Hall. Have any steps been taken in that matter. The Mayor said yes; plans had been presented to the County Council and by them referred to the Finance Committee, who had decided to hold their next meeting at Aberystwyth, when they would go thoroughly into the question, consider the plans, | and present a report. He thought they would be favourable and would assist the Town Council in every way, but of course there was a legal and financial question involved, as they knew. He thought the Finance Committee would possibly | invite the Town Council to send two or three | representatives to consult with them at their | meeting in July. | Alderman Peter Jones said he thought this could J be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Even if they were to have a separate inquiry the cost j would be very great. It would, he thought, be | preferable, rather than delay it too much. | The Mayor said he thought it would be best to J proceed with what they had ready, so as not to I delay any part of the work. The town hall matter | would take a longtime to finally settle. | Councillor R. J. Jones agreed with the Ma}Tor | and said he only mentioned the Town Hall as a | side question. There was another matter he would like to bring before the Council which they were going to have an inquiry about-the open sewer. He thought that was a matter of the greatest im- portance to the town. He did not want to enter into the matter then, but he thought if they were going to have an inquiry this might be included. Alderman Peter Jones said they had all this ready now, and the cost of an enquiry was only Z8 or so. Councillor R. J. Jones said the matter he re- ferred to had been pending for some years, it was an important matter, and he had heard serious complaints about it. Councillor C. M. Williams mentioned another matter-the extension of the borough. Two or three meetings had been held, and he thought they had settled mainly the line of extension. The surveyor had been asked to colour the map, and to have information as to the population. He hoped it would be ready at their next Finance Committee meeting, and that also could be put on the agenda. Alderman Peter Jones: That doesn't affect us as regards an enquiry. The matter then dropped. PUBLIC LIGHTS. Councillor Peake (chairman) moved the adoption of the minutes of the Public Lights Committee of the meeting of May 29, as follows:—The gas accounts for the quarter ending April 1, 1899, were examined and passed, and your Committee recom- mended that the same be paid.—The Borough Surveyor presented an estimate from Messrs. McCaws, Stephenson and Co. for 254 dozen glazed tablets for public lamps at Is. 9d. per douen. Your Committee recommend that the tender be accepted at a sum of £22 4s. 6d.—An application was received from the occupiers of the houses in Laurel-place for the lighting of the lamps, which have been put up at their own expense. Your Committee recommend that the application be granted. The minutes were adopted. ICE CREAM, BATHING, ETC. Mr. E. P. Wynne moved the adoption of the fol- lowing minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on May 31st, as follows:—Your committee recommend that the attention of Inspector Morgan be called to the touting carried on by the sailors on the Marine-parade.—Your committee recommend that the surveyor be instructed to take action against all obstructions of ice-cream trucks, etc., on the beach in front of the Marine-parade.—The borough surveyor was instructed to obtain parti- culars of orderly bins suitable for North-parade and other places.—Your committee recommend that notice be put up that no bathing be allowed in front of the houses in South Marine-terrace.—The borough surveyor presented a plan of a band stand. Your committee recommend the purchase of a cast iron band stand, at a cost not to exceed £150. With reference to the obstruction of ice-cream stands, Councillor Wynne said that application had been made from Messrs. Berni Bros. for a licence to sell ice-cream; that was refused, but they con- tinued to sell, and now it was decided to prosecute them. It did not apply when they moved about, only to stationary trucks. Councillor Hopkins: What about the obstruction of the oyster stalls ? Councillor Wynne They haven't been there yet. Councillor Wynne was asked with reference to the bathing in front of South Marine-terrace,where they were going to send the bathers to, and he replied that this did not refer to the beach opposite the Queen's Hotel. Councillor R. Doughton said the bathing in front of the houses was the only safe part. Nearer the harbour was a nasty sea and a current too. He thought the matter ought to be looked into a little more, because bathing-machines might be put there. Councillor R. J. Jones: Then there can be no objection. Councillor Hopkins said this was the only place where the inhabitants of the town, the