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LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

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LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE MERTHYR VOLUNTEERS' SOIREE will take place on Thursday evening next, under distinguished patron- age. It is expected to be one of the most pleasing and attractive soirees held this season. Apart from the pleasure which may be gained for so small an outlay, the object ought itself to command a numerous as- sembly. BETHEL CHAPEL. -It has been arranged to hold a series of fortnightly readings at this chapel during the coming winter months, the first of which took place on Monday night, when the drama of "Joseph and his Brethren was very ably performed. Jacob was per- by Mr. James Harris, and the acting of Joseph Jftlr. J. Gwyiher) and Judah (Mr. David James) deserve special notice. The chapel was comfortably piled, and it is to be hoped the promoters will succeed In keeping the future performances up to the standard of that of Monday night. 1\IB. W. F. MAITLAND, M.P., addressed those his constituents of Breconshire residing at ^efncoed, on Tuesday evening, at the Temper- ance Hall, Cefn. The bon. member was received With great enthusiasm by a crowded audience, presided over by A. Sutherland, Esq. After an interesting review of the work of the session, and a justification of his votes, a vote of thanks and confidence in the hon. Member was unanimously adopted. The principal speakers who took part in the meeting were, in addi- tion to the bon. member and the chairman, Mr. H. •{•nomas, Rev. T. Williams, B.A. (High-street, Chapel, Merthyr) "VV. Jones, Esq., and Dr. Hosking. GEORGE DAWSON, ESQ., AT MERTHYR. -It is a singular circumstance that this renowned lecturer-known and honoured throughout the kingdom by all who appreciate intellectual worth—has not visited Merthyr for nearly twenty years, and hence most of our young people have never seen or heard him, though every newspaper reader must be familiar with his name. His popularity is such in the midland countiea, and also in the metropolis, that crowded and enthusiastic audiences always wel- come him. His philosophic lectures, his unostentatious humour, and his unsparing exposure and denunciation of all shams, whether social, political, literary, or reli- gious, have an attraction which for years is not for- gotten. Mr. Dawson is unlike all other public lecturers, He puts forth no artificial elfort to produce sensational effect, yet his quiet Carlylian style of treating his sub- ject, and his easy flow of good Saxon language, have a charm which never fails to captivate the attention of an intelligent audience. In his views of men and manners perhaps few entirely agree with him. Evidently a disciple of Diogenes's old school of philosophy, he regards all men from a peculiar stand-point, and perhaps the brightest phases of our nature are seldom visible to him, yet there is much sterling truth in what he says, which must commend itself to the minds and con- sciences of his hearers. Mr. Dawson is certainly a remarkable man, with intellectual resources so great that for a quarter of a century he has, week after week, addressed the largest, wealthiest, and most intellectual congregation in Birmingham, besides Jo^cupying a most prominent position on all social, political, and educa- tional questions, and contributing frequently to the daily press. Well, this gentleman is to address a Jjiertnyr audience on Monday evening next, and if the temperance Hall will not be crowded on that occasion, it will be a discredit to our fellow-townsmen. THE MALAY PENINSULA.-The Fortnightly Review emarks, that "The Malay Peninsula witnesses the re- ? an °ld story. One reads with pure vexation oi iinghsh redcoats and bluejackets driving Malays up their own rivers, sending rockets whizzing and crashing turough jungle, and bursting in defence and stockade. if this were inevitably, it would be worse than inglorious work. So far from being inevitable it is only flf -r^SU ot action which the best opinion even in ofiicial circles pronounces thoroughly ill-judged. We ffi6! i 6 in afiairs which do not concern us, we send omclals to places where they have no business to be, the People of the country act just as we might have been sure that they would, and then the nation is committed to one more of these futile encounters. The worst of it is, that powerful influences are tending to commit us to a policy in China and elsewhere, that would lead avowedly and unmistakably to an indefinite augmenta- tion of this bad work on a more wholesale scale. And we read with something stronger and more definite than mere vexation, of the firing of an undefended and guiltless village in the same expedition of 4 young civil fm!