The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

LLANILAR. PETTY SESSIONS, FRIDAY, DEC. 3.-Befoie the Earl of Lisburne and .Major Phelp. Offences against the Manchester and Milford Railway Company's By-laws.-Wm. Jones, Penparkau, was charged by Inspector Humphreys with having entered a carriage while in motion on the 25th September.-Inspector Hum- phreys said there had been a large fair at Pontrhydfendi- gaid, and the defendant wa3 a passenger. At Llanrhystyd Road station the tickets were collected. Defendant, who had one for Llanrhystyd Road, got out on to the platform. When the train started witness got into the van, and de- fendant jumped into the train and came on to Aberystwyth. Defendant said he had no money, and that was why he did not take a ticket. -Defendant was then charged with travelling without a ticket, and was fined 10s, and costs, in each case, amounting to iil 16-t—EJward Evans, Llether- melyn, Llanilar, farmer's son, was charged with travelling on the Manchester aud Milford Railway on the 22nd Nov. without a ticket.-Inspector Humphreys said that when the train got to Trawscoed, defendant was seen loitering about the station premises. He was asked for his ticket, and said he had given it up. On enquiries being made it was found that he had not given up his ticket, and on being aokcd again defendant produced a ticket from Aberystwyth to LLaiilar.—Arnold James, the stationmaster, gave evi- (jance- Fined 103, and costs.—John Jones Lloyd, Llandewi Brefi was charged with being drunk at Strata Florida station on Tuesday, Nov. 23rd. and assaulting the station- i»u»ter, Heury DeCourcy, who said that on the day in ques- tion defendant was in the station at Strata Florida waiting for the train from Aberystwyth. About ten minutes before the train was due the ticket window was opened. Defen- dant did not ask for a ticket. When the train came up de- fendant went to the platform and attempted to kiss two young hdiep. He also pulled some men about. He then asked" for a ticket, but witness did not give him one, as he waR drunk. Defendant went into a. carriage, and witness pulled him out. After the train was gone defendant became very violent, and knocked the station door with a stick. He threatened to knock witness on the head with a stick, and did strike him with his hand. Witness telegraphed to Tre- garon for a policeman. -A fine of 5s, and costs, was inflicted for drunkenness, and a fine of 5s, and costs, for the assault oil the staiionmaster. Ti*es,oass. -David Rogers, Llwyngwiddil, farmer's son, wis charged by Thomas Hopkins, gamekeeper to the Earl of L:«burne. with trespassing in se*rch of game At Lledrod on the 6 .h November. Hopkins said he saw a greyhound in a field belauging to Major Lloyd Philipps. There was no one with the dog. Witness went & little further and saw defendant watching the greyhound, which was bunting in the field. Wit ness went to him and told him he had no right t > ter.d his dog in there, and be said he could send hid dog into the field if he did not go in himself. If the dog caught a hare and brought it to him, they could not do anylbiri-, to him. Defendant said he knew there were V\"l.ty of bares on the ground that day as the Teifi bog was covared with water. and asked witness to allow the dog to catch a hare. and he (witness) should have it. The keeper refused to comply with this request. Fined 5s and costs. During the hearing of this case Lord Lisburne re- tired from the Bench.—Evan Evans and Edward Evans, miners, Gwnnws, were charged with trespassing in search of game at Gwnnws on the 12th of November on land the property of Colonel Powell.—David Jones, game- keeper, said he saw the two men setting wires. —In de- fence one of the defendants said he had had leave to snare rabbits from the gamekeeper, as he had kept a bitch for him. This was denied by the keeper, who said there was no truth in the statement. The men were fined 1013 each, 'nAlleged Malicious Damage.— Abraham Oliver was charged with having maliciously damaged a certain gate on the 14th c October at Dolchgenog Farm. The complainant, Matthew John Mitchell, was represented by Mr J. W. Thomas The complainant was sworn, and after he had given some evidence the magistrates dismissed the case, and said there was no evidence whatever that the alleged damage had been done by the defendant. Non-Payment oj (,'alls. -Wi) liani Griffith, Lewis Richards, John James, and William Siviter, overseers of the poor for certain parishes in Aberystwyth Union, were proceeded against by the Clerk, and orders were made for payment in a week, or distress warrants t,) be issued. The total arrears amounted to 2156.

At Winchester Assizes, on Tuesday, the Coroner's Jury who were unable to find a verdict in the Alberta-Mistletoe collision case, attended to receive the instructions of Baron Pramwell. His Lordship addressed them, and they retired, but after deliberating they were still unable to agree, and were accordingly discharged,

CORRESPONDENCE. II AU letters must be written on ,ne side of the paper, and accompanied by Cie name and address of the writer, not necessarily tor publication but as a guirantee of good faith..

Several letters are unavoidably held over. LLANBADARN FAWR SCHOOL BOARD. Srn,-Edaca.tion in various shapes has now become the topic of the day. In the Legislature it has been the sub- ject of many an animated debate, and in society generally it has been forced upon our consideration with the strongest possible arguments, and consequently we have an immense number of schools all over the country. After the lapse of years, the Llanbadarn folks thought proper to make to themselves a name by enlisting in favour of education. Better late than never, certainly. Had the self-constituted School Board gone in the right direction to assist education, they would be worthy of the thanks of the whole district, and their names would be engraven on the hearts of many poor fellows but instead of that they proceeded quite the contrary, by going to build a Board School in the most expensive pait of the village, where three schools are already in the immediate neighbourhood, and the fourth is in the course of erection, and saddle the rate- payers of the three united townships of Uchayndre, Isa- yndre, and Ucha-yn-y-Vaenor with a responsibility of from £ 2,000 to £ 3,000. I consider that no persons in their senses would launch oat their capital in such a careless way, that is if it were their own money they were speculating with. Shrewd, clever, enterprising, go-ahead, spirited fel- lows, who have other peoples' pockets to go to, may think different, and will often dirve on through thick and thin, when more cautious men hesitate to proceed but then, in most of these cases, the liabilities of such persons may be as limited as their experience -who knows ? I understand the School Board have passed a resolution at their last meeting to increase the salaries of the school- masters iu the district, and add a schoolmistress to the Tanyfron school; likewise to repair Commins Coch school. This is a step in the right direction. If a Board school is wanted at all in the three united townahips, it is at Com- mins Coch that it ought to be built, for there is plenty of accommodaticm for sixty children at Tanyfron and Peny- parcau schools, and the Board school at Aberystwyth. We contend still that a Board school is not necessary for the village of Llanbadarn, for the present school at Tanyfron is capable of holding 100 more children than there are at pre- sent in it. With the assistance of pupil teachers and a schoolmistress, 160 children could be well disciplined and taught up there, for thre are no more than about sixty children there now. c. i_ ™ We hear whispers that the Llanbadarn bchool Board in- tend making use of the compulsory Act to compel poor "aboth" to give up the quiet possession of his garden. What ;s the reason that the man who enlightens other people's darkness is so blind himself as to covet this garden so much ? Strange. Other sites quite as suitable have been offered them by the iberal and worthy baronet, Sir Pryse Pryse. If compulsory measures will be made use of it will add to the expense, and it shows how a large sum of money may be squandered to the winds when sound practical judgment and good management are wanting in an undertaking. More anon.—I am, &c., CLD9TFE1NYDD.

