The Principality

TRIALS OF PRISONERS. STEALING COAL AT DOWLAIS. Catherine Thomas, Martha James, and Eliza Williams were charged with having, on the 5th March, stolen one hundred and forty pounds weight of coal, belonging to Sir John Guest. James Bailey deposed to having seen prisoners taking the coal. Peter Rogers, police-eonsiab'e, at Aberavon, stated that he knew Catherine Thomas some fifteen or twenty years ago, and that during that time he heard nothing unfavourable of her character. Verdict of Guilty against the three prisoners. Sentence, four- teen days' imprisonment. ANOTHER CASE OF COAL STEALING AT DOWLAIS. Ann D y was charged with stealing, on the 16th March, eighty pounds of coal, the property of Sir J, Guest. Henry Pugh, police-constable, proved having seen the prisoner take the coal. Verdict^ Guilty. Sentence, fourteen days' imprisonment. STEALING WEARING APPAREL AT ABERAVON. Elizabeth James, aged 18, pleaded Guilty to having stolen va- rious articles of wearing apparel, the property of William Shute, of Aberavon. Sentence, two months' imprisonment with hard labour. STEALING A GOLD RING AT PWLLCLAWDD. Catherine Morgan, an interesting-looking married woman, aged 23, with a child in her arms, was charged with stealing a gold ring, the property of Mary Howells, a widow. It appeared from the evidence that the ring was kept in a drawer; that the prisoner was at the proseclllrix's house on the 21st February that the prisoner gave a ring to the Neath town crier, and requested him to cry it and that the ring turned out to be the one which the prosecutor had lost. The prisoner said that she found the ring on the street. Mr. Hall made an appeal to the jury on behalf of the prisoner. The chairman summed up most carefully and at length. The jury then retired, and after an absence of nearly two hours, brought in a verdict of Not Guilty. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr. T. Allen attorney, Mr. Coke. Neath. Counsel for the defence, Mr. Hall; attorney, Mr. C. T. Rhys, Cowbridge. OBTAINING MONEY UNDEH FALSE PRETENCES AT NEATH. John Protlieroe pleaded Guilty to having, on the 2oth March, obtained three pounds from one John Phillips, by false pretences. Sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, part of the time to be kept to solitary confinement. STEALING A HEN AT IIIRWAUN. John Lewis, labourer, aged 31, was charged with having stolen a hen, the property of Thomas Williams. The prosecutor stated that prisoner had been working for him. and that he slept in a hay-loft, near to where the hen roosted; that shortly after prisoner sold it to one John Harris. The prose- cutor identified the hen as his property. Verdict., Guilty. Sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment. Counsel for the prosecution, MI. Morgan'; attorneys, Messrs. Perkins and James, Merthyr. STEALING TROUSERS AT ABERAVO. John Carpenter, aged 18, was charged with having stolen, on the 11)th of March, a pair of trousers, the property of John Quick. Verdict, Guilty. Sentence, one month's imprisonment. Counsel, Mr. Hewson attorney, Mr. Coke, Neath. The prisoner was undefended. N v.\xn.—EH:abeth Protheroe was charged with having stolen ji shawl, the property of Francis Tomkins. It appeared that the prosecutor's wife left her shawl, in the month of January, hanging behind the door in her house that when she went in search of it a few, weeks ago, it was missing thtit she went to a pawnbroker's shop and, fOlllld it. The prisoner stated that a female who lodged at her house left it with her in payment of her lodgings, and that she knew nothing of the prosecutor's wife, or that the shawl was hers. The jury acquitted the prisoner. Counsel, Mr. Hewson; attorney, Mr. Coke. The prisoner was undefended. STEALING COAL AT PENYDARREN. John Davies was charged with having stoIen 40 pounds of coal, the property of the Penydarren Iron Company. A witness de- posed to having seen him take the coal. The prisoner said that he was working under the Company, and that he thought he was at liberty to take a few lumps of coal for his own use. Verdict, Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. Sentence, fourteen days' imprisonment. