Monmouthshire Merlin

COUNTY POLICE.—SATURDAY. f Magistrates: The Rev. THOMAS POPE, and W. PHILLIPS, Esq.] ItFDWICX,Thom -is Bevan was summoned for refusing to pay Georgj Williams, labourer, C2 Os. 6d. wages. —Defendant did not appear. —Ordered to pay the amount claimed with costs. PE.YFIOW.—James Pritchard, Henry Brown, Diniel Ho^e', and James Brown were charged with playing at pitch and toss on Sunday, at Penhow. The offence was ad' ted by each defendant.—The defendants were dischnrp- i with a severe reprimand on payment of costs. MAINDKE. —Martha Howell, Alicia Lawrence, George Williams, and John Fletcher were charged with stealing dominoes, the property of John Clarke. — Mr. R. J. Cath- cart defended the male prisoners;-Prosec utor, who keeps the Goo* ..re Inn, said, on Tuesday night he missed a box of donm.oea from his smoking room. The dominoes pro- duced he identified by certain marks, as being his pro- perty. They were worth half a crown.-Eliza Capper, servant of the prosecutor said ths four prisoners went to the George Inn on Tuesday night between ten and eleven o'clock. They called for a quart of beer, and went into the smoking. room the dominoes were at that time in the room no one was in the room between the time the prisoners left and the time the dominoes were missed.- Harriet Ha^g;rty, of the Seven Stars beer-house, Canal- parade, said the female prisoners lodged with her. They returned home on Tuesday night between eleven and twelve o'clock. Howell piaced on the tarble some domi- noes. S'ie was in drink. Witness did not ask where Howell had got the dominoes.—P.C. Thomas Powell, from information he received, went with other officers in search If the prisoners accompanied by P.C. Curtis he went to the S,;vun Stars, an there found the females, and the dominoes; Howell said Fletcher had given her the dominoes on Maindee-roa'], on Tuesday night Lawrence denied all knowledge of the theft; the male prisoners on being taken into custody also made the same statement.- Williams stated that he was not apprehended, but gave himself up to a policeman, having been told by his after there was something wrung ab ut some domi- noes and he wished to know what it was all about.—Mr. Cathcart addressed the Benchfort.be piisoners.—Fletcher, Williams, and Lawrence were discharged, Howell was sent to the House ot Correction for six weeks' hard abour. PENHOW.—Elizabeth Herbert, an e'derly woman with a child in her arms, and who was weeping bitteily, was charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 7s., the property of James Clat ke.- Prosecutor said on Saturday evening about seven o'clock the prisoner wt-utto his shop for a candle; when she was going out of the shop, wit- ness's wife noticed that she had something under her ah awl and went after in her prosecutor followed. Prosecutor's wife, upon coming up with the prisoner, found she had a pair of boots under her shawl and charged her with stealing them prisoner made no reply prosecutor took her back to the house, and thin went for the parish constable; when he returned the 1 woman was missing, but she wa? subsequently apprehended at her own house, by P.C. Howes.—Prosecutor's wife corroborated her husband's statement.—Committed to Usk sessions, the magistrates expressing their willingness to take bail. CHKISTCHURCH.—Thomas Bevan was summoned for aliowinghiswife and children to become chargeable to the parish of Christchurch.—The defendant pleaded that he had had no work, and was therefore unable to sup- port his family.—Defendant was liberated on promising to repay, by instalments, the amount of relief given to his wife. LISWERRY.—James Fry, who did not appear, was summoned for keeping the Victoria beerhouse opn for the saie of beer, at illegal hours -P.C. Powell said about one o'clock on Tuesday morning, he went to the house, found the door wide open, and the landlord and a man from Newport in the front room, both drunk, aud a jug of beer on the tablp.-p.O. 79 said on Thursday affording he went to the house, and found two men drunk I on the floor, and the landlord was upstairs drunk, with his face covered with blood.—Fined L2 and costs.

BOROUGH POLICE.— MONDAY. [Magistrates: JAMES BROWN, Esq., Mayor and Alderman ETANS.] Thomas Clouston Fos'er summoned Thomas Corner for wages due under an agreement by which he was to give his entertainment, entitled, Gems of Green Erin."—The case had been remanded from Friday, and was now dismissed, the magistrates deciding that they had no jurisdic'ion in the matter. Joseph Bowler, an apprentice to Mr. Charles Jordan, ironfcunder, was summoned for deserting the service of master.—It appears the lad was apprenticed in 1858, and shortly after ran away, and was not apprehended until last week, when he was found in Cardiff.Sent to prison gr fourteen days. Henry Skinnerty, charged with causing an obstruction by allowing hampers of vegetables to stand in Com- mercial-street, was dismissed with a caution. William Druiff, pawnbroker, was summoned for re- fusing to give up to Benjamin Clark", certain articles pledged by him. Complainant stated that on the :ïth of June, 1860, he pledged with defendant a silver v. t,i xsJ r ceived one sovereign and four ounces of tea. On Jsat Friday complainant's sheT had gona to the defendant's shop, and paid 6s. 11 1. interest, when de- fendant kept the ticket. The ticket had been backed for three months.—Cross-examined by the defendant's son, wbo TeLit, sent, d his father: I had eight half-crowns given me your father did not give me a sovereign as well.- Jane Shepherd stated that in June last she had the ticket b eke for three month3; there was then no remark made about the watch being in" for more than a sovereign.—Hannah Drayton, said on Friday she went to defendant's shop, with the ticket produced; she saw 11 j,¡:J Druiff; she put down the ticket and asked to seethe watch; Miss Druiff said she never showed goods; ulti- mately on witness offering to pay the interest for four- lien months, os. 11(1., they consented to show the watch witness paid the interest, and the Druiffs then refused to show witness the watch, unless Clarke was present; Clarke was sent for, and in the meantime Druiff himself came in some consultation took place in an inner room, and then Mr. Druiff said she could not have the watch, aa two sovereigns had b'. en. paid for it.—Jane Shepherd went with Claike to the shop on Friday evening; she went to the shop, and offered a sovereign and two shillings for the watch, and Mr. Druiff refused to let m lave it, saying that the watch was pledged for two sovereigns.—The complainant putin a ticket showing that during this year he had pledged an article at DruifPs, and there was nothing then said about two sovereigns being given for the watch.