PENRHYNDEUDRAETH PUBLICANS. Sla,-Please insert these few lines in your columns this week. Last Sunday, while going through the above- named village. I noticed a few of the public houses with their doors wide open. It was the time to open by law of course, but it looked rather low on the part of the owners to allow such a thing, especially in a Christian Country like Merioneth. Those who want to go in on Sundays can go without seeing the doors wide open. I hope they will behave more like people who keep Sundays. From what I understand there are only two or three who open their houses here on Sundays. I hope all will close.— I am, &c., PASSER By.

THE MACHYNLLETH UNION ASSESSMENT COM. MITTEE AND THE RATING ACT, 1874. SIR,—I briefly referred in my note of November 15th to the resolution of the assessment committee with respect to the rating of woodlands, namely, that un-enelcaed wood- lands are not to be rated, thus precluding from assessment several thousands of acres of land which produce valuable crops to the landowners. Hitherto woods (with the exception of saleable under- woods) were exempt from rating, whereas the main object of the new Act is to abolish the exemptions which have existed, so that in future woodlands of every kind are to be rated, with this difference, that the subject, in respect of which the assessment is made, will be the land itself, and not the timber or other trees produced upon it. If I am rightly informed, the only argument put forward by certain members of the committee in favour of exempt- ing open or un-enclosed woodlands from ratine is this- That the tenant having the run of his cattle and sheep over the woodlands, it is held that such are included in the rent and rateable value of the farm, and are the". fore, already rated. Grantj; a this reasoning "is correct, aCT; provides that the land is to be valued as if it were divested of wood, and it stands to reason, that the pasture of land, covered with trees, is but of a trifling value to the tenant, and therefore the de. preciation in value as grazing land, caused by timber and trees growing upon it, should be assessed against the owner. Besides, the trunks of the trees must necessarily take up a certain portion of the surface of the land, which the tenant can not possibly derive any benefit from whatsoever. But I maintain that this cunning objection put forward by certain members of the committee who are directly interested in the matter, can not be substantiated; first, because wood- lands were previously to the passing of the new Act, ex- empt from rating; second, that as a rule woodlands are not in the occupation of the tenants of the farms, but are reserved by the landlords, as I can easily prove from the agreements between landlord and temant on all the principal states in the union The clause in the agreements is to this [be landlord reserves to himself all woodlands on the farm, with power to enclose tne same, enter upon, manufacture, and carry away, without giving any notice or compensation wharsoe ver to the tenant,except m case of any compensawo hauling the timber over lands in the XSI«n >' S" occupation nnjaible to infer that woodlands are m agreements, s P t Are w# (the Welsh tenantry) the occupation of the tenants which our landlords /e. such ools as to pay rei enter upon and to enclose serve to themselves,with power tu »uvc r. .u at any moment ? According to the decision of the com- mittee, enclosed woodlands are ratable. Are we therefore, poor ratepayers, to be deprived of the assessment of opes woodlands because the landlords choose not to keep the same enclosed? More to follow.-I am, &c., A lENANT. Machynlleth, November 30, 1875. IL-

An explosion occurred on Tuesday morning in a tunnel, now in course of construction, on the Halifax, Thornton, and Bradford Railway. A blast going off unexpectedly, two men, Jones and Gough, if ere killed, and five were in- jured. THE CLOGAU GOLD COMPANY, DOLGELLEY.—The ill-ad- vised strike of the miners at this mine terminated on the 1st November, when the men resumed work on the old term* The mine being closed in consequence of this strike J durin^ the month of October no rich gold quartz was taken I t but at the clean up, on the 20th November, one bar of »old wei-hing S3 oz. 12 dwts., was obtained from 3 cwts. If) lh of rich quartz, and 2 tona 10 lbs. of rough quartz. This bar was handed over to the directors on their visit to ,in Tu-«dav, the »3id Jiov., and they expressed the mine, on -j thj3 splendid result. The themselves bighh ?iat^remely In th<? mine is no a shaf' loWest Point reached in the the bottom t. > disseminated in the Clogau, the visible gold can D JT G.VEG MicSn. of continuance ;a d,ptb. At th. shallow adit, in the same shaft, visible gold .s also now beine obtained, and, therefore, there can be no doubt of the stopfng -rounds between these two working* yielding a K Quantity of most valuable quartz. Ihefet Davids workings are al^o improving, and now exhibit "ch quartz SSSS* vi9ibl* T!^e ,(,10 h?,a?hi remainder ctarted They Work exceedingly well, and th< r mainaer of the reduction machinery is being rapidly got into com- plete working order.-Mining Journal.

LAMPETER 130ARD OF GUARDIANS, SATURDAY, DECEMBBB i.— Present: Mr William Jones, Llwynygroes, the Rev. R. Jenkins, Vice-chairman, Dr Lewellin, Messrs James Edwards, and Joseph Morgan, Lampeter, Evan Jones, Lladfairclydogau, Stephen Davies, Llangybi, Daniel Evans, Llanwenog, John Davies, and Thomas Williams, Llanybyther, Lewis Davies, Llancrwys, David Rees, Pencarreg Mr Herbert Davies, and Mr Abel Evans, medical officers; Mr William Rees, Inspector, and Mr David Lloyd, Clprk. Statiltia,-M rD. Parry, relieving officer of the Lampeter district, reported that for the 9th week the paupers numbered 382, and the amount expended was E32 16s 3d, for the tenth week the paupers numbered 381, and the amount expended was £28 t33 9d. Mr John Jones, reliev- ing officer of the Llanybyther district, reported the number of paupers on the ninth week to be 260, and the relief 234 4s 3d,for the tenth week the number of paupers was 259,and the amount expended 228 Is 9d. The Late Collector.— Mr Rees Davies, Black Lion Hotel, one of the overseers, appeared before the Board in order to ask that the sureties of the late collector might be com- pelled to make good the amount deficient in his accounts. The Clerk who stated that the surety was the Guarantee Society was requested to write to the officer and state that the balance certified by the auditor to be due from the late collecter had not been paid, and that unless it was paid forthwith the policy would be enforced. The Clerk was also directed to write to the Local Government Board and inform them what steps were being taken. A meeting of the Rural Sanitary Authority was then held. The Inspector's Report.-The Rural Sanitary Inspector (Mr William Rees), reported that for the second time this year he had inspected the whole of the Union, comprising fourteen p-rishes. The house called Tangraig in Llanfi. hangel Rhos-y-corn, inhabited by John Thomas and his wife, both blind, is unfit for human habitation. Had seen the landlord Mr Morgan, who said he did not intend to repair the house, and said that it was the business of the Board to find another dwelling for them. In that parish there bad been great improvement. The parish of Llanwnen is in a fair condition, but there is a house occupied by Evan Jones, Ffinant in a most wretched state of repair, the roof of the kitchen has fallen in. Mr Jones of Llwynygroes, and Mr Hughes of Neuadd, had given the old man straw and wood to repair the roof, but he had no money to pay for labour {Privy accommodation with few exceptions is wanted in all the parishes. He had served notices on several land- lords respecting houses, and in some cases alterations had been made. Had reported some farms unfit for habitation, belonging to Colonel Wood, but had not yet received any reply. The parish of Trefian is the werst in the union. It contains numerous cottages belonging to landlords too poor to repair them. They are not fit to live in. Some cottages belonging to Mrs Rogers, Gellin, are now in a fair state of repair. In the parish of Llanybyther there is a lot of cot- tages belonging to Mrs Thomas, which are in a very bad state of repair. Had served notices upon the owner and she stated that instructions had been given to her agent to have the defects remedied. A pigsty at Llanybyther had been re- moved, as the refuse was percolating into a well close by. Had called the attention of Mr Hamer to the state of the Llanybytber station yard, but he seemed to think it be. neath his notice. The whole of the remaining parishes are improving, and in many places the inhabitants seem to vie with each other as to which can keep the cleanest house." —It was stated that Evan Jones's house had been repaired. The well whWi was polluted by the pigsty was stated to be the propeBy of a public-house, and the water was made into bear. There was a discussion respecting the Llanfi- hangel Rhat-y coin Cottage, and it was resolved that the house shcrtffd be condemned. The Clerk's Salary.