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr. Conybeare attorney, Mr. E. G. Smith. Prisoner was undefended. STEALING WEARING APPAKKL AT MFRTIIYR. IVilliam Peach, a strong, healthy-looking fellow, was charged with having, on the 27th of March last, stolen a coar, trousers, shirt, waistcoats, and a silk handkerchief, the property of Wiiliam Thomas. The prisoner, it appears, lodged at the prosecutor's house the night before the robbery, and decamped in the morning, after having helped himself to the articles above enumerated. Informa- tion was then given to the police, and the prisoner was appre- hended at Newport. Police-constable Huxtable, of Newport, stated, that in conse- quence of information received from Mr. Wrenn, superintendent of the Merthyr police, he apprehended the prisoner in a pawnbroker's shop, in the act of disposing of part of the stolen property. He had the silk handkerchief on his neck at the time. Reed, a lodging-house keeper, in Whitmore-lane, Cardiff, said, the prisoner lodged in his house the night before he was appre- hended, and that he left the coat in payment of his lodgings. Verdict, Gniltv. Sentence, two month*' imprisonment in the Swansea house of cortection-three days in each month to be kept in solitary confinement. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr. Conybeare attorneys, Messrs. Perkins and James. The court adjourned at a quarter to seven.

PEMBROKESHIRE EASTER tiCARTER SESSIONS. .These sessions were held at the Shire Hail, Haverfordwest, oi Tuesday last, before John Henry Phihpps, Esq., Chairman, and a full bench of magistrates. GRAND JURY. Mr. Benj. Jenkins, Uzmaston Mr. B. Phillips, Shoals Hook Mr. S Davies, Trerhose Air. John Owen, Solva Mr. Win. Morris, St. Elvis Mr. JJd. Richards. Hanton Mr. W. Davies, Bletherstone Mr. Dd. Hooper, Cherry Grove Mr. Wm. Arnold, Vacheliich. Mr. W. Did with, Ffynnomiewi Mr. Isaac John, Deeplake Mr. Thos. John, Whitehook Mr. J. Wilkin, Llawhaden Mr. J. Watkms, do. Mr. H. Bevans, Clerkenwell i Mr. T. Nicholas, Hollowly. After a short address from the Chairman, the jury retired to their room. COUNTY BUSINESS. —HIGHWAYS. The Chairman drew attention to the bill which was intended shortly to be introduced into Parliament by the Government, for the improvement and regulation of highways. It appeared that it was not in eifntemplation to include the highways of South Wales in that measure, in consequence of the South Wales Turnpike Trusts A,_t embracing a large portion of the country. He was, authorised by Lord Emlyn, the member for the county, to state that his lordship would be happy to present any memorial that the magistrates might adopt, praying the Government to bring in a bill to include the remaining highways of South Wales, similar in its ge leral principles to the measure coinemplaud for the. other parts of the kingdom. A memorial was accordingly adopted, and the Chairman was directed to sign it on behalf of the magistrates. SALARY OF COUNTY TREASURER. The county treasurer (Mr. James Summers) having applied for an increase of salary, in consequence of the large increase of his duties which had of late taken place, After a full discussion of the Illiltter, it was, on the motion of Mr. George Hoch, ordered, that the salary be increased from £-{.J to guineas per year. Mr. James Summers expressed himself satisfied with (lÓ augmentation. COUNTY ROADS' BOARD. On the irotion of Mr. George IUKII, Nir. George Rowe was ejected to fili the vacancy at the County Roads' ttward, occasioned by the appointment of Mr. John H. Phihpps, as chairman of he Quarter Sessions, whereby he became an ex-officiu member of the Board. Mr. James Summers, the clerk of the County Roads' Board then applied, at the request of the Board, for a grant d' £ lo0 pet- year ou'. of the county stock, by way of composition to the Board. Lr repairing and keeping in repair the roads