—Ti e defendant was then t-wom, a^d said that in June, 1860, complainant pledged the watch with him his daughter gave complainant a thhct, and witness gave him a sovereign witness was then tailed away some mistake was made in the ticket, and complainant was detained for another to be made cut witness's daughter then gave complainant eight Jiai! ruwns when the man was gone defendant's r said to defendant "What is the man gone away f tor ?" Witness replied, 1'1 don't know—Igare him a sovereign" his daughter then told him she had also giv, n l ira eight half-crowns witness then ran after the man, t.ut could not overtake him subsequently informa- lion dt the circumstances was given to the police. The '.isv; said the Bench were satisfied that 92 was paid; tut they could not assist the defendant in the matter. Ii the sovereign and interest were paid by the complain- ant the defendant must give up the watch. His remedy might then be a civil action in the County Court. John Pool, butcher, Commercial-road, for killing in an unregistered slaughter house, was fined 20s., including coats. One or two paltry assault cases were also disposed of. WEDNESDAY. [Magistrates JAMES BROWN, Esq., Mayor; Alderman HOMPRAY, and G. GETHING, Esq.] Elizabeth Hooper was charged with having assaulted Ann Jones. The complainant said she occupied apart- ments in defendant's house. On Sunday night the defendant ortke open her door and struck her several times. She also abused her. The quarrel cummenced in consequence of defendant accusing her about her (defendant's) husband.—The defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months, and ordered to pay the *°Bachel Trueman was charged with assaulting Caroline Clarke. Complainant said she kept a beerhouse, in Thomas street. On Monday evening the complainant. called and asked for a bed. She had a child with her, and witness told her that she might sleep in the same loom as her daughter. Defendant was the worse for drink, and wanted to turn her child out. Witness implored her to go to bed, and she eventually went. Tnerfc was a gentleman sleeping in one of the adjoining looms, and she told defendant not to keep a noise. The defendant, however, began stamping her feet immediately she went upstairs, and created a disturbance. Witness tried to appease her, and defendant struck her, and threatened her daughter with the poker.—Mrs, Day, daughter of the complainant, corroborated her mother's evidence.—The defendant promised to leave for Cardiff by the next train, and the police were directed to see her off. Patrick Collins, captain of a Cork trader, was su n moned for £2198. 3d., wages due to Cummings Welsh, The defendant did not appear, and an order was made for payment and costs. Charles Moore was charged with having assaulted Rhoda Morris. He was also charged with assaulting Sarah Davies. The complainants met the defendant one night late, and it appeared that he struck and kicked them without the least provocation. Fined 10s. including costs, for each assault, or one month's impri- sonment. Mary Reynolds was charged with having broken Mrs. Rees's, of Canal-parade, window. She admitted the offence, and was ordered to get the window repaired. Margaret Nagle was charged with having stolen a coat, chair, and other articles, the property of Humphrey Jones, Charles-street. The articles had been pawned, and it turned out that prosecutor's wife was aware of the fact. The prisoner was, therefore, discharged with a caution.

NEWPORT AND PILLGWENLLY WATER WORKS COMPANY. HALF YEARLY MEETING OF PROPRIETORS. Tiie half yearly meeting of the shareholders in the above-named concern was held at the Company's office, Stow-hill, on Monday. The following gentlemen were I in attendance :—Samuel llomfray, Esq., in the chair Messrs. W. S. Cartwright, J. Lawrence, G. Gething, H. Farr, E. J. Phillips, J. Wildy, and W. Townsend with the secretary, Mr. Webber. The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting, and the seal of the Company was affixed to the list of shareholders. REPORT OP DIRECTORS. GENTLEMEN, —The statement ofraceipts and expendi- ture of the capital and revenue accounts for the half-year eudiug 30tb June last, is sent herewith. Your Directors recommend that the guaranteed inte- rest for the half-year ending 30th June, on the Preference Shares, be paid, that a dividend of X3 per cent. upon the I origin il capital for the same period be declared, and that such interest and dividend be payable on the 10th day of September next. "There is a diminution in the revenue as compared with the preceding half-year of £13.5 17s. 6d.; this is mainly attributable to the very reduced supply of water taken by the Monmouthshire Railway and other public companies. The new engine, which will give increased power to the upper district of the town, is completed, and the works generally are in good order." "SAMUEL HOMFRAY, Chairman. "Newport, Mon., 16th August, 1861-" The Chairman expressed the regret of the directors that the dividend was not so large as usual, but the share- holders would obs-rve from the report that that fact was attributable to the large falling off in the supply ofwaterto the Monmouthshire Railway and other public companies. The supply to dwelling-houses had rather increased than diminished, the general revenue receipts being fuily as much as usual. Mr. Townsend put several questions as to the amount of costs with which those persons who were summoned for arrears were charged. Mr. Webber tendered an explanation, and The Chairman promised that the directors would look into the matter. He then meved the adoption of the report and statements of accounts. Mr. Lawrence seconded the resolution, which was j carried. The Chairman then moved that dividends be deslared and paid as recommended by the directors in their report. Mr. Cartwright, in seconding the resolution, referred to some remarks he had made at the last half-yearly meeting respecting the Monmouthshire Railway Com- pany's account, and added that he still retained the opinion he then expressed, that the Monmouthshire Company had not acted in accordance with the spirit of the agreement entered into by them with the Water Works Company, by which the Monmouthshire Company were charged a very reduced sum. He thought the matter required the attention of the direc'ors. In the half year there had been a diminution of 190 in the Monmouthshire Company's account. He might add that the directors were determined to look into the affair, and ascertain what was their real position in the matter.. The resolution was then put and carried. Mr. Townsend said on a former occasion he had com- plained of the inconvenience to which he was subjected by lIlt: company, in connection with certain property belonging to him, and which adjoined the Water Works offices. He wished to know whether they intended to drive him into a court ot law for redress, or whether they intended to abate the nuisance,, which had become intolerable. In the course of a brief conversation, Mr. Townsend was recommended to lay before the directors the specific nuisance of which he had to complain, and an assurance was given that the matter would be entertained by the directors. The meeting then terminated.