-The Clerk said he wished some ar- rangements might be made respecting his salary, as he found when things were left a long time there was a ten- dency to forget what work was done.—The Chairman said he would retire from that discussion, as8be supposed the Clerk was referring to the Assessment Committee.-The Chair- man suggested that Mr Jones, Glandennis, Mr Jenkins, Mr Joseph Morgan, NI Lis Davies, and Mr Daniel Jones should form a sub-committee to take into consideration and report upon the Clerk's salary. POLICE BUSINESS, SATURDAY, DEC. 4TH.—Before Dr Lewellin and W. *ones, Esq., Llwynygroes. Stealing Beer Glasses,-Titus Davies, of Blaenwern, Lampeter, was charged by David Davies, of Highmead Arms, Llanwenog, with stealing three drinking glasses on November 23rd. The case had been brought before the magistrates at the ordinary petty sessions, but was adjourned. Anne Davies, the wife of complainant, stated that on the 23rd ot November defendant was in the house between seven and eight, and sac down in the lront room. The only persons in the room attthe time besides Titus Davies were her two daughters. Witness was coming from the back room to the front when she saw him place a glass in his pocket. He took it from the window board. There were lour glasses, and he placed one of them in his pocket. De- fendant immediately'saw witness, who went and took the three glasses which were left, and put them on the table. Aa she left the room asked her daughter to watch the de- fendant, as she had seeu him put a glass in his pocket. Re- turned to the room in a few seconds, and found defendant in the act of going from the front room to a back room, and noticed that there were only two of the four glasses left on the table. Then followed defendant, and asked him what glasses he had in his pocket, and he replied, it is of no odda to you what glasses they are, as they are glasses I bought." On asking him where he bought them he said from Cheap Jack." She asked him to see them, and told him he did not buy glasses from Cheap Jack" with the remains of beer in them. Her daughter Mary took three glasses from his pocket. Defendant asked her to forgive him. and said he was sorry for what he had done. Took the glasses and locked them up. The glasses produced by Sergeant Lyons were hers, and were worth Is. —Mary Davies, the daughter of the complainant, repeated the story told by the former witness.—Sergeant Lyons said on the 25th he apprehended the prisoner, who said he might have taken one of the glasses, but hA was very drunk, and they ought to have kicked him out of the house, and not have treated him as they had.—Thomas Davies, the land- lord of the Higbmead Arms, spoke to the handing up of the glasses to the police officer.- William Jones was called by the defendant, and gave evidence to the effect that the accused.was drunk.—The magistrates committed the accused for trial at the next Cardiganshire Quarter Sessions.

i'841 MAJOR CORNWALLIS WEST'S DENBfGHSHIRE TEN- ANTRY.—On Thursday night, Dec. 2nd, Major West, lord- lieutenant of Denbighshire, came down specially from Lon- don to entertain at dinner the whole of his Denbighshire tenantry, whom he afterwards addressed at great length on matters relating to agriculture, &c.

FESTINIOG. 1 IMPORTANT INQCEST. The adjourned inquest on the body of Owen OweDI, the young man killed at the foot of one of the Cwmorthin Quarry inclines, on the 17th November, was resumed In the billiard room of the Queen's Hotel, on Monday, the 6th December, before Mr G. J. Williams, coroner, and the rl jury, the foreman of whom was Mr Daniel Williams, scrip- ture reader. Mr T. Jones. of the firm of Messrs Jones and Jones, Portmadoc, with Mr C. E. Spooner, watched the case on behalf of the Festiniog Railway Company; Mr Robert Jones, of the firm of Messrs Breese, Jones, and Casson, Portmadoc, and Mr Ellis Roberts, Festiniog, with Mr J. F. Sims, for the Cwmorthin Slate Company; and Mr T. Fanning Evans for the Secretary of State. The Coroner observed that it was not necessary for him to read the evidence given at the former inquest, inasmuch as they had read the report in the Cambrian News, which, he said, was a very good and a most correct report; and Mr Fanning Evans added that he had not seen a case better reported. Mr Sims produced the agreement between the Cwmorthin Slate Company and the Festiniog Railway Company, and the Coroner remarked that it did not bear on the question in dispute it only provided that the latter company should supply to the former a sufficient number of waggons. He further remarked that the presumption was that they were to be proper waggons but he could not see that the agree- ment touched the question as to the proper state of the waggons. Mr Sims produced plans which he had got prepared, showing the Cwmorthin incline and the approaches thereto from the Festiniog Railway, and pointed out the position of the body and of the broken waggons. The Coroner read the substance of Mr Sims's evidence at the previous court, which was to the effect that it was the duty of the Festiniog Railway Company to deliver the waggons at the siding of the Cwmorthin Slate Company in proper order but he was not aware that the Railway Company had any person whose duty it was to see that the waggons were in proper order. lie could not learn that there was any inspector of waggons at all on this line. Sergeant Jones said he was stationed at Festiniog. He had endeavoured to find out whether there was an inspector of waggons (,n the Festiniog Railway, but he could not tind that there was any. He had not seen anyone acting in that capacity, either at the Diphwys or any other station. He was in the habit of travelling on the line to Penrhyn and Portmadoc, but at none of the stations had he seen any person examining the waggons. He must, however, state that he never took any particular notice of the matter. By ivi r Thomas Jones He had not noticed whether there was anybody in particular inspecting the waggons, as he did not consider it a part of his duty to notice such a thing. He had heard that Cooke was the inspector of wag- gons at Dinas, he understood that he sent them to the quarries. But he knew of that only by hearsay. The Coroner asked if there were anybody present that knew whether there was any person appointed to inspect the waggons on the Festiniog Railway. It was beyond dis- pute that the link was not in a proper state, but the ques- tion was how to find out the responsible person. The jury must try to find out somebody upon whom to saddle the responsibility. John Jones (who was the first to discover the body) re- called, said he did not know whether the full waggon went off the line before it leapt into the garden, but the three, the waggon that came down the incline, the full and the empty waggon which were at the bottom of the incline did go off the rails at last, one went off the line into his yard, the other went into a garden, and the other was turned on its side near the railway. He thought it was the empty waggon that went into the garden. The body of the deceased was near the point of the junction between the two railways, i.e. the Fettiniog and the Cwmorthin-he had not passed off the Cwmorthin siding, but his body was near the point. He could not say whether he had crossed the point. Mr Sims said he did not think the spot upon which the body was found was a part of their property. Humphrey Roberts said he lived at Tanygrisiau. He was there when the body was found. The feet were ex- actly on the Cross of the Festiniog Railway, and the other parts of hi8 body on the Cwmorthin line. Mr Robert Jones asked if it were in evidence that he tried to run away, and the Coroner said it was. Humphrey Roberts said he found the bady. The waggon coming down the incline struck