<^erSv.a^ltraril3r burnit)S down a Chinaman's house, ■* .r. reason than that the Chinaman did not commit suicide by trying to rescue Mr. Birclrfrom certain death (Times, Dec. 18). When performed in iexploits are pronounced as atrocious one would to know why what is called barbarous and rotrih 0 I11 the Straits of Dover becomes righteous retribution in the Straits of Malacca? The mission to V en(l!Ilre into the death of Mr. Margary has tUHinu 8 journey from Hankow, and we may fear No JJrfhWk trouble and injustice is likely to follow. No sensible observer will wish to dwell too heavily on these things The past has left us in a position of tre- muni ties Tt lD-ACf °f these ""civilised com- bv S mm unavoidable that errors should be made ordinates Rn+' wron«s Perpetrated by sub- occasion should be lost to call the attention of the country to the way in which we are going, and to impress on the thought of the country fll W necessity firmly establishing among the olncial classes, at home and in the East, definite prin- ciples of conduct, and shaping those principles on the right basis of justice and common sense-" MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—(Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) AS WELL OFF AS WAINWEIGHT.—William Jones, painter, a dissipated looking individual, was summoned tor having used threatening language to Mary Jones, his wife. The parties reside at Gwernllwynfach, Dow- lais, and have been married something like 21 years. According to his wife, defendant was very much addicted to drink, and when his drunken fit was upon him he made use of very strong and strange language towards her and all his family. On the 3rd inst. be cut a. clothes line down for the purpose, seemingly, of hanging him. self, and declared that if he killed the family all round he would be as well off as Wainwright after all. He ap- peared very penitent and frightened to-day. He assured his Worship, with tears in his eyes, and in a maudling tone of voice, that he would never be guilty of like con. duct again. — I.he stipendiary, after saying he had better not, ordered him to enter into his own recognizances in jElO to keep the peace for six months, and also to pay costs. INEBRIATES.—Joseph Brown, an ostler at Dowlais WOrks, was summoned for drunken and riotous behaviour at Garden'-roW, Dowlais, on the 8th inst. It appeared that defendant on the day in question went three hours late to his work, and that in consequence of this fact, together with the one that he was stupid by drink, he was told to leave. This he refused to do, and P.C. Davies's services were called into requisition. After being turned off the premises, defendant very foolishly challenged the officer to fight. It being his first ap- pearance, his Worship let him oft with a fine of 5s. and the costs. Lewis Lewis, a Talgarth drover, was summoned for drunkenness on the same night. This man, it appeared, nad been dragged off an engine track at Dowlais, on tbe previous Wednesday, in order that the locomotive and its train might pass with greater convenience. He was then Put to prop up a wall close by, and in this situa- rVu ,*es fwu°d him< an<i considerately lugged J ? w police-station. He was now fined 5s. and in J,1-8 con,sidered that he had a sum approaching £ 10 in his pocket when takpn nr. rvo^monf pesmond, 14, Thomas Driscoll, 16, vtn, I Frank &pp that the two prisoners last named were Been by P.C. Davies on the top of a truck at The old works throwing down lumps of coal, which rolled over the embankment down to where the female prisoners ;ood. It was then picked up into bags and carried off. Velsb, when arrested, charged Driscoll with having tken her to the place, and Driscoll retorted by saying tat Welsh had induced the buys to mount the truck y promises of some tobacco. It appeared that trucks f coal were very often stripped in this fashion, and it vaa almost impossible to detect the o&enders.—His Vorship, after telling the prisoners that stealing from i loal truck was every bit as bad as going into a shop to steal, sentenced Welsh—whom he considered by far the .vorst of the three—to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, the male prisoners to ten days' each with hard labour, and Mary Driscoll to seven days' imprison- ment, in default of paying 5s. fine. MONDAY.-( Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) DISORDERLIES.—.Robert Price, collier, summoned a the instance of P.C. Evans for drunken and riotous conduct at Ash-road, Troedyrhiw, on the 9th inst., was fined 10s. and the costs, it being his second appearance. -Edward Crowley, a well-known hobbler, arrested by P.C. Burke in High-street, on the previous Saturday nieht, upon a similar charge, was dismissed with a caution. SOMMONS WITHDRAWN.