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BEQUEST TO THE CARMARTHSHIRE…

--..----ST. CLEARS MARKET.

HISTORICAL DOUBTS CONCERNING…

CONTINENTAL INNOVATIONS.

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" The Parvenu" at the Assembly…

A Welsh Vocalist in South…

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Family Notices

Carmarthenshire County Council.

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Carmarthenshire County Council. QUARTERLY MEETING AT CARMAR- I THEN. A meeting of the Carmarthenshire County Council was held at the Shire Hall, Carmarthen, on Wednesday. Professor D. E. Jones, Carmarthen, presided. There were also present Lieut.-Gen. Sir James Hills- Johnes, V.C., G.C.B. Messrs John Beavan, Llansauwrn Wilkins, Llaneliy Owen Bonville, Llanelly W. O. Brigstocke, Pare-y- gorse; John Williams, Penlan T. E. Brigstoeke, # Carmarthen; John Davies, Castellddrainog W. Powell Jeffreys, I Cynghordy; James John, Carmarthen Daniel Stephens, Kidwelly Dr R. L. Thomas, St. Clears Messrs John Johns. Parceithin W. N. Jones, Tirvdail J. S. Tregoning, Llaneily Rev W. Thomas, Whitland Messrs T. F. Jones, Cynwyl Caio; James Rees, Talgarth; T. Watkins, Llandovery John Rees. Doigwm Ben Evans, Rhydycymmerau; John Scourfieid, Blaemvernddu John Phillips, Caerlleonj T. R. Jones, Pantglas Thomas Jones, Pen ron w; W. Jenkins, Alltycadno; John Thomas, Thornhill W. Jones, Canton, Llandiio R. W. Stephens, Coedybrain H. Jones Davies, Glyneiddan John Lloyd, Penybank D. L. Jones, Derlwyn John Lewis, Meiros Hall H. J. Thomas, Llanfynydd Alfred Stephens, Kidwelly David Evans, Pembrey David -y Davies, Cenarth C. E. Morris, Penbryn "William Davies, Giansawdde David Davies, Llandebie Davies, Myddfai; the Clerk (Mr T. Jones) the Surveyor (Mr D. Phillips) the Chief Constable (Mr W. Philipps) and the Deputy-Treasurer (Mr R. Peel Price). THE CHARGE OF IMPERSONATION. Mr John Johns complained that the names of those who voted at the last meeting for and against tho proposal to increase the salary of Mr W. Buckley Roderick, coroner for the Three Commotts, had not been included in the minutes of the last quarterly meeting held at Llandiio. At the meeting referred to, Sir James Drummond had accused him (Mr Johns) of impersonation, in that he had voted in place of another member. The Clerk said it was perfectly clear that there had been a misunderstanding it was clear that Mr Johns had not voted for a member who was not present. Sir James Hills-Johnes said that he believed Sir James Drummond, Bart, had explained matters at the meeting referred to and it was a pity that the subject should be brought up again and made a sore of. Mr W. N. Jones said he was in the chair at the time, and he thought the matter had been amicably settled, and that Mr Johns had been satisfied with Sir James Drummond's explanation. Mr John Johns The Press reported it different in fact. Dr Thomas said that this was a matter wmcn ought to be thoroughly cleared up. He did not think Sir James Drummond was a man who would turn his back on the truth and he did not think Mr Johns was such a man either. As long as there was a misunderstanding in the public press, he thought the matter ought to be thoroughly gone into. It had now been given to 0 the county of Carmarthen and as it was covered with a large amount of doubt, he thought it ought to be thrashed out CD thoroughly. The Chairman said that he and Dr Thomas 'vere in the same position neither of them were present at the meeting. They would have to leave the matter to be thrashed out. He did not think it was fair to enter into it now, as Sir James Drummond was absent. Dr Thomas said he believed that it was all due to a misunderstanding. Mr W. O. Brigstocke, who was partially inaudible to the press, was understood to say that the matter ought now to be dropped. Mr John Johns said that Mr Brigstoeke would not let it drop so easily if he had had such a charge levelled against himself. Mr Brigstoeke was proceeding to explain when Mr Johns said Excuse me, I am on my feet, Mr Brigstocke (laughter). The Chairman said he was not present at that meeting, although his name had been recorded in the minute book. He wished to have his name struck out. It might be that that meeting would be proceeded against. The matter then dropped. THE FELIXBAX BRIDGE. A communication was read from the Laugharne Parish Council asking the assist- Laugharne Parish Council asking the assist- ance of the Co'mty Council towards erecting a bridge over the ford at Felinban, The Chairman said that this was a matter wiucU ought to be referred to the Main Roads Committee. Several members apparently agreed to this proposal. Dr Thomas asked when the next meeting of the Main Roads Committee would be held. The Chairman In July. Dr Thomas said that the matter ought not to be put off until July. It was a very ■small thing and the dry weather was the time to build the bridge. The bridge would be a great improvement to the main road. Mr John Phillips also objected to the putting off of the matter until July. If they did so, it would probably be too late in the season before they were able to commence work. The Chairman We are not to be blamed for that. It ought to have come before the last meeting of the Main Roads Committee. Since you have neglected it, we cannot help it. Dr. Thomas It is not a matter of neglect on my part. It has only been brought to my notice very lately. Would I be in a position to movo a motion on the subject ? The Chairman According1 to the Stand- ing Orders, no member is allowed to speak on the same subject more than once. Mr John Johns I really believe, Mr Chairman, this Council- The Chairman It has been settled. The matter then dropped. It was under- stood to have been referred to the next meet- ing of the Main Roads Committee. 