over the bridges, ua the turnpike roads of the county, and the approaches to such bridges, extending one hundred \ards each side thereof. After a long discussion, and two divisions on the subject, — first, on the question whether any composition should be offeree- and then, as to how much it "huuld Le,-it was resolved to uffer Hie County Roads' Board the sum of £50 a-year for the intended purpose. COUNTY HALL. The Chairman moved the following resolutions in reference to the county hall :—■ That the general management of the county hall be vested in a committee of magistrates of the county of Pembroke. That the use of the hall be granted to the magistrates of r I.e county of Pembroke, or to the magistrates of the town of Haver- fordwest. for all such purposes of public business as it lias hitherto been applied to. That a discretionary power be vested in the said committee, or any three of them, for granting the use of the hail for such public meetings as do not involve the introduction of boards or scaffold- ing likely to be injurious to the building, or of eatables and drink- ables into the hall. 1, That the committee be empowered to fix any scale of remu- neration to the at.endunt for the u-e of the hail. That the following gentlemen be appointed members of the committee, namely, the Chan-man, the Rev. Thomas Martin, J. LI. Morgan, Esq., Geo. Roch, Esq., Geo. Rowe, Esq., James Higgon, Esq., J. LI. Philipps, Esq., E. T.iassey, Esq., and the IL Rev. W. Watts Hurries." These resolutions were carried unanimously. DUNGLEDDY LOCK-UP HOUSE. The Rev. Thomas Martin moved that a lock-up home for Duu- gleddy be provided and ihat a committee, to consi-t of Mr. Mar- tin, Mr. Massey, Mr. Rowe, Dr. Morgan, and the Rev. Watt' Harries, be appointed to inquire and report as to an appropriate site for the same. Carried unanimously. L CK-UP HOUSE FOIt ROOSE. On the motion of Mr. George RClch, the sum of £255 was or- dered for the erection of this lock-up house. CHARGE AGAINST JOHN MEYIlICK, SUPERINTENDENT C0NST.V3I.il OF NARBERTH DISTRICT. Mr. J. L. Lewis called the attention of the magistrates to two charges of misconduct, which he was under the necessity of prefer- ring against Mr. Superintendent Meyries. The first case w.n a breach of the peace, committed by Meyrick, which had been lie. d before the magistrates of the hum1 red of Narberlh; and oil Mevrkk being called on for his defence to the charge, he acknowledged 3 having committed the assault, but said there were circumstances in the case which he would bring forward on another occasion. After hearing the case, the justices were of opinion that it was oi.e t". of so aggravated a nature, th_ct they determined to send it to tie Quarter Ses,ious, A bill had accordingly been prepared to-day befoie ihe grand jury, but they had ignored it. That circum- stance, however, did not prevent their investigating the conduct f Meyrick in the mailer, as the servant of the county, and it was with that view that he (Mr. L.) brought the case before the court. The next charge against Meyrick was one made by a woman ziain, (I Elizi-ib. th James, who stated, that in January last she hid been robbed in Narberth market of 1:2 12s. She told .Meyrick of the rubbery, and pointed out to him the person who was suspected of having committed the offence. Meyrick then took the party' lrl,u custody, but found nothing on him, on which he was dis- charged. Me) rick afterwards saw the woman who h id beui robbed, and asked her how much she would g.ve him if he got the money back. She promised himoa., and subsequently he returned her part of he money, and .