—John Davies, Evan Evans, and John Lewis Jones, juveniles, were summoned for having wilfully damaged a balling furnace, the property of the Rhymney Iron Co., Limited. Mr. Gwilym James appeared on behalf of the Company in support of the summons, and Mr. Plews defended. The case occupied some length of time in the hearing, but the facts were very simple. The boys had been caught on the 12th inst., in the Bute Mill by a master mason named James Davies, knocking down the bridge on one of the balling furnaces with a couple of iron tools termed respectively a peel" and a rabble." Several bricks were displaced, and it was contended that the Company bad sustained damage to the amount of some- thing like £15s. Before giving judgment in this case, Mr. De Rutzen decided upon hearing another, in which the master mason, James Davies, was summoned for having committed an assault upon the defendant Evan Evans. Mr. Plews prosecuted in this case, but the de- fendant was without professional assistance. It was here sought to be established that Davies had an old grudge against the lad Evans, whom he had accused of thrashing his (defendant's) son. On the 9lh instant it was stated that he caught Evans in the works and beat him about the legs with a hazel stick. His Worship having elicited that for keeping the furnaces in proper order Davies was allowed so much per ton, so that the' damage really had been his. and not the Company's, suggested the withdrawal of the whole of the sum- monses. To this course both sides at once agreed, and both charges were, upon payment of costs, dismissed. WINDOW SMASHING AT DOWLAIs.-Hannah Brown, married, was summoned for having damaged six panes of glass and some show glasses, the property of her mother-in-law, Mary Parry, landlady of the Pelican Inn, Dowlais. Mr. Plews, who defended, took objec- tion to the form of the summons, which laid the pro- perty as Mrs. Parry's, while according to the admission of the latter it belonged in reility to her son. Defen- dant having promised that she would make good the damage, the summons was dismissed. A JUVENILE OFFENDER.—Thomas White, 13, sum- moned at the instance of P.C. Davies, for having stolen 401bs. of coal, the property of the Rhymney Iron Co., Limited, from the Bute-terrace Pit, on the 7th instant, was fined 3s. 6d., including the costs. Two OTHERS. -Margaret Calbert and Mary Reardon, both of Pontlottyn, were summoned for having damaged a water course belonging to the Rhymney Co., on the 12th inst. Defendants, who according to P.S. R utter, had been digging for sand-stones, nearly choked up the water course, were fined 6d. each and the costs. AN IMPUDENT CUSTOMER.—Thomas Butler, of no fixed abode, a labourer, was brought up charged with stealing a cravat, the property of Rees Davies, a collier, residing at Market-street Gully, Dowlais, and also with stealing an umbrella, valued at 3s. 6d., the property of Mr. J. H. Day, hatter, Union-street, Dowlais. In this case the part of a constable was played with conspicuous ability by a gentleman whom members of the force would term a "civilian," the said civilian being Mr. Thos. Lloyd, of the Prince Albert Inn, High-street, Dowlais. It would appear that on the previous Satur- day night the prisoner went cadging to the hostelry just named, and because he did not meet with the encouragement which he thought he deserved, he became impertinent, abusive, and threatening, so much so that the landlord, after showing him the door, shoved him to the other side of it—the outside. Some time afterwards seeing him carrying an umbrella, to which a string was attached, and hearing him pointed out as the man who bad stolen a cravat, Mr. Lloyd, with a shrewd wag of the head, exclaimed Ay, and he has stolen that umbrella too." He therefore collared the fellow and marched him to the lock-up, and subse- quent inquiries proved the accuracy of his (Mr. Lloyd's) surmises, and the exceeding wisdom of the prompt action which he had taken. The police, sus- pecting that a little insight into the antecedents of such a very interesting individual as their prisoner might prove conducive to the general good, a remand for a week was asked for, and at once granted. NOT PARTICULAR ABOUT THE CHANGE. Annie Cook and Ellen Williams, unfortunates, were brought up charged, the former [with stealing £ 1, and the latter with stealing £2 5s.. the moneys of David Mandry, a collier, residing at Rhondda Valley. The case was rendered somewhat interesting on account of the utterly inexplicable conduct of the prosecutor after he hud been fleeced of his money. It appeared that this delightfully fresh individual went to a place where he never was afore," on the previous Saturday night, that is to say the Patriot Inn, at Ynisgau. Cook at once singled him out as a stranger, and confidentially informed him that she could find him respectable lodgings. He accom- panied her to a house at China, where some beer was sent for, he giving the girl a sovereign in payment. There was some talk made about the change, but he does not seem to have bothered himself much about it, and the matter dropped. Feeling sleepy he went up- stairs, and lay upon the bed, where, according to his statement, he was visited by the prisoner Williams, whom he distinctly saw taking away his money, but to 0 whom he never ventured to utter a single word of remonstrance. Cook stayed with him in the room the whole of the night, but upon the subject of the change for his sovereign or the subsequent robbery he remained perfectly mute. At daybreak he came away and had the prisoners arrested by P.C. Parsons. The Stipendiary remanded the case for consideration for a week, the pri- soners being taken away in custody. CHARGE OF DOG STEALING.