THE .NEW LAW OF BANKRUPTCy.-The following is a succinct statement of the most important changes made in the law of bankruptcy by the new bill :—Non-traders are to be liable to the bankruptcy laws in respect of future debts. The seizure and sale of the goods of a debtor under an execution for a debt above jEoO will be an act of bankruptcy, and all such sales must be by public auction, duly advertised. Per ceutages are no longer to be taken from bankrupts' estates, and the official assig- nees and messengers are to be greatly reduced in number, and paid by fixed salaries. At the first meeting under a bankruptcy, the creditors may remove the proceedings to any county court, or, if they think fit, determine to wind up the estate under a private arrangement, and also decide whether the bankrupt shall have any, and what, allowance for support. The official assignee is to collect the debts not exceeding £ 10, and the court is to order in wheso custody the books and papers belonging to the estate shall be deposited. The creditors are to determine whether the estate shall be realised by an official assignee or assignees chosen by themselves, and in the latter case may allow them the assistance of a paid manager. All moneys received by the assignees are to be forthwith said into the Bal.k of England to he account of the ac- countant in Bankruptcy, and in country districts where there shall be no branch of the Bank of England, then into such other bank as the court shall direct. The creditors' assignee must every three months submit a statement of his accounts, with vouchers, to the official assigiiee for examination, and aft' r such accounts have been passed the official assignee is to send a printed copy thereof, or a statement showing the nature and result of the transactions aud accounts of the assignee, to every creditor who has proved under the bank- ruptcy. The proof of the debts may be made by sending to the assignee through the general post office a statement of such debt and of the account, if any, between the creditor and the bankrupt, together with a declara- tion signed by the creditor that such statement is a full, true, and complete statement of account between them. False declaration is to be a misdemeanour. All state- ments of account are to be compared with the books and papers of the bankrupt by the assignees. The classification of certificates is abolished, and the bank- rupt, after the passing of his last examination, is to be entitled to an order of discharge. Very stringent penal clauses are provided, and for a variety of offences the Court may summarily order imprisonment for any period not exceeding one year, or may refuse or suspend the order of discharge, or attach conditions thereto as to future property. For offences made misdemeanours under the Act, bankrupts may be tried in the court with or without a jury, at the option of the bankrupt, and on conviction may be imprisoned for any term not exceeding three years, and be liable to any greater punishment attached to the offence by any existing statute. The Court may direct the creditor's assignee, official assignee, or any creditor to act as prosecutor, and the costs of such prosecution will be borne in the same manner as the expenses of prosecutions for felonies are now borne; and other costs incurred by such prosecutor not so defrayed are to be paid out of the accountantant-generai's fund. Most important facilities are afforded to enable a debtor and his creditors to effect private arrangements under trust or composition deeds. A majority of creditors in number, including three-fourths in value, may, on exe- cution of a deed of arrangement, and registering it in the Court, bind a majority, and are to have the use of the Court in all cases in which they shall require its assis- tance to decide questions as to disputed claims, or any difference that may arise between the parties interested in the debtor's estate. The Court is not, however, io interfere in any manner except its aid is invoked by some person having a direct interest in the matter. Every deed of composition must be registered. It is believed that a bill will be brought in next session to consolidate the law in one statute. The announcement by Messrs. Cassell, Pettsr, and Ga'pin, of John Cassell's new Journal, It The Quiver," will have been observed by our readers. The grand ob- ject proposed being the advancement of religion in the homes of the people, it is intended to effect that object by giving to the contents of "The Quiver" so varied and interesting a character as to entitle it to be rogarded as a library of Christain literature, embracing, as its device declares, • things new and old." The price, moreover, of Ihe Quiver" being only one penny weekly, and its being larger than any journal hitherto issued at the price, wilt be another means of insuring its entrance into the homes of all who are interested in the truths for which it v/ill contend. The first number is issued this day-!

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL. ADJOURNED QUARTERLY MEETING. The adjourned quarterly meeting of the Town Coun- oil was held on Tuesday, in the Police Court. About half an hour elapsed before a quorum could be obtained; ultimately the following gentleman attended:—Jame3 Brown, Esq Mayor, in the chair Aldermen Homfray, Mullock, Edwards, and Townaeni MCBrs. Knapp, Llewellin, Jones, Phillips, Morgan, Harrhy, and Graham. The Town Clerk read the minutes of the previous meeting. THE MAGISTRATES' CLERK ATJESTION. The Mayor again introduced this matter, and in refer- ring to the step taken at the last Council meeting—that of passing a resolution recommending to the magistrates that their Clerk should be remunerated by a salary of dE300 a year, and that he should no longer be paid by fees, he otv- served that he, with several other gentlemen, had had great difficulty in bringing his mind to recommend so large an arnountof emolument, -(bear, hear)-but as that sum was put forward and advocated with a view to put- ting an end to this long-vexed question, he had become a consenting party. The Council (the Mayor proceeded) having passed the resolution, he, ia the discharge of his duty, submitted itto the magistrates. At the first meeting, Mr. Gething had at once stated that Mr. Fox was not disqualified, and other gentlemen assented to that view. The Mayor then detailed what afterwards took place-that Mr. Gethiug had sat, with Mr. Fox as clerk that on a subsequent day, although there was im- portant magisterial business to transact, and al- though there were nine or ten magistrates within the hall at the time, there was not a magistrate who had sufftciellt courage to come forward and that at a meeting of migistrates convened by him (the Mayor) to make some arrangement by which the public business might be carried on, Mr. Homfray, without any notice having been given that such a motion wou'd then be brought forward, had proposed a resolution re-appointing Mr. Fox, which resolution, himself (the Mayor) and Mr. Morgan being the only dissentients, was carried. The Mayor then proceeded to remark, that upon this motion being oarried, he had had the greatest difficulty in ob- taining the appointment of a day for the consideration by the magistrates of the whole question, including the resolution passed by the Town Council. Mr. Gratrex had thought the matter might be deferred for a month or two. Ultimately, (said the Mayor) to make a long story short, the magistrates appointed yesterday fortnight for the purpose. The Mayor then enumerated the difficulties and objections he had been able to gather on the part of the magistrates. There was Mr. Homfray. He was always straightforward in what he did, although he (the Mayor) had given him up-he should never find him a reformer -still there was an amount of candour and system of conduct about Mr. Homfray that