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ABERYSTWYTH
ABERYSTWYTH Sural COUNCIL, Monday, February 2nd.— Present: Mr. John Roberts, Cchayndre, vice-cliairmjin; the; Hev. K J. Davies, Caoel Ba rigor; Messrs David Lewis, Llanrhystyd David James, Penrhyn- coch; R- L. Thomas, Brysgaga; 1. Oliver Jones, Devil's Bridge; J. G. Stephens, Llancynfelin E. J. W illiams, Enoch Jenkins, Ceulanamaesmawr Dei. Jones, Llanbadarn Lower; William Thomas, Parcel Oanol; LI. J. Lewis, Cwmrheidol*; Hugh Hughes, clerk; Owen Morgan, assistant clerk; James Hughes, sanitary inspector; and the road sur- veyors. Housing Question. The Loca! Government Board wrote ask- ing for a reply to previous letters relative to housing conditions.—The Clerk said he had replied that a committee had been appointed to consider the question and the committee would meet shortly. District Bridges. The report of the committee who had met representatives of the County Council with regard to the maintenance of district bridges, which was considered at last week's meeting of the County Council, was referred had to the committee for a fur- ther report. Borth. The County Council wrote drawing attention to the need of channelling at Borth, which had been considered by the Main Roads Committee, and the Inspector said a sub-committee had been appointed to consider the complaint and would report to a future meeting.—A letter was read from Messrs Dodd and Dodd, engineers,! stating that their fee for preparing altered plans according to the Council's request and new detailed drawings of a reservoir with a capacity of 250,000 gallons too- Berth would be £21. The Local Government Board did not look with favour on roinforeed concrete for reser- voirs and there was no saving in the cost. The Beard would only grant a loan for twelve years for re-inforced concrete ana thirty years for ordinary masonry. Since the date of heir estimate for the work, prices had cone lip and the Council must be prepared for a considerable increase in cost. In Birmingham within the past eighteen months prices had gone up forty- six per cent. That was largely due to strikes, railway charges. Insurance Act, etc.—No action was taken. New Bridges. The County Council wrote agreeing to contribute one-third of the cost of the new bridge at Factory, Llanbadarn. The local committee were asked to make the neces- sary test with the view of paying the amount due to Mr. Page, the contractor. —A committee was appointed to report on the condition ûlPlwcca bridge.—Mr David James, on behalf of a committee who had visited the place, reported favourably on the request for a wooden footbridge at Abercamddwr.—The Surveyor (Mr. Isaac) estimated the cost at £8 10s., and it was agreed to do the work on the proposition of Mr. Oliver Jones, seconded by Mr. W. Thomas.The Surveyor (Mr David Davies) reported that a new bridge was needed at Royal Oak, Gogerddan. He said it was the only request. he had received from Sir Edward Pryse who had given great help in making other bridges.—Mr. David James, who said the river was often" overflowing, proposed that the Surveyor should prepare an estimate of the cost which was agreed, to. Alleged Encroachment. MT. Griffith Jones, Penpomprenucha, wrote calling attention to a fence which was alleged to encroach on the road leading from Talybont to Braichgarw.—The Sur- veyor (Mr. Isaac) called attention to dangerous places in the same district and a, committee was appointed to visit and report. One of the places referred to was the piece of road near Neuaddfawr where a fatal accident occurred recently. Sanitary. The Sanitary Inspector reported that the water supply at Rhvdyfelin had diminished owing to the growth of roots in the pipes and it was difficult to trace the drains through the fields, which made the work mere troublesome and costly. He hoped to have all the blockages effectually removed soon. The existing water supply of the village and school at Chancery was intermittent and liable to discolouration. A splendid supply was found on Mr. Davies s land, which he had brought to supply his needs. Gors was also greatly in need ot a. water supply and, as an infant school wouJd shortly be opened there, it would in- crease the need for a proper and Avhole- some suppy. Pentrellyn, Llanilar. was greatly in need of drainage. The majority of the dwellings were situated more or less in a hollow, without any fall, and in wet weather the water accumulated to an ex- tent which made the road impassable and also affected the health of the inhabitants. A drain opened in (conjunction with the County Council would effect an improve- ment. Rhosygarth, consisting of a num- ber of house's on the main road between Llanilar and Lledrod, suffered from the lack cf an adequate water supply. In dry weather the inhabitants had to seek water from pools and streams of a suspicious character. Referring to a case of diph- theria at Llanbadarn, the Inspector stated that he could not find any cause for the fever in the house; but was afraid that some of the inhabitants used the brook as as a receptacle for undesirable refuse which was a dangerous practice for people living alongside the brook. The open drain at he rear in Dolhalog was not approved in its present form and could not but be abominable on certain occasions. It was at a distance from the houses, but children were ant to play in the Farthest end of the garden" without regard to the stench or anything else.—Consideration of the report was deferred as the members left the meet- ing to attend to other business. TOWN COUNCIL. Tuesday, February 3rd.- Present: Alderman D. C. Roberts, mavor; Councillor G. Fcssett Roberts, ex-mayor Aldermen C. M. Williams and Captain Doughton; Cbullcillors E. P. Wvnne, T. J. Samuel, Daniel Thomas, John Evans, Professor Edwards, J. Barclay Jenkins, Edwin Morris, E. Llewellin, Griffith Williams, and David Davies; Messrs. A. J. Hughes, town cferk; John Evans, deputy town clerk; Rees Jones, borough surveyor; R. N. Bryden, borough accountant; and James Evans, sanitary inspector. THE MINUTES. When the signing of the minutes was proposed. Alderman Williams said he found I there was a report on the minutes of the General Purposes Committee and of the sub-committee. He did not know whether the Standing Orders were suspended or not at the previous meeting; but the usual course was to have the report on the i agenda for discussion and confirmation. He supposed he should be out of order in call. ing attention to the paragraph in the report j that all Corporation advertisements, other than those sent to local papers, should be sent through Mr Spencer, he undertaking without delay to provide a supply of 5.COO Souvenirs for the forthcoming season. Had the Council a sample of the Souvenir, or did they know what kind of Souvenir would be provided ? In previous years they in- i vited tenders from nrms making a speciality of that work. With regard to advertising, they had in the past had considerable advantage from competition. One year the Cambrian Railways Company undertook to obtain quotations. Another year the local press tendered, and there was a con- siderable saving. He thought the same j method should now be adopted. By all means, give every facility to Mr. Spencer and the local press to obtain the best terms. He hoped that In future the re-I ports would be cut on the agenda. Mr. Samuel asked if the minutes of the j sub-committee would not form part cf the whole minutes on the agenda? The Ma yor raid he felt there was force in what Mr. Williams had said, as there } was ho detailed report on the agenda. Mr Williams was not qhie to attend the pre- vious meeting and had no opportunity of discussing the report. Mr. Llcwoilin said it was thought at the j previous meeting to be a matter of great urgency, but it had not been so urgent as was anticipated. The meeting, however, was largely attended, and the thirteen members present were unanimous in adopt- ing the report of the sub-committee. It was acrreed that the report should be placed on the next agenda CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from Mr. Ifor Evans was rear! regretting his inability to accede to the Council's request for a grant cf land to widen St. Dayid's-road was referred to the Fi nance Committee. P.C. Thomas Davies. inspector under the Shops Ant. renortpd that many shopkeepers] had been cautioned, bu £ only one proceeded against. The ease was dismissed." On the whole, the Act had been well observed with In the borough. j A letter from Mr. Randolph Fear, apply- ing for a piece of ground on the town reruse tip, was referred to the Finance Com- mittee Mr. LI. Jones, Nantens Estate Office, wrote enclosing plan showing proposed development of Dmas iieid and referring to the footpath at Penparke. It was leferred to the Works Committee. The Local Government Beard wrote con- senting to the sale by the County Council of their interest in the south wing of the Town Hall to the Corporation, and asking for information respecting an item of £ 125, whether it was included in a closed and audited account. The Local Government Board also wrote saymg that toe investment of £60 19s. 5d. annually to make up the deficiency in the sinking fund owing to the depreciation of securities appeared to be satisfactory. The amount would have to be adjusted from time to time. The Deputy Clerk said he had received a letter from Mr. John Morgan, which he had not yet read. It referred to water works, sewerage, and apartments bureau, t The letter was referred to the Works Committee. Dr. Harries, Grosvenor House, ivrote that he had read in the local papers a report of the Wrorks Committee wherein t was suggested that in order to supply Penparke and the higher parts of the town it was necessary to lay an additional line c.f x>ipes at a cost of £1,700. Such a proceeding was not necessary, inasmuch as Penparke and the higher parts can be amply supplied at a trifling cost. