The North Wales Express

Mr Lloyd George M.P., on Local Taxation. In the House of Commons, on Tuesday, Mr N directed attention to the ques- tion of local taxation, and moved—"That, having regard to the heavy and increasing burden of local taxation in urban and cer- tain other districts, the House urges upon th^ 'Overnmeiit the necessity of forthwith redressing the undoubted grievances from which many ratepayers sutfer." It was j difficult for hon. members to realise the rapid growth of local taxation, and local rates, great and heavy as they were now, were not likely to geit lighter in the future, but far more likely to increase (hear, hear). While we had been increasing our National Dtebt, we had been increasing our local debts, and the constant drifting of the population from the rural districts into the large towns creatoo new wants which had to be provided for. The urban ratepayers of this country wefe constantly asking for some relief and some readjustment of their burdens. The Government had made distinctions, and givei- special attention to the claims of u, j certs,! m class of ratepayers in agricultural districts, but at ,the very time when Parlia- jneoc was relieving ratepayers in the rural distr icts ho maintained that the rates ;n the towns were far higher than they were in the country (hear, hear). Taking similar here- ditaments in town and country, it would be fouad that the: town rates were much higher. Thf q the so-called relief given by the Im- perial doles was to a large extern- a fallacious relief (Opposition cheers). The taxes which had boon taken off with one hand had been pu~ on with the other. Such relief was not only fallacious-—it was mischievous (hear, hear). It tended very largely to extra- vagance. He ventured to hope that neither thi i nor any Government would foster the vicious system of Imperial grants for local adraiiii-stration. What was wanted, for one thing, was some uniform basis of valua- tion m this country, and the landlord as well as the occupier ought to be made to pay his fair share of local taxation (Opposi- tion cheers). Mr Lloyd George seconded the motion. He said the Government in dealing with this j question had taken the lighter burden first, and i i relieving it had inoreased the heavier burd >n. In towns the average rates were 6s 6i in the pound, and in thie country 2s 3d. But the Government, fivé years ago, paid half die rates of the 2s 3d ratepayer, and saic to the 6s 6d ratepayers, "although you are paying three! times as much, not only will we give you no relief, but we call on you to contribute towards hlalf the rate of tha 28 3d ratepayer" (loud cheers). He thought it was time the Government dealt with the grievance of the urban ratepayer. The burden was heavy, and it was growing, because of the new powers conferred on local authorities, and of the greater stringency in local inistration. In the urban districts, in the year 1- < -8, the total rates outside the poor rate amounted to E31,500,000, while in the rural districts they only came to £ 822,000. The total indebtedness of the urban districts in tht ydar amounted to 2143,000,000, and in the rural districts to 0U0. In the course of four years the I urban rates had increased by £ 4,600,000, and the outstanding loans by £ 22,000,000. The total assessable value of thd boroughs was k48,000,000, and of thie rural districts £ 51,000,000. Thus, while in the urban dis- trict c; the indebtedness was three time's as I great as the rateable value in the rural dis- I tricts, it was only one-twcijiticth of the rate- I able value. All they asked was that the Government should give the same fair treat- i ment to every class of the community. Two classes had at preseiyfc received relief at the hands of the Governmentr-thø landlords and the clergy. He agreed that this was not a oase for further grants-in-aid. That was a perfectly vicious form of almsgiving. It was neithelr dignified nor was it con- sistent with sound finance. But there was a method of lightening the burden, and that was by making all those* who benefited by the expenditure on municipal undertakings bear their fair share of the burden (cheers). Take thd case of Bootle, which was a town that had grown up within the last genera- tion. About a generation ago it was a perfect wilderness, but during the last thirty of forty years ther had been an enormous expenditure of money upon docks and quays and the development of such property. 'All the expenditure had been on the part of the municipal authorities there. What was the result? The property there had increased efaormously in valuo, and the whole of it belonged to one land- owner. What did he receive by way of ground rent on that property? He re- ceived £ 150,000 a year out of onet, munici- pality He had scleral vacant spaces eN which had grown in value from P,5 an acre to P-5000 an acre. Every inch of ground there had got its value, and a considerable value. What did the landowner, who was mak ng R150,000 a year out of that one town contribute towards the rates ? Not a penny, and yet those rates had been ex- pended in developing his property and in- creasing its value, and if it had not been for the expenditure his property would not have been worth anything except as agri- cultural land. That