the loaded waggon at the bottom, which, in its turn struck the empty one deceased was pushing towards the bottom of the incline. Deceased called out to Morris Williams, Mind Morris." The Coroner said there was no doubt deceased was killed on the Cwmorthin liue, but it hud not been made clear where tbe body was found. Humphrey Roberts (by Mr Ellis Roberts)—He did not know whether the Festiniog Railway Company had any- body to inspect the waggons 1> foie they are sent, out on s-rvice; but if they wcie at boil damaged whilst at the quar- ries, the officials of the railway are sure to find that out. During th" last eleven years he had «bservi-d that if the said officials find anything wrong wi h the waggons they chalk LUeir H1Je:S but he had seen some so marked coming up to the quarry without goilig to the company 8 foundry to bo repaired. He believed tuat Cooke was tile person appointed to see whether the waygon3 received any damagu at the quariies; but be had never seen anybody examining them to see whether they were in a tit state to go to the quarries. By Mr Thoma.s Junes-NVitness said he worked at the Cwmorthin quarry. The waggon that ran down the incline had come in to their premises about six days previously,but he was not sure about the time because they loaded the waggons in three days in one part of the quarry; but if they were taken to be loaded to another portion of the quarry they were there for six days. Mr Sims said he believed this particular waggon was not on their premises for more than four days; there was a Sanday intervening, but he was not sure. Morris Williams, re-called- When the waggons are turned to the Cwmorthin siding they are hooked to the incline chain to go up as soon as possible. The Coroner said he wanted to know whether there was a responsible person appointed to inspect these waggons. Humphrey Roberts (by Mr Robert Jones) said it was Cooke that brought these waggons to them. Cooke com- plained if any damage was done to the waggons at the quarries. Mr Robert Jones held in his hand a letter from Henry Cooke, and said Cooke stated the waggon in question (No. 637) was in good order when it was at the Votty and Bowydd, and the Rhiwbach quarries. Bowydd, and the Rhiwbach quarries. Mr Thomas Jones maintained that it wa3 the duty ef the Cwmorthin Company to look after these waggons whilst they were on their premises. The Coroner remarked that he was of opinion that the party lending these waggons were responsible for the con- dition they were in. Humphrey Roberts recalled, said that when they receive a supply of these waggons they hook them by twos io the chain of the incline, when they reached the top of the in- cline they had to hook and uncouple them several times. When they are sent down they have to couple them again. It was the servants of the Cwmorthin Coy. that coupled and uncoupled them whilst they were on their premises, and it was possible for the men to do so without finding out whether they were sound or not. They did not examine the waggons before sending them down loaded, and some- times with people riding on them. They did not do this, even when waggons were long in their possession. Mr C. E. Spooner, examined by Mr Thomas Jones,said he was engineer and manager to the Festiniog Railway Coy. The link produced had evidently been fractured, it was not owing to a defective make. It had been broken through » severe strain being brought to bear upon it, it was a clean fracture. The fracture was not at all due to its having been improDerlv welded, but it seemed to him to have been a clean fracture. It was very difficult to say how it happened. He knew that when waggons go up or come down inclines they are subject to very sudden jerks unless there be a very careful crewler at the top; he had seen waggons jerked on inclines sufficiently to break any links. It appeared to him that what was pointed out to him as a second fracture was done at one time and the re- mainder when going down the incline. The link produced being in a perfect state, it was fractured in coming down, without there being any previous fracture. He bad seen a link breaking through without there being any defect or fault at all in it. In his opinion the breakage was au. accident, owing to the neglect of the crewler at the top of the incline. He could not swear whether the link produced was the one attached to the waggon. That link was made at Birmingham in 1870, the body was made there with the links and hooks attached. Sometimes the Company made them at their works at Boston Lodge. Plans of the wag- gons to be supplied were made, and instructions given as to their workmanship. He produced his letter-book, and showed a copy of the letter ordering them, wherein it was stated that it was of the utmost importance that the entire work be of the best materials and workmanship, the best Staffordshire iron to be used,except the links and hooks, which must be of the best iron to bear strain on inclines. He continued, and said that this particular waggon was first put on the line in 1871. It was not the special duty of any particular person to examine the waggons on their I line it was not the businees of any particular person but: it was the duty of numerous officials to examine them in transitu-porters, oilmen, and the inspector at Dinas, &c. When the waggons are on the wharves, the oil-nen are to couple them, so that they ought to see that all the links and hooks are in proper order-they have the opportunity to examine the links and hooks and everything. It was a part of their duty to do so. If they find anything wrong or defective they mark the waggon where the defect is found, and send it to the company's works at Boston Lodge to be repaired. He maintained that it was better that so many men should be employed to examine the wag- gons, than if an inspector was specially ap- pointed to look after them, because they had to pass through so many hands. If a waggon were detained over six days, the party detaining had to pay demurrage but the slate companies had a right to detain them for. eighteen day-light and working hours at the quarries, and twelve hours at the wharves. When waggons are delivered to the Cwmorthin Company, they are there at the risk of the company. The railway company has a right to go te the quarry to see that the waggons are properly used accord- ing to the agreement between the railway company and the quarry company, but the railway company have no right to enter to see whether the waggons are in proper order, and examine their state of repair. It was a part of the duty of the Cwmorthin Company to get the waggons exa- mined, and if they found anything wrong with them to send them to the railway company, instead of taking them up the incline -they are to tell the railway officials. This was not exactly in words in the agreement, but he knew it was the duty of the slate company, if they find anything wrong with the waggons, to send them up to their works at Boston Lodge. It would be possible for the men coupling or un- coupling the wagg.ms to fail to discover latent defects,but he would say that those who do so have many opportunities to see the defects, and the crewler at the top of the inclines especially. It was impossible for the officials coupling the waggons not to see defects, if there be any, as they have W to handle every link—they could not not help seeing any faulta. By the Coroner-This defect might have taken place within two or three days previously; it was very doubtful whether the link in question had been in a dangerous state for several days. The rust seen on the fracture might have been produced in one night; it would be perfectly cor- roded in one night in bis opinion. The fracture was a sudden one, and it might have been produced by a jerk or two. One part of the broken link seemed to have been beaten in taking it off the waggon. Mr Sims had had con- siderable trouble in pulling it off-it was fastened to the head stock, and the hook was at the other end. To all ap- pearance it had been rubbed backwards and forwards. One night might make the fracture quite rusty, although it was quite a new one. The hook was stronger than the link; it would pass quickly through the gap made in the link, but it could not rub the fracture in the way it was done. Humphrey Roberts, re-called, said he was the party that took the link off. The iron at the end ef the waggon was thicker than the gap in the link, and then he had to force it