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The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

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THE BRUCE TESTIMONIAL.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.'

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LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE BIFJCF: TESTIMONIAL. — Considerable feeling was lmutifestpil on Tliuisd.iv vciiinjj List at it meeting of the subscribers to this testimonial, ia favour of a suggestion that Mr Jones's ]<or< r;>:t should be purchiise'l with a portion of the surplus money for ptrmanent exhibition in some public lis 11. I'HAHMACEUTRCAL SOCIBTY.—It is exceedingly gratifying to announce that Muster llenry Jjrock Harris, foil of Mr U. W. Harris, of Merthyr Tvdfil. and Portugal House, Chew M iiirna. Somersetshire, pa«sed last week the preliminary exuminaMon of the Pharmaceutical Society. It i» especially ple*«inw' to ol)st-rre that although the examination is reported to have been a very stiff one, yet that the name of Master ILkiris stands in a position on the list, creditable to himself and also equally credital,le to the scholastic establishment, of which lie is a pupil. Master Harris is, «e believe, intended for tl.e medical profession, and his success in his early studies will, we trust, prove an augury of his prosperity in his future more important sphere. LECTPRIS.—On Monday evening last Miss Rres (Cranog- wen) delivered a very interesting lecture on "Tn draw i'r Wt-iydd (Across the Atlantic)." The building (Pontmor'ais Calvmistic Methodist Chapel) was very full both tip and down-st.airs, and the audience listened most attentively to the holy's observations on the subject. Mis-s Bees visited America some short while ago, and her remarks were, therefore, practical and to the point, and elicited expres- sions "f satisfaction. Her nrticulation was exceedingly distinct, and the imaginative beauty phc introduced throughout her highly cultivated address gratified without tiring the assembly. The proceeds were applied to liquidate the existing debt on p, mirl Chapel, the numbers of which may Le fairly congratula'ed upon taking a rig-hr step in the right direction. Mr Morgan Daries occupied the chair, and fulfilled his duties with taste and discretion. A vote of thanks vvzig carried by acclamation to the chairman and Miss Rees at the end of the lecture. THE ASSOCIATION OF THE WELSH BAPTISTS SUNDAY SCHOOL.—On Sunday last the a.bove association meeting was held st Zion Chapel, Twynyrodyn. The association c&nsists of Elim. Pruydarren Enon. George Town Taber- nacle, Tydvils Well E! enexer, and Zion Sunday wchools. The various schools met at the Market Square at 2 o'clock, and thei.ee walktdin procession, led l>y the ministers and deaconf. After all the schools had arrived at the large chapel, it was quite full, some of the audience having no aeata. "VV hen silence was obtained, the chair was taken by Mr William Wafers, engraver, lVnvdarrcn- the president for the year-and to his credit, he did his duties most satis- factory. The meeting was addressed by one scholar from each school, and singing at intervals. The subjects on which they addressed the meeting were given them prior to the meeting and all the young men delivered very able addresses, which were attentively listenud to. THE MERTHYK PugT OFFICE.—The office of post master in this town, vacant through the recent cle;ith of Mr Wilkins, has just been conferred or. his sen, Mr Charles Wilkins. The appointment could not have been made moro consistently with the feelings I' f the town generally, or more deservedly in a personal sense, than to Mr Charles Wilkins, who, for the last 20 years, had been the senior clerk in the office, and for soire years past, through the ill-health and advanced age of his father, had the practical management of the business. Mr Charles Welkins, among the leading public, has established for himself a literary character of much distinction, and he has been equally successful, by his courteous manner, and his readiness to oblige those who have business at the Po"t- office. in winning for himself the respect of the public generally. The Merthyr Post-office, under the 1 ite Mr Wilkins, was conducted with praiseworthy exactitude, and we are sure it will be continued, with its increaeing business, to give the same public satisfaction under Mr Charles Wilkins. Notwithstanding recent- alterations and improvements in the interior of the Post-office, it is still found inadequate to th; conveniences of the public, and whilst it is a matter of regret that the Poit-oftice authorities do not erect a building commensurate with the importance of our town, a« they have done in Swansea and Cardiff, it isfome satisfaction to know that Mr C. Wilkins intends shortly to make such structural alterations in the interior as shall afft rd greatly increased public accom- modation. COUNTY COURTS —An essay on County Courts has beeir« modation. COUNTY COURTS —An essay on County Courts has beeir« published at Bradford, from which the following remarks- are taken "'From returns laid before the House of Com-" mons for the year 1809 it appear that in that year there- were sent for trial from the Superior Courts, 315 cases un-- (ler.Reelion 26 of the Act of 1856 