was not all. That landowner had got agricultural property outside in Lancashire and Cheshire, and in respect of that agricultural property he was receiving under the Agricultural Rating Act a large grant, annually because of ag- ricultural depression. He was one of those who suffered, and he was receiving that large grant of money in respect of his agricalt-urat land, paid largely by the very men who were paying hlim L150,000 in re- ( spect of his town property, which they had developed in their own skill and industry and the investment of their own capital. He said that was a monstrous injustice and the Government ought to deal with it (cheers). The people of Harrowgate wanted a buriaL ground, and they applied to the ground landlord for some very poor agri- cultural land belonging to him outside the town. He demanded JE1200 an acre for it. A reference to the assessment roll showed that the property was Assessed for local rates at JE5 an acre (hear, hear). Devon- port was another instance. The freehold of thar town was bought for tl2,000, and now it was yielding tSO,000 a year (cries of "No, no ). Well, what was it yielding (an hon. member- £ 14,000)? Even at that figure "Ile case was strong enough. The town < Fraserburgh was another illustra- tion. The whole of the property there be- longed 10 Lord Saltoun. The Corporation had Spl'llt £ 150,000 in improving the har- bour, and t36,000 upon other improve- ments. It was this expenditure which had in -r. ased Lord Saltoun's rental, but he did not 'ontribute anything towards the rates. On the contrary, he was one of the noblemen who were receiving alms at the hands If the Government every year as dis- tressed agriculturists (hear, hear). He held that it qjras time the burden of the llf- ban ratepayers should be fairly distributed among ad those whose property was in- creased by means of local expenditure. The Government could not sincerely advance the argument that the /v. commission was sitting as an answer to this motion. Mini- sters ga v,) endless pledges at the last elec- tion, blt they had not redeemed them. They had appointed committees and com- missions that had fought one or two rear- guard actions, while they themselves had been running away with the loot (laughter). They were experts in Boer tactics. Pro- bablv that was due to their great political mobility (laughter). The Rating Commis- sion had not met this year. It had given up the farce of sitting. There was a mem- ber of the Government at its head, and if they bad been -in earnest, who doubted that they would have examined the ques- tion and dealt with it long ago. The Liquor Committee was appointed at the same time to deal with a much more com- plicated and difficult subject, and it re- ported last year. But this Commission had been deliberately allowed to drag on in order to prevent a report being given, for the Government did not intend to deal with the grievances of the urban ratepayers. He submitted that the case was one of. urgency, not only because the burden was a growing one, but because it was crippling municipal authorities in their efforts to deal with some of the greatest problems such as the housing question-which faced them at present. It was not too much to ask the Government to compel the great ground landlords-some cf them making from £100,000 to L200,00 a year-to bear their fair share of the burden of local taxation (cheers). Mr G. Whit ley took the same view as Mr Lloyd Ger ge. Mr Chaplin said the question of the taxa- tion of ground values was most complicated and difficult, and it would be disrespectful on his part to express an opinion on a sub- ject which a Commission had been asked expressly to investigate. j The resolution was rejected by a major- ity of 14Q votes to 98.

North Wales Quarrymen. The annual labour-day demonstration will be held at Carnarvon on Monday. The usual conference will be held in the morn- ing, and subsequently there will be a pro- cession through the streets. In the after- noon a public meeting will be held in the Pavilion, under 'the presidency of Mr J. Bryn Roberts, M.P. Among the speakers will be Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., and Pro- fessor Henry Jones, of Glasgow. The question of the method of collecting the subscriptions towards the North Wales Quarrymen's Union in Bethesda was under consideration at a meeting of the quarry- men on Monday night at Bethesda. It was formerly customary to collect the subscrip- tions from the members at the quarry, but a recent step taken by the management pro- hibits this course being followed in the fu- ture. Mr Henry Jones (Gerlan) presided. The meeting was addressed by Mr J. H. Williams (financial secretary of the Union), and Mr D. R. Daniel (organiser). It was decided for the purposes of collecting the subscriptions to divide the locality into dis- tricts, as was done at the time of the strike, and to organise a house-to-house collection.

WARMING, STRBNGTEIRMING, COMFORTING, Is the verdict of all who use Allcock's Plasters ust re, Back Ache pl,au l aød Weak Chests they qutofcty eure. As an external flrS L^V application they are tiii mm or mrnTMM. But be Mrs to let ALLCOCK'S wtaea fM want a Porous rtaaUr. BeVi be pMTMatfei to tofce i ctiMf—ALLXOCK MiALLCOCIt'iMly.