-he gave him the 5s. The Chairman here suggested that the charge against Meyrick should be referred to a committee of the magistrates, who woutd investigate the same, and 'eport thereon to the COUit. A conversation then uro,e umong the magistrates as (o the course, to be pursued, and at length it. was determined to refer the matter to an open committee of the justices for investigation, and report, as suggested by the Chairman. The commitUe to sit imme- diately. Mr. Meyrick, during file time the case was before the court emphatically denied ttie truth "f the charges brought against him'' At a later hour of the day, the report of the committee was read by the Chairman. It stated, that after investigation, the committee were of opinion that the charge of misconduct against Merrick was fully substantiated, and they recommended that he be, from the office of superintendent constable. The Chairman moved that the report be adopted, and that Mer- rick be accordingly dismissed. '• Cairied unanimously. It was further oitiered, that in accordance with the rules for tjlp regulation of ths constabulary, be requested to deli r up ad the articles of dress and appointments given to him b" f e county, and that a superintendent constable pro tern, be at,(,o'm d for the IN arberth district.. Notice was aLo given that, at the next Quarter Sessions th- magistrates wo aid proceed to appoint another supeirntendent eon- stable, in the room oi Meyrick. T h IAL OF PRISONERS. Elizabeth Picton, aged 15, pleaded Guilty to an indictment for hav.ng, on the 27th Marebjaot, at the parish of Uzmaston, stole.tl one shawl, the properly of Elizabeth Phillips. Sentence, vine month's imprisonment. Ihe same prisoner was indicted for stealing an umbrella the property of John Leonard, on the same day. e;d;ei, Guilty. Sentence, one month's impiisonment. Thos, live,s, aged lti, pleaded CuLity to an indictment for stefl l- ing a-quantity of_ breud and cheese and a handkerchief, the pro- perty (.1 James Williams. Sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour. the mothfrof the last prisoner, waseharppd with having received the gikids stolen by her son, well knuWiU" them to h.ive been stolen. ° Verdict, Guilty. Senteuce, one calendar month's imprisonment. Anne Evans, ihe wife of James Ev«us, otherwise Amir Pro. theroe, was indicted for having, on iiioilth Mar- h hist, at the parish ut Si. Dogweib, stolen lour gallons of potatoes, the prooerty of Joshua Price. 1 Verdict, Guilty. Sentence, three calendar months' l.aru labour. This euded the business of the sessions.

The following gentlemen were sworn on the GlLSD JURY. Nathaniel Llewellyn, Cowbridge, foreman. Thos Barnes, St. Athans. Jas. Reynolds, Cowbridge. John Dunne, Oulraedy. Thomas Lister, Cowbridge. David Pritchard, Cow bridge. T'lomas Lewis, Cowbridge. David Itees, Cowbridge. J Evan Jones, Marseward. David Spencer, Fle.uiugstone. Thomas Williams. John Sands, Herbert Farm. John James, St. Mary's-Church. i Rob. Huwe, St. Mary's Church. William Spencer, St. Mary's Church. John Henry Davies, Llan- sannur. John Thomas, St. Mary's Church. Benj. Price, FlaIlllas Richd. Price, Great Frampton. Win. Hurdee, Penylan. Christ. Spencer, St. Atbans. Gilead Speneer, St. Athans. During the reading of what is termed the "proclamation against vice and immorality," -a document very good in iisalj', but which is become a perfect farce,—R. Nicholl Game, Esq., entered the Court. He then addressed,the grand jury, and after referring to the absence of Henry Thomas, the deputy-chair- man, he congratulated the jury on the lightness of the calendar. Twelve months ago at the last session? held at Cowbridge, there were fi-o-ii fifty to sixty prisoners, while on the present occasion there were only thirteen. There were seven of them from Cardiff, but lie were of a very trivial character, the amount of property stolen for which they were charged did not exceed £2 8s. 6d. All the cases were simple, and required no observations from him. There was one, however, to which he would call the attention of the jury, namely, that of obtaining monev under false pretences. They should be satisfied that the prisoner obtained the money under the pretence of some existing fact—that it was a false pretence, and that he obtained it by reason of that false pretence. The evidence was of a prima facie oharacter. If they found a bill, and the prisoner was acquitted, he could not afterwards be tried for the offence, although further evidence was obtained against him. The Chairman concluded by reqUCSLilig the j Lil-Y to take dis- tant cases first. 