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. Alderman Williams—And invite Dr. Harries down. Mr. T. J. Samuel—No, thank you. (Laughter). Alderman Williams—He may propound a better scheme BEACH PREACHING. Dr. Jones Powell and Mr. Clayton Thomas, on behalf of the C.E.M.S., wrote asking for two Church Army evangelists I to be allowed to conduct services on the beach during the month of August. Alderman Williams said that it was allowed in other places; and the applica- tion was referred to the General Purposes Committee. GORSEDD. An application to be allowed to hold the Gorsedd on the Castle Grounds in connec- tion with the National Eisteddfod was re- ferred to the Works Committee. SENGHENYDD. The Mayor said he had received a letter from the Lord Mayor of Cardiff enclosing receipt of £21 3s. 6d., the proceeds of a concert, and expressing his sincere and warm thanks to the organisers MEMORIAL FUND. Mr. Samuel said there was an impression ¡ about town that there had been no com- I plete balance sheet prepared in connection with King Edward Memorial Fund local collection. lr. Daniel Thomas replied that I some portions of the town were still uncollected. Someone came from Car- diff a few months ago and prom- ised to get the collection completed. He (Mr. Thomas) tried and failed. He had had promises from several persons. He supplied the gentleman from Cardiff with a list of subscriptions, and he returned it typewritten and he had it still in his posses- sion. He would hand it to the Deputy Town Clerk for anyone to see. ENQUIRY. Th Council went into committee at this stage to meet Mr. Dudley, Local Govern- ment Board inspector, relative to the trans- fer of land to the Corporation at Graig- goch. BOROUGH FINANCES. On resumption of public Council, Alderman Williams said as he was not able to attend the previous meeting he wired to the Deputy Town Clerk stating it was his intention to discuss Mr Dawson's report. Having read the report of the previous meeting and tho remarks made by the Mayor" that it. was not advisable to discuss the matter as proceedings were pending, he readily fell in with the Mayor's vic-ws and did not intend discussing it further that day. At the same time he must say that he had greater cause for discussing the report than any other mem- ber owing to the attack made on him by lV' ^a.M?oa anc'' m,«st respectfully say, the unfair way in which he was treated as chairman of the Finance Committee by the ex-Mayor. He felt vexed and grieved at many tilings, but would now wait his oppor- tunity m obedienco to the Mayor's ruling. The Mayer I do net see that we can properly discuss the matter when these proceedings are pending. I am glad Mr. V iifxamo agrees. writh to leave the matter at pros nt. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTER'S REPORTS. The Works Committee and the Eistedd- fod Bni'ding Committee reported that the advjsabuitv cf joint action in providing the E stendfod pavilion was considered and the Surveyor was asked to furnish measure- ments of the several plots of vacant land on the west side of North-road to the north of Lovoden-road. The. Eisteddfod Com- mittee were asked to reduce the seating accommodation from 8;000 to 6,000, The Works Committee reported that Mrs J Mawddwy Jones's letter on the barracks ooundarv wall was referred to the Sur- veyor and the Deputy Clerk. Messrs Diggles' estimate and datails of sewerl ag; scheme and tueir letters were con- sidered and the Surveyor was asked to re- port on them to a further committee meet- irg next week. The ersctin of a footbridge ovei the Rhciacl was considered and the surveyor was asked to submit an estimate of the. ccst of a four-feet wide footbridge, The question of laying a second line of water mams from Llyn Llygad Rheidol to \.e, service reservoirs or any part of the distance and generally how a safe and adequate water supply at all times can be best secured at a reasonable cost was con- siciered, and the Surveyor was asked to report on the extent of corrosion of the mains, taking up a section for the purpose it necessary. The Committee ncom- mendedthac. the Surveyor's report on the agenda of the previous meeting should be adopted and that application be made to the Local Government Board for sanction to a loan for carrying out the work. [The report referred to stated that the Sur- veyor reported that the upper reservoir cannot be safely connected directly with the town without laying separate fresh mams from the reservoir to North gate- street thence to Bryn-road on the one side and to Piccadilly on the other side. The estimated cost totalled £1,750 3s. 5d., made up as follows:—-From reservoir to North gate-street, £ 784 5s.; from North-, 'gate-street to Bryn-road, £ 93 19s. lOd.; from Northgate-strect to Old Ropewalk, £606 1 2s. 6d. from O'd Ropewalk to mile- stone on Penparke-mad. £223 7s. Id.; and from milestone to Piccadilly, JB41 18s. 6d.J A report of a sub-committee was adopted accepting tenders for the supply of Cor- poration materials; as was the report ot the Cemetery Sub-Committee recommend- i nir repairs to the Cemetery Lodge at 1J. 10s. The Works Committee also recommended approval of a new house and shop at 10, Northgate-street, by Mr. Llewelyn Samuel, Mr. Gomer Morgan submitted a list ot things required to b3 done inside the ten houses at Gogerddan-p-hce (Barracks), and it was agreed to send the list to the Archi- tect to be attended to immediately. The Committee also recommended that the Architect should give notice to the builder, under clause 25 ox the schedule of con-! diticns to contract. An order by the Sur- veyor for kerbing and channelling was con-1 firmed and it was agreed to order a cargo from Messrs John Gordon and Sens, Annaleng. The Surveyor submitted an estimate of the cost cf preparing Smithfield Gardens for a c:h? I firm's playground at £408 15s. 0d., for filling and tar printing tll", pnd adjoin- ing Smi't!!fio!d-F''iua"e, and. £7.50 for the end adjoining the Council Schools. The! consideration of the matter wns deferred. The Surveyor estimated the cost of a re- taining wall and the necessary sloping "11 the west side d Colby-road at £59 and it was resoived that the estimate 150 sub-, mitt-ed to Mr. A. J. Hughes. The Com- mil tee recommended that Nanteos Estate' be fisked to reserve a ten-foot lane between hous?3' already built .?t Din,*i3-tcrr?.ce> and any proposed ext ension of the terrace to- j wards PenpaH- A requisition of the Sur- v- yor fir pvoes. cT the value cf £ 64 was a-wed. R rnff -to the recommendation to [1<;1" rbf* Survevor to submit an estimate! for d,, ection of a footbridge over the Rh^'do! (Av+fiin Doughton said it was agree 1 that the bridgo was a necessity and j on the other'hr"d it wrs; ? necessity the present time, /^specially in view ot •Lbe e-io-ncu" expenditure contemplated; f "omoration in a chort time. In- ste-id of instructn:r the Siuvever to nrc- 1 i pare an estimate of the cost of a new foot- bridge, he contended that it was more necessary tor the Surveyor to estimate the ccst of repairing the embankment on the ntirth side of the river Rheidcl. When the river was flooded it broke into the wall in two places, near the railway bridge ana half-way between the two bridges. If the Council were going to spendjrioney there, it was better to spend the money in making the embankment safe and to prevent the flooding of the flat part of the town. He suggested that the whole Council should visit the embankment. Mr. C. M. Williams said what Captain Doughton reouired could be done apart fronT the footbridge. The Council would not commit themselves by having an est:- mThe M a yor asked Captain Doughton to refer his suggestion to the Public Woiks Committee, 1 <,4. "( apt. Doughton nrcposed an amendment that the Surveyor should be instructed to estimate the cost of repairing the embank- ment instead of an estimate for the foot }>IMr8'C M. Williams said the proper' ceurse for Captain Doughton was 1t°ruI"°"; pose the rejection' 6f the recommendaUon Cant. Doughton—I want to put I the nublic that we are not in a posItIon to f iend money on this bridge. 