Carnarvon Town Council. ¡ THE ASSLSTANT OVERSEER. IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ABER SIDE. THE FIRE BRIGADE. The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday night, Councillor R. 0. Roberts (deputy-mayor) presiding. The attendance- also included Aldermen J. Williams, J. P. Gregory, E. Hughes, and R. Norman Davies; Councillors J. T. Ro- berts, G. Owen, W. Hamer, J. Pritchard, J. Fletcher, J; Davies, O. Evans, E. Parry, G. R. Griffith, R. E. Owen, and R*. Parry; Messrs J. H. Bodvel Roberts (town clerk), D. H. Jones (borough accountant), E. Hall (surveyor), E. Roberts (inspector), W. Ruxton (gas manager). THE MAYOR'S INDIAN FAMINE FUND. It was reported that the total amount re- ceived up to date from Nonconformist places of religious worship was L46 12s 4d. OLD BOROUGH DOCUMENTS. The Accountant submitted a list of the old .borough documents in the custody of the Town Clerk, and it was resolved that he should write draft replies to the queries from the Local Records Committee, and that the same be sent up subject to the approval of the Mayor. CASTLE SQUARE. A letter was read from Mr A. Wildman, ¡ applying for the use of a certain portion of the Square for his travelling entertain- ments, on the date of the Quarrymen's De- monstration, for which he offered a certain rent. It was resolved that the application be re- fused inasmuch as it has been the rule for many years to exclude such entertainments from the Square.

I ASSISTANT OVERSEER'S SALARY. • The Finance Committee, whose minutes were submitted by Mr Griffith Owen, re- ported that an application from Mr Peter Hughes, assistant overseer for the parish of Llanbeblig, for an increase of salary was read, also a recommendation from the overseers that an advance of £ 50 per annum be granted. The committee recommended that the assistant overseer's salary be in- creased from E130 to JE160 per annum, with a sum not exceeding P,20 as before for office. Dr Parry said that there was a general belief that the settlement of the salary lees than twelve months ago would be final, and he wished to know what reasons had the Finance Committee for making the present recommendation. Mr G. Owen replied that the committee were in duty bound to consider the matter inasmuch as a recommendation had come from the overseers. The Town Clerk said that the committee had no initiatory powers, and complained that on several occasions lately committees had initiated matters which ought in the first instance to have been submitted to the Council. Dr G. R. Griffith asked whether a com- mittee had no right to initiate a matter and afterwards submit it to the Council. The Town Clerk replied that such a course was contrary to all rules. Dr Griffith We are all guilty of doing it then. The Town Clerk No doubt. Mr G. Owen said that the committee had, rightly or wrongly, considered the applica- tion of the assistant overseer together with the recommendation of the overseers. When asked, as one of the overseers for last year, to explain why he supported the ap- plication of the assistant overseer he said without hesitation that he considered Mr Hughes fully entitled to the advance he asked for. He was an excellent official, and did his work thoroughly and well, and he (Mr Owen) felt sure that the Council would be fully convinced that he was en- titled to an increase of salary. He was supported in his view by the other over- seers. Dr Parry The words of Mr Owen are no explanation at all. (Mr Owen I am sorry). Proceeding, Dr Parry said that he had not a word to say against Mr Hughes, who, he believed, was doing his work thor- oughly and efficiently. Tholso who sup- ported the proposittion made at the time of the appointment that the office should be separate had now to justify what they had done. It was argued on tilat occasion that it would be impossible for one man to do the work, but it was contended on the other hand that it would be easy to do at for the amount stipulated by the Council. The present recommendation of the com- mittee, however, proved that the latter con- tention was not right. He was one of those who held that the office should be divided, and he was still of the same opinion. They had a collector, who did his work thorough- ly and well, and much extra labour would not be imposed upon him if he had to col- lect the poor rate also. He (Dr Parry) did not want Mr Hughes or anybody else to be sweated by the Corporation, and, on the other hand, he did not want the Corpora- tion to pay extra money for work that could be done more efficiently at a lesser cost. He, therefore, moved that the matter be re- ferred to the same committee which con- sidered it on a previous occasion. Mr Fletcher: With what object? Dr Parry replied that with the object of considering the wfcple matter. They now paid C20 for an offfee for the assistant over- seer, whilst anybody who came to the room in which they were assembled would be struck by the fact that it was not a pro- per place for the officials of the Corpora- tion. He thought the £ 20 could be better spent in increasing the accommodation of that place, and have the office of assistant overseer there. He wished it to be un- derstood that it was in no opposition to Mr Hughes that he pressed for the concentra- tion of the work in the Corporation office. His opinion was that the work could be done more economically in the way he sug- gested about twelve months ago. Mr G. Owen asked if the committee re- ferred to by Dr Parry was in existence. Dr Parry pointed out that he could move its