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CARDIFF COUNTY COURT.
CARDIFF COUNTY COURT. The usual court was held in the Town-hall, last Friday. The following were the principal cases:- INJURY INFLICTED BY THE BITE OF A D3G. JAMES CHAPPELL V. SOLOMON MARKS.—This action was brought before the Court at the last sitting, but a technical objection having been raised by Mr. Phillpotts, on behalf of the defendant, which proved fatal, it was brought before his ho- nour to-day by Mr. Bird in another and different form. The first action was to recover the sum of X2, for that a dog belonging to the defendant had bit the plaintiff, a lad of about 13 years of age, causing injuries which were the means ot com- pelling him to keep his bed for seven weeks, and thereby incur- ring medical expenses to the amount of £ 1 3s. 6d., the remainder being considered as for necessary attendance in nursing, &e. The lad, it appeared, was passing the house of the defendant in Oct. last, and the dog, known to be the defendant's, flew at him and bit him in the leg. A witness, named Laxton, stated that the plaintiff was his nephew, and he (witness) had acted towards him for some time in the stead of a father, receiving all his earnings, and also maintaining him. He recollected the lad being injured by a dog one morning, whilst he (witness) was sitting at breakfast. He was brought home by a person named Rosser, and finding his nephew injured, directly he (witness) had finished his breakfast he called upon Marks to inquire into the matter, and the defendant (Solomon Marks) acknowledged to him that the dog was his, and that he kept it for the protection of his property, amongst which were many valuable articles. Rosser told him (witness) when he brought the boy home that it was not long since the dog had bitten an- other person. Witness told Marks that as he must be aware the dog was in the habit of biting people, it was his duty to keep it tied up. Marks then said that the animal belonged to his son. It was Dr. Evans that had attended the plaintiff, and the bill he sent in was for medicine, &c., from October 6th to November 26th. Mr. Phillpotts cross-examined the witness for the purpose of showing that the bill charged the expenses of the affair to Samuel Marks, the defendant's son, who, he contended, was the proper owner of the dog, but in this he failed. Mr. Bird then called Jane Rosser, who knew the dog to be a quiet animal if left alone, but was somewhat accustomed to get cross when interfered with by strangers, or when strangers went near it. On cross-examination she said that she could go near the dog herself, and had frequently done so without receiving any injury. She had also been told by Marks that the dog was his son's property. Father and son lived toge- ther. Mr. Phillpotts then addressed the Court at some length, al- luding first to the wording of the summons. He then con- t nded that the dog had been clearly proved by evidence not to belong to the defendant, but to his son and, therefore, that son being more than twenty-one years of age, his father was not at all responsible. Mr. Bird said that he was willing to abide his honour's deci- sion with regard to the wording of the summons, but with re- gard to the concluding portion of Mr. Phillpotts' defence, even allowing that the defendant was not (as he. Mr. P., asserted) the owner of the dog, yet the law upon the subject was so framed as to include not only the responsibility of the actual owner, but went on further to state that any person, encourag- ing or allowing a dangerous animal to lurk about their premises, was equally liable for an infringement of the laws which pro- tected society. His honour having overruled the first objection, considered the defendant liable, and gave judgment accordingly. Mr. Bird then brought his second action on behalf of the same plaintiff, and against the same defendant, for the sum of E3, because that his client had been prevented by the accident from attending to or transacting business. Mr. Phillpotts wished to know why Mr. Bird had not brought the action under the head of one summons, and thereby pre- vented the expense of a second. Mr. Bird said that at the last Court Mr. Phillpotts had chosen to overthrow his case upon the ground of a technical objection, and without at all testing its merits upon the facts as produced in evidence. He had, therefore, 111 his legal discretion, deemed I it the only prudent way under the circuihstances in which to proceed. Mr. Phillpotts said that he did not wish to dispute the fact of the dog having bitten the plaintiff, and that very severely, for which accident he felt sorry for both parties. He, however, would ask Mr. Bird why he had now sued his client for £ 3, when at the last Court the same items were summed up in the amount of £2 7s. 6d. Mr. Bird informed the Court that Mr. Phillpotts had, as he before stated, overthrown the case not on the ground of justice, but merely on that of legal technicalities, by which means his client had been put to some expense, which he (Mr. B.) consi- dered only fair should be repaid to them. Mr. PI) lipotls did not object to the £ 2 7s. 6d., and requested that the sum should be reduced to that amount, Mr. Bird at first refused, but upon some conversation taking place between those gentlemen, in which his honour joined, Mr. Bird submitted to the proposition of Mr. Phillpotts, and the case was settled. A RECEIPT FOR MONEY NO PROOF OF PAYMENT. MILES V. JONES.