1 Mr. Samuel, on a point o > Cant. Dcugliton s suggestion was De g considered by thf f^/Spt Doughton's The ^an ameXent to the proposal ( i vpno' t and must recommendation of ,ne lepo.t, a a be placed on the agenda; but he cou onnose the recommendation. +Tl_. Captain Doughton said POint -.v as th^t if the money was spent on .he f«ot^ £ c it would be thrown away. If a Pu& meeting of ratepayers was he d, S re the re a i or it v of the ratepayers would •gr North-road, to improve otner peoples pro- perty, and the new footbridge, which he estimated would cost £ 300 or £ ^50, the town would soon have to face an expend ture of close on £70,000. The town could not stand it. The rates were high enough already. Poor people keeping loc^uJ- houses had as much as they could do to meet the present rates With the pro- posed expense, there would be a double rate which would drive the town into bank- ruptcy. He did not object to those paltry jobs at the proper time; but at present the Council were not in a position to deal with them and soend the money. There would be a terrace between the workmen s houses and Trefechan Bridge, and the footbridge was not absolutely necessary. The Mayor—You can vote against the proposal. Captain Doughton—I hope other mem- bers will do so also. Mr. Fossett Roberts agreed that it was not the proper time to place additional burdens on the rates. He did not believe the Council should build the footbridge until it was proved to be necessary. Professor Fdwards said the proposal could be considered after having the estimated cost. It would depend on the cost whether the Council would vote for the footbridge or not. Mr Griffith Williams said he was opposed to the proposal because he thought the bridge was unnecessary at present, and other improvements were more necessary. He understood, however, that the Surveyor had been instructed by the Committee to prepare an estimate of the cost. The rate- payers were complaining of expenditure, and if the Council asked for an estimate of this and an estimate of that they would want a bigger staff to prepare them. Mr C. M. Williams said Tie never dreamt there would lie opposition to having an estimate of the cost. Mr. Fossett Roberts—That will be the thin end of the wedge. Mr. Williams said he would not deal with hearsay statements that the Council could not afford the expenditure, or that the bridge was not necessary at present; but he placed the question of the footbridge on the agenda because a large number of rate- payers had approached him, and the idea seemed popular. In addition to improving the Corporation estate, it wa.s expected that artizans would occupy the new houses and there would be at least 200 children who would attend school. Mill-street was narrow and had immense traffic and would be dangerous for the children. He claimed that he had always been an advocate of economy with effitiellcy; but it was no use making a mountain about squandering money unnecessarily. The Council would have an opportunity of rejecting the pro- posal after having an estimate of the cost. The recommendation was carried by a vote of seven to two voting against. With regard to Mr. Llewelyn Samuel's pia-icf a new house and shop", Mr. C. M. Williams opposed the recommendation to approve the plan, which arcwed an air space at the back of seven feet. six inches. It was stated in committee that that space had been allowed in other cases. If. how- ever, the Council had done wrong in the past, there was no sense in continuing v*. do wrong, and he was surprised that the Surveyor had approved air-space at the rear of dwellings of seven feet six oncbes only. Three cases had come before the Council from time- to time where it was impossible to have more than saven feet six and a, special resolution was passed regarding them, 'but. no general! resolution bad been passed restricting-the requirement of the Byelaw. There was a feeing in the Word's Committee for more open space in Cambrian-street; but the recommendation would hamper and blOCK up the town instead of complying with the bvelaws, which required a minimum space of ten feet. It was open for any rate- payer to oppose the recommendation. He had every reason to support Mr. Samuel, who had been his warm supporter; but the Corporation could n1; t be respected if they continually evaded own bvelaws. He intended placing en the agenda a notice requesting: the Surveyor to Q prepare a re- turn of all the air spaces granted during th<= past thirteen years. Mr. Barclay Jenkins supported the recommendation and said the statement was made in committee that the Council had never decided whether the air snacel was to be measured from the scullery chown en the p'an or from the main budd- ing. In that case there were ten feet from the main building. Alderman Williams—You do not under- stand the byelaws if you say that. Mr. Barclay Jenkins'—What I say is that th0 statement was made in committee. The three adjoining houses have less space than is shown on Mr. Samuel's plan. I A'dermun Williams—That is a shame. Mr. Barclay Jenkins said the corner house was so wedged iu that there was absolutely no space at all. The Council had given so much air space to the work-I men's houses in Poplar-row that they had taken away the possibility of decent build- ings inj Northgate-strcet with the result that when people built on the land avaif- able they were told that they had not the necessary air space. Mr. D. Davies slid he wanted to respect! the byelaws but it seemed rather hard to refuse a plan which aFowed more air space; in other bouses recently approved. Alderman Williams was keen on watching things and wanted to saddle the blame on the Surveyor: but the plans of the othør houses were before the Committee when they were approved. If there was no more land available what more could the Council expect? Excepting a four freti boundary wall. Mr. Samuel had the advan-' tage of the open space connected with the workmen's houses. Mr. T. J. Samuel said tho byelaws j required that there should be the! same space as the height of the next build- nr. In that case, therefore, the air space should be sixteen feet. He agreed that it was rather hard to refuse that plan, having allowed similar buildings; but the Council could not proceed on that line of argument. They must adhere to the byelaws. There was'also another bai'ding within the small en"™ shown on the nlnn. Mr D. Davies—That is nlways allowed. Ma*. Samuel contended that the plan should be amended to comply with the bvebiws. The recommendation to approve tne plan was carried by nine votes to two. The report of the Committee was then adonted. AN EXPLANATION Mr. D. Davies, on being allowed to make cvolanation, referred to a letter frcm; the Secretary of the Trades Council, read at the previous meeting, asking the. Town Council to insert a clause in contracts that the average wage of the town should be paid. The Deputy Town Clerk—The standird wage. Mr. Griffith Williams said a fixed amount was not stated. Mr. Davies said Councillor Williams stated at the Council meeting that there was a great, differenca between the wages paid by different employers. He (Jü. Davies) defended the employers in that respect, and said they all paid the s;r.e wage of 4d. an hour. That was the acknowledged wage paid to good labourers. The Secretary of the Trades Council, in a meeting at the Progress Hall, stated that he (Mr. Davies) had said that £1 a week was a living wage. He had never said that. Alderman Williams—You can take action against them. (Laughter.) FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance CmlJittee recommended the payment of £723 16s. 4d. from the various accounts. Mr. Charles Evans's amen i offer of £2 2s. per site for 14 ana 15, North gale-street, was accepted and it was agreed to grant a lease, the present buildings to be demolished and a new build- ing to be erected without basement at a cost of not less than £600. It was agreed to inform Mr. J. Humphreys, North-parade, and Messrs D. Pearoe and Sons that if they would increase their offers to £2 2s. for