reappointment. Mr R. Norman Davies, while endorsing the remarks of Dr Parry, thought it would be better, now that the appointment had been made, to let the matter drop. Dr Griffith agreed with Mr Davies. Mr Gregory contended that the sum of C20 could be saved bv utilising some of the rooms in the Guild Hall, which were now vacant. He did not approve of the policy adopted by the Finance Committee. Mr Hughes knew at the time of has appoint- ment what his salary and work would be, and now he found that he could not do the work without getting more money. Dr Parry: Do you second my proposal ? Mr Gregory: No; I only express an opinion. Mr G. Owen said that if it would be pos- sible to make use of the vacant rooms in the Guild Hall he would be happy to sup- port the suggestion of Mr Gregory. Mr Fletcher observed that it would be bet- ter to defer the matter for a liionth in order to enable the Council to see whether the rooms would answer the purpose. Mr J. Davies: Does the work cost mord Mr J. Davies: Does the work cost more under the new arrangements ? I Mr G. Owen: The cost is considerably lees. I may say that the arrears at the end of the financial year were only one-tenth what they were oa an average during the time of Mr Hughes' predecessor. A sum of £ 210 was paid Mr Thomas for doing the same work, in addition to revising barrister's fees. The pre- sent office had been taken for another twelve months, so that nothing can be done until the expiration of this period. Dr Parry's proposal found no seconder, and the committee's Tecommetodation was carried, Dr Parry and Mr Hamer voting against. IMPROVEMENTS AT THE GAS WORKS. The report of the Gas Committee, sub- mitted by Dr Parry, stated that tha Man- ager reported that Mr Henry Evans, brick- layer, &c., Pool hill, had tendered at L265 for the lining of the old tank with brick, pre- paratory to the) erecting of the new gas holder. The manager, however, recom- mended the Committee to have the work done by the day under his supervision, as the better and cheaper way. The com- mittee resolved that this matter be deferred until the tank is inspected by the engineer, and his opinion ascertained as to the neces- sity for lining the tank. The manager was instructed to proceed, with as much dis- patch as possible, to empty the tank and clear away the old holder. At a subsequent meeting of the committee the Man- ager reported that the engineer had visited the works, inspected the tank, and given his opinion that it was necessary to put in a brick lining to tgak, and it was resolved that the Manager proceed as quickly as possible with the cleaning out of the tank bottom, and thait the committee meet in thd spot when the work is finished; also that Mr Edward Parry be requested to accompany the com- mittee and give his opinion as to the lining. The recommendations of the committee I were agreed to. SANITARY MATTERS. I Dr G. R. Griffith submitted thd report of the Sanitary Committee, which contained the following items: —April 10th: Waiter Supply: The Mayor, Dr R. Parry (ex- Mayor), Dr G. R. Griffith, Messrs Griffith Owed, and R. O. Roberts, wetre appointed a special water committee to consult with the Gwyrfai and Glaslyn District Councils re Rhyd-ddu drainage, &c.—New Building: A plan and specification of proposed addi- tion to Cambrian Paint Works, Pool side, for Messrs E. Hughes & Co., which the Sur- veyor reported to be in strict accordance with the bye-laws, were considered, and re- commended for acceptance. Inspector's Report: This waa read and considered. It was resolved that Dr Fraser be asked to re- port on 22, 28, and 36, Baptist street, and 4 and 6, Helidre place. Owing to a complaint having been received in writing, stating that the drains under 5,Pool side were a nuisance, injurious to health, it was recommended that the Surveyor be empowered under Seotion 41 of the Public Health Act, 1875, to open and examine such drain, and take such pro- ceedings as may be necessary under such section.—24th: Water Supply: The Sur- veyor stated his views as regards the sug- gested modification of the proposed filter arrangement at Glan'rafon Quarry. He was requited to prepare a plan accordingly. -Rhyd.ddu Drainage: It was arranged that the sub-committee re this matter should meet the Joint Committee of the Glaslyn and Gwyrfai District Councils at an early date, with a view to arranging amount of contribution to, and future maintenance of the works. Seweiraga: The Surveyor re- ported that the public sewer from manhole by Railway Inn to lower end of St David's road is not low enough to efficiently drain the bent and back yards of the premises facing it, and received the discharge of a drain from Alexandra terrace, which is laid under these front houses. Recommended that thie sewer be relaid forthwith to a suit- able depth. Town Plans: A letter from Mr R. LI. Jonets to the Town Clerk was read, aooepting the Town Council's terms men- tioned in a resolution passed at their meet- ing held on the 3rd inst. Inspector's Re- port: The Inspector reported that he had seized and destroyed the carcasd of an ox found at the slaughter house diseased and unfit for human food.