0 AN APPLICATION FOR A PENSION. A letter was read from Miss Bryan, the ex-matron of the Carmarthen Prison, which was referred to in our report of the Easter Quarter Sessions. It will be remembered that Miss Bryan had served a year under the old regime before the prisons were taken over by the Home Office. She asked the County Council to make up the deficiency in her pension, which had been caused by the two scales which wero in force under different rvgimes. The Clerk explained that the Council was empowered to make up the pension to equal two-thirds of the salary. If they did so, they would pay her £ 27 Is, instead of £ 1 0s 2d—making her total pension £ 55. There were certain particulars—such as a recommendation from tha Visiting Committee which would have to be furnished before the Council could move in the matter. Sir James Hills-Johnes moved that the applicant be informed as to the details which sho was required to furnish and that these bo brought before the next meeting of the Finance Committee to report to the next meeting of the County Councii. This was agreed to nem. con. FINANCE. Mr H. J. Davies, chairman ofte Finance Committee, moved That the Budget bo 1, 1 In adopted, and that a Special County Rate of 4d in the £ on the new Special County Assessment, and 2d in the £ on the General County Assessment (including id for Intermediate Education, and d for Technical 2 Education be levied), and that the rates be made payable as follows :—Id in the £ on the Special County Assessment, to be levied loth June, 1803 Ü in the t on the General County Assessment, to be levied 15th June, 1SU8 hi iú the £ 011 the Special County Assessment, to be levied 15th September, 1898 ) J. iu the £ oa the Creiieral County Assessment (Intermediate Education), to be levied 15th September, 1898 Id in the £ on the Special County Assessment, to be levied 15th December, 1898; id in the £ on the General County Assessment (Technical Education), to be levied 15th December, 1898 Id in the £ on the Special County Assessment, to be levied 15th March, 1899; id in the £ on the General County Assess- ment, to be levied 15th March, 1899." .,1 This was duly seconded, and carried nem. con. THE MUZZLING ORDER. Mr C. E. Morris moved a resolution calling for a revocation of the muzzling order as far as Carmarthenshire was concerned. This was seconded by Mr W. N. Jones, and carried unanimously. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COUNCILLORS. The Joint Committee which consulted with Pembrokeshire rocommended that one additional District Councillor be granted to each of the following parishes Llangan East, Ilanboidy East, and Llandissilo. This was agreed to. THE LAW AS TO ROADSIDE WASTES. The committee, which met to consider the case of the ownership of the plot of land which the Council had leased to the post- master of Llanarthney, brought up their report. This committee was advised by the Clerk that in view of the case of "Curtis j v. the Kesteven County Council," it would be well to have Counsel's opinion on the point. The Clerk said that this case which arose in one of the divisions of Lincolnshire had revolutionised the law on tho subject altogether. It was then decided that the herbage on the roadside, even within the fences, belonged to the landowner. Mr W. N. Jones I move that we proceed no further with the case. I do not think that we ought to go to law for the sake of three or four shillings. The Chairman said that if the law as referred to by the Clerk was correct, the County Council were not entitled to have any of the stone depots which they had at present on the roadside. The Clerk said that if that were so, too, the Surveyors had no right to cut the turf off the roadside wastes as they did, and to carry it elsewhere. Mr W. N. Jones asked if this referred to the plots on the side ot the road, or simply to the hedges by the roadside. The Clerk: To any piece of land by the side of the road. Dr. Thomas said that they were now in this position that Lord Cawdor and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners as Lords of the Manor might institute an action in the matter. He was told that an old pound had stood on the spot. Mr John Johns said that if the law re- ferred to by the Clerk was correct, the Local Government Board had issued an illegal order