'lihe grand jury then retired, and the magistrates adjourned to the adjoining room for the transaction of COUNTY BUSINESS. The Clerk of the Peace read the REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. At a mecting. of the Finance Committee, held ut Pyle Inn, on Thursday, the 29th day of March, 18-19, "Sin GEORGB TYLEK, Kat., in the chair,— The several bills relating to the ordinary expenditure of the last quarter, amounting to £ 1,690 2s. Bd., have been examined by your com nittee, aad found correct, and they recommend the same to be paid. An account of expenses incurred by the governor of the County Gaol at Cardiff, in the recapture of two felons, who had escaped from such prison, amounting to £21 18s. lOll., has also been laid before your committee, but they have declined recommending- the li,lx,-nic.it thereof, and suggest that the Court should make inquiry into the circumstances attending sacli escape. The yearly accounts of Mr. Richards, the treasurer, have been examined and found correct a balance of £4,315 las. Old is due by him to the county. Your committee having estimated the expenditure of the en- suing half-year, and taken into account the sums which will, during the sallle period, be repaid by the treasury, have agiliu to recom- mend that no county rate be granted this sessions. "Your committee find the expenditure of the county in the years 1S11 to 1848 inclusive, to have been as follows:- 18-14 £ 7,324 1845 6,450 18-1-6 7,796 184 7 £ 11,826 184 8 14,978 That tli;, costs of the county b idges were, in 1846, EGO 1847, £ 17; 1848, £ 2.53. That the clerk of peace's bills, exclusive of his salary, amounted to—1844, £ 223 1845, £ 240 1846, £ 236 1847, £ 215 1,818, 1:156. W The items of charge in-the coroners' accounts have been strictly investigated, and in the following years amounted to—1844, X604 1845, £ 753; 1813, £ 338; 1847, £ 761 1843, £ 757. During the past year, her Majesty has approved of the divi- sion of th;>. county into three coroners' districts. The expenses of prosecutions at assizes and quarter sessions Were as fullows :— Assizes. Quarter Sessions. 1844 £ 982 £ 1,015 "I" 1845 765 1,018 1846 846 1,442 18 L7 1,194 2,745 1848 1,276 2,889 11 The prosecutions in which the county paid costs, were as tol- 1 „ Assizes. Aver. Costs. Qr. Sess. Aver. Costs. 1844 56 X18 106 Elo 1845 41 19 104 10 1840 44 19 131 11 IS-17 74 Hi 2Rl 10 1848 id 17 3oo 9 The buildings and repairs ot county prisons were— Cardiff. Swansea. 1845 £ 6 19 9 £ 7 10 9 1846 62 14 10 228, 0 10 1847 2 11 11 1175 8 0 1848.295 2 4 1203 13 1 1 In -the vear 1846 an extension of the House of Correction at Swansea was contracted for at £2,250 which has been paid for, and fcther improvements have been made to such prison. At the last sw-sdons it was resolved to purchase the ground adjoining to prevent the erection of buildings under the walls of the prison; and the towu-co .ucil of Swansea have since agreed to sell such land to the county at the sum of £ 220, subject, however, to a reservation of froad 30 feet wide, for which the council propose to pay £ 20; the land is also subject to outstanding leases. "Your committee having carefully considered the subject, and having been attended by a committee appointed by the Town- Council, recommend that the purchase be made on the terms pro- pose^ but that no expense be at present incurred by inclosing the same with walls. Your committee report the infirmary for females at the county gaol to have been completed. "Your committee have also to report an increase of the salaries of the Governor of the House of Correction at Swansea, and the surgeons of both county prisons during the last year. The visiting justices of the county gaol have also been em- powered to appoint a female turnkey at the county gaol, if they should think fit. The sillarie at the several county prisons are as under in :— Giiol. Hoiue of'Correction. Governor. £ 300 JE200 Matron 20 20 Chaplain 10 10 Surgeon 80 80 r.,)r"II oilicine, 10 10 The salary of the county surveyor has also-been increased to ^100 per annum. The number of commitments to the several prisons were in— For Trial Un nummary convictions. 