sites in Mill-street, the offers would be accepted. The Committee recommended that a 12as8> of Clytha House, Portland- street, should be granted to Mrs. Rea at an annual payment of £8 3s. 2d., and ot Elms la1 e, Elm Tree-avenue, to Miss Eliza- beth Jenkins at £2 10s' annually. It was agreed to pay £200, retaining £23 7s. 7d., to Messrs Edwards Bros. in respect of the Surveyor's final cortiiicate for the first block of thirteen houses at Trefechan. The Accountant submitted a list of arrears ot rents for small tenements and workmen's dwellings and it was resolved that the Collector should see without delay what arrangements can be made with the ten- ants for the payment. of the arrears and report thereon. The Accountant was authorised to obtain from a London firm a printed form of the financial statement re- quired for Local Government Board audit. A sub-committee appointed to define the duties of the Accountant reported that several suggestions as to what should be in- cluded in his duties were made and con- sidered and thj Town Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and Accountant were asked to draft a statement of duties in accordance with those suggestions. A sub-committee appointed to enquire re rent due from Mr. Davies, town gardener, reported that the rent books and papers submitted by Mr. Davies were examined as well as his claim to be credited with certain sums alleged by him to have been paid to the late Accountant. The sub-committee recom- mended that Mr. Davies's claim to be credited with the payments of such sums he not entertained. The sub-committee in the letting of Trefechan houses recom- mended that Idle houses facing the Rheidol shall be ca'led Spring Garden-terrace and the other houses Spring Garden-road, that the rent of each of the thirteen houses shal be 5s. 6d. per week inclusive of rates and taxes; and that Mr. Gomer Morgan be instruetéd to let the houses to tenants from ¡ the selected list of applicants in order ot application. With regard to small tene- ments, it was agreed to let Nos. 2 and 3. at 4s. 6d. per week and No. 9 at 3s. inclusive of rates and taxes. lbe Finance Com- mittee further recommended Elm Tree-avenue, be leased to M. • ^aV1^ Watkins. 7, Custom House-screet, at an annual ground rent of £2 10s. The Com- mittee also recommended execution ot an ™ reement with Mr. Furber for the taking oF the P)er Pavi'ion and other necessary parti of the Pier for the A.M.C. at. n.rent of £ 138, the landlord paying all ra.es „fld tC1 Mr John Evans asked whether the Col- lector commenced collecting on Monday mornings by going from bouse to house to collect rents. It was all very well to go to the office and wait for people to come there and then go round the town m the ra](hllc of the week. He proposed that the Collec tor should commence collecting when he commenced duty on Monday morning wall, out going to the office. Mr Fossett Roberts, who as chairman of'the Committee presented the report, said the Collector's duties had been defined, and it was stated that he must on Monday morning proceed to collect all rents that had not been paid on Saturday. Alderman Williams said it was untair to make those remarks in the Collector s absence. The Collector had been continu- ally in the office preparing the new returns with fr. Bryden. It was time to re-define the duties, or there would be heavy arrears again. The Collector could not be in the office and outside at the same time. Referring to the application of the Town-Gardener to be credited with certain sums he alleged to have been paid by him to Mr. Massey. Captain Doughton said Mr Davies had been in the employ of the Cor- poration for twenty years and was unani- mously selected out of forty or fifty appli- cants for the post of town gardener. He could not understand how the man had got into so much arrear, if it was correct that he owed so much arrears. The late Borough Accountant had told him that the arrears amounted to £20, but the amount was £44 on the books. Whether Mr. Massey was correct or not, there was no circumstantial evidence to prove that Davies owed so much. According to British law a man was innocent until he was proved to be guilty. Davies was a hard-working man and, as he worked overtime, could easily get extra to pay his weekly rent of 4s. 6d. but according to the Corporation books his arrears had been allowed to run for four years. There must be something wrong somewhere. There was .an instance during the past two months of a woman who was applied to for payment of an amount in respect of a grave space. She produced the receipt, and the receipt would not have been given unless payment had been made; but it was net entered in the Corporation books. The Mayor—We are not discussing grave spaces; but rents. Captain Doughton said he was giving a case in point to show theTa had been neglect, or something similar. Mr. Davies had scraps of paper to show that he had paid to Mr. Massey three instalments amounting to £16. With the weekly tene- ments no receipts were given, but there were rent books. Davies had applied for his book, and told the late Borough Accountant that if he did not get his book he would not pay a cent. more. IJe (Capt. Doughton) proposed that the recommenda- tion should be referred back. That was a matter which the Trades and Labour Coun- cil could take up and digest, seeing that they were finding fault with the town coun- cillors. The Mayor—But we cannot refer it to tnem. II Captain Douguton—I am well aware of that. I was not born yesterday. (Laugh- ter). ° Mr. C. M.Williams said there was more I than a complete reply to Capt. Doughton. In the man s own interests, it was better not to say any more. r Capt. Doughton—That accusatiOl; has been made, so let us have it out. He is i an abstainer and uses no tobacco. (Cries cf "Order. ) Mr. Fossett Roberts suggested that the matter should be referred back to allow j Capt. Doughton the opportunity cf ex- a mining the books. If he did so he would i probably come to the same conclusion as Mr Williams and himself. ihe recommendation was then referred back. D. Davies asked if care was taken that tho new workmen's houses were let to bona fide workmen and not to widows and others coming from outside- the town? Mr. Fossett Roberts replied that the committee responsible for selecting ten- ants considered the seniority of the' apph- cations and also that the person selected should be a working man or had workers connected with the family living in the house, fhat had been dene in every case. Consideration was also given to the selec- tion of peonle, ir possible, residing in the; borough. Speaking generally, the com-1 mittee bad let the houses to "bona fide work- men. There might be cases where houses had been let tc persons outside the, bor-1 ough, but in those case-, the applicants i worked in the town. Mr. G'iffith Williaifis said that as far as he ha/l been able to find out there were a few cases likely to be overcrowded and he would like to know how far the Councll; were rpsponsib'e. In those cases; he haa in mind the people now lived in still i smaller bouses than the workmen's houses. I but the houses were overcrowded now and so would the new workmen's houses be i I overcrowded. They were industrious 1 ncorile; but hardly earned enough to buy food and pay their present Tent, though the families were overcrowded. If I mother cr fo'thar drewned one of the child- ren. tnn- would very likely i^torfere. T.a11ghtr.) "What was the Council's duty in thoss Cti-^s P The question was not answered. a discussion as to the name of the new houses in Trefechan. it was agresd on the proposition of Mr. T. J. Samuel, seconded by Mr. harc ay Jenkins, to can the houses facing the river Glanrafon- tcrrace and ths other houses Spring Gardens. Mr. Llewellin, in supporting the altera- tion, pointed out that inconvenience was causcd to visitors and others by the similarity of the names of streets like Portland-street and Portland-road. The report of the Finance Committee as amended was then adopted. ITEMS. Mr. Samuel presented a special report from the Public Works Committee regarding the Cemetery ana other matters and it was agreed to put the report en the agenda, excepting that the Committee had power to-ftct in regard to a Darty wall between 49, Cambrian- street", and Siloam Chapel. One of the re- commendations of the Committee was that it should be the duty of the Cemetery Superintendent to bank up and returf a new grave in three months and that if the owner desired further work to be done he was to engage someone beside the Ceme- tery Superintendent to do the work. SEWERAGE SCHEME. Mr. Samuel proposed and Professor Edwards seconded that the