—The Medical Officer of Health's Report: This was read, in which it was stated that there existed at 22, 28, and 36, Baptist street, a nuisance injurious to health, and it was recommended that sevefn days' notice be given to the occupier of No. 22, to remove the accumulation of manure and prevent its recurrence; that fourteen days' notice be given to the occupier of No. 28, to discontinue the keeping of horses on the premises, and remove the accumulation; that fourteen days' notice given to the occupier of No. 36, to dis- continue the keeping of a horse on the pre- mises, and to remove the accumulation fail- ing compliance, in all eases, the Town Clerk to take proceedings. It was also recom- mended thae Town Clerk apply for a clos- ing order, under the Housing of thd Work- yig Classes Act, in respect of 4 and 6, Hen- dre place, which was unfit for human habita- tion. The committee's report was adopted. HIGHWAY MATTERS. Dr John Williams submitted a report of the Highway and Town Improvement Com- mittee, which contained the following items: —April 6th: Petition A commu- nication was read from the residents of Gelert street, suggesting that the gravel footpath at the front of their premises be replaced with asphalt. The Surveyor was requested to report on the matter.—Seats for Aber road: Five tenders were re- ceived. It was recommended that Messrs Williams anu: Humphreys' tender, the only one received for the design specified, be accepted, and an order given them for 12 seats at 32s each delivered complete, and each foot fitted with a bolt hole.— 20th. Gelert street Footpaths: The Sur- veyor reported these to be in a very fair condition, but that the lower portion needs some little repair. He estimated that to replace the existing footpaths with tar paving would cost from J636 to 940. Recommended that the footpaths be not replaced, .\bll¡t satisfactorily repaired-— Guild Hall: Two tenders were received for painting, &c., the work connected with the recent alterations. Recommended that Mr John Itowlands' tender (£13 15s), the lowest, be accepted.—Obstructions in Streets: Resolved that the attention of the police be forthwith called to the ob- struction caused by standing vehicles in Wesley street and other parts of the town. It was also recommended that the Town Clerk be requested to draft suitable bye-laws respecting hacknev. carriages.— Numbering Houses: Recommended that notice be given the owners of all premises in Williams street, to provide the same with suitable numbers.—London and North Western Railway: A letter was read from Mr Dent, expressing with re- gret his inability to put market fares in I operation between Carnarvon auu Ilan- germ; Dr Parry, referring to the recommenda- tion that the Town Clerk be requested to draft bye-laws respecting hackney car- riages, said that it wculd be useless for the I Council to draft bye-laws unless they I could be extended to the outlying die- tricts. As soon as people went outside the town they could break such bye-laws. He believed that a. joint ccniinittee of the Town fba/iicii and the Gwyrfai District Council had been appointed to draw out bye-laws. Dr J. Williams said that no bye-laws bad been framed. The minutes were agreed to. THE ABER BRIDGE AND ROAD. At a meeting of the Ferry Committee, whose minutes were presented oy Mr J. T.- I Roberts, it was resolved that special { tickets—printed in one colour, and with a distinctive mark on one side, be supplied the different families residing on the Coedhelell side of the bridge at 2s Id worth (50 halfpenny tickets) for Is 7d, the same not to be transferable; also that school children residing on the same side of the bridge be allowed to use the bridge by paying 1d only for the day during school term. The Surveyor was instructed to inform all applicants to this effect. Mr Roberts said that from the 2nd of March up to Monday night, 26,089 people had crossed the new Aber bridge, exclu- sive of vehicular traffic and the Naval Re- serve men. Mr R. E. Owen said that the bridge- master was unable to cope with the traffic on Easter Monday, and that consequently a number of people crossed over without paying. The present system, he thought, did not answer, and there ought to be a turnstile there. Dr Parry congratulated Mr Owen upon the importunate manner in which he ad- vocated a turnstile, and. at last, he thought, he would get it. The committee's report was adopted. Mr J. T. Roberts announced that the joint committee of the Town Council and the Gwyrfai Rural District Coun- cil had prepared plans and es- timates for the proposed exten- sion of Aber road along the foreshore to Dinas Dinlle. The Town Council was empowered to spend R2000 upon this work, and the Rural Council was prepared to contribute £ 1000, and on the fround that the road would be a benefit for ordinary traffic, and would open up the health re- ports of Carnarvon Bay, the committee had decided to ask the County Council to con- struct the bridge which would be required at the estuary of the Voryd. A motion to this effect had been placed on the agenda of the County Council for Thurs- day, and if the latter authority would meet the local authorities in the matter there would be no difficulty in the way having an excellent road to Dinas Dinlle. Mr Roberts then read the following letter which had been addressed to the County Council: Proposed Road along the Aber Shore over the Gwyrfai River towards Dinas Dinlle. Gentlemen, On behalf of the Coun- cil of the boroubh of Carnarvon and of the Gwyrfai Rural District Coun- cil, we respectfully beg that the Carnar- vonshire County Council will be pleased to construct a bridge across the Gwyrfai River at Fcryd. The reasons and circumstances for venturing to submit this application are the following: The Corporation of the borough of Car- narvon have, sub a cost of upwards of 910,000, erected a bridge over the mouth of the Carnarvon harbour, and intend to re- construct the carriage road along