no one could help liking him, although his (the Mayor's) and Mr. Homfray's opinion upon the question at issue were as wide apart as were the poles. Mr, Homfray said— I will not consent that any of the fees shall go in aid of the borough funds which, in other words, was this —"If we pay our Clerk by sal; ry, the fees will exceed the amount or salary, consequently, there must be a sur- plus, and that surplus must lO in- aid of the borough fund." Mr. Homfray said Lis obie, tion was, that if the fees were so large, they should be reduced, and given for the benefit of the parties who were brought before the magis. trates. The Mayor must point out to Mr. Homfray how im- possible it was to have a scale of f, es that would amount to the exact salary of a clerk. Then (the Mayor con. tinued) Mr. Evans said—"I am inclined to meet the views of the Council, but I do not like to do so on these grounds if we appoint our clerk by salary, we shall lose all control of our clerk-we shall no longer be master of cur clerk." He (the Mayor) denied this. The ma- gistrates would be as much ma ter of their clerk, and have as much power to dismiss th ir clerk, with, or with- out reason, as ever. Mr. Phillips said-" If we appoint our clerk by salary, we Aail have no ground upon which to remit the fees." By the Act 14 and 15 Vic., c. 55. it was very clear that wherever justices thought proper they might remit costs and fines. The words were— Where any clerk is paid; by salary by justices, the jus- tices may remit such fee in. whole or in part"—that was, the fee of the magistrates' slerk —" they may remit such fees in who]e or in pirt for poverty or other reasonable cause, in their discretion." That he (the Mayor).consi- dered a sufficient answer. Mr. Lyne took this view- Mr. Fox has held his position for fifteen or sixteen years very creditably and satisfactorily, and in appor- tioning his salary--if which method of payment I am in favour-we should give him a larger salary than we should give a new clerk, or than we should give him were he appointed for the first time." Replying to Mr. Lyne, the Mayor remarked that Mr. Fox had entered the town in 1845. In 1848-he was appoin'ù clerk to the magistrates. From 1848- to 1860 his right to hold the position of e!< rk to the magistrates had never be n disputed. In 1860 it had been disputed. In I860 it had been decided by the Judge at Monmouth, it had been decided by the Court of Queen's Bench, it had been decided by the Court of Error, that Mr. Fox had illegally held the position cf magistrates' clerk for twelve years. Then they came to the celebrated agreement of which so much had been heaid. And what did it amount to ? It held—by the construction put upon it in the law courts-it held Mr. Fox legally in his position for a year and a half. N-omofe. The Municipal Act Amend- ment Act passed, by which Act any magistrates' clerk, who was partner of a clerk of the peace, ceased to be clerk of magistrates. Mr. Lyne's arguuent, then, was shivered to the winds-it had no stability whatever. Mr. Fox on that consideration had no claim whatever They had a claim upon Mr. Fox for the very large emo- luments he had been receiving over a period of twelve years, when he had never been entitled to them.. The Mayor next remarked that he was certainly indebted to the borough magistrates for some light, and particularly to those who had so strenuously opposed the wishes of that Board. Mr. Homfray had first called his atten ion to the publication in a blue book of the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the payment of coroners, magistrates' clerks, and so on, by fees. He had gone over the book, from ber nning to end, with the utmost care, and carefully marked down sufficient to read to the me- ting. He would not lay down his own views —he would not submit to the ireeting that which other- wise he should have dic'ated as the coursa to be followed -but be would lay before them the opinions of compe- tent men—of men uninfluenced by, and total strangers to the circumstances of Newport, and who weie dealing only with broad principles. The Mayor then pro. ceeded to read a nuaiber of extracts from the Com- missionera' report. lie first directed attention to a 1 report in the appendix, by Mr. Hemp, of Man- chcJier, and from which it appeared that a practice prevails in certain boroughs of employing a public officer, paid by salary, to conduct the prosecutions at assizes and sessions, the fees in excess of the officer's salary being added to the borough fund. The following are Mr. Hemp's words The principal features to which I have drawn your Inrdsbips* attention is the conduct of the prosecutions after commitments, and its preparation for trial, the duties of which are performed by an officer elected and appointed by the Town Council of the city for that pur- pose, and ca led the assistant to the Town Clerk.' The salary to this officer is £4.00 a-year. The expenses allowed at sessions as attorney's costs amount to some j61,400 a-year, leaving a balance of profit to the Corpora- tion, after payment of this officer and his clerk, with office expenses, of B800 a-year at least." —The Mayor considered this a precedent for appro- priating surplus fees in aid of the borough fundi The Commissioners' report went on to say We think it also desirable that the clerks of the peace should, in all cases, be paid by salary instead of by fees, and that they should occupy, at the gener.il quarter sessions, a position in all respects analogous to that occu- pied at the asuizes by the clerks of assiae, so as to control the expense in each case of prosecution under strict regu- lations for their guidance.' We think there can be no doubt of the advantages which would result from ex. tending the same principle to every tribunal for the ad- ministration of justice and we therefore recommend that for special and petty sessions the magistrates should appoint one professional person to be the clerk, and the person so appointed should receive a salary, the fees being paid to the fund." — Mr- Robert Upperton, one of the CDmmissioners, (the Mayor remarked,) differed from some of the opinions expressed by his brother Commissioners, But Mr. Upperton said— As regards the proposed status of clerks of petty sessions, I quite concur in the propriety of the suggestion that that officer should be paid by salary in lieu of fees." -The Mayor then turned to the examination of Mr. Horatio Waddington, the Under Secretary of State for Home Affairs, and read as follows Has the question of paying the expenses of the < fficers by salary instead of in fees come at any time under your consideration?—Yes; under the 14th and 15th Victoria, chap. 55—[This is the Act under which it is proposed that Mr Fox be paid by salary] -and it has been acted on in some counties. That Act retains the tees, but the pro- visions are, that the clerk may receive a salary instead of the fees to himself, but he is still to receive the fees and pay them over to the county, so that the general question of abolishing the fees altogether and paying the otficer by salary has not been considered officially- I have considered it myse'f, and think it a desirable change to make. -By the Chairman You have not observed any evil consequence to follow, where the arrangement under 14 and 15 Victoria has been made?-No; I am not aware of any, but that arrangement leaves the fees in full force They say, we will take your fees, and give you so many hundreds a year. The Secretary of State very seldom objects, if both parties are satisfied. Do not you think that it would be a good plan to have one uniform table of fees applicable to the whole kingdom ?-Yes. 'The principle of uniform fees is adopted in boroughs, though some are large, some are small ?—Yea that was done by the Municipal Act. Lord John Ro^ll eetab. i ished an uniform system of fees, but there is no uniform system of fees in the counties.