through. Mr Spooner continued, and said the responsibility for the state of the waggons would, he supposed be divided between all the officials he had named, which he considered the best way, and if they found anything wrong with them they would send them to their works. The fracture was a fresh one, but he was not sure whether it had been produced by two or three jerks it was a clean fracture as he had said before. By Mr Robert Jones—The link was turned out of the works in 1871. He could not, by looking at it, swear whether it was made at Birmingham or at Boston Lodge, but the waggon to which it was attached was made at Birming- ham. Ha believed it had been sent down for repairs once only-the repair was to put on a shackle link which would be at one end of the waggon. It had all the appearance of being a Birmingham link. The links were made in the same place as the waggons to which they were attached. They were all examined by their foreman at Boston Lodge. They were examined in the best way possible, unless they had been tested by hydraulic pressure. The rubbing did not show that it was improperly welded. He saw the appearance of a weld lower down, but it did not go so far as the fracture. When their man saw a de- fective part they put a cross on that part, and two or three crosses on the side of the waggon, so that it might be easily WE seen. A waggon might be sent down and repaired, and gone up without the crosses being obliterated. All the officials were inspectors of the waggons, and he considered that that was the best arrangement to prevent an accident. He did not blame any of the officials, as it was his impres- sion that this breakage took place by jerking on the incline. It would be very difficult to put hu finger on any one, sup- posing anyone were to blame. It would be impossible to test the links on their premiseg, for tue only tests that could be applied were by hydraulic pressure, and that could not be done whilst the links are attached to the waggons. The weight of each waggon would be about one ton it would carry about three tons. The link would bear a pressure of about eighteen tons it was about one and a sixteenth of an inch in thickness or diameter. As he had said before, though they had a. right to enter on the premises of the Cwmorthin Company, they could only do so to see that the waggons were properly used according to the agreement. The waggons are under the care of that company as long as they remain on their premises, and if any damages are done to them whilst there, they (Festiniog Railway Company) charge them for it. He was not aware that there had been complaints made of any defects in connection with the waggons. There might have been some he had not made inquiries. By the Coroner-Supposing there had been a slight crack prior to the fracture, it would not be easily discovered. The person whose duty it was to examine it would have a difficulty in finding it, but if it were half open of course he could see it. There might have been a latent crack, and by a sudden jerk, the fracture be completed. He thought the link was well welded he could not see any defect in the welding. Any person coupling might see if there were any plain fractures. William Lloyd said he lived at Tanygrisiau, and was a crewler on the incline where the accident took place. Was at the top of the incline whea the accident took place. Had not noticed what was the cause of the waggon going down. He found the hook, coupling that with the waggon that remained at the top, on the ground four or five yards from the top of the incline. Sometimes he and his fellow work- men examined the links, lest some damage be done, but they had received no instructions to do so. It was no part of his duty to examine these links. He had not looked at that link before the waggon went down, nor at all since it had come into their premises. He saw the waggon start down, and shouted with all his might. He had not noticed whether it was marked. He did not know who had hooked the waggon, whether it was Morris Williams or the other man. Morris Williams, re-called, said he had not noticed whether the link was cracked; it might easily have been cracked without his noticing it. He had often before that found links with cracks in them. If there were a large crack in it he must have found it. This might be without any crack at all. By the Jury-The waggon had come down the incline above that safely. There was more strain on the last of the two waggons going down than on the first. They let them over the top of the incline before the empty waggons at the bottom were fastened. There was no danger in that, no- thin« would break. The Foreman ot the Jury explained that the man coupling the waggons at the bottom pushed the empty waggon with his back to it to the bottom of the incline, and the loaded waggon might descend, as this bad done, and strike the man without his seeing it coming. He observed that to push waggons in that way was not safe. William Lloyd, re-cdled, said that the presence of children on the premises continually was the greatest danger they had to avoid. John Prichard was the man with him on the top of the incline that day. It was he (witness) that attached the waggon to the chain that day. They have no- thing in the shape of a block to prevent the waggons going down. There was no jerking, for there was no more than three inches at most for it to jerk-the weight of the last waggon was on the chain. He was not aware that they jerked more when empty-though they jerked a little when empty. Mr Spooner, recalled, said the fact that they put waggons that way over the top of the incline showed that they must have slackened the chain more than they ought; and it would run several yards, when there would be sudden jerks on the hooks and links of both waggons. William Lloyd, re-called, said he had been in the habit of crewling since the first incline was made at Festiniog. It was impossible for this waggon to get more jerk than three inches. There was only enough chain for the waggons to be tight. Mr William Lewis said he was a manufacturing engineer, and had a foundry had Tanygrisiau. Remembered the day of the accident; he saw the link produced immediately after the accident. One end of it was then attached to the waggon. He would not swear it was the link produced, but it was exactly like it. He heard Mr Sims giving orders for it to be taken off the waggon. His opinion was that it had been broken for several days before the accident, and he based bis opinion on the rust that was then on a portion of the broken part. If there had been good welding, he thought it would have broken off square. If the breakage were produced by jerking that day, the fracture would not have presented any rust immediately after the accident. He saw it in three-quarters of an hour after the accident. That would be the opinion of every one that knew anything about such matters. By Mr Thoma3 j ones—He could not say how long the crack might have been in it for anything he knew, it might have taken place six days before—it was impossible to tell how long it had been. It might have been possible for a man coupling the waggons to have seen it days before. By Mr Fanning Evans—He thought from its rough grain that it was not the beat of iron. By Jury—It broke in the joining. He thought that ;f it were properly welded it would have broken in its weakest part, and not where it did. Humphrey Roberts, re-examined by the jury, said the waggon in question had been let down another incline that day before. The incline on which the accident took place waB about 150 yards Jong. They coupled them at th" top of the incline, when they came down in their force towards the tip, when they strike against one another. The other incline was steeper, but not so long. There was only one waggon coming down at the time on the steeper incline. The angle of the declivity of the lowest incline was one foot in five. The Coroner said that he thought, they had at last come to the end of this inquiry, which he considered a very im- portant one. The jury should bear in mind that the only question for them to consider was whether any person or persons were criminally responsible for this accident, and if any were, it was a question of manslaughter against such a person. In order to constitnte the crime of manslaughter gror-fi negligence must be proved. First of all, it had been proved that the Festiniog Railway Company supplied this and other