1844 107 228 at Cardiff. 96 130 at Swansea. 1815 98 272 at Cardiff. 78 940 at Swansea. 1843 141 207 at Cardiff. i3- 88 at Swansea. 1847 257 309 at Cardiff. 135 183 at Swansea. 1S48 221 349 at Cardiff. 144 ige, at Swansea. 1 he average cost of maintaining prisoners at the several count}' prisons has been as under :— At Cardiff. At Swansea, < 1844 £ 4 19 4 £ 117 31 1845 4 18 7i 5 8 o.J 1 1S46 6 8 8J 6 13 2 1847 6 2 5 8 2 10 1 1848 6 0 3 7 1 (!{ Your committee request the attention ol the court to the dif- ference in the dietary in use at the several county prisons, and p«eonm»end that it should be assimilated, and that the dietary of the e°unty gaol be adopted at the house of correction. The salary of the inspector of weights and measures for the Bounty gaol be adopted at the house of correction. The salary of the inspector of weights and measures for the Cardiff distriet has also been increased to E20 per annum on account (I br travelling expenses incurred by him in the exercise of his office. Your committee find a road rate of lgths of a penny in the P°uud, producing £ 3,661 9s., will be required. o GEOIIGE TYLER. Chairman." EXPENDITURE FROM EPIPHAXY TO EASTEK, 1819. Gaol. House of Correc. Total. T^'dut.eiiance of prisoners £ 212 13 9 £ 183 19 7} ^'dental expenses 104 3 10 157 0 3 Varies of governor, ma- chaplain, -stir- •" Seou, turnkeys, "Denuding expenses of j p.-iso.,iers 229 18 5.1 GO 8 G i c,, £ 546 16 £ 541 8 4-J £ 1,088 4 5 I <>f peace, and his bill for business done 93 6 8 [ °fcintrs' fees and expenses—Messrs. Collins, Cuth- f t, ltsoili Overton, fleece, and Verity 226 0 11 r j^-iutics-T— for maintenance of pauper.lunatics 29 18 0 ^tiag mid stationery 2v 3 0 "b' Treasurer, his year's salary. 109 0 0 .140 19 6 Coke—his attendance as deputy clerk of peace, | "k't>iphaiiy Sessions;.1849 9 9 0 Total £ 1,712 1 6 t SWANSEA HOt'SiMiF CORRECTION. tjjV resolved that a committee be appointed to carry out e -jeet proposed hi the report of the finance committee. THE LATE ESCAPE OF PRISONERS FROM CARDIFF GAOL. Sir G. Tyler c.illed the attention of the magistrates to the expenses attending the capture of the two prisoners who escaped from Cardiff gaol some months since, and hoped they would investigate into the matter. The prisoners hacf escaped from the infirmary while Mr. Wood, the governor, was taking convicts for transportation to London. ° Mr. J. Bruce Pryce and Mr. Coffin disapproved of the course pursued, but recommended the allowance of the expenses. Mr. Talbot said, that if the absence of the governor was a sufficient excuse,it would form a bad and dangerous precedent Mr. Wood, on being called upon, explained the circumstances under which the escape took place. It apoears that it is the practice of the g tol to elmpoy prisoners to wait on sick prisoners but he had giv.n no instructions to his turnkey to employ the parties who had escaped. This was the first instance an escape had been effected except one which had occurred when the gaol was building. Mr. Coffin asked Mr. Wood if it was the duty of the Gover- nor to take convicts away himself. ° Mr. Wood said that it was so, and that he had a printed order to that effect from the Secretary of State. Mr. Booker said that the state of Cardiff gaol was highly discreditable to the county. There were upwards of one hun- dred prisoners at one time confined in it, where there was only accommodation for fifty. He thought there was great credit due to the governor for the order and discretion lie observed under the circumstances. He gave the following statistics of the present condition of the prison — No, MAI.ES. 21 cells, 6 feet by 8 feet, 1 prisoner in each. 5 do. 8 „ by 14 „ 6 do. do. 8 do. 8 by 10 „ 3 do. do. FEMALES. 