since that, to the District Councils telling these bodies that they owned the roadside wastes. Mr W. N. Jones moved that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Committee. This was agreed to. THE REMUNERATION OF RELIEV- ING OFFICERS. Mr Ben Evans moved—" That the scale of fees adopted by tue County Council under Sec. 48 Sub-Sec. 7 of the Local Government Act, 1894) payable to Return- ing Officers for conducting Parish and District Council Elections be revised, and that the fees payable to Returning Officers in uncontestod Parish Council Elections be named therein." In moving the resolution, Mr Evans said that the returning officers sometimes charged XI Is. for uncontested parochial elections, and 5s in other cases. The Chairman said that in such cases the officer was not entitled to make any charge. Mr Evans said that in his district the Parish Council was charged a guinea. Mr John Lloyd You ought not to pay it. Mr Evans We don't (laughter).—Mr Evans then went on to review the scale at present in force in the county and what he considered as several anomalies in it. Mr W. O. Brigstoeke seconded, and the motion was carried by a large majority. The matter was referred to the Local Government Committee, to which the name of Mr B. Evans was added for the occasion. THE POLICE AND EXTRANEOUS DUTIES. The report of the Committee on the employment of police-constables as inspectors of weights and measures was before the meeting. Mr W. X. Jones said he was sorry that the Standing Joint Committee, had eliminated from their report the words which stated that the present system had not interefered with the etiiciency of the force. He moved that the report be adopted in its entirety, as the opinion of the County Council. Mr John Johns said that these men, although not usually employed as policemen, were always at tne disposal of the Chief Constable in a case of emergency. Dr Thomas said that it did interfere with the efficiency of the force when some members were employed during the whole or a greater part of their time at other duties. It was decided by 21 votes to 7 to accept the report as amended by the Standing Joint Committee. THE LLAXELLY CORONER AGAIN The question of the remuneration of Mr W. Buckley Roderick, the coroner for the Three Commotts, again came up for consideration. On this occasion it came ill the form of a letter from the Secretary of State, who enclosed the application which had been forwarded to him by Mr Roderick, and in which the latter asked the Home Secretary to revise the salary, as lie and the County Couucil had been unable to come to an agreement. The letters and the enclosures were of an extremely voluminous and bulky character. The Home Office asked for the observations of the County Council on the subject. Mr W. O. Brigstocko said he did not see why the Council should go back on what they had already done. He was in favour of the increase to Mr Roderick; but he thought they would be stultifying them- selves if they now reversed their action after having thoroughly and carefully considered it. The Chairman said that one statement in Mr Roderick's letter was incorrect-relating to the revision of 1894. The salaries of the three coroners were revised in 1894 on the information furnished by these gentlemen themselves it was true that the County Council had not adopted tho recommendation of the committee on the subject. Mr James John was proceeding to make an observation on the subject, when Mr John Lloyd pointed out that Mr James John, as a Borough member, had no right to speak on tho subject. Mr James John said that in that case the Chairman had no right to speak on the subject. The Chairman I have a right to speak as the chairman because tho Council might elect an outsider as chairman. I have no vote; but I have a casting vote. I am very sorry to correct a lawyer but that is the law (laughter). Mr John Johns It is all nonsense to write such a thing to the Home Secretary. j Mr John Lloyd: The best reply we can send to the Home Secretary is that we ask him to send in his resignation. 1 Mr Davies, Glausawdde, seconded, ) The Chairman said he declined to put that motion. It did not come within the province of the Council. They did not appoint Mr Roderick. Mr John Lloyd We pay him. We don't command it we recommend it. We recommend him to send in his resignation, if he is not satisfied with the salary he is paid.