waggons to the Cwmorthin Company. They must bear in mind that this waggon had been in possession of the Cwmorthin Company for perhsps six days. On day of the accident this waggon had to go down over two inclines before coming to the Festiniog Railway. The first incline was much steeper than the lowest the waggon came down the first one safely, but as it was about to be lowered down the second it became detached. and rushed down with terrible velocity, came in contact and struck the empty waggon, and was evidently the cause af the deceased's death. It was necessary there should have been evidence as to how this link was broken. They had had the evidence of Mr Spooner that this waggon link was manufactured at Birmingham, and that he ordered it to be made of the very best material, and that it had been used since August 1871. and had been since repaired once. It appeared that, unlike other railways, there was nobody ap- pointed to inspect the waggons on the Festiniog Railway to see that they were in a proper state when sent to the persons hiring them but Mr Spooner said that everybody on the line, particularly the oil-men, were bound to inspect them. But there was no evidence that anybody in particu- lar did inspect them. When a person lets an article of this kind out for hire, it is understood that it is in a fit state to be used. It appeared to him that there ought to be some person responsible for the lives of our fellow creatures, and that these waggons should be thoroughly examined before they are used each time. But this was not the question before them. It had been stated in evi- dence that these waggons were on the premises of the Cwmorthin Company at that Company's risk. Well let it be so but at the same time, let them be delivered to them in a proper state. It had been shown that the officials of the Festia'og Railway Company have a right to enter the premises of the Cwmorthin Company to see that their wag- gons are fairly and rightly used according to the agreement; but there was no evidence showing that any body was re- sponsible for them before they were delivered there. It ap- peared to him that there was gross negligence on the part of somebody. The jury could not make the Festiniog Railway Company responsible; for they could not make the Company responsible for the acts of their servants, unless they were preaent with the servants. In this case there was a difficulty in making any party responsible for letting these waggons go to the premises of the Cwmorthin Company before they were thoroughly examined and fit to do the work intended for them. There was also another difficulty with regard to the time when the link broke. Mr Spooner was at variance with Mr Wm. Lewis. Mr Spooner said the fractare might have been the result of a sudden jerk but Mr Lewis said he was there on the spot within three-quarters of an hour after the acci- dent took place, and that a portion of the fracture was then rusted. Mr Spooner said the link might have been broken by two or three jerks. If there were three different frac- tures the rust of such would have a different colour, and it appeared as if there had been two or three instalments in the fracture. If the fracture bad been done before the ac- cident, and within the six days the waggon was in the pos- session of the Cwmorthin Company, it was open to question whether it had not been done by that Company. Mr Lewis said it might have been done a few days before the accident, or it might have been done several days. He submitted to the jury whether there was a crack in it before the waggon was delivered to the Cwmorthin Company; also whether any person had been guilty of gross neglect in letting the waggon go to their premises in that state. If the crack was of such a nature that the eye would catch it in a moment, it would be a caqe of gross neglect; but if it were so imper- ceptible that the eye could not see it at a glance, the cul- pability would not be so great. It was for tkem to decide these questions, and he felt very thankful the decision was not resting on him. The room was then cleared, and the jury remained in consultation for some time. When the public were re- admitted, The Foreman said they were unanimously agreed:—1. That the broken link was in an imperfect state when the waggon was delivered at the bottom of the Cwmorthin incline. 2. That the accident was not the result of any gross neglect of any individual person but they seriously recommended that all links and hooks to be attached to, should, in future, be tested at the manufactory, and in- spected by an official specially appointed by the Festiniog Railway Company for that purpose, each time before they are to be used. We understand that further proceedings will be taken in this matter in another court before long.

DOLGELLEY. COMMENDATION.—Mr Morris Jones, relieving and regis- tration officer for the Talyllyn district recently received the following letter from Mr George Graham, the Registrar General tlir,-I am much pleased with the manner in which, as reported to me by Inspectors, you habitually per- form your duties in a wild sub-district with very large area. I am glad to know that in your hands civil registration of births and deaths is well conducted, and I feel confident that in the performance of your duties connected with this office you will always deserve commendation." BOARD OF GUARDIANS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4.— Present: Mr John Vaughan, Chairman, Mr Hugh Roberts, Vice-chairman, Mr Charles Jones, ex-officio; the Rev. J. Morgan, Messrs Edward Jones, David Jones,J. R. Davies, R. Parry, Richard Jones, Owen Owens, Thomas Davies, R. P. Jones, John Jones, Mallwyd, D. Williams, and Joseph Roberts, Clerk. Statistics.-The master (Mr W. Williams) reported that the number in the house was 35 corresponding period last year 39. Vagrants relieved during the past fortnight 10, last year 14. Out relief: Barmouth disirict, per Mr John Jones, PIll 3 8d to 519 paupers; Talyllyn district, per Mr Morris Jones, R62 4s 6d to 280 paupers. Contagious Diseascs.-The Clerk read a circular letter from Mr Allen Fielding, Clerk to the Bridge Rural Sanitary Authoritory, relative to a memorial to be presented to the Local Government Board respecting contagious diseases, and asking the Guardians to add their signature to the pe- tition. The letter stated that the memorialists experianced great diiffculty in promptly checking the spread of conta- gious and infectious diseases from the fact that medical men and relatives of persons suffering from such diseases failed to give notice to the Sanitary Insptctor. Consequently some time elapsed before the Sanitary Authority became aware of the existence of the disease, during which time there would probably be an utter neglect of sanitary pre- cautions, so that the disease was communicated to other persons, and spread over a large area. The Bridge Sanitary Authority therefore suggested to the Local Government Board the importance of legislative enactments, the pro- visions of which should make it obligatory that every house- holder, (hotel keeper or innkeeper included), should give notice to the Inspector of nuisances of the existence of any infectious or contagious disease in his house, within a certain period from the time of the existence of such disease be- coming known to him, a neglect to do so to incur a penalty; that every lodger or every inmate in a house not being a member of the family of the householder should give notice such householder of the existence of any disease in his own person, or in the persons of any member of his own family, the neglect to be punished by a penalty; and that any medi- cal man who should be in attendance on any person suffering from a contagio is or infectious disease should giva notice in writing to the Inspector of Nuisances, for every such in writing to the Inspector of Nuisances, for every such notice to be entitled to a fee. In case of neglect to give UO""O, t. bo oxibject to a penalty,—-Mr Eawara uanes suggested that the Guardians should allow the communi- cation to lie on the table.-Mr Charles Jones said the ideas contained in the letter were good.—Mr Edward Jones re- marked that it was only a petition.—Mr J. R. Davies thought it would be well to sign it; but Mr E. Jones eb. jected, and said the intention of the petition was only to increase officers. The petition would never come to any- thing.