158 cases under section 7- of the Act of 1801); and 116 cases of tort under sections of the" same Act in all 580 cases. Similar returned for the year- euding 1870 shew under the same heads that in that year- there were under the first 284 ctists, the second 180 cases,- and the third 120 cases, in all 503 cases. All these cases were- properlv triable at the assizes or the London or We> t min- ster sittings. The third plass comyrised in each year almost every variety of tort—seduction, lihel, slander, malicious- prosecution, false imprisonment, trover, injuries to person-- at.d property through negligence. In some cases the dam- ages were laid as high as JE1000, and the amounts recovered- in some wises varied from £:300 to £ 100, and in several- more exceeded £;)0, while in several others the verdict was- for the defendant. The same returns show that in 1869 43- cases, and in 1870 28 cases, above £ 50 were tried before the- County Court judges by agreement. In 1860 13.445 cases^. and in 1870 12,020 cases above £ 20 and under £ 50, in 1869- 021 cast s, and in 1870 1063 cases with a jury, were tried in the County Courts, and in all this vast number of cases the- right of appeal existed. The same returns show that in the year 1869 there were twenty appeals, and in 1870 thirty-- eight appeals against County Court decisions. If we turn-, to any of the series of reports of legal decisions and see the- sort of questions which are raised on these appeals, we find them to be questions of great nicety and difficulty, and upon which even the appellate judges are not always of one mindr- Now, with these facts before us. is it not a just conclusion- that the law as administered in County Courts is in the. main as satisfactory to the profession fot its correctness, as it is to the public for its justice ? The cost of these proceed- ings is small compared with the relief given, but the returns do not furnish apt or sufficient materials for this purpose^ By way of comparison with the superior courtglet what follow s be attended to. From returns of the numbers of cases tried in London, at Westminster and on circuit for the year 1869, the following results appear Verdicts above £100, 551 vet diets above £511, 309 verdicts above £ 20,517 verdicts, under ±20, 233 total, 1610; cases without money verdict, 758 total, 2368 motions for new trial 525. These motions may be regarded as appeals from the decisions at Nisi Prius. In the County Court the appealable cases for 1809 were 14.077, and there were only twenty appeals. Thus, making the largest allowance that can reasonably be required for the smallness of the amount and the simplicity of the ques- tions involved, there is a difference in the proportion of ap- peals which has to be accounted for. and I veDture to ac- count for a large proportion of this difference by the fact that the judges at Nisi Prius rarely decide any questions of Jaw, hut leave is given to move, and the rule nisi is obtain' ed almost of course where such leave is given. Whereas in the County Court the judge is bound to decide all ques- tions as they arise upon his own responsibility, and sujecfc to appeal as of right. Sometimes in cases below £ 20,when power of appeal is discretionary with the judge, leave i& given, if the special circumstances of the case justify such leave, and I have sometimes given it. Astocosts, there isare/ turn, upon the accuracy of which reliance may be placed, showing the arnount of the verdict and costs in each case in the Queen's Bench for the first six months of 1870. The result* are as follows :-111 thirty-five ca."p, where the ver- dicts are above JE50 and not exceeding 1:101), the taxed costs of the plaintiff average 88 per cent, and in the cases not ex- ceeding X50 they average 225 per cent. In each case the extra costs of the plaintiff payable to his own attorney, and the costs of defendant, as between attorney and client, rrust be added. The aggregate amount is frightful; not less probably than 5l( per cent upon the total amount re- covered. These simple facts and figures surely will in time open the eyes of the leaders of the profession to the true remedy for the evils of which the public complain. It may he observed that there is no return of the costs of proceed- ings in those special jurisdictions which aspire to the dignity of the superior courts. Such are the Passage Court in Liverpool, the Salford Hundred Court at Manchester, the Tolzty Court at Bristol, the Lord Mayor's Court in London, and the Burgesses Court at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and there may be a few others. These courts are great favourites with- those who practice in and resort to them, and they doubt- less relieve the suitors from some of the more burdensome evils of the superior courts but upon the question of costs as well as that of expedition, they will not, in contested cases, stand comparison with the County Courts. By the 30 and 31 Vie. ch. 142, sec. 13. 