plans, estimates, details, and general description of the work prepared by Messrs. James Diggle and Son, forming a scheme for the disposal of the sewage of the borough, should be approved and submitted to the Local Gov- ernment Board, and that an application should be made to the Board for sanction to borrow the necessary sum. Mr. Fossett Roberts said that while he as well as the Council were anxious that the sewerage scheme should be taken in hand without delay, he would be glad if Mr. Diggle's report had been put in writing. The estimates and report sent in were of such a nature that he agreed that it would not be wise to have them printed and circu- lated for the reason that the report con- tained estimates which could not be dis- closed in public for the information of pos_ sible contractors. It was, however, a matter of the utmost importance to the ratepayers that they should know what the scheme was, as it involved an expenditure of between £25,000 and ,£30,000. Though the Council had a general idea of the scheme, the ratepayers were also entitled to know what the scheme was. The answer to that might be that the ratepayers would know when the public inquiry was held. He said the ratepayers ought to know be- fore then, so that they would be in a posi- tion to place their views for or against the scheme before the Inspector at the inquiry, otherwise the scheme would be sprung on them for the first time at the inquiry. The councillors knew some of the details be- cause they had met Mr Diggle and had been over the ground, but it would be an advantage to have a report which the ratepayers would be able to grasp. The carrying out of the scheme 'would mean anything from six to eightpence in the pound addition to the rates, which was a serious matter to the ratepayers, and entitled them to have a full idea of the I scheme. The scheme had never been ex- plained in the Council meeting. The Mayor—Yes, by Mr. Diggle, but not in public. Mr Samuel agreed that the miblie should have a written description of the scheme and the proposition to ask Messrs. DIggle for a report giving information suit ab.e to the public was agreed to. o'clockC,OUncil r°se about half-past one
THE land question.
THE land question. ADDRESS BY MR. OSWTALD LEWIS L.C.C. On Friday evening, under the auspices of the Aberystwyth Women Liberal Social Council, Mr. Oswald Lewis, representative <>r the Koxton division on London County Council and Liberal candidate for North Dorset, delivered an address at the Liberal Club Rooms on the Land Question. Mr B. Taylor Lloyd, president of the Club, expressed pleasure at seeing Mr. and Mrs Loxdale present and asked Mrs. Loxrlale, P^id-cnt of the Liberal Womens SociaJ Council, to take the chair. Mrs. Loxda e complied and remarked that Mr. Lewis being a Welshman made the meeting more homely. He was not yet in Parliament, tut she wou d bet any money that he would be m. daughter and cheers.) Mr. Oswald Lewis, in a terse, well- delivered address, said it had at last dawned upon the country that all is not well with the agricultural industry of the British Is es. When Mr. Lloyd George began his land campaign it was said that ia was making a lot of fuss over very ittle; but it is now recopid that there is great room for improvement, and even the "Times" confessed that British agri- culture had not come into line with other British industries and that the soil was not producing anything like what the- soil ot less favoured countries produced. In sug- gesting remedies, the Government was fully alive to the fact that there were two main sides to the and economic. On the social side there were questions cf wages, housing, the possi- bility of getting land the question of live- imood of people working in the fields. On the economic side were questions that agn- culture was a thing that had pot to be made to pay, of getting out of the soil its greatest possib'e productiveness; of badlv- paid labour, and of security of tenure. He wished that night to concentrate attention on the social side and more particularly on the matter of wages. Speaking gen- erally, the agricultural labourer is badly paid. Mr. Rowntree after enquiry came to the conclusion that agricultural labourers received an average on'y about three-fourws of what was required to keep a man. his wife, and three children in a moderate state of health with the result that their capacity fcr work was reduced and their power to resist illness and disease and to recover from illness was lessened. (Hear, hear.) One of the facts brought out by the Land Committee was the way wages varied in- different pails of the country and that the rate of wages was not! governed by productivity of soil or advanced methods of cultivation, but competition for labour by other industries, In Durham, for instance, agricultural I wages were high and in Oxfordshire the lowest ini the kngdom. The conclusion to he drawn from those facts was that where; farmers had to pay high wages they were found able to do it. (Hear, hear.) Land reformers were charged with setting ClaS11 against class; but it was common to all questions that when some people were well off and comfortable they were not greatly concerned that there were many oeople who were not well off or comfortable. It was common ground that the obvious- remedy for the present low agricultural wages was to devise means to increase wages in badly-paid districts. The remedy bad not been found in trades unionism. Trades unionism had succeeded- in all 111-, dustries except agriculture, and it had not' succeeded in agriculture because the agri- cultural population was scattered, the cost; of organisation would bo great, the wage would not permit weekly contribution to the society, and in many cases the occupa- tion of tied cottages prevented the agri- cultural labourer from acting independ- ently of his landlord. Tariff reform was sug- gested as a remedy but as the present proposal was to tax everything a farmer ttad to buy and nothing- that he, had to selt, that remedy was not popular among agri- culturists themselves. A further sugges- tion was the reduction of local rates by making main roads, asylums, etc., a. national charge. That as far as it went was a sensible proposition; but it would not directly alfect the agricultural labourer who in mcst cases did not pay local rates nor would it relieve the fanner because the relief of local rating would have to be made up bv increase of direct or indirect taxation. The suggestion made by the Charcllor of the Exchequer was that the principle of what is known as the Boards Trade. Act should be applied to the wages of the agricultural labourer by which ne would be paid a minimum wage. (Cheers.) The anplication of that principle would not affect districts where comparatively high wages were row paid, but would bring up the wages of badly paid districts to a living standard and result in attracting more men -to the soil and in increasing iiiten-Me culture. (Cheers.) The waga would':»ave to be a. ^ash wage anfrl not a peHion in cash and the remainder in kind pviej pmployment would have to be To1* a stipulated number of hours with overtime for extra hours. At the present time when the agricultural labourer worked from dark to dark to attempt tc provide a remedy by rr'vinqj him a of Was futile. (Hear, hear.) The proposal of the Govern- ment was that the positions of landlord. tenant, and Labourer shou'd be adjusted so that each got a fair proportionate return for capital and labour "bu t into the farm. (Clwers.) That was not a one man pro- gramme. It had the support; in fact, it was the creation of a united Cabinet and wouid he* put into practical shape in the next session of Parliament. They regarded Mr. Lloyd George as their leader in that matter. (Cheers.) He had already under- taken the main brunt of the campaign and, as usual, had most of the hard things that Mjro being said; but when that land pro- gramrrje was embodied in a Bill, he (Mr. Lewis) be ieved that both its agricultural! and town aspects would meet with the enthusiastic approval of all reasonable i people in Great Britain and that it would be carried to a successful issue. (Applause.): Professor Levi, in proposing a vote ot j thanks to Mr. Oswald Lewis, gave a practi- ca! explanation of Mr. Lloyd George's pro- i posals for land reform. He stated that the Land Bill appeared to him as if it were specially framed to meet the wants of Car- diganshire. They were told it was a vote- catching B Jl." It certainly was. It would win more votes than any Bill of their time. Lot them consider what the proposals were. Mr. Lloyd George proposed to con- fer a benefit on four persons. It gave valuable rights to (1) the labourer; (2) the