-Nir Davies was of opinion that infectious and con tagious diseases ought to be reported to the authorities.— The Clerk remarked thi-1 a case recently occurred in the Dolgelley Onion where the Inspector and medical officer knew nothing of the existence of aa infectious disease.— Mr E. Jones added that cases had been known where the officers had done nothing even &fcer knowing of the exist- ence of infectious diseases—Mr H. Roberts asked if, sup- posing the officers knew of the disease, what good could they do ?—Mr Davies answered that they could use disin- fectants, and find out whence the disease originated.—Mr Charles Jones observed that if the suggestions contained in the letter were adopted, it would only be carrying out the same form as was now applied to contagious cattle dis- eases.—Mr E. Jones, Mr Roberts, and Mr R. Jones said it had not answered as applied to contagious cattle diseases for the disease was communicated by the Inspectors to cattle on other farms.—Mr D. Jones remarked that it would not be a very nice thing to have an Inspector coming about our houses."—Mr Charles Jones said the only thing the Guardians were asked to do was to sign the petition to the Local Government Board in favour of the legislation therein proposed. He believed the general tone of the meeting was against it, although he was in favour of such legislation. He would therefore move that the Guardians should sign the petition now laid before.them.—Mr Davies seconded the motion.—Mr E. Jones said he had no ob- jection to it, but as he had begun the opposition he would move that the petition be laid on the table.-The amend- ment was seconded by Mr R. Jones, and carried by a con- siderable majority. Calls. -The Clerk stated that in the next half year there would be three calls instead of four. (Hear, hear.) He believed three calls for the same amount would meet the requirements of the Guardians for the ensuing half-year.— Mr Roberts added that there was a good balance In the bank (over 9700) and that the ratepayers had been grum- bling that so large a sum bad recently",been left in the trea- surer's hands. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE UNION. The CLERK said the next subject for discussion would be the assessment of the Union, and the valuation lists sent in by Mr Gisborne. He did not know whether the Board would leave the question to the Assessment Com- mittee, or form themselves into a committee for that pur- pose. Mr ROBERTS proposed that the whole Board should be formed into a committee, as everybody would be responsible for the decision even if it were left to the Assessment Com- mittee alone. The motion having been agreed to, the Clerk read a copy of the resolution passed at the last meeting, asking Mr Gis- borne for an explanation of the numerous inaccuracies and omissions from the valuation lists, before they settled with him or wrote to the Local Government Board. That reso- lution had been forwarded to Mr Gisborne, from whom the following letter had been received since the last meeting — D, ar Sirt-On the 24th instant you state that by next post you will write fully as to some resolution passed by the Assessment Committee, but as I heard nothing further up to Saturday night last, I instructed my solicitor on the matter, and no doubt you will hear from him. On my re- turn here to-day I have your letter and a copy of the reso- lution, and you add that in one parish of sixty farms only fifteen are referred to in my valuation list. This parish is not named, or a list of the omitted farms sent, yet I am asked for an explanation. Such being the case, I can only say if farms are omitted they are under twenty acres, the value of the sporting nil, or they were not in the copies sup- plied me by the officers of the Assessment Com- mittee. I have the original documents, and upon the information therein contained I have worked jut the valuations.Jbut if there are omissions and inaccuracies, I am quite prepared to meet them on fair grounds, and give explanation on being furnished with the name of the parish and a list of the omitted farms; and this I have before stated. Having completed my part of the contract as far as possible, I now expect the Guardians to keep faith with me, and not play faat and loose with me by making statements to be published in the local papers, which are not facts. I am, and have always been, ready to give explanation when questions are put to me in a business form, or to attend before the assessment committee when required, being paid according to the terms of contract, but to send an explanation in reference to the resolutions passed, on the information sent, is too absurd to entertain for a moment. If the Guardians choose to break faith they will only have to blame themselves by throwing away in costs the ratepayers' money.—I am, See., E. S. GISBORNE. P. S. I shall be happy to give any explanation and make corrections where required, but I first expect the Guardians to keep faith with me as I have done with them." In answer to that letter the clerk sent the ensuing com- munication :— Dear Sir,—I am in receipt of your letter bearing date the 29th instant wherein you complain of the insufficiency of information given you to enable you to furnish the Guar- dians with an explanation as to the inaccuracies and omis- sions complained of in your valuation lists, and in reply thereto I beg t,o forward you the following particulars: Dolgelley parish It appears that you have lumped up in one sum the whole property of land owners for the purpose of rating the woodland and sporting rights, while the in- tention of the Guardians was to have the woodland and sporting rights of each farm separate as stipulated in the agreement. Two quarries are omitted in this parish, viz., Tir Stent and Bryncastell. The valuation of the line of Great Western Railway and stations much reduced, whilst the Cambrian has again been raised. The Guardians consider both lines should be in- creased in value. Llanddwywe-uwch-graig: Your list for this parish is reported by a member of the committee av not containing half the farms in the parish. One farm, Hafod las, is down and there is timber and sporting righto on this farm; this was in the list furnished you. Cefn Cam Quarry was also omitted altogether until it was re- ported to you. Ffriddbryncoch, after correction, is re- ported as containing 10 acres of woodland, when it is stated that there is not even an acre there. Llanaber: Complaints as to lumping up were made by several members of the Board as to this parish. Mallwyd: It is reported that many farms are omitted here for instance, Blaenycwm. This farm is one which contains about 60 acres of woodland which is not in your list at all. Llanymawddwy: There are 13 farms omitted from your list which contain woodland and sporting and should be rated. Llaligelynin There are some small errors here, and some rather of importance. The mileage of the railway is inaccurate. Llwyndu farm is wrong. Llanfihangel-y-Pennant: The valuation of the quarries is looked upon as being most unfair. The best are valued lowest and the poorest higher. Farms are valued as having woodland, when there is no timber on. Talyllyn: This parish contains about 60 farmland only 15 are valued. Each should have been valued for sporting rights and some for woodland. I am not this day in a position to give you the names of the omitted farms. The quarries here are also very unfairly valued, some of them are hundreds of pounds too low. I hope the foregoing will suffice for you to fur- nish the guardians with an explanation. There was never anything mentioned as to farms under 20 acres to be left out, and it appears if you adopted this as a rule, you did not carry it out, as you have included others of less acre- age." After the Clerk had tent off that letter he received this one from Mr Gisborne's solicitor:—"Sir—I am instructed by Mr E. S. Gisborne, of Derby, to apply to you for pay- ment of the sum of C610 18a 6d due to him for jvork done as a surveyor [not valuer] according to contract, and which sum became due on the 20th inst. I have positive instructions to commence proceedings for recovery of the amount, unless the same be paid to him on or before Saturday next, the 4th December.