8 eelis, 8 feet by 10 feet, 3 prisoners in each 3 do. 10 „ by 11 „ 3 do. do.' touch a state of tilings, he continued, should not be tolerated. lie hoped they would pause ere they disallowed the expenses for the capture of the prisoners. lIe was to some extent im- plicated in this matter, as he had (being high sheriff at the time) increased the reward offered from £ 10 to L20. He would spare the asking them to reimburse him, unless they thought the circumstances justified his doing so. Sir peorge Tyler referred to an observation which fell from Mr. Booker, that since the visiting magistrates had recom- mended the payment of the expenses, they ought to have been paid. They have to report and give their opinion on the bills brought before theri they did so in this instance but if they are not to exercise their .discretion, their duties would become useless. ■Mr. Booker was far from reflecting on the committee. He thought the subject was n proper one for investigation, and was glad it had been brought before them, but he thought the »lsiting. magistrates must have been in possession of evidence which the committee at Pyle could not have had -lir. T. E. Thomas then proposed, and Air. Jeimer seconded, that the bills be allowed. Agreed to. PKISOJv DIET. S.i Geo. Tyler called attention to the diet of the two prisons. ie average cost ot the maintenance of each prisoner at Swansea was 20s. 3d more than at Cardiff. He could see no reason why the diet in the two prisons should not be-the same. Mt-. T. E(lw. Tilomas said that Bl- Bird, the surgeon of the prison, had allowed meat to the prisoners in consequence of the prevalence of scurvy, A long and able report by Dr. Bird on the subject was then read by the clerk. Mr, Talbot said that Dr. Bird had not shown any peculiar cir- cumstances connected with Swansea requiring the distinction which existed between the diet uf the two prisons. Mr. J. Bruce Pryce said that most of the beef was consumed by the Duteher Liniself 4d. per pound was paid for shin beef, which was a most extravagant price. Not more than 4Jd. per pound 0 2 could be obtained for a whole beast; it was therefoie extravagant to pay-4d. for such inferior quality. Mr. Booker: How are the contracts made Mr. T. E. Thomas Quarterly. After some further conversation on the subject, which afforded considerable merriment, Mi. Coffin said ihat. be wished to avoid the shin beef discussion altogether, and proposed the diet should in future be the same at Swansea as at Cardiff. The proposition was seconded by G. Llewellyn, Esq., and carried. 1 COUNTY HATE. The clerk announced that there would be no county rate re- quired this quarter. ROAD RATE L Mr, Dalton said that a rate g of a penny would be required for the use of the county roads board. After a few observations from Mr. Booker, relative to the large decrease in the receipts from tolls, the rate was ordered. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The clerk read the report of the county surveyor, which gave a detailed account of the state of the various bridges in the county. Mr. Booker complimented the surveyor on his comprehensive report. POLICE. A conversation took place relative to the Aberavon lock-up, wli 'ell is in a most inefficient state. In reply to a question from s -n Mr. Coffin, Capt. Napier said that it was generally very crowded, and the cell sometimes under water. No resolution was come to on the subject. A rate tor the following items was ordered to be levied in the several districts :—■ £ s. d. Merthyr district 165 5 1« Newbridge 227 16 fit °&more i(ic i si Sw»a £ ea 179 9 104 MKRTHYR STIPENDIARY MAGISTRACY. The report of the expenditure connected with this office was read by Mr. Dalton. Ihe estimated expenditure for next quarter was £360. A rate was ordered to raise £ 107 2s. 5d. on the pa- r.shes comprised within the district, there being a balance of E306 in hand. DRAINAGE OF CARDIFF GAOL. Mr. Coffin applied for the suspension of the standing orders pro- hibiting the granting of money without giving three months' notice, in order to enable him to apply for a grant, of