the Aber shore to the boundary Of the borough just under Ishelen; they are also empowered, under their Local Act, to contribute 92000, towards the cost of reconstructing, improv- ing and widening the existing road along the coast up to thie river Foryd, as well as to etnter into agreement with the Gwyrfai Rural District Council for the future main- tenance of that road, and this will exhaust their powers in this behialf. The Corporation hiave approached the Gwyrfai Council on the matter, who very readily appointed a committee to co-operate with the Town Council to consider how best to carry out the objects provided for in the local Act. The Joint-committee have met nd received a report from their Surveyon. They have been satisfied that a very good road may be made, and one which will not only benefit the whole neighbourhood up to Clynnog for ordinary traffic, but will open i up the increasingly popular health resorts of Carnarvon Bay, besides enhancing to no small extent the rating value of the whiole district. The Joint-committee are unanimous that in the best interest of the community, it is most desirable that the road and bridge should be constructed. They have reason to believe that the Town Council will con- tribute the full sum they ard empowered to do under their Act, both as regards the cost of construction and the future maintenance of thie works; and, in all likelihood, the. Gwyrfai Council would contribute towards the cost of the works, as well as their full share towards their maintenance. The Joint-committee are, however, afraid that this scheme, so pr?g.iait of public g< c'd will fall through unless assistance is afforded by the County Council undertaking thd xm- strnotion of the bridge. The bridges in the county are invariably made and main- tained at the cost of the county authority. The Joint-committee venture to think that the bridge they now propose should be made would be of such general utility that the County Council will see thletir way to con- struct it. It is this consideration that has induced the Joint-committee to submit this appeal to the Carnarvon County Council, Tflth the hope that it will be favourably en- tertained. We have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your obedient servants, WM, JOHN WILLIAMS, Mayor of Carnarvon. THOMAS JONES, Chairman of the Gwyrfai Council. The action of the Joint-committete was ap- proved and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the County Council. DRIVER WILLIAMS. A letter was read frcm Lord Roberts from Bloemfontein acknowledging receipt of a re- solution passed by the Council having refer- ence to the brave conduct of Driver Wil- liams, of Carnarvon, at the battld of Col- enso, and stating that it would give his lord- ship great pleasure to forward the same to Driver Williams. The Deputy-Mayor felt sure that they all congratulated Driver Williams on his escape and his safe return home. INVITATION. A letter was read from the Menai Lodge of Oddfellows inviting the Mayor and mem- bers of the Council to join in the annual pro- cession on Whit-Monday. ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. The Mayor and Town Clerk were appointed to represent the Council at a meeting of the I above association to be hdld at Dublin. THE FIRE BRIGADE. The Deputy Mayor moved the appoint- ment of a committee to inquire into the or- ganisation and efficiency of the1 fire brigade, and said that anybody who witnessed a re- cent fire at Carnarvon would agree with him that the fire brigade was in need of reor- i ganisation. I Mr W. Hamer secottddd. Dr Parry said it was rather strange that they should appoint a committee to consider a matter whlich belonged to the Highway Committee, and he wished to know whether that committee had made a report upon the recent fire) which occurred at the works of Mr Hugh' Jones, a genial member of the Ccancil, with whom they all sympathised. C ertain criticisms had appeared in the news- papers, and it was important that a report should be submitted as to the way the bri- gade did their duty and as to their appli- ances. For instance, there might be some truth in the statement made in the news- papers that the manual should have been used. If the report of the Highway Com- mittee should prove that the fire brigade did not do their duty then it would rest with the Council to decide what to do further. Dr John Williams said .that the Highway Committee would, th due course, make an inquiry and report to the Council. The fire brigade had madd a report upon the recent fire, but it was received too late to be considered by the committele. Mr O. Evans explained that ,the fire bri- gade made a report every three months whe- ther there was a fire or not. As to the state- ment with regard to thd manual- Dr Parry: I simply instanced that as one of the statements made in the newspapers. Whether there can be any justification for it I do not know. It would be better to leave the whole matter untouched. The Deputy Mayor thought thd Highway Committee was too unwieldly and that a small committee should be appointed to c.on- sider the matter. Mr O. Evans belidved an inquiry in regard to the recent fire would result in the re- sponsibility being placed on the shoulders of the Corporation, thd great draw back being the lack of pressure of water. Mr Gregory said .that the brigade had all the appliances requisite. Thie Deputy Mayor withdrew his motion, and the Highway Committee was instructed to report specially on the nrereferroo to. THE RATE. A general rate of 2s 6d in the £ was made.