—Mr Lloyd then pointed out that Mr Roderick was paid at the rate of ^1 14s or £1 15s per inquest. He was paid better than the other coroners and the expense of travelling was less in his district and the railway facilities had greatly improved since 1861, when the salary was fixed. They had had a little of the history of the appoint- ment; of how a few had pressed the acceptance of the office on Mr Roderick when he did not want it. It was quite in accordance with experience that a person did not appreciate an honour which he had thrust upon him. In a town like Llanelly they would have plenty of well-qualified applicants to-morrow if the appointment were vacant and £100 offered as the salary. He, therefore, moved that if Mr Roderick was not satisfied with his salary, that he be recommended to resign, and that the Home Secretary be informed to that effect. Mr John Rees, seconded. Mr John Johns said that if he were in Mr Roderick's position he would rather resign than be causing such divisions in the Council. The Mines and the Workshops Regulation Acts had lessened the work of the coroner and the improved railway facilities had decreased his expenses. Mr Wilkins regretted that the matter was fought on the grounds of personal feeling; and that the County Council was made a laughing-stock in the eyes of the world (Mr Lloyd Question). He appealed to members to consider the question seriously and not to have any giggling and laughing over it (laughter). Mr W. X. Jones said he was in favour of an increase all-round; and he had ruled at Llandilo that no revision had taken place in 1894 and lie still thought that a revision made then wonld have been illegal as a quinquennial period had not been completed. He moved that the Council reply to the Home Secretary that the statements in Mr Roderick's letter were substantially correct. The Chairman moved that the Clerk and a committee draft a reply to the letter. Mr John Lloyd pointed out that his was the only motion which had been seconded. Mr W. O. Brigstoeke moved that the Council state as its opinion that any revision at the present time would be illegal, and that the Council did not agree with the law as laid down by Mr Roderick. Mr David Davies, Llandebie, seconded. The motion of Mr Lloyd was carried by 14 votes against 5. GOOD FOR LLANFYNYDD! Mr H. J. Thomas handed in a statement showing that there was X800 now in the bank, which had been collected by the locality for the proposed Dryslwyn Bridge. THE POSITION OF THE MARKETS. Rev W. Thomas moved: "That this Council requests all our Veterinary Inspectors to report forthwith on the sanitary condition of all places throughout the County where markets and fairs are held, and to state distinctly whether they are held within areas infected by pleuro- pneumonia, foot and mouth diseases, that we may have sufficient information to com- municate further with the Board of Agri- culture, re their orders to close up markets and to discontinue fairs within the area of our jurisdiction as a Council In doing so, the rev gentleman referred at length to the great damage and loss which the proposed stoppage of the fairs would do to the trade of the county. Dr R. L. Thomas seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. CONDOLENCE. The Chairman moved a vote of condolence with the family of the late Mr W. S. Marsh, a member of the Council. This was seconded by Mr Joseph Mayberry, and carried unanimously. THE POSITION OF CLERKS OF THE PEACE. Mr H. Jones Davies moved That this Council desires to express its sympathy with a Bill brought before Parliament this Session by Mr Luttrell and others to amend the law with regard to Clerks of the Peace and Clerks of the County Council." In moving, Mr Davies explained that the new bill would place the appointment of the Clerks of the County Council in the hands of the County Council instead of in the hands of the Standing Joint Committee, as at present. Mr Davies, Giansawdde, seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con. THE CENTRAL OFFICE. Mr John Lloyd moved That the resolu- tion of this Council as to a Central Office be now carried into effect." Mr Lloyd reminded the Council that it was now some years since the resolution was adopted, although nothing more had been heard of it except the build- ing of the strong room at Carmarthen. Carmarthen and Llaneliy had their municipal offices; but the largest county in Wales had no such omce-cxcept a solicitor's premises at the extreme end of the county. The treasurer had had his salary increased from £ 120 to £ 25(i because of this resolution he had had the additional salary; but had not como to the Central Office. Rev W. Thomas seconded the motion, which was carried mi". The following committee WH, appointed to deal with the matter — The Chairman Me.-srs W. O. Brigstoeke, Gwilyiu Evans, J. S. Tregoning, John Thomas John Johns, H. J. Davies, and John Lloyd. OTllEli MATTEKS. The fullowing notices were bruught before the Council at the close when most of the members had gone :— A notice was given by Mr C. E. Morris that he would move for a return showing the inquests which have occurred in the several divisions of Carmarthenshire since the 25th July, 1894, distinguishing those held by the Coroners themselves from those held by the Deputies, and showing in each of such last named cases the reason which has prevented the personal attendance of the Coroner." A notice given by Professor D. E. Jones that he would move, to rescind that part of Standing Order 13 relating to a quorum of committees, and re-adopt it thus, "A quorum of each committee shall consist of three members." These motions were understood to be carried.

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