tenant of any house or land; (3) the owner of his own house or land; (4) the ground landlord. In order that those benefits might be quite safe and guaranteed, the whole land of the country was to be put under the control of a Ministry of Lands. It was no secret that one of the ablest ana strongest ministers of the day was to be placed in charge of the Ministry of Lands. What was the Government going to do for the labourer? Three things. (1) His wages were to be raised. In Cardiganshire the average weekly wage of 2,000 labourers was 16s. 5d., the lowest in Wales, and at least 4s. of that sum was paid, not in solid money, but in perquisites. Suppose Mr. Lloyd George had been member for Car- diganshire, what a campaign he would have had about that? (2) Good houses were to be provided at low rents for labourers all over the country. It was suggested in the Government report that 120,000 were to be built at once. (3) The conditions of work were to be improved by giving the labourer more reasonable hours and a larger payment in actual money. But the important question would be asked how cou:d the farmer afford that? Mr. Lloyd George answered that he purposes to reduce their rents so that they can afford to pay higher wages. But how much re- duction would be required ? He (Professor Levi) had been consulting the estimates supplied in the land report and he found that a reduction of 2s. 6d. in the pound would raise the wages of the worst paid labourer in Oxfordshire, who was paid 14s. lid. a week, to £1 a week. In Car- diganshire a reduction in the'rent of 2s. ij. the pound would enable farmers to pay every labourer a pound a week without losing a penny themselves. But could the landlords bear that ccst? Landlords were always complaining about the narrow profits of the land. One fact would be an answer to it all. There are only a few thousand landlords. They take £ 24,500,00U from the land of the country in rent. There are four hundred thousand labourers. They take only £19.000,000 in wages. In other words, comparatively few landlords take £5,000,000 more than 400,000 labourers. Those figures were given in the Government report. After that. was there one who would venture to say that the 'andlords could not afford a small per- centage of reduction in their rent? In the most extreme case the percentage required was under twenty per cent. (Cheers.) Wrhat was the Government going to do for the tenant? After all that was tho heart of the Bit!. It was the ordinary tenant of houses and land who benefited most by the Bill. Mr. Lloyd George's proposals gave six great advantages which very tenant would appreciate. (1) H:s rent was to he kept down. In some cases it would bs reduced in all cases it would be kept at a reasonable level, and the tenant wou d not have his rent raised on his own im- provements. (2) His rates would be re- duced. Mr. Lloyd George said at HoTo- way. in his speech to town tenants, "You must. have a reduction in rates." It was a. surprise to him (the speaker) that Car- diganshire people did not rebel against the rates. They paid a heavy education rate, only to see their children emigrating from the county. They paid a heavy road charge only to see their own roads cut up by strangers in their motor cars. They paid heavy railway charges, rightly called railway rates, only to find that the rail- ways gave them a worse- service than any other county in the kingdom. Was it not time that rates were put on a new footing ? Why should a slum or a decayed property or a vacant piece of land pay nothing for rates while a good house or useful business was rated up to-the hilt? Was it because the vacant land had no value? Let them try to buy a piece of vacant land and they would soon find out whether it had any value or not.. If tho vacant land were only moderately rated, it would not remain vacant long. (3) The tenants taxes'were to be kept down. One of the chief planks in the land reform platform was a free breakfast table, tho removal of the last traces of taxes on food, tea, sugar, coffee, and cocca; and to meet the cost by causing the big ground landlords in the towns and cities to pay a moderate tax on land values in those towns and cities only. (4) The tenant's conditions were to be improved. For instance, in tho country districts the iniquitous game laws were to be abolished and farmers given a remedy against the injury done to their crops by game without the fear of an increased rent or notice to quit in consequence. The Ground Game Act and the pro\ isions against damage by winged game had been a failure because the farmer who used his rights under those Acts became a marked man immediately and was even liable to be evicted. (5) For the first time in the history of the law, as JIr. Lloyd George had stated with special emphasis, all tenants, past, present, or future, who had a lease of twenty-one years, would have a legal right to have the lease renewed at aleasonable. rent to be fixed by the Commissioners instead ot having to suffer the total loss of house or business at the end of the lease to the landlord. In the case of those who had no such leases, who had short leases or who were yearly tenants, both Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd G'eorge had given express assurance that they would he equally well protected either by a restriction of notices to quit or full compensation for disturb- ance. This reform standing alone would wiin thousands of business men to the sup- port of the Bill. It was the first attempt in this country to establish by law complete security of tenure. (6) There was one other great benefit to the tenant. All tenants, whether in the town or *in the country and whether they were residential or business tenants were to have full com- pensation for any improvements set up by them which had not been exhausted or for any disturbance or good-will taken away from them, in any case where they had to leave the premises because the land was required for public pmpcses. But Mr. Lloyd George's proposals contained benefits also for the owner of land. They were In- formed by the Land Report that 90 per cent of all occupiers were tenants; and the report of the Welsh Land Commission stated that in Cardiganshire nearly eighty per cent, of the farmers were tenants. But even in the case of the owners, the Land Bill made generous provision for the reduc- tion of rates, inasmuch as rates wou d no longer be levied on the owner's improve- ments. As to the landlord himself, Mr. Llovd George had stated that he was going to take the land out of Chancery, out ot the hands of the lawyers', out of the hands of dead men, who tied up the land with their deeds and settlements and wills and now, out of their graves, ruled the living tyrannically. He was going to take the 1an(1 out of the lawyer's grasp and give the landlord, who had the interests of his coun- try at heart, freedom to. deal with the land notwithstanding the bane of irritating settlements and restrictive covenants There were la-wye1" and landlords, too, who were leaders in that campaign for land reform. He (Profer-sor Levi) was proud that so many of the legal profession, members of the bar and solictors, were promoting that Bill, the greatest reform of the century. It was one of their great lawyers who had said, "The first thing the democracy wi'l -Tit!> on the slate Will be the, freedom of the land." After genera- tions of incessant conflict with a hostile Hrmc" of Lords the -people of the country had at last won the upper hand and were now going ahead to secure the fruits ot their victory-, and they would begin with that trinity of freedom—-Free Education. Free Tt-de. and a Free Land. (Applause.j Mr. R Taylor Lloyd seconded the votd of thanks to Mr. Oswald Lwis. remarking that the landlords were not to blame, but the system which enabled a man at the ex- l I 0 piration cf a lease to take another man's property which had been erected on it. The vote having been agreed to unani- mously, fr. Lewis replied; and on the proposition of Mrs. Rowland Morgan, seconded by Mrs. T. J. Samuel, the Liberal Clab was thanked for allowing the Women's Liberal Social Council to hold the meeting in the Club Rooms. [
PRESENTATION TO THE REV. T.…