—I am, &c., A. J. Cursham." The clerk replied that he had written to Mr Gisborne, from whom he received the following letter Dear Sir-Absence from home prevented my replying to your letter of the 30th ult, yesterday, and without going into details, I send you the following particulars. In the first place, the Guardians contract to supply me with a copy of the poor rate book or assessment list, inserting woods in each case where there are such.' All farmers under 20 acres were purposely omit- ted as is usual, where the sporting rights amount to so small a sum, as not being worth notice, and a large mountain farm, where the sporting was nil, would also be omitted, so as to give the collectors as little trouble as possible. Where woods are left out, the original lists do not show them. The lengths of railway were obtained, in the usual way, from the Company. As to the value of the railways, I never heard at what they were previously rated, and neither do I care, as I did not ftudy the views of any party, but put what I considered a tenant could afford to pay for the occupation. The Assessment Com- mittee required a disinterested opinion ana they have it, but whether the amouuts meet their views or not, is of little consequence to me, as the matters rests with them. They can adopt my figures or raise or lower them at their pleasure. Under all the circumstances of the case there ap- pear only two ways of dealing with the matter, viz., first, to return the committee the lists (supplied me by their officers) adding the value on the woods, &c., &c., where they are represented, according to contract, and then allow the Assessment Committee to make the most of them, when they cannot complain, as their own particulars will have the value attached. The second course open for bringing the affair to an end, is for the committee to furnish me with a new copy of the last rate book or assessment list with their own additions for woods, &c., &c., and leave me to insert the values. I am willing to adopt which evtr they like after they have met my claim in a fair and business like manner.—I am, &c., E. S. GiSBORNE." Mr DAVIES a dd he could not see how Mr Gisborne could value the woodlands by having particulars supplied him on paper. Mr CHARLES JONES feared that the valuer bad not been supplied with the particulars of the woodlands which he had omitted. Mr ROBERTS and Mr RICHARD JONES said woodlands had been marked in the old lists. The CLERK added that he had referred to that fact in a letter to Mr Gisborne-that he was furnished with lists. He (the clerk) had supplied the valuer with lists for every parish, and woodlands were marked in the lists, and Mr Gisborne had given his undertaking for them." The CLERK then showed that lists had been supplied the valuer containing particulars, and that the particulars were disregarded, and tne properties not assessed. Mr R. JONES having stated that there were several farms of from six to eight acres not valued in his parish. Mr Ed. JONES pointed out that the ratable value of six acres would only amount to, at the most, 30s, and a rate of Is in the pound would only amount to Is 6d to be collected. Mr DAVIES said, after a little conversation had taken place, there was no doubt that the Board would either have to fight the valuer or to pay him. The CHAIRMAN—Then I say, fight him. Here he agrees r,- ocihtmifciy ana ne flas not aoae so. I gay let us fight him and not pay bim one 1 think we may instruct our Clerk to write a letter saying that we won't pay him. That he may go to law and -1 be hanged to him. Mr DAVIEs-I will tell you what a ratepayer of our parish said. He remarked that if the guardians attempted to collect a poor rate made on the valuation they would have no end of appeals. That was Mr Holland's opinion. The CHAIRMAN—The appeals will cost us more than fighting the thing out. Mr DAVID JONES-I will second the chairman's views if he puts them in a proposition-that we don't intend to pay the valuer until he has completed his contract. The motion having been agreed to, it was decidcd to name a solicitor to refer Mr Gisborne to in the event of proceed- ings being instituted, but a difficulty arose as to which of the Dolgelley solicitors should be selected. Mr J. R. JONES proposed the firm of Jones and Davies, and the CHAIRMAN immediately proposed someone else. It was ultimately decided to take a show of hands, where- upon Mr CHARLES JONES remarked that the guardians were about to sit in judgment upon the lawyers of Dolgelley. As most of them were his personal friends he felt in rather an awkward position. A GUARDIAN then suggested that the lawyer should be ballotted for. The suggestion was adopted and slips of paper were handed to each of the guardians. One of the DOLGELLEY GUARDIANS (to another)—I will bet you that my man wins. (Laughter.) Another DOLGELLEY GUARDIAy-Very well. What shall it be? „ First DOX-GELLEY GUARDIAN-Port. (Laughter ) Mr CHARLES JONES—Wait a bit. I am afraid that this betting will invalidate the whole thing. (Laughter ) First and Second DOLGELLEY GUARDIANS-Oh it is only a private matter. (Laughter.) n- 's The papers having been signed and opened the solicitors who had the largest number of votes were Mr'Griffith Jones Williams and Messrs Jones and Davies. Another ballot liams and MeL^T T?' number voted Mr Wil- his^Ltin? votp fn f°neS and Davies. The chairman gave Thn Pr vote in favour of the former. „„ E?^ believed the guardians had not acted legally ? u *?een "° Proposition. The votes ought also to (Laughter ) y a sllow of and not by ballot. Mr DAVID JONES proposed that the matter should be adjourned to the next meeting; but the Board were in favour of proceeding that day. In order to be formal the names of Mr Williams and Messrs Jones and Davies were respectively put before the meeting, and a show of hands taken. As before, an equal number of persons voted for both solicitors, the chairman deciding in favour of Mr Griffith Jones Williams, by giving the casting vote. The firsc DOLGKMCY GUARDIAN—(having lost his bet)- When are you ready for the bottle of porter. (Laughter.) A GUARDIAN-Before you lost it was port, now it is porter. (Renewed laughter). It was then resolved to wait until Mr Gisborne wrote another letter, and then refer him to Mr Griffth Jones Williams. Relief of Parents.-A young man whose mother was chargeable to the union, had been called upon to contri- bute Is towards her support. He appeared before the Board, and said he was working at the Aberllefeni slate quarries' and was earning 15s weekly. He did not feel inclined to pay Is per week, unless the Guardians promised to let his mother have the benefit of his contribution. The Guardians would not argue the question with him, and told him that they did not believe he was only earning 158 weekly, and that they were inclined to ask him to pay 18 6d. Another young man also working at Aberllefeni and earning 15s weekly, called upon to pay Is towards the support of his mother, said if the Guardians enforced the payment he would take his mother from the union." This manly inde- pendence caused a laugh, and the Guardsans cheerfully allowed the young man to carry out his threat. A few minutes after the first named young man announced that he also intended to take his mother off the books of the union." A letter was read stating that the relieving officer had been ordered to discontinue the relief to Hugh Evans Llanegryn, and hia wife, who were in receipt of 8s weekly'. —Mr Edward j°neg remarked upon the beneficial results of calling upon relatives to pay towards the support of their parents- By merely asking four persons to contribute, 8s in one instance, 28 6d in another, and 3s in a third, would be saved weekly. Liberality.—'The master reported that during the past tortnight the workhouse children had been invited to Glvn bv MIsg Griffiths, and kindly treated. State of Pauperism in the Talyllyn District. -Mr Morris Jones presented a return showing the percentage of paupers to the population of the census of 1871, with the average weekly relief in the Talyllyn district, and also in each parish in the district taken separately. The return was as fol- lows No. of Paupers corres- Per centage ponding of paupers Average Fopula- No. of week of to the weekly tion. paupers last year population relief Talyllyn district 5937 280 S15 1 in 21 2 2 Llanymawddwy 549 26 — 1 in 21 1 lis Mallwyd 1268 61 1 in 20 2 1 Llangelynin 1120 53 1 in 21 1 ioi Llanegryn 718 37 1 in 19 2 9IT Llanfihaugel-y- 7fu o0 Pennant 704 S0 1 in 23 2 3 Talyllyn 1578 73 1 in 21 2 li t The fact of the paupers of this parish being very old and infirm accounts for the weekly relief of each panper being higher than in other parishes.