Letters from Volunteers at the Front. The following are extracts from letters received from Private Philip J. Lewis, Portmadoc, from Modder Spruit Camp:- We were at Capetown for three days, and saw Willie Jones, son of Mr Wm. Jones, Bank. He gave us one pound be- tween -us, and luncheon at an hotel. We saw John Roberts, carpenter, brother of Ebenezer Roberts, jUll., and went with him to see some Welshmen on board two vessels from Carnarvon and Hotyiload- From Capetown we went in the "Majestic" to Durban, and from that place proceeded in train to Ladysmith. I saw a son of Captain Dedwydd at Durban. It took us a day and a night to reach Ladysmith. Don't blame Buller. We saw many of the places where the Boers fought,—Wil- low Grange, Estcourt, &c., and I have been to Chieveley Camp, and from there we had to walk over the Tugela and over the hills to Colenso. We were for two day in Ladysmith, and were the first there after the siege. The shops were opening for the first time since the war commenced. We left Ladysmith for Modder Spruit, and we have been for a week now with the Union Brigade, eight miles from Elands Laagte, where the Gor- dons and the Lancers had a fight. The R..W.F. 23rd Regiment looks terribly after the fight at Colenso. Some of the men have no coati, and some wear Boer trousers. It is very easy for Portmadoc people to run down Buller that he was slow in crossing the Tu-« but if they saw the places where the Boers were, they would simply be amazed that Buller was able to cross at all, because the mountains were on either side of the river. The fifth brigade passed us higher up. We ex- pect to be home soon, as everything seems to be over. I was on outpost duty on Wednesday. Everything is very dear here. A piece of chocolate sold at Port- madoc for a penny, costs 2s here; and a penny bun, though as tough as leather, costs Is. We saw many of the guns left by the Boers and by Crnje. I was wash- ing my clothes to-day in the river. The water is not fit to drink, it being full of snakes and other creatures. I never touch it, though frequently almost faint- ing from thirst. Drinking the water pro- duces so much sickness among the soldiers."—In another letter, dated April 3rd, from Modder Spruit Camp, Private Lewis said that he was sure that there were great rejoicings at Portmadoc when Ladysmith was relieved. "We heard about it at Capetown. We are leaving here for Elands Laagte, 11 miles higher up the country, because of better water being there. All the Portmadoc boys are quite well, except Arnold, who is in hospital. Buller was in our camp the other day. There are about 4' camp- ing here. We have had an awful sand- storm, rain, lightning, and thunder. All of us appeared in a most awful plight. We were covered with sand. The other night I tried to make porridge with Quaker Oats, but I spoiled it all. Then I tried to make arrowroot out, of condensed milk, and succeeded in turning out very good stuff. I saw a cousin of Owen Evans, tailor, in Capetown. He had joined the Natal Light Horse, receiving 7s 6d a day." Private Samuel Williams, in a letter to Captain J. R. Prichard, J.P., Portmadoc, dated March 30th, says:—"We had a splendid reception at Capetown. We sailed from Capetown in the "Majestic," and arrived in Durban on the 13th. We started straight-off for Ladysmith. We saw the son of Captain Dedwydd, Borth- y-Gest, at Durban. He was looking all- right. He said he was coming home in about si xmonths. When we arrived at Ladysmith-we had a grand reception; but it was enough to break any man's heart to see the poor fellows that were there. They could nardly speak, and they were as thin as needles. We are camping now between Lombard's Kop and Elands Laagte. It is very hot here, and we are getting it very hard. We do outpost duties every four days, and march every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, be- tween 10 and 15 miles before breakfast. They shot a Boer spy here the other night, because he did not answer to the sentry's challenge. You will be sorry to hear about out comrade Arnold, who is in hospital ever silica we came here. It is nothing to see them burying three or four every day. I do not know where we shall be going to fropi here. I am sorry we shall not have a chance to fire a shot after coming such a long way, at least, I do not think so. Thev think we shall be homa very shortly,—June or July.

WHEATLEY'S HOP BITTES H.'i. ECLIPSED ALL OTHER NON-INTOX- ICATING BEVERAGES. Write for ad- dress of nearest. Bottling Agent to Wheat- ley and Bates (Ltd.), Napier Street, Sheffield.

LATEST NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. (CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY.) "OBSERVER" OFFICE, THURSDAY- AMERICAN SUBJECTS AND THE TRANSVAAL. New York, Thursday. The "Sun's" Washington corres- pondent says the Government will make » strong protest to the Transvaal if Americall subjects are compelled to take up arms or leave the country as reported. The Gov- ernment has cabled to Pretoria for informa- tion.

THE SCHOFIELD DISASTER. New York, Thursday. Two hundred and fifty bodies have al- ready been recovered from Schofield disas- ter. The death roll will amount to nearly 400.

POLLING AT PORTSMOUTH j Polling at Portsmouth opened quietly irr. wet weather contest will be close.