PRESENTATION TO THE REV. T. EGlI:1mms. I On Monday evening, the members and congregation of the English Baptist Church held a social gathering in the Schoolroom to bid farewell to the Rev. T. Edmunds and make presentations to him on his departure to Aberdare, after five years ministry in Aberystwyth. Mr. D. J. Saer, one of the deacons, presided over a large and enjoyable gathering. At the begin- ning the? Pastor presented to the church a piano, on behalf of the members of the Sewing Class, and thanked them for their thoughtful and appreciative service. In the course of the evening a miscellan- eous programme was contributed by Mrs R. Morgan (on the piano), Mr. Brinley Hughes, Mr Harold M Angus, Mr Richard Ellis, Miss Mclntyre, Miss Roberts, U.C.W (on the piano), Mr. D. Thomas. Mr.'Stanley Lewis, Mrs. R. Jones, Mr E. H. Davies and Master J. L. Thomas, Messrs. Owen Morgan, 1). J. Saer, W. Edwards, and R. Ellis (quartette). After an interval for refreshments, Mrs Rufus Williams presented to Mr Edmunds, on behalf of the church, a purse of gold, and Mr. Rufus Williams, in endorsing the presentation, said the departure of Mr. Edmunds was deeply regretted. The sum of JE16 odd had been subscribed by seventy- tWo members of the church and friends, which showed that the movement had been generously supported. They wished Mr. Edmunds God-speed in his future sphere. (Cheers). Mr. J. D. Williams, hon. secretary of the church, also spoke in appreciative terms and read a letter from Mr Robert Ellis, 53, Terrace-road, the senior deacon and one of the founders of the church, re- gretting his inability to attend through illness. He bore testimony to Mr. Edmunds's faithful preaching of the Word He had boldly presented the Christian faith in definite terms. Out of a. well-stored mind and hard study of the best thinkers. he had helped to build up robust Christian characters. His power of exposition and ability to relate spiritual truths for the governance of diaily life justified the promise of useful and influential services to the Baptist denomination. The Chairipan said he would like to tell Mr. Edmunds briefly that the purposeful reading he had done during the past five years had illuminated the minds of his hearers and adorned their memory with many gems; that the result of his medita- tion shown in his courageous preaching had been highly appreciated and had gripped the congregation more than anyone had told him; that his generous Christian spirit had been a constant challenge to many to mend their ways; that their re- gard for him was deeper than he knew; and that they wished for him strength of body and the peafe of God in his soul to enable him to overcome the greater prob- lems which would face him in his new field of service. (Gheers). Principal Roberts said that while the departure of Mr. Edmunds would be a real loss, they were bound to recognise that in a place of small population they were not able to retain the service of men of ability and character beyond a limited term of years. It was the good fortune of the town to secure the earliest years of the ministry of able men, and in that way pluck the bloom of their ministry. A pastorate in a town like Aberystwyth was not easy. He did not know whether the circumstances were such as to encourage a sort of spiritual epicureanism among them. He believed that to be the case ir many parts of Wales where the best men had laboured for insufficient remuneration. If the Church felt in regard to the past that they had not responded as they ought to have to the appeals of their Pastor, ho trusted they would not allow his pastorate to terminate without reflection on their part, and that they would make up their minds to profit to the fullest extent from his enlightened and appealing ministry. In many ways their attitude to the Gospel made it difficult for a pastor to drive home his appeals. Young men almost instinc- tively placed themselves in the position of having to be convinced over and over again. In the admirable sermon by Mr. Edmunds on Sunday morning, one remark which struck him as true and helpful was, "Go on owning yourself a Christian, hoping you will become one." lhat was the nght attitude, the attitude of ready rocapti ve- Hess. Instead of owning themselves Cbris- tians in the hope of becoming Christians, the general attitude was to warn themselves against becoming Christians until they were compelled by the glorious truths of the Gospel and could resist no more. oMr Edmunds had been emphatically a p roach or to students. Though they were a difficult body to deal with, in after days when they came to think he believed students were in tho end most responsive and grateful, There was among students a feeling of warm gratitude and respect to Mr. Edmunds, whose experience in Aberystwyth had been a fine preparation for him to meet future difficulties. None deserved more sympathy and cooperation at present' than ministers. He had always tried to back them up, and would do so to the end. With all the economic and other problems, there was no cockpit on the face of the earth where those great agitations were more deeply stirring than in the populous centres of South Wales. Princi- pal Roberts presented Mr. Edmunds, on behalf of ministers and fellow-workers in North Cardiganshire with a number of valuable theological books as a sincere ex pression of gratitude and good wished (Cheers). Mr. Heimunds returned thanks and acknowledged with* gratitude the gifts and the expressions of good feeling and appre- ciation.
MACHYNLLETH.
MACHYNLLETH. SCHOOL GOVERNORS, Friday, January 30th. —Present: Mr T. R. Morgan, chairman- o' 0, Da,!leA lllrs- J- G- Jonkim' tho Kev. Cunllo Davies, Messrs. T Par- sons, John Thomas, Richard Rees, W. M. Jones, H. Meredith Roberts, clerk; H H. Meyler, headmaster. .r lagsta.ff.—On the proposition of Dr. seconded by Mr. Parsons, it was agreed to accept the offer of a flag-stair made by^ Mr. J. E. Roberts. Newtown, on behalf of the League of Empire, and to provide a flag. The Headmaster was asked to make inquiries as to the provision of a suitable flag. Proposed Improvements.—The Clerk re- ported that a sub-committee of the Higher Education Committee, consisting of Messrs Richard L!oyd, Edward Jones, Richard I Jones, with the County Surveyor vIsltelt: tho school the previous day and considered the plans and specifications of tho pro- posed alterations at the school. The Chair- man and Mr. Richard Rees met the sub- committee.—Mr. R chard Rees said the feeling of the sub-committee was in favour of going on with the scheme. The County Surveyor bad the plans with him and copies would have to be prepared for sub- mission to the. Board of Education. An estimate of the cost would be submitted to the Governors before they were com- mitted any further and the matter would came before the Higher Education Coin- mittee in February. A grant was ex- pected from the County Council to meet. the cost and. if not, they must appeal to the Board of Education. The sub-com- mittee felt that the Government should support them in a case like that. He con- sidered that the diversion of the path was indispensable to the carrying out of the scheme.—The Chairman said the school was considered one of the best secondary schools in North Wales, and the Board of Educa- tion were anxious that nothing should be left undone to make the school even more successful.—Dr. Davies pointed out that. it would be necessary to submit the plans to the Urban Council.—On the preposition ot Mr.Richard Rees, seconded by Mr. Par- sons, it was agreed to approve the plans of the proposed improvements in their en- tirety and to instruct the County Surveyor to. make copies for submission to the Board of Education and the Urh.a.n Council.—A letter was read from Mr. Richard Gillart. of the! Plan Estate Office, asking that h should havo an opportunity to inspect the plans when ready. He also asked for a list of the school governors? He regretted that the Governors had not fallen in with his suggestions and, therefore, be wouin strenuously oopose the proposed diversion of the path.The Clerk said there would be niEnty cf opportunity for Mr. Gillart to inspect the phms when they were ready.— | Mr. Edmund Gillart, e'erk to Uie "Urban Council, wrote enclosing a. resolution in- structing their Surveyor (Mr. J. J. Hum- phreys) to make the necessary application to two justices to view and take any fur- ther steps that may be necessary in. regard to the diversion of the path in Cae Garsiwn- lane, subjcct to the magisterial fees, costs, and other expenses being paid by the Governors. He asked that the Governors should supply him with a written guaran- tee.—It was agreed to give an undertaking to pay all costs and expenses necessarily incurred by the Surveyor in connection with the serving of notices to view the highway by two justices, publishing notices in a newspaper and also the cost of the certificate ot Quarter Sessions. The Clerk was instructed to act on behalf of the Governors in any legal proceedings that may arise.—The Chairman said the mem- bers of the deputation from the Higher Education Committee were in favour ot carrying out the scheme without any devia- tion.