—As regards a uniform table of fees applying to different boroughs, has that worked properly and well ?—Yes I have heard no com- plaints of it but in some of the large boroughs the pro- fits are very great. I think, in some cases, they have made arrangements with the clerk to the justices by which he receives a portion of the fees only, aud the rest is paid over, for other purposes, to the borough fund. The fees in large boroughs, owing to the very fact which I am mentioning—the amount of the business—are very much larger than is required for the remuneration of the officers. I must mention Liverpool as an extraordinary I p case. There the fees of the clerk of the peace alone were between £2,000 and £ 3,000 a-year." -The Mayor h"re remarked that at Liverpool since the publication of the report from which he was reading, the clerk of the peace has receivei a salary of £ 1,200 a year, the remaining £ 1,800, or whatever it might be, going — where ?—why, to where he and others wished the surplus fees at Newport to go-in aid of the borough fund. Mr. Waddington (the Mayor said) ap- _1 L- -L- 11 pearcu io ue an important witness, anu nis examination proceeded Upon the whole you think both the clerk of the peace, and the clerk of the justices would be better paid by salaries than by fees? BEYOND ALL QUESTION.—You do not propose to give so large a salary to the justices' clerk as would take him out of his profession ? No. I have no doubt that able men would undertake it for a a very moderate sum indeed." — Mr. Wilmot Seaton, a principal clerk in the treasury, and who has the supervision of the costs of proseca- tion, &c., was also examined, and the following extract from his evidence was read by thfi Mayor:— Then the result of your experience is that the fees are not anywhere so low as to lead to a failure of justice, but that they are in some cases so high as to appear to have a tendency to increase unduly the number of committals ? That is my impression, certainly." -His Worship next referred to the evidence of Mr Charles Augustine Smith, clerk to the justices at Black- heath, and secretary to the Justices' Clerks' Society. The evidence of this witness, (the Mayor remarked) should have greater weight than that of any other—Mr. Smith, being, in fact, the representative of Mr. Fox himself. Mr. Smith stated (said the Mayor) that the Justices' Clerks' Society was formed in 1829 for the purpose of mutual correspondence upon matters con- nected with the office of justices' clerks, and with a view to produce uniformity of method in conducting their business, and also as to their interest in respect of fees and other matters connected with the office. The number of members- at present was over 200, and it comprised clerks of justices of petty sessions from every county in England and Wales. Mr. Smith then continued to say The views of the Justices' Clerks' Society, of which I am the representative, are embodied in a series of resolu- tions which I hold in my hand, and which have been already submitted before the Commissioners, and it is hardly necessary to enlarge upon the advantages of payment ly salary instead of fees. It is always better that public officers shall be ptid by a fixed salary instead of having to collect fees from various parties in respect of the duties performed. When there are fees it is open to the imputation that the parties may takepailts to make business for the sake of thi fees. As public ofices it is desirable that that imputation should be done aloay with, if possible and if a salary is fixed, of course that vtould be got rid of.- Do .you not think it better that the whole of the fees should be connected both for civil and criminal business ? That is' quite my opinion.-Do you not think that the magistrates' olerk is very often placed in an invidious position- in case of summary conviction when a small amount of fine is nominally imposed, in order that the justices' clerks fees may be paid f No doubt that is o-te of the strong reaii n< for commutationr I have had no com- plaint against he tables of fees issued' under the Munici- pal Act. It has worked very well. My opinion upon the general question is, that it would be desirable to commute all the fees into a salary. Upon general principles we should think it better to have a salary for the whole.- You are in favour of an uniform table of fees, and you think that the justices' clerks would, like, for general adoption, the table of fees which is settled for municipal boroughs? Yes.—Is not that table of-fees very remuner- ative ? It is a very fairly remunerative table." -The opinion of Mr. Woronzon Greig, clerk of the peace for Surrey, was thus given before the Commission— May not justices' clerks, although honestly disposed, put different interpretations upon their own tables? They may." -Another reason (the Mayor remarked) why magistrates' clerks should have nothing to do with construing the tables. Why give them the oppor: unity of putting their own interpretation on the tables ? Were the table of fees hanging against the wall placed upon the table, no two gentlemen present would agree in their interpretation of it. That being ao,l<et the magistrates' clerks be paid by salary, and then give a literal construction of the table of fees. At Birmingham, (the Mayor then observed) a large re- venue was carried from the fees ia aid of the borough fund, and he would direct their attention to the evidence of the clerks of the magistrates at that town—Mr. Birton, Mr. Hibbert, and Mr. Green. In reply to a question as to whother he had any suggestion to offer, with regard to the proper mode of remunerating clerks of the justices- in municipal boroughs, Mr. Barton stated- I would suggest that instead of their bains paid by fees, as they are in many boroughs, they should be paid by salaries.—What is yosr reason A for making that sug- gestion I—Une reason tnat i nave tor saying that is, that the present mode of payment by fees exposes the clerks of justices to imputations that they are in:iibenced in the conduct of their business by views with regard to the in- crease of their fees. I think that in all matters connected with the administration of justice there should not be the slightest suspicion or the slightest ground for casting an imputation.upon those who are interested in, or have anything to do with the administration o& it." -That was precisely the position (the Mayor added) in which it was desired to see Mr. r,,bx, placed. In closing the commissioners' report, the Mayor observed that-upon the most reliable information, that could be obtained-taking the parties strictly iuterested, as in the case of Mr. Smith, the organ of the justices' clerks, speaking for the whole body—and taking the parties altogether disinterested, such as Mr. Waddington, the under secreta/y of state,-all with one ac:ord came to the one point, and advooated payment by. salary in. lieu of fees. The Mayor next proceeded to show how matters were-working with re- gard to the payment of magistrates' clerks. He had found that the practtce of payment by salary was more extensive then he had been aware and he had no doubt that he should be able to prepare a more extended list by the time I.e attended the magistrates' meeting on Monday week. At Beaumaris and Berwick-ou-Tweed in the north, and nearer home, at Exeter, with a popu- lation of 40,000, and Plymouth, with 60,000, the clerks were paid by fees, but a movement was being made to obtain payment by salary. But to come to Bath, nea-er home still, with 52,500 inhabitants. During this pre- sent week the payment of the magistrates' clerk in that town would be settled. And that not by division or strife as at Newport but with unanimity. At Beverley, a town having a population of 10.000, the clerk was-piid partly by feesand partly by salary. He now came to towns