Domestic Troubles at Carnatvoo At the Carnarvon Borough Court on Monday before the Mayor (Mr W. J. Willams) and other magistrates', John A. Ball, coachbuilder formerly of Carnar- von, but now of Birkenhead, appeared in the dock charged with deserting his wife and four children aged seven, five and three years, and ten months. He was fur- ther charged at the instigation of the Na- tional Society for the Prevention of Cruel- ty to Children, with neglecting his children. f To the latter the defendant pleaded guilty. Mr J. T. Roberts, who prosecuted, said that the defendant was the son of Mr Ball, coach builder r" Carnarvon, with whom he worked up to ew years ago when he re- moved to LivertM,ol with his family. Them he became ad(-ted to drink, neglected his work and fam. v, and pawned articlee of furniture. In consequence of this his wife and family rturned to Carnarvon, and from the 14th -lanuaxy till a fortnight ago he did not contribute a penny towards their maintenance. It was added that the de- defendant earned good wages, which occa- sionally ran as high as £3 a week.- Evid- ence was given in support of the charges were given by Mrs Ball, and Inpector Row- lands, of the National Society. The Bench granted an order for separation, and order- ed the defendant to pay 17s 6d a week to- wards the keep of his family, and to pay the costs of these procedings. Ellen Lovell, Mountain street, Carnarvon, applied for an order of separation from her husbandi, Seth Lovell, on the ground 01 persistent cruelty. Mir J. B. Allanlon, who appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, said that the conduct of the defendant towards h;s wife for the last sixteen years had been that of a brutal and abandoned scamp. Not only had he assaulted his wife, who was a hard-working, honest woman, but had im- puted immorality to her. The defendant was a worthless fellow, spending all his money in drink and leaving his wife to maintain the family of whom there were five dependent upon her. The wife, in giving evidence," said that with the except- ion of a short time last Christmas, her hue- band had not been sober for more than ten weeks together in his life. She would rather go to goal for six weeks than live with him any more. Further evidence in support of the charge was given by Eliza- beth Lovell, and Father Jones,who said that he had been called to the house to protect the plaintiff from the violence of the de- fendant. The defendant told the Bench that blame attached to his wife because she left the house and refused to explain to him where she had been. An order for separation was granted, and the defendant was ordered to pay 5s. a week towards the maintenance of his family, to pay oosts, and he was bound over to keep the peace in the sum of jE5 for 12 months.

LLANBERIS F iKE. — Last Saturday, portions of the Alltwen Woods went on fire. The fire*, which burnt fiercely for several hours, was put out before dark. It is believed that it origi- nated through some "absent-minded smoker" having dropped a lighted matoh on the edge of the path which leads through the woods.

Births, Marriages, Deaths. BIRTHS. Jones.—April 29, at the County Hotel, Carnarvon, the wife of Mr Harry Hugh Jones, of a son. Williams.—April 26, at 4, Church terrace, Holyhead, the wife of Mr W. Williams, L.D.S., of a son. I)avie,i.-April 30, at 12, Snowdon street, Carnarvon, the wife of Mr Evan Davies, Machinist "Observer and Express'' office, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. Ellis—Eilis.—April 25, by licence, at Pensarn English Presbyterian Church, by the Rev E. W. Evans, M.A., assisted by the Rev R. Williams, Towyn, Richard Thomas Ellis, M.R.C.S., England, L.R. C.P., London, of Holyhead, to Margaret He!en (Maggie), daughter of William Ellis, Esq., J.P., of Ty Mawr Abergele. Williams—Evans.—April 23, at Christ Church, Barmouth, Dy the father of the bride, aissisted bv the Rev it. Ernest Jones, pastor of the church, the Rev R. R. Wiliams, M.A., Towyn, Meirion- eth, to Mary Ellen (Marie), elder daugh- ter of the Rev D. Evans. M.A., Tal- o arfor, Barmouth. Thomas-Loo-.April 25, at St. Augustine's, Shaw street, by the Rev Samuel Barrow, vicar of St. Athanasius,' Mr George W., eldest son of the late Mr George Thomas, Carnarvon, to Sarah C., second daughter of the late Mr Nathaniel Lee, of Liver- pool. DEATHS. Evans.—April 25, after a short illness, John Evans, builder, 58, New-combe street, late of Berthddu, Abersooh. Roberts.—April 28,. at the Post Office, Llanrwst, Mary Jane, second daughter of the late Rev ThomRoberts ("Scorp- ion"). Rowlands.—April 27, aged 59, Mrs Jane Rowlands, relict of the late Mr Hugh Rowlands, Builder, Carnarvon. Walker.—April 26, at 34, Chapel street, Carnarvon, aged' 81 years, Ann widow of the late Mr James Walker. William.s.-April 26, after a protracted ill- ness, aged 58 years,Mrs Ann Williams, wife of the late Mr John Williams, stone mason, and daughter of the late Captain Hughes; "Kitty." < y PrintfeQ and published by the Welsh Na- tional Press Company, Limited, aeiI, Offices, BEladav* Re%J, Carnarvon. ,4