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OUR BOROUGH. MEMBERS IN PARLIA…

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ABERDARE POLICE COURT.

MOUNTAIN ASH LOCAL BOARD.

MERTHVR BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

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MERTHVR BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The ordinary meeting of this board was held on Saturday. There were present—Messrs. G. T. Clark (Chairman),R. H. Rhys, Herbert Kirkhouse Leyson Rhys, David Watkins, William Gould, Thomas Williams, W. L. Daniel, John Williams, J.W.James, Jenkin Mathews, Hugh Jenkins, W. Simons, Rees Lewis John Rees, William Harris, Thomas Jenkins, and Arthur J. Morris. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. THE PROHIBITORY ORDER RELATIVE TO ABIE BODIED PAUPERS. The Chairman drew attention to the visit by the Poor-law inspector on the pr vious Saturday,and the request he made to the board as to the prohibitory order relative to the relief of out-door able-bodied paupers. He did not think it were proper to dis- cuss the matter in the presence of the officer. He would, however, like to have the sense of the meeting on the subj -ct then. Dr. James and Mr Gould repeated their op- position to the enforcement of the order. The latter gentleman was of opinion that there was enough talent at the board to manage its own affairs. Mr Rhys proposed that it is expedient to put the prohibitory order in force at this union." The Merthyr union had always acted on the principle of the order, and many of the guardians were under the impression that they had no power to give out door relief to able-bodied paupers, and would pro- bably remain in happy ignorance of the fact, but for the visit of the inspector. Now that the ques- tion had been mooted, he thought the best course would be to enforce the order, lest the board might be tempted by erroneous notions of charity to de- part from the rule which had guided them in the past. The lower class of labourers in this union are so improvident that on the slightest excuse they seek relief, and it was necessary to discourage that practice. Mr Simons would like to see the Legislature making the order imperative throughout the country. It was the practice in agricultural dis- tricts for the farmer to subsidise the labourer from the poor rates and thereby secure his services for less wages than he otherwise would have to pay. He thought the shortest way to secure their pur- pose was to decline acceding to the request of the inspector. The Chairman would rather not vote if he con- sulted his own feelings but he felt he had a duty to perform. This Union suffered much from a class of improvident young men, who, when they meet with accidents or are overtaken with illness immediately apply to the parish for relief. The rates have increased considerably from men in the prime of life and in the receipt of good wages taking advantage of the poor rates when they ought themselves to provide against an evil day. He was in favour of enforcing the order, and would vote for the motion. Mr Thomas Williams inquired if a man having met with an accident in one of the works would be entitled to relief under the order. The Clerk explained that he would be entitled to relief in the house but not outside without the consent of the Poor-law Board. The board then divided, when there were 12 the motion and 4 against it. The minority consisted nf Mossva .Tampa l1,I..J Qimnns anil RAAI TiPuria. Beard-room, Workhouse, June 18, 1870. To the Guardians of the Merthyr Tydfil Union. u We, the hospital committee, beg leave to re- port as foliows, viz. ;-On the 15th of January last it was moved at your board that it was ex- pedient that either the present infirmary be en- rarged by an additional fever ward being at- tached to it, or that a separate building be erected in as close proximity to it as possible, for the ieception of patients suffering from con- tagious diseases. To this an amendment was moved and carried that increased hospital ao- c mmodotion was required, and that a hospital be buiit at Aberdare to aeoommodate at leat 40 patients. It was afterwards resolved without division to appoints committee to report upon a site for the proposed hospital at Aberdare, and the class of hospit-il to be erected, and that the committee be further iastructel to take into con- sideration the general hospital accommodation of the union. We have held several meeting at Merthyr and Aberdare. We have oonsulted Mr Peter Price, an able architect and builder, at Cardiff, and he has prepared a set of plans for a new hospital at Aberdare, which we consider well adapted to meet the requirement. We estimate the cost at a sum not exceeding £3,500 without the land. We have found what we con- sider a very good Rite close to Mill-street, where an acre of the allotment of the Common can be had in a healthy and convenient spot, and of easy access. This allotment belongs to the Clive estate. We have seen Mr Thompson, the agent, who says there will be no difficulty in our having the land. He has not yet given his terms, but we expect them daily, and we have no fear but they will be suoh as yon can expect. With re gard to the general hospitil accomodation of the union, our present infirmary is certainly too snaall for the whole of the union, and even when relieved patients from the Aberdare dis- trict, we thinic it will be soon necessary to make some addition to the workhouse infirmary But we think it desirable to wait the result of the construction of the hospital at Aberdare before incurring further expense, and so that you may first see how far that will relieve the Merthyr infirmary, The Aberdare hill, which is aboul# 650 feet high, and containing a population, in- cluding Aberdare, Rhigos, and a part of Pen- deryn, of about 40,000 persons, is we conceive, now fairly entitled to have a hospital for its own sick poor. At present, there being no public hospital at Aberdare of any kind, great difficulty has often been found in getting lodgings of any kind for a pauper afflicted by accident or con- tagious disease. The bulk of Aberdare town is about seven miles from the present infirmary by any available carriage road, and many parts of the district are some miles further. Fjr these reasons we respectfully submit that there is ample ground for ereoting a hospital at Aberdare, and recommend that you at once apply to the Poor-law Boar 1 for the necessary consent, and take the needful steps in the matter.—We re- main gentlemen, your most obedient servants. RREs H. Rays, Chairman." Mr R. H. Rhys, as a chairman of the cnID- mittee, moved the adoption of the report. The committee had taken a great deal of trouble iu the matter. The hospital wastoaccommo lat^fif'ty one patients, and it is to be so constructed that a considerable extension of it might be mtde at a moderate expense. Mr Price had submitted the plan to Mr Savage, the architect of the Poor-law Board, who had I approved of it. The estimated cost is the outside expense, but the committee expect that the hospital will be erected (or less money. Mr Djniel seconded the adoption of the report, Mr Thomas Williams, a raemb r of the COlD. mittee, thought that the proposed site was too near the cemetery. He was not present at the last meeting, otherwise he would have taken exception to it then. Part of the cemetery was drained close to the proposed site, and the windows of the hospital would overlookthe burying-ground. Mr Simons was opposed to a hospital being erected near or in view of the cemetery. Invalids and patients should have agreeable objects to look at, and pleasant associations to think of, but the sight of a oemrftery, and the sound of the solemn tread of funerals, were not the most likely means to restore thr-m to health. There were plenty of other suitable spots on which to build > the hospital, and he strongly urged th^; committee to look out for another site. The report was unanimously adopted, subject to the reconsideration of the site. Tlie name of Mr Simons was added to the committee. The Chairman thought the board had come to a wise decision. THE DIVISTON OF THE PARISH INTi) WARDS. It was stated that the committee appointed to consider this subject had nearly completed their work, but an extension of time was asked for, and granted, to enable them to communicate with the Local Board of Health, so as to secure the approval of that body to their plan. THE MASTER'S REPORT. Admitted during the week, 2); discharged, 2(): none born; 2 died. Total in the house, 320; corresponding week of last year, 323. Infirmary -25 men, IS women, 8 children, tot it 51. The two cases of death wer.* paupers who hid been in the house only a fe w hours One was from Pen- ydarran, the other from under the chapel near Mr Seddon's.

RICHARD FOTHER.GILL, ESQ,…

THE LLANWONNO OVERSEERS.~

MR. H. RICHARD'S AMENDMENT.

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