-Tliis was an action to recover £ 1, the ba- lance of an account. Mr. Lewis Reece defended. The plaintiff said that Jones formerly owed him £3 10s. 4d., to procure the payment of which he sent an apprentice in his employ. He got as much as E2 Os. 4d. of the defendant, but had given a receipt for JE3 Os. 4d., which was the cause of the dispute. He had frequently sent for Jones, and had called upon him for the purpose of talking the matter over, and he had repeatedly promised to come to some arrangement, but had as often broken them. The remaining 10s. was paid at another time. The apprentice explained the transaction. He went, as stated, to the house of the defendant for the payment of the debt. £2 and the odd 4d. was paid, leaving SOs. On receiv- ing it lie gave a receipt, and afterwards entered the amount he had taken into his master's account-book. It was when Jones was called upon for the remaining sum that Mr. Miles disco- vered the mistake. Mr. Reece cross-examined the witness very minutely respect- ing his business-like habits, for the purpose of showing to the Court whether or not it was likely so egregious an error could have been made. The receipt was then handed to his honour, and was for the jE3 Os. 4d. Mr. Miles said that he had every reason to believe the young man to be very honest, for he had had frequent proofs of his being so. The idea that it was an innocent mistake had been strengthened by the fact of the defendant evading all conversa- tion on the subject. His honour had no hesitation, under all the circumstances, in agreeing that it was a mistake on the part of the plaintiffs assistant, whom he hoped would be more careful in future. As such was his opinion, he should order the money to be paid. THE MAKRIED STATE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST HAPPY. JONES V. MORGAN.—This was an action to recover £ 1 16s, Id. for goods. Mr. Bird appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. L. Reece for the defendant. The plaintiff stated, in the year 1818 he kept a grocer's shop in this town, and supplied the defendant with goods. lie de- livered to him a bill for those goods on the 17th June, in that year, when he then owed him £ 2 IGs. Id. On the 25 th July defendant paid £ 1, and promised to pay the remainder as soon as he could. About six or eight months afterwards plaintiff saw him again, when he found that he had completely altered his mind, and refused positively to pay it-a vow he had not broken since. In cross-examination the plaintiff stated, that;" he was now a mariner, but formerly kept a grocer's shop, eat- ing-house, and beer-house, in Whitmore-lane, He knew the defendant's wife at that time, and she used to come to his shop for goods. Her husband (the defendant) told him once not to trust his wife with beer, which he did not do after he had been told not to. Mr, Reece alluded to the character of the plaintiff s house in terms of the highest censure. The defendant said that his wife was continually in the plaintiffs house. He had a little back room, where' she used to go with all sorts of company, but more especially with one in particular—a young man who had taken her away from him — when they used to go out and drink together at his (the de- fendant's) expense. On the 12th April she took away all her clothes from his house, and he then went to the plaintiff's house and told him not to trust her. Her conduct was very hurtful to the feelings of him (the defendant), who refrained entirely from intoxicating drinks, and had done so for the last 12 years. He could assure his honour that the debt was for cooked meat, drink, and extravagancies of his wife. This the plaintiff positively-denied, and produced his bOO)1 with entries in it, made against the defendant for groceries. He (the plaintiff) had never sold any beer to the defendant's wife after he had been requested by him not to do so. The .debt was not for cooked meat, but for tea and groceries. Mr. Reece Yes, as much as it was for an elephant or a tiger (laughter). His honour having looked at the case, considered that the defendant was liable. JAMES v. WYNN.—This was an action to recover the sum of £ 20. Mr. Bird appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Williams, of Usk. for the defendant. The plaintiff, who was a mason, stated that he had been employed by the defendant, who was a contractor for some houses at the Bute docks, and also for buildings at Treforest. He had kept an account of the work he had done for Mr. Wynn, which amounted in full to £71 16s. 8d., a portion of which had been paid, leaving a debt still owing of £ 21 J 2s., which had been reduced to the £ 20, to bring it within the jurisdiction of the Court. He (the plaintiff) had applied for payment, but had been refused. The defendant stated that he did not owe the money to the plaintiff alone. There was another person equally concerned, ana he wished to avoid the probability of being sued again. He did not attempt to deny the fact of the work being done, but he certainly disputed the amount charged, He had a wit- ness to prove .that the debt was not due in full, and a surveyor on the part of the