LLANYCHAIARN.
LLANYCHAIARN. Inquest.—Oil Saturday an inquest was held at Penrallt Farm, into the death or a servant named John Royle (27), before • Mr. John Evans, district coroner, and the following jury Messrs R. R. Davies, fore- man; John Hopkins, W. Williams. W Scott, George Evans, Thomas Evans, E. R. Lewis, Morgan Jones, Thomas Jones, Edward Davies, William Edwards, and Thomas Morgan. Evidence of identifica- tion was given by Mr. Edward Stephens, Penrallt, who said Royle nad been a farm servant there for the past eight years. On Fnday afternoon they were carrying corn from the rickyard to the barn. Royle was in the cart setting the corn. The load was tour layers high above the side of the cart. Royle did not come down from the cart after making the load. The load was not tied. Witness led the horse across the yard which was rougn ground and sloping. The corn slid from the cart and Rovle feft to the ground. Some of the sheafs fell on him. He picked himself no and leant against the wall, but then fell down and was bleeding terribly. Witness picked him up and talked to him. but ROYle did not speak. The horse was restive, but was usually quiet as a lamb. Mrs. Stephens and himself carried Royle into the house and put him to lie down with pillows under his head. Witness then' went to town to fetch a doctor. R.oyle was alive when he left the house; but had died before he re- turned with the doctor at five o'clock. Royle had been en top of similar loads many times. Mrs. Mary Stephens saia. Royle died about three-quarters of an hour after the accident. He did "not speak. The doctor found that he had fractured the base of the skull. Further evidence was given by P.C. Edward Thomas and Mrs Elizabeth Williams, Tanybanc. The jury returned a. verdict of "Accidental Death."
LLANGN.
LLANGN. Obituary.—On Thursday afternoon of last week, the interment of Mrs E. Clarke, wife of Mr John Clarke, Whitehall, took place at Llansantffraid Churchyard, in the presence of a vast concourse of people. The deceased died the previous Saturday, after a long illness. The chief mourners were Mr. John Clarke, husband the Misses M. A., Nellie, and Aeronwy Clarke, daugh- ters; Mr. J. R. Clarke and Mr. Tom Clarke, sons; sisters, and other near rela- tives. The Rev. D. Lewis, vicar, offici- ated at the house; the Rev Lewis Morris, vicar of Llanwrda (nephew), at the church and the Vicar at the graveside Funeral.—The funeral of Mr. Richard Richards, Tylhvyd, took place on Wednes- day afternoon of last week. Mr Richards was struck down by inflammation some- what unexpectedly. The deceased, who was sixty-nine years of age, was a prom- inent member and a deacon at Siloh Con- gregational Chapel. He was also a well- known member for years of the Parish Council and of Llansantffraid group of local managers. His loss will be greatly felt, especially at the local chapel. The Rev. T. D. Thomas officiated at the house, and preached the funeral sermon at Nebo Chapel, in which graveyard the remains were laid to rest. The minister was assisted at the chapel and graveside by the Rev. William Richards, Llanon; the Rev. E. Jones, Rhiwbwys; and the Rev. D. Moses Davies, Llanon. The deceased leaves one son, the Rev. David D. Richards, M.A., curate of Neath, to mourn his loss, and great sympathy is felt for him in his bereavement. L
NOTES FROM A]2ERA YRON.
NOTES FROM A]2ER- A YRON. THE COITNTY COUNCIL COMPLACENT. • The quarterly meeting of Cardiganshire County Council was held at JLarrtpeter on the 28th January. There was not a breeze to ruffle the surface of the waters. The agenda contained about as many words as the four Gospels. But not its depth, height, length, or breadth disturbed the members. They cleared the fences and gullies at a bound. By half-past one o'clock the business had been disposed of. There followed, without adjournment, a meeting of the County Small Holdings Committee. This Committee, like the sea of Gaiikc-, is beset by sudden squalls from heights along the ravines. Last week the heavens were benign and the waters, like a. looking glass, reflected faces of com- posure. Three months ago, wild cataracts rushed from the hills and swept away the Morfa Mawr scheme. Let it not be sup- posed that political bias accounted for these convulsions, for both Mr Harford and Mr. Peter Jones helped to carry away the bridges. Men may like to be members of a county council for various reasons. The position feives a ma.n some prominence and power and position. Both power and position and influence are illusory; for. like shifting sands, they are moved by wind and tide and the structure topples over. Still, the "game is worth the candle" for the man) who has a grain of humour. Without a grain of humour, the whole performance is only comparable to the superseded tread- mill—all movement and no headway. As a psychological study, a county coun- cil offers rare object lessons. The daily papers had nothing better to say of the last meeting's proceedings than that there was a discussion as to •* better a sum of five shillings should be paid for the use of a room at a public house for holding meetings. That, in the mind of some one, was the outstanding feature of an agenda of scores of pages. The fact is suggestive and illuminating, for it exemplifies how trifles are magnified- how the hills are levelled and the valleys are lifted up. At a county council meet- ing, as in Parliament, quibbles and per- sonal squabbles are far more attractive than schemes carefully elaborated and in- volving a large expenditure. It is an easily-explained paradox that the chairman who drive the business through most expeditiously is the most popular and deemed to be the most suc- cessful chairman. The chairman who in- vites discussion, and is scrupulous 'about precipitating a resolution through mvol- v-iiig ijrave results, without arousing the interest of 'the councillors, is in the end lashed from all quarters. The Press de- nounce him, the people for whose supposed interests he delayed a division turn upon him and tear him. Oil the other hand, the man who lubri- cates the machinery and keeps full speed j ahead, in other words, "gets the business through," is applauded. A striking ex- emplification of this truth was witnessed at ( the past two quarterly meetilngs of the County Small Holdings Committee. At the lasTToeeting but one, the proposition to buy Morfa Mawr was submitted. The Chairman, believing evidently that it was a question which should not be driven to a. vote without discussion, prompted the leading speakers to declare tlieir views. He received niuiiy kicks for bis trouble and no ha pence. At the last held meeting, the agenda cori- tained many points of considerable diffi- culty but the Chairman evidently had learnt a lessou by his'previous experience, and pressed the various reports through in fifteen minutes and was publicly thanked for doing so. There is a strain of humour, too, in tho prosiest and sternest- men which, when dis- covered, may be reckoned. For example, when we made fer the train on Wednesday, one of the leading members in the matter of laud interests brought on to Mr. Tom Parry and introduced to him as a candi- date for a smaJI holding, a gentleman who caused the County. Land Agent some embarrassment and provided the fourteen members who travelled homewards in the Aberayron Train a very amusing episode. l