—John Cahill, Quarry- street, a tinman, and a noted dog fancier, was brought up charged with stealing a fox terrier dog, valued at £5, the property of George Bethell, a mason, residing at Hall-street, Aberdare. It appeared that the dog had been bought by the prosecutor of a man named Hopkins shortly before Christmas last. On the previous Thursday defendant was at Aberdare and succeeded in obtaining the dog from Mrs. Hopkins, who, thinking that her husband had brought the animal back again, believed defendant s story that the dog had been given to him by her husband. Cahill was found with the dog in his possession by P.S. Jennings, who took him into custody. His plea, as far as it could be made out now, was that the dog had been given him in exchange for a bitch. With whom he had made the exchange was not, however, made very clear.-The Stipendiary adjourned the case for further evidence until Tuesday week at Aberdare, accepting defendant's own recognizances in S10 to appear that day. WEDNESDAY.—(Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) AN IMPERTINENT WOMAN.—Emily Shaw, described on the sheet as a married woman, and who was said to have only recently left Abergavenny Asylum, was brought up charged with drunken and riotous con- duct at Cardiff-road, Aberatnan, on the previous (Tuesday) night. P.S. Cooke proved conduct of a rather aggravated kind against the prisoner, who, in her frenzy, had actually torn all the clothes off her own back. His Worship now endeavoured to elicit from her some particulars As to her antecedents, but these she refused point blank to give, and the few replies she deigned to make were delivered in a very impudent manner. The Stipendiary remanded her in custody until Saturday. ANOTHER DISORDERLY.—John Reynolds, collier, Heolgerrig, was summoned for drunken and riotous conduct at High-street, on the previous Monday night. P.S. Davies gave evidence. Defendant, who called a witness with a view of showing that he (defendant) was omly playful and not "riotous," was fined 5s; and the costs. COAL STEALING AT ABERCANAID. -Thomas. Winter and George Winter, brothers, aged 14 and 12 years re- spectively, were summoned for having stolen 25 lbs of ooal, the property of R. T. Crawshay, Esq., from the Getbin Railway, on the 15th inst. The charge was proved by P.C. Melhuisb. It appeared pretty clear that the boys had been seht out to pick the coal by their aunt, with whom they were staying. His Worship, after stating that had the aunt been'caught receiving the coal, he would have committed her for trial, ordered defendants to pay a tine of 2s. (jd, each. QUARRELSOME NEIGHBOURS.—Thomas Griffiths v. Edward Davies, rougher. Complainant is a mason, re- siding at Horse-street, Dowlais, where defendant also lives. It appeared that at one time they had been on terms of pretty close intimacy, but lately differences had arisen., and defendant, who had caught his opponent at the back of the Rolling Mill Inn, on the 11th inst., threatened to "do for him. in about a minute." Defendant, who contended that it was he who had the most cause to complaia, Griffiths having challenged him to fight and to kick him to pieces, was bound over in the sum of S5 to keep the peace for the next three months. He was also ordered to pay 8s. 9d. costs. MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. The fortnightly meeting of this Board was held on Wednesday last, at the Board-room, High.street. Mr. W. Jones presided, and there were also present Drs. James aud Probert, Messrs. Thos. Williams (Goitre), fr- -^irkhouse, Thos. Davies, W. L. Daniel, T. H, H^good, G. Martin, and J. Place. ^lnu^es °f the previous meeting having been read and passed, the following business was transacted THE BOARD AND ITS CREDITORS. The Clerk read the following replies from the Board's creditors, with regard to the application made for the terms on which the present loans could be redeemed The Atlas Insurance Company, whose loan had 20 ygars to run at Je5 per cent., would settle if a sum tantamount to the interest for that period were handed over. The Ko.ck', ^°yaJ, Exchange, Yorkshire, and Economic, declined to allow a redemption, and the United Kingdom, who had been the last to contract, would be willing upon certain terms. The Chairman said this was a matter of figures, and one which should be referred to a commitee for con- sideration. Mr. Daniel: That is just what I proposed. Dr. James thought it was a matter upon which