ratepayers, went to bathe, and he would like to know where the Council were going to send them ? Councillor R. J. Jones said this only referred to the beach in front of the houses. Councillor Hopkins Let me finish, please. He went on to ask what about the ladies who came as visitors to South Marine-terrace, and walked right straight from their bed down to the beach, They said nothing about them, but he supposed they were going to stop the inhabitants of the town, the ones who paid the rates, from bathing. He did not know, but he was afraid there was some- thing wrong in the Council, stopping the in- habitants when they wanted to have a bath. He thought they ought to be allowed to go there morning and evening if they wished to. It was South Marine-terrace went there to obstruct the bathing, and not the bathing to obstruct Marine- terrace. Councillor G. Croydon Marks said he had the privilege of living in South Marine-terrace for two or three seasons, and the bathing in front of the houses was then an unmitigated nuisance. There was plenty of room, not in front of the houses, but between the end of the houses and the Castle, which was equally safe, so that Mr. Hopkins could take all his friends down there. Alderman T. Doughton questioned very much whether the Council had power to do this. Any- one who took bathing machines down to South Terrace would be very glad to get them away because, whenever there was a little bit of breeze, they would have to pull the machines right on the top of the pebbles, which was different to what they could do on the Marine Terrace. They would not keep them there for a week, he was sure, at the beginning of September. Councillor Hopkins: The inhabitants of the town can say to the inhabitants of the Marine Terrace. "We were here "cyn" was you" (laugh- ter). The matter then dropped. As to the band stand, Councillor Wynne replied to Councillor Marks that it was to be made of cast iron, would be very ornamental, and would be per- manent for the season. The Surveyor produced the plans. œc: Councillor Marks: It isn't a travelling truck that's what I wanted to know. Councillor J. P. Thomas said that the band would now always be playing in front of the same house, the Waterloo or the Belle Vuc, he supposed, and the other parts would never have it at all. He thought it was a mistake. They might have had a lllova bIe stand. Councillor R. J. Jones It will have to be decided in future where it is to be placed. Councillor Thomas: But still it is going to be a permanent band stand and will always play in one particular spot. I think it is rather a disadvantage to the town. Councillor Peake I think it will be the greatest boon that has ever been conferred on the inhabit- ants of the Terrace. If they want music, they can go there for it, where there will be a space provided for it. At present the crowd is an obstruction to the traffic. The whole of the minutes were then passed, the question of the location of the band stand being referred to the General Purposes Committee, on the proposition of Councillor Peake, EARLIER MUSIC. Councillor C. M. Williams said it had originally been arranged for the band to commence playing on the Terrace on June 19th. At that time they did not anticipate such fine weather as they had been having. There were a lot of visitors in the town at present, and he suggested that the band start a little earlier. It was agreed that the matter should be left to the committee to be called as soon as possible, power to act being accorded to them. RENEWAL OF LEASES. The applications for the leases by Mr. William Morton, 42, Terrace-road, Captain John Thomas, 10, Custom House-street, and Mrs. Thomas Davies, 12, Thespian-street, were referred to the Finance Committee. RE-ELECTION. Councillor R. J. Jones was re-appointed the representative of the Council on the Court of Governors of the University College of Wales for a term of five years from the 10th day of September next. LEASE AGREEMENT. The Mayor was authorised to affix the Corpora- tion seal to a agreement for a lease to Mr. Daniel Rees of a piece of land situate in Rheidol-terrace for the term of 75 years, to commence 12th November, 1898, at an annual commuted rent of Zl 7s. The following are the terms and conditions: The application of Mr. Daniel Rees for a piece of land at Tancae at the rear of South-terrace was considered, and your Committee recommend the granting of the same on the following terms and conditions: Frontage, 18 ft. at Is. &1., Zl 7s.— Conditions: A new dwelling house to be erected within two years from the 12th November, 1898, subject to a plan to be approved of by the Council. FORMALITIES. The Mayor was also authorised to affix the Corporation seal to the general district rate of Is. lOd. in the P,, and the water rate of Is. in the P.- This was all the business.

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