where the clerk was paid by salary and the surplus fees were car- ried to the borough fund. Gateshead, population 33,-539, salary, £ 150. Warrington, 26,582 inhabitants at this town payment by salary of X200 a year was begin some few years ago. The salary was now increased to £250, and the surplus L250 or L300 was added to the borough fund. At Sunderland, a town sunilar to Newport, but of much greater importance, with 8.5,000 inhabitants, the fees had for a long time exceeded JE600 per annum, but the justices' clerk performed all the work of the Cor- poration fl ea of charge, found his own clerks, printing, stationery, &o. Salford had a population of 102,414, and here the fees, which were received by an officer of the Corporation and paid to the borough treasurer, amounted to about £ 600 a year. The Clerk of the Jus" tices was paid by the Corporation. Mr. Knapp; Can you explain how it happens that in a town like Salford the fees amount to only JE600 a year ? The Mayor said he had sent for full information. Mr. Kuapp thought the sum named would imply a high state of morality. The Mayor said he had obtained his figures from the Parliamentary returns. He had inquired what was the amount paid to the clerk by the Corporation—they receiving all the fees. Respecting Liverpool, which con- tained a population of 443,874, he had already informed them. At the town of Walsall, with 37,000 inhabitants, it had recently been determined to pay the magistrates' clerk by salary, instead of fees. At Bristol, with a population of 154,000, the salary was £1,000, and there was a surplus in aid of the Corporate fund of upwards of J6900 per annum. Cardiff was next referred to by the Mayor, a town of 32,TOO inhabitants. It might be said that at Cardiff there was a stipendiary magistrate. So there was; but as he was the first, so he (the Mayor) would venture to say he would be the last. Not that he would cast the slightest reflection upon the stipendiary magistrate at Cardiff: he was a very proper man for the office. But the town of Cardiff, having tried the principle, had found it was not a satisfactory one, and would gladly be back to where they once were. Before the appointment of Mr. Jones, and when persons in the same sphere as them- selves occupied the Bench-it was sufficient then, having no lawyers on the Bench, that the clerk should be paid X120 per annum. But upon the appointment of a sti- pendary magistrate at a salary ofjE600 a year, the salary of the magistrates' clerk had been raised to 1200 a year. Then there was Merthyr Tydvil. The population was S3,844. Here also a stipendiary magistrate presided. The court sat five days a week, and the salary of the magistrates' clerk was jei50 a year. And he (the Mayor) was sorry for it, because he considered the Merthyr clerk was as much under paid as the Newport clerk was overpaid. The Mayor then read a letter from Mr. Rennie which he had received in reply to a circular inviting that gentleman to attend a magistrates meeting, and in which Mr. Rennie stated his inability to attend, and expressed his Renoi^ stated his inability to attend, and expressed his views upon the magistrates' clerk question, which were in fuTour of payment by salary, Sis Worship then continued to remark that his object for going into detail wa3 this. There were thirteen days between the time at which he was speaking and the magistrates' meeting and it was well they should know where the objections lay with regard to the magistrates,and how thJY might bo able to combat them. He did not diirkthem. Some of the magistrates said-" We are not going to be driven. We are satisfied the magistrates' clerk ought to be paid by salary. But we are n >t going to b3 driven into it. We are between Fox and BrOiVn, and therefore will have nothing to do with it." Granted (said the Mayor) that Fox and Brown were upon the worst terms in every pos. sible respect. Assuming that to be the case,—'he asked sible respect. Assuming that to be the case,—'he asked them was th it any reason why they should shrink tro:n their duties ? Was that any teason why they should not pursue the dictates of their own conscience—why they should not do that which was right and proper in the transaction ? It was rather a strong claim upon them to do their duty in the matter. The Town II Council had recommended most liberally and he (the Mayor) said-" Gentlemen, agree with vour adversary quickly while he is in the way." They had had seven years of agitation he was prepared for another seven years of agitation. I tell you this, gentlemen, said his Worship, if this vexed question is not settled at the meeting of magistrates on Monday week, I will devote the energies and abilities I possess to this matter, and will work it out, and if I have the satisfaction of addressing you this day twelvemonths, I will jay before you a bill which will make the severance complete, anJ be the just consummation of the wishes of all classes in this town, from the highest to the lowest. He (the Mayor) asked the magistrates-and he wished all were present—when they discussed this question—it might be with a merchant, or it might be with a clear-headed working man—but with whoever it might be, did they find any difference of opinion among men ? No; all agreed that the time had arrived when the reasonable re- quest of the Town Council and of the inhabitants of the town should be complied with, and an end be put to the matter. And strange indeed would it ha if the magis- trates did not pursue that course on Monday week. He could only tell them there was a legislative enactment being prepared by government at that moment, based upon the valuable report from which he had read, and the object of the legislature was to make it compulsory that the magistrates' clerks should be paid by salary. Having detailed the case of Pyke, the Mayor remarked that the best answer he could have to the question why he pursued this matter, was that in our own town there had been one of the greatest iniquities-Jue of the greatest instances of mal-adminiatration of law in the United Kingdom. He could only say that in the measure to which he had referred—and he was uttering no vain threalll-there should be an enactment by which a severance should ba effected -.rhere.er a connection existed between a clgrk- to the magistrates and a clerk of the pence, where in partnership. The Mayor then ex- pressed a Lope that the representatives of the press would give an ample report of his address, aid if it were found not to-contain a sufficient reply to the scruples of the magistrates, he trusted those gentlemen would go to the meeting of the 9th proximo and fairly state their objec- tions, when he would be prepared to go more fully into the case and he fuither hoped that when next afrcr tbe meeting they met on the Bench, he should have the satisfaction of knowing that at length this long vexed question had been set at rest. The Mayor concluded by remarking that on looking over the Act of Parliament he had found that the Council had not acted in order in in moving their resolution at the previous meeting. It ¡ was necessary that they should- move an aldress to the Secretary of S: ate that themagiatratea* cletk should be paid bv salary iastead of fee", anl that his salary should be £ 300 per year. The magistrates. would then have to move an address expressing their concurrence, and the matter would then be settled. Mr. Llewellin inquired whether it was not necessary that the magistrates should first decide that they would pay their clerk-by salary. The Mayor replied in the negative, and handed Mr. Llewellin the Act. Mr. Knapp felt greatly obliged to the Mayor for the trouble he had taken in getting up the information he had,.presented to the meeting. He thought the sa!