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DOMESTIC NEWS. -î

PRESENT STATE OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE…

PRINCIPALITY. I

IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BRIDGEND…

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IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BRIDGEND TURNPIKE TRUSTEES. On Saturday last, a meeting of these trustees was held at the Wyndham Arms Ion, Bridgend, the Right Honble. John Nichol, DCL, MP, in the chair. Mr Rees Jenkins, solicitor, of Bridgend, presented the fol- lowing memorial:— To the Commissioners of Roads in the Bridgend District, in the county of Glamorgan. Gentlemen,- We, the undersigned, being parishioners of the seyeral parishes of Coychurch, Llanillid, and adjacent pa- rishes, thought it expedient to address to you observations in respect to the turnpike gates within the said district, and do humbly implore for the removal of those obnoxious gates, toll- bars, and chains, within the several parishes of Coity and Coy. church. "There have been existing eastward from Ogmore river to the upper end of Brynagwynon fourteen bars, gates, and chains, within the short distance of six miles. We most hum- bly complain of these grievances, and hope that some will be eady removed. Every bye-road is almost muzzled with a trap-gate. The times are depressed, as your worships must be aware, yet the tolls are exacted from farmers for carrying their lime in order to manure their land and also for coal carrying for farmers to make such manure and one farmer cannot help another with- out passing a turnpike-gate. Also we most humbly complain of a certain wall that has been erected across one of the parish roads in the lower end of the village of Coychurch. And one of the turnpike-gates of Coychurch aforesaid having been erected on the parish road. We deprecate, in the most solemn manner, the conduct of Rebecca and her atrocious satellites. Peace is our watchword and legal justice is ollr chim." Dated 2nd of November, 1843." Mr. Jeliosophat Powell, of Margam, then presented the pe- tion agreed to at the meeting at Kenfig, and the following statement of The grievances of the farmers and labouring cottagers. "There are a great many fields in the neighbourhood of Aberavon, and Taibach, let out to cottagers to set potatoes in; therefore, when the said cottagers draw their potatoes, they have no way whatever to bring them home, but go to the far- mer and borrow a horse and cart to bring them- Then six or seven bags are put into the cart. Some are compelled to go through two gates, namely, Aberavon, east and west and be- fore they are allowed to pass, they are compelled to pay six- pence for each bag—each bag belonging to separate people. When they have occasion to pass through the other gate, they must pay there also, The same horse and cart passes five or six times a day but only loaded with different people's pota- toes, and is charged every time. The gate keeper is occasion- ally in the potatoe field watching and reckoning how many bags belong to each person. The above can be verified on oath. "An empty waggon going from Llanvihangel to Neath, in the morning, pays toll at Taibach. When it returns they are compelled to pay at Pyle gate—the two gates being within five miles of each other. Several farmers are served in the same manner. Upon another occasion, when the waggon was full, returning, the gatekeeper at the several places of Aberavon east west, and Taibach, stopped the horses and demanded toll • the toll of the said gate having been Daid in the morning. This also can be verfied on oath. There are other great grievances which the farmer, &c., labour under. The following are a few When a farmer has a heavy loaded waggon going to mar- ket, he is stopped at the gate in order to have the waggon and its contents weighed in the weigh-machine. It the load is too heavy by only a few hundied weights, he must pay. A farmer cannot say how much weight he has in his waggon before it is weighed. There have been waggons carrying iron passing through the same gate every day and which are generally loaded about a ton more than they are allowed to carry but there is no notice taken ot it. This is also another gnevance-the railing across the pa- rish road, joining Pyle gate, (by whose authority it has been put there we know not,) to prevent parishioners going over it and compelling them to go through the gate. ° Again, if a poor take a donkey for a pannier of coals, which are not worth more than three-pence, he charge in tolls ts two-pence-atthough the place where he gets coat is not more than five hundred yards from his home." The Chairman If the statement is true, it is a most gross imposition. They cannot legally make a charge for each bag. The Rev. Robert Knight: I have heard that three and six- pence was charged tor one horse, drawing one cart, because the cart was lent to seven poor people, who took their potatoes out of the tarmer s field. Mr Powell handed some gate tickets to the chairman, which Mr Powell said fully corroborated his statement, with regard to the amount ot tolls charged at the gates which were enume- rated in 'he statement. The commissioners seemed quite astonished at the disclosures made hy Mr Powell in his statement, and for some time could scarcely believe it possible such wholesale imposition should ever have been committed in this county but the accuracy of the statement in this particular was vouched for by several par- ties present of respectability. After some conversation, The Chairman said Gentlemen, the question raised is this, as fat as I can understand it—if six people join in loading one waggon, that waggon pays six times over for one passage through the gate. That is what I understand Ihe statement to mean. If the same cart go again through the gate six times the same day, and is loaded with potatoes belonging to six dif- ferent people, they must pay six times over, every time they pass! alA Farmer said it was the case. The Chairman conceived the toll collector was acting most illegally, if his conduct had been fairly and truly represented. Those petitions having been presented containing—whether rightfully or wrongfully, he knew not—statements of alleged grievances, it was their duty as trustees, acting on behalf of the public, to take those matters up, and to give them their most patient attention. He would therefore propose,—That this meeting, at its rising, adjourn to Thursday, the 23rd inst, at eleven o'clock, and that in the meantime a committee should be appointed to take all the several matters and things contained in the petitions into their caieful consideration, and report thereon fully to the adjouined meeting. This suggestion was adopted and after some discussion, in which the people were advised to apply to the magistrates for redress, and to punish the loll keepers for imposition, the meeting separated.

THE SWANSEA TURNPIKE TRUST.

CONFESSION OF THE CONVICTS…

BRISTOL BANKRUPTCY COURT.

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL-ELECTION…

KENDAL ELECTION.

To the Editor of the Monmouthshire…

TURNPIKE TOLLS.

USK TOLLS.

MONEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS.…

IRELAND.

FRIDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE, NOV.…

INCENDIARY FIRES IN NORTH…

COURT OF EXCHEQUER—SITTINGS…

MERTHYR. -

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