f\J2, for the drainage of Cardiff gaoi. The refuse of the prison now ran through a part of the town called Newtown, to the serious injury of the health ot the iiih,tb.taiits. It was once thought to have an open drain to the sea, but that was objected to by the agents of Lord Bute. The system which he proposed to be adopted was that lately invented by Mr. Mofrat. which has been found to work well else- where, The iefu.se of the gaol would by moans of it be converted into profitable manure, which in the course of fourteen years would repay the expenses incurred in the outlay. So confident was he of the efficacy of the plan, that he would have no objection to incur the expense himself, provided they granted him a lease on it. M'. Boorier had gteat confidence in the plan proposed by Mr Coffin. Mr. BTue Pryce also exprpqpdhis approbation. Sir G. Tyler "QuId be glad to join .1.1r. Coffin* in the en Excre- ment. ° o Mr. Franklen proposed that Mr. Coffin's offer be accepted He thought it a safer course than to try a new theory, the success of wnich had yet to be proved. The Rev. B. T. Tyler seconded the proposition. Mr. Booker wished to know whether or not they had a right to grant a lease on such a material (laugntarj. The clerk of the peace said, no. The proposition of Mr. Franklen was put and lost. After some considerable discussion, it was agreed that the stand- ing orders be suspended, and the sum of £02, and f5 for the patent, be granted for the purpose named. TOUTING." Sir George Tyler called attention to the large expense of prose- cutions. He had heard that very disreputable means -vere adopted by certain members of the legal profession to get up prosecutions. He wished to have the system reprobated and discountenanced. He believed it was called touting." The Chairman could not see how they could prevent it. Mr. J Bruce Fryce denominated slkh persons vermin who were found on the steps of town-halls and entrances to courts of justice, where they resorted to very disgraceful means of getting prosecutions. He hoped the Chairman would reprobate xuf-h de- graded and unprofessional conduct. The Chairman felt obliged to Sir George Tyler for. bringing the subject forward, and he felt sure he was stating the opinions of the magistrates in reprobating such prnc tire (hear). PUBLIC' ROADS nri.4r. rr, Talbot said that the differed materially from the one on which he sat last year. It was a lump of sugar like that given by Sir Robert Peel on the repeal of itio He ur^ed the magistrates to pause ere they petition in favour of this expensive bill. Mr. Booker fully coincided in the remarks made by th» Lord Lieutenant. He referred to the South Wales Act, and said that Lieutenant. He referred to the South Wales Act, and said that the tolls in the county had since the passing of that act decreased upwards of £ 4,000. The receipts in 1841 amounted to £ 13,488, whereas in 1848 they only reached £ 9.100. The management had been taken out of their hands, and placed in the County Roads Board's. He thought they had better remain as they were than flee to ills they knew not of. Sir Ceorge Tyler had read the act with attention, and was sorry to differ from Mr. Talbot and Mr. Booker. They knew the ills under which they laboured then, and he thought they had better not repudiate it altogether. Mr. Coffin said, that from the experience he had had in connexion with turnpike trusts during the last fourteen years, he was sur- prised the county had been so supine as to permit Sir F. Lewis to placa.them in that gulf. From all he knew of the new act. he would recommend them to wait until they saw how it worked in England. Mr. Talbot said he had heard it said in the House of Commons that it had worked well in South Wales (marks of disapprobation). VISITING M AGIST KATES. On the motion of Mr. Hooker, Sir Geo. Tyler was added to the visiting magistrates of the Cardiff gaol. Sir Geo. Tyler was also added to the Swansea list, on the motion of Mr. T. E. Thomas. The magistrates then adjourned to the Hall, for the