>etiQQ3 the Mayor had given from the report of the Com- missioners must commend themselves to all. Ho had always held that in the administration of justice payment by fees was too strong a temptation for the human mind, and that the proper mode was payment by saliiy. The manner in which the clerk to the magistrates of this borough had acted, had been to his mind repugnant an exceedingly distasteful. If the tahle of fees was capable of being misconstrued—if no two men scarcely agreed in their interpretation of the tabla of fees, he thought it was time an alteration should be raado. He had often looked at the decision come to ivhei an individual was brought before the magistrates and discharged on pay- ment of the fees, and found those fees amount to 83. or Wi. He (Mr..Knapp) could account for the manner in which the magistrates had contended upon this question, but he trusted they would no longer, per-iat in doing, so, but agree with the Council and with the large body. of I the community. While before them, he wished., to inquire who preceded Mr. Fox as magistrates' clerk. Tbe Mayor:. Mr. Towgood. Mr. Knapp, in pursuing his remarks, said he had heard it stated abroad that when Mr. Fox entered the firm of Prothero and Towgood, he paid a consideration for which he was to have the office of clerk to the magistrates. If that were so, it was only a species,of farming. The Mayor would like to know who at that time was competent to assure Mr. Fox that he should be clerk. Mr. Knapp said such things were talked abtut. The Mayor, in replying to Mr. Knapp, said that Mr. Fox stepped into the office upon Pike's delinquen- cies. The argument referred to by Mr. Knapp was the one referred to by Mr. Lynef and if he (the Mayor) mistook not,.Mr. Phillips, to some extent, took the same view of the case-that was, that a gentleman holding an appointment for some time was entitled to consideration. Mr. Knapp That depends on how he got the appoint- ment. The Mayor continued to say that when the decision was given in the Court of Error, Mr. Fox was, by the Munioipal Act, as it then stood, legally convicted of a misdemeanour, by acting as magistrates' clerk. That act had been in force all the time Mr. Fox had, held the position of clerk of the magistrates. Therefore, if Mr. Fox was properly convicted at the end of the-twelfth year, all his services during that time had been illegal; and Mr. Fox had been in this position, that he held an appointment in the town for which he was.legally dis- qualified. The only legal appointment of Mr. Fox was when, the agreement was executed; and wlieth r even that were legal he had no doubt they would 3ee t, sted. He should not shrink from even that duty. He would test the validity of that agreement. He would select one gentleman, a member of the Bench, and he would select Mr. Fox also, and he-would brill" an action against those gentlemen for jElOO each. The agreement would then be set up by them. But assuming, mind, that he brought this action,, and that lie failed, then they would arrive at this, that for one year and a half only had Mr. Fox held his appointment legally. That length of ser- vice, the Mayor considered, wo aid not be sufficient to induce gentlemen to give a consideration. Mr. Morgan thought the Mayor had misapprehended the object of Mr. Knapp's observations. Mr. Knapp, he (Mr. Morgan) took it, had nc dou.bt of the criminality of Mr. Fox's appointment; but he wished to know whether any particular consideration had been given by Mr. Fox with regard to obtaining the appointment of clerk to the magistrates, and if so, then some other persons thought that Mr. Fox should have a higher salary on account of that consideration so given. Mr. Knapp No, no. Mr. Morgan had conceived Mr. Knapp intended io convey that such was the argument used by some gentlemen in support oi a higher salary. He (Mr. Morgan) had never heard during the cross,-examination in the case Fox v. StaT of Gwent, a single question put as to what was that particular consideration, and he was not lawyer enough, to suggest such a question. He wondered, however, that such a questian was not put. If that had been the case, they might have had an opinion by means of which to judge whether Mr. Fox's salary should be £200 ()F £300. Mr. Knapp had not been clearly understood. He had always supposed when speaking upon fixing the salary, that it was thought Mr. Fox, from long and efficient services, would be entitled to a higher salary than a stranger would be. But he had never thought for a moment that provided Mr. Fox had paid a certain amount on going into the concern with the tacit under- standing that he was to slip into the office, that therefore ho was entitled to a higher salary. That was a system of farming. The only consideration would be long service. Mr. Phillips That would be the only consideration. Mr. Townsend might sympathise with his friend Fox on losing a good thing, but what the d had that to do with the public. His sympathy for Mr. Fox must not prevent hiin doing his duty to the public whom he repre- sented. He asked why should not the surplus fees go into the borough fund ? Mr. Davis received fees for prosecutions, if not directly, he did indirectly, from the county rates. He saw no reason, therefore, why, sup- posing Mr. Fox was appointed by salary, the surplus should not be appropriated to the borough. In the course of further remarks, enforcing his views, and avowing his determination to discharge his duty to those whom he represented, he alluded to a joke that had been published with regard to getting rid of him by sending him to the House of Peers. The Mayor objected to that, because their good old grandmother, the MERLIN—that consistent paper sought to separate them (Alderman Townsend and the Mayor)—he (the Mayor) was to be sent to the House of Commons and the Alderman to the House of Lords. Alderman Townsend So loug, Sir, as I see you mani- fating the consistent <jondu<H yau haYe done while lJit" ting in thàt chair, I will not be separated from you by the AIEHLIN cr any other old woman. Lie we lin, after complimenting the Mayor upon the very able statement he had laid before the meeting, and expressing a hope that the magistrates would yield to the recommendation of the Council, remarked that he observed by the Act it was necessary, in order to carry out the resolution, to recommend to the Secretary of State that the Clerk of the magistrates should be paid by salary instead of fees, and also that in the recommendation they shouU name the amount of the sdary. Having done that the whole thing would be left in the hands of the magistrates, who would have to approve the recommendation. lu reply to the argu- ment that Mr. Fox was entitled to a higher salary ia consideration of past services, Mr. Llewellin read a clause from the Act of Parliament which provided that no clerk who after the passing of that Act should be appointed by salary instead of fees, should be entitled to any compensation for any diminution of emolument which migat arise from such nhanira nf -l't'v"u.&gU". Mr. Llewellin then moved- M°Utn,cVil r0c°mmonds to Her Majesty's Secre- tary of State that tha Clerk to tbe Ju.tieas o, this borough hencefor.h be paid by a salary of £ 3j0 per annum, in lifu of all tee3 and othei payments piyaole to him as Justices' Clerk." Alderma-a Townsend seconded the resolution, which was carried. THE BRISTOL C3AXXBL PITOXAOB BILl., The Mayor siid it had been expected thit the pilotage bill expirises would have cjuj before the meetia» for consilffr ition. Unfortunately, hovever, the "bills had not b.&t sent in. Tie accounts were ready fjr inapec- tion by the respective committees. Mr. Morgan then moved- It Tllat on hearing from Mr. Matthew*, of Cardiff that [ tue accounts re FiloUge Bill arj ready for examination by the three committees — the Mayor and Mr Koapp be re- qussted to attend a meeting for that purpjsa on behalf of the Corporation-of Newport, and to report thereoo." Mr. Harrhy seconded thi resolution, which was carried. Mr. Graham supposed the accounts would coma regu- larly before the Finance Comaiittee. The Mayor replied in the affirmative'. THE OIIPOSLTIO-V TO THE MOXMOU THSHtR-B RAILWAY A-5JJ> CASTAS*' COMPANY'S BILL. he bill of costs in the o.