1867. an appeal shall be moved in actions in which an appeal is not now allowed, if the judge shall think it reasonable and proper such appeal should be allowed. This provision applies to cases under £ 20. In other cases an appeal is of right. The appeal is in the form of a case agreed by both parties or their attor- neys. If there is no such agreement the judge is to settle the case (13 & 14 Vic. ch. 61, sec. 15, 185t ). An appeal is also of right, in all actions of ejectment or in which the title to any corporal or incorporal hereditament may have come in question. The fiaintr above jE:29 in 1851 were 13,446 the lowest nundier was in 18G5—w hen the were 7,414, and in 1869 they were 13,445. In 1869 there were twenty ap- 1)011118 onlv." THE COLLECTION OF OUR LOCAL RATES.—Whatever room there may have been for public complaint as to the collection of our rates in past years, there certainly is no ground for complaint at present. On the contrary, the ratepayers may be congratulated on the fact that when rates are made they are now thoroughly collected-no man or woman whose name is unfortunately found in the list of ratepayers escaping the unwelcomed interviewing" of Air W. J J ones, the assistant-overseeer, Mr T. W. Good- fellow, the Board of Health collector, or of their respective assistants. This is as it should be, for in justice to the ratepayer who assumes, if he does not feel. a gracefulness in paying his rates, no effort should be withheld from making I the obstinate pay also, even if the payment be made in the most awkward way imaginable. We heard the other day of a larme rateuaver who lived in the town some years ago. and personally sanctioned the signing of rates, who habitually tore up the bills when presented, and abused the collectors. Such inconsiderate persons, we understand, are not unfrequently met with. even in the present day, and therefore the duty of calling upon them must be ex- ceedingly unpleasant. However, they are called npen with unfailing regularity, and whether influenced by the bland manner of the collectors, their sympathetic sighs and tears, or the suggestive reminder that they have forty.six assistants in uniform behind them, they do get the money, and that in a manner we should think unprecedented in the country. We may illustrate our statements by re- ferring to the poor-rate just balanced by Mr W. J. Jones. That rate amounted in the aggregate to £6,189 9s lOd, and on Saturday last, when a new rate was signed, there only remained an uncollected balance of JE66 12s 4d, and even of this sum above R30 was received a few hours after the closing of the account, so that there remains now of that rate unpaid into the bank only some £;30, and even this sum is recoverable, and would have been paid were it not for sp-ecial circumstances tern porarity affecting the chargeability. The Board of Health collection shows an equally gratifying position. Mr Good- fellow has now been our collector for exactly two years. During this period there have been placed in his hands four district rates to collect, amounting to £ 23,&13 9s lOd, and of this very large sum there only remains unpaid into the bank at this day the small amount of £27 19s Id. He has jW'8e had to collect eight water rates amounting to tlO^^and of this gum again the only arrears are £ 11 2s 7d, I&kipg hie entire amounts for colletfip# they repeat for the two years the enormous amount of X34,212 9s lOd, and the balance unpaid is only 1391&8d! When it is considered that both the assistant overseers and the Board of Health collector have at each rate many hundreds of ac- counts to collect, the great majority of them very small amounts, and that they not unfrequently—though legally not obliged to do so—make repeated calls for payment of the same account, it may be understood by the reader how great and extensive must be their labour, and how faith- fully and honestly they perform it. Enormous salaries may be expected to secure zealous, honest and intelligent service, but in this as in other matters there are occasional disap- pointments. Our public collectors, however, have not the encouragement of high salaries- especially remembering the security they have to provide. For the zeal they bring to the discharge of their duties it cannot be said that they are stimulated by great pecuniary reward. It appears to be enough for them that they have undertaken to do a certain public work, and having undertaken it to do it with un- nagging zenl and impartial justice. We deem it but a sim- ple act of fairness to our collectors to state these facts, and whilst they must, on the one hand, prove very gratifying to the ratcpayere generally, we trust our townsmen will, on the other band, accord with no grudging spirit, their meed of pmise to those by whom they are so faithfully served. lJUNVtLLK & Co., Belfast, are the largest hoers fold whIsky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is recom- mended by the inedical profession in preference t( French brandy, Supplied in casks and cases for home use or ex- portation. Quotations on application to MESSRS. DUN- VIL.LE &Co., IRISH UOYAL 1 JIMTILLKRJJES, BELFAST. 4791 — DOWLAIS. IVOR CHAPEL.—A series of winter evening entertainments, consisting of readings, singing, and recitations were com- menced at the above chapel on Thursday evening, the 19th of this month. The chair was taken by the Rev J LI James, the proceedings were of a highly instructive character, and reflected great credit upon the committee under whose superintendence those entertainments are carried on.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ABERDARE POLICE COURT.