the book-keeper should be consulted upon. The Chairman said the book-keeper could be present, but the question of considering each loan would have to be gone into. and it would be a long job. He sug- gested that three or four gentlemen be appointed on the committee, and it was agreed that the chairman, Dr. James, Messrs. Hocgood, Daniel, and Harris form the committee. NEW BATE. The estimates for the new rate of If. for three months were put in and approved. ADULTERATED POP. Dr. Dyke, the Medical Otticer of the Board, stated that two bottles of ginger-beer, obtained in Merthyr. had been handed to him one contained a quantity of brandy, and the analysis went to prove that certain de- leterious substances were introduced or generated in the bottles, partly by a chemical action of the internal india-rubber band which served as the cork stopper. He had forwarded similar bottles to Mr. Horsley, the public analyst, and now read his report The Laboratory, Gloucester, January 18th, 1876. Mr. Thomrs Watson, Sanitary Inspector for "Merthyr. SiR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst., together with a bottle of pop- the latter I have analysed. On opening the bottle there was a strong smell of nitrous acid, which, in my opinicn (if no spirits of sweet nitre had been used, which is sometimes the case), must have been generated in charging the liquid by the use of a rough or impure sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, which contained it, be- cause I got all the chemical re-actions of nitrous acid. When first tapped, the liquid was of a dark yellow colour, but on keeping it in a clean bottle for a day it lost its colour, and, notwithstanding the flavour of orange and lemon, I distinctly detected the smell of nitrous acid during the process of evaporation. I believe each bottle to contain about half an ounce of syrup of lemcn and orange dissolved in the water, and charged with carbonic acid gas. I searched diligently for lead, but the only metallic contamination I could find was a small quantity of iron, which, with the sulphur of the elastic band in the neck of the bottle, gave rise to the discoloration spoken of by Dr. Dyke. T have before now heard of similar com- plaints of a black colour being produced when brandy has been mixed with aerated water, stopped in this way, owing to the formation of "sulphurated hydrogen," which is an infallible test of the presence of metals, such as iron, lead, and copper. There is nothing, how- ever, so clean and effectual as corks for bottles charged with aerated waters. I believe I have now exhausted the subject. "Yours truly, "JOHN HORSLEY, F.CS., Analytical Chemist for Merthyr Tydfil, &c." Dr. James asked whether it had not been resolved that the Board should be first consulted before any- thing were sent for analysis. Mr. Daniel said it was only intended that the Medical Officer should consult the Board before pro- ceeding to prosecution. The Clerk referred to the minute on the subject, when it was found that the Medical Officer hhd to bring the matter before the Board in the shape of an analyst's certificate. Dr. Dyke remarked that unless he could act at once, on having such matters brought under his notice, in some instances the articles would go putrid. Dr. James thought the Board should have more to do with such matters than what they would have if the Medical Officer acted on his own responsibility in send- ing goods for analysis, further than that, he sug- gested that Dr. Dyke, or his assistant, might be laid open to suspicion among the tradesmen if the question were left in their hands. Dr. Dyke said such a thing need not be for a moment thought of, for he only knew the samples by numbers. He asked the Board to empower him to issue some small bills from time to time, warning the people about the use of various articles. In sweets, for instance, they were made very nice to look at, but some were injurious. Those which Wire painted yellow were done with chromate of lead, those in blue were fortunately painted by a harmless ultramarine, instead of Prussian blue, which was at one time put on. The red was from an aniline dye, which was not fit to go into any one's stomach. American butter, which was known in Lon- don as Dutch butter, was nearly altogether made up in one or two places. One-third of it was not butter, but he must not tell even the Board the "secrets of the prison house," because some of them were grocers. Mr. Kirkhouse Do they sell it in Merthyr? Dr. Dyke I must not tell you, sir. (A laugh.) Dr. James: Some large houses here sell very little else. The Chairman asked if the componelit parts of the mixture were injurious? Dr. Dyke No; The Chairman then said that the crime would really be the selling as butter a mixture which was not butter. Dr. Dyke said that in the making of this "American butter" the fat of horses and of calves, was carefully stirred with the freshest milk, and thus the butter was manufactured. The doctor received instructions to issue the bills ac- cording to his own suggestion. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Clerk read the Surveyor's report, as follows:— To the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board of Health. GENTLEMEN, — I beg to submit an estimate of the in- come and expenditure of your Board on account of water works ar d for general purposes during the months of February and March, 1876. The estimate provides for the amount due to the Board of Guardians for road improvements, and for broken stone purchased from them. but does not include cost of the new pumping engine and boiler ordered to be erected, as these may, at your discretion, be paid for out of borrowed money. I would observe that during the period in question no payment will become due to assurance companies on account of water works, or to your officers for salaries- The estimate shows that the ordinary revenue, together with a one shilling general district rate. will cover the expenditure, and provide a surplus of £1,645 Os. 3d. For the mouth of April the expenditure will be about £2.850. With respect to the letter of Mr. Daniel Williams, asking you to adopt an existing lamp in Pottery- lane, belonging to the proprietors of the Drill Hall, as a public lamp, with the view of preventing nuisances occasioned by persons resorting there for improper purposes, I beg to report that the lighting of. the said lamp would probably answer the desired purpose, but the cost would be equal to the whole amount of general district rates levied upon the cottages in Pottery-row. With respect to the memorial of inhabitants of Union Place, Thomas Town, calling your attention to the state of the road in this place, I beg to report that this street is not a highway repairable out of the public rates. The road should be formed, metalled, channelled, and drained at the expense of the owners of property fronting or abutting upon such street. I beg to report that the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Company have not abated the nuisance of which they have had notice, arising from the drain- age of water from their premises to and upon the surface of the street leading from Victoria-street to Iron-street, Dowlais. I beg to recommend that the latter street be named Station-street, and that the road leading from Penydarran to High-street, Dowlais, be also named. I beg to report that Mr. Rowland Griffiths has placed an obstruction in a watercourse at Aberfan, by which the drainage of your lands at Troedyrhiw and the flow of the effluent sewage are impeded. I beg to report that within the last fortnight it has been necessary to do some repairs to the sewage con- duit between Aberfan and Quaker's Yard. Whilst this was being done the whole of the sewage was used at Troedyrhiw. I beg to report that since your last meeting it has been neceseary to open and cleanse the n?w sewer laid down for the drainage of the Mardy houses, on the Cardiff-road, in Merthyr. I beg to report that in my opinion the front and side walls of the premises known as the Angel Hotel, 4n High-street, Merthyr, are now in a dangerous state. I would recommend that the 75th section of the 10th and 11th Victoria, cap. 34, be put in force at once. I beg to recommend that Mr. W. E. Williams be re- quired to clear Gillar-street of all building material scaffolding, and refuse, and make good thp pavements and roads disturbed by him forthwith. I beg to recommend that the public be again cau tioned by the distribution of hand-bills against deposit- ing ashes in the streets. I beg to report that I have received the following building plans and notices, viz. 1. -From Mr. David Jones, Quaker's Yard, of 29 houses and a shop at Twynygarreg for himself. I see no objection to this plan, provided the streets already sanctioned by you be formed and made before the houses are occupied. 2. From Mr. John Williams, builder. Castle-street, Merthyr, of an hotel at Ynysowen for Mr. Davies' Danyderri; as the site of this building is not shown, I am unable to report upon it. b 3. — From Mr. John Williams, builder, Castle-street Merthyr, of a dwelling-house and shop at Ynvsowen for Mr. W. Williams; the site of this building being undefined, I cannot report upon it. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, SAMUEL HARPUR, Surveyor. Merthyr Tydfil, January 19th, 1876. It was ordered that proceedings be instituted against the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Co. The application with regard to the lighting of the lamp near the Drill Hall was refused. THE CONDITION OF THE STREETS. The Surveyor reported that Union-place, from whence a communication had been addressed to the Board com- plaining of the condition of the place, was private pro- perty, and the work ought to be done by the landlords. Dr. James said this Board had been in existence for about thirty years, and there had really been very little done with regard to putting certain streets in order. When he mentioned, however, Thomas-street and John- street, Georgetown, to the surveyor, he was told that he had no time to attend to them yet. Now it struck him as being an unfair thing towards the inhabitants of these streets who had to pay rates towards the repairs and making of other streets, and not to get the same kind of benefit for themselves. It occurred to him that if the surveyor was so much over-burdened with work that he could not attend to these streets, he ought to have some assistance. He reminded them that the money laid out was refunded, and did not come upon the Board, and poncluded by proposing that the surveyor have an assistant for the purpose of helping him to con- struct and repair the streets. This was seconded by Dr. Probert. The Surveyor said the cost of forming the streets at Penydarren was £1,700, and the Board would have to lay out that amount for several months. They could Here a list of the streets was read over, and gave rise to some discussion. Eventually Dr. James declared his willingness, which Dr. Probert agreed to, of allow- ing his motion to stand over for a fortnight. In the meantime a report on the whole matter could be pro- duced by Mr. Harpur. The subject then dropped. THE GAS CONTRACT. The Clerk read the .following letter from the Gas Company:- 8th January, 1876. "To Thomas Williams, Esq., Clerk to the Merthyr "Tydfil Local Board of Health. "DEAR SIR,- Your letter of the 31st ult. was sub mitted to the directors at their meeting held on Wed nesday evening last, and, in reply thereto, I was desired to state that it is not the intention of the Company to make any reduction in the public lights, the rates now charged being strictly in accordance with the provision of the Merthyr Tydfil Gas Act, 1868, viz., viz. 3s. 6d per thousand cubic feet consumed, and with respect to the sum allowed per lamp for lighting, extinguishing cleansing, repairs, annual painting, &c., I am to in- form you that in thQ year just ended such allowance has not re-imbursed the Company the expenses incurred in the performance of those services and I am further to state that the Company would be glad to be relieved fr 'm those duties. In reference to the higher rate of 6d. per thousand cubic feet for gas supplied in the outlying districts o Troedyrhiw and Cefncoedycymmer, the directors are surprised that your Board should deem so trifling a difference unfair, especially when the fact is considered that a very large outlay of capital has been invested in laying main pipes to supply those districts, and which capital, from the incredibly small consumption of gas in those places is as yet wholly unremunerative. I am also instructed to say that the Act of Parliament fully justifies an additional charge being made in the outlying districts, provided that such addition does not exceed the maximum price of 5s. per 1,000 feet. It may be stated that 5s. per 1,000 cubic feet is not an increased charged in the outside places, the price remaining as heretofore, without reduction. In answer to numerous inquiries made, the directors find that it is the rule with all gas companies to have differential rates, a higher price being charged for outlying districts not nearly so remote from the source of supply as Troedyrhiw and Ce'ncoedycymmer. "As regards your assertion as follows :—' jn consider- ing the charge made for public lights in the town dis- trict, you have frequently referred to the additional expense of supplying the outlying districts, and this has formed an element influencing the rate of charge. This being so, you are surely not going to tack upon the outlying districts that which was "considered in dealing with the town district.' The directors fail entirely to see what connection this question has with the supply of gas to the private consumers. If it is meant that the charge for the public lights is higher at Troedyrhiw than at Merthyr they would beg to remind you that such is not the case' the rate for the gas consumed beincr the same as at Merthyr, i.e. 3s. 6d. per 1,000 the difference in charge arising from the additional cost the Company is sub- jected to for lighting, extinguishing, &c., the very few lamps in that locality, and which, as you are aware are placed widely apart. "I am, dear sir, yours obediently, "JOHN L. COCKER." Mr. Williams (Goitre) said there was an extraordinary small quantity of gas used at Troedyrhiw and the laying of the mains down there had proved unfortunate for the Company. The Chairman could not understand how it was that it was always being said that the Gas Company never made anything, while at the same time they paid the maximum dividends of 10 per cent. and 7^ per cent The matters raised were allowed to drop. There was no further public business, and the Board proceeded with committee matters.

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