}!>oÚ'i()Q to-the :{r}l1mGllt!t- shir-, it-iii way and Canal Co mpany's bill was laid upon the table. Mr. Graham, enumerating the several itsras, said the Town Clerk had charged twelve guineas for six diys loss of time, lie objectel to the payment of that sun, hav- ing understood that the payment of all services rea'lerei by the Town Clerk wo included in his salary. Mr. Harrhy consi lerel the item ought to be pai l, Mr. Ller/eliin said it was a qnesti>n whether i;i the nature of Mr. Woollett's appointment services of this kind were included. It was a matter of doubt ha conceived, whether the value of services such' as those now under discussion was considered ii deter- mining Mr. Woollen's salary.. If a maa were taken altogether out of his business for a week or a month upon specie) matters, ho ought to 03 remunerate 1 for it. fie was-quite agreeable to the am) 1:1 toeing paii. Mr. Uomffay So aiD I. 0 Mr. Knapp and Alderman Towasenl supported the payment ot the sum and Mr. Morgan proposed, an l Mr. P.nllips seconded the following resolution "That the bill of costs. £ 101 lh. 111., iaeurra 1 m. opposing the level crossing iu Thomas street, be paid." The motion was adopted, Mr. tin jam being the oaly dissentient. ° THE MA.TTK.BT.. A plan of the market propose! to he erectei by the Dake of Beaufort oa a parti,n of Fuars'-fielJs estate an I t. letter from Air. Wyatt, were laid upon tile table. 1. Ivnapp inquired it the Uom nutee bad made any progress towards the purchase of the Duke's manorial, ngh's. The principal feature in the direction of the BJJrd to the Committee was to give that point primary importance. The Mayor: You must notsuppos-e I am sitting here informed upon this suoject. What answer did Mr. Wyatt give ,I The town Clerk said Mr. Wyatt declined at presant to go into the matter of selling the Duke's rights. Mr. Knapp add in that case, pressing as was the s'thjeot, he should propoae that its consideration be postponed. ^Mr. Morgan's sentiments accorded with th )se of Mr. Knapp. Mr. Graham said there was a resolution on the books in which a deliberate offer was to the D iko of a piece of lhna for the purpose of erring a market. He wished to know how the Corporation would get out of that. Mr. Kuapp: In connection with that resolution it was distinctly stated that the Committee were to connect the purchase of the manorial-right*. The severa.1 resolutions passed by the Board unon the tolee0tDur,harrd'f ea.ch °f whicl1 Terence was made Th vr. °f the Duke's.rights. .J, a^&r Vas n°t prepared to go on with the dispose of his rights. °r a dlstlact "f^al to rMit'. ^iTwas*n! W*^1 '^e Corporation to be set Rnird were nrpn e.c ear from, the resolution that the Boa. d I j 3811 the Duke » Pi«e of land. n ? y 866 U w«s at a1' clear. Mr. Graham said it implied thal the Board wefe wil_ ling to sell, and if wiling to sell, then they were willing: to negotiate. Mr. Uraham then remarked that when the. comlllittee met a foitnight previously, the Mayor sent for him (Mr. Graham). The s-u-hject was fully considered and on referring to those pLets where a market had been erected by the town it was found there bad been no ob- stacles such as the purchase of manorial rights to cope with. They had simp!y had to obtain the necessary powers and erect the m irketu. At the co.nmittee meeting referred lo; figures had been gone into, and though it might not be prudent to give publicity to those figures,, he might say they were such a3 to render him by no. means sanguine as to any pecuniary benefit resulting to the town by the erection of a market by the Cor- poration, consequent upon the fact of their having to purchase the Duke's manorial rights. Mr. Hooper, how- ever, had at a meeting promised to give an alternative, and it would only be right to call upon him to fulfil that promise. He simply wished to caution the members against being carried aivay with the idea of the erection of a market by the Council proving a lucrative step. The following letter was then read:- 77, Great Russell-street, 2&th-Aug., 1861, C. Kirby, Esq- DEAR Slit, — Mr. Hooper has given me the amended pi.in for the proposed site for the Newport market (con- taining 3728 squaio yards). This plan appaars to me very dear and satisfactory. The part tinted red would I think be sufficient for all present purposes, and for many years to come probably but I think it would be very desirable that the Duke should include in his purchase the 980 additional square yards, shown by the green tint. This pcfrtion will, I think, in no way interfere with the future improvements contemplated by the Corporation it may at once be most use' ully employed in connection with the market (though not actually covered in and enclosed al- part of the actual market-house) and will be available at any future time for extension. For the present, the approach from Llanarth-streefi would have to be considered as the principal one, though. on the Uniou-laue side wo should have a fair approach* both from Commercial-street at one end of the market and from the Caual-side neighbonrhood on the lower end, the approach through Union-court" being made very useful. 1 am not sure whether tho boundary tinted pink next Uniou-lane" ou the plan you sent Mr. Hooper, represents the present line of the existing cottages, or whether it is set back with a. view of improving that street. It would of fcourse be very desirable befoie any commencement of building was made, to ascertain if, in the event of the market wall being set back 10,foot from the presout front of houses, Mr. Batchelor would b» willing to make a simila r sacrifice on his side. This would of course reduce the width of the market 10 feet, but there would still remain 100 feet clear, which would be abun- dant. "I send you a rough sketch showing a, general idea of dealing with the building site, the whole space being roofed in, and I should have the area of glass equal. This is the best proportion of light for a picture gallery, and if for such a purpose is found sufficient, it would certainly be so for a market There would be good room for five wide gangways the centre one being 20 feet wide, tbe side ones 15 feat 6 iuchea. The proper arrange- ment and distribution of the butchers, poultry, vegetable, fruit, eggs, and butter stalls, and of the standings for crockery, &c., must be a matter of detail and future study. I have no doubt that they can be conveniently arranged, and that there is abundant space for all. lain principally anxious to know how far my idea as to the general arrangement meets the views of the com- mittee and of the Corporation. And I shall be particularly glad to think that it falls in with your ideas and wishes. I propose to have as few columns as possible, and should have one largo span for the centre, carrying the intermediate trusses between the columns on lattice girders. The enclosad tracing is but rough, but I think you will readily understand it- Hoping to bear from you at your early convenience, I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, T. H. WYATT." Mr. Llewellin having remarked that he thought they were entering upon details which should be left with the committee, IDoved- That pending the present negotiations respecting tht market, the Council desires to be informed the terms upor which the Duke of Beaufort will be willing to dispose cí the manorial tolls and rights claimed by His Grace withii the Borough of Newport and the Town Clerk is directeu to apply to his Grace's solicitors for this purpose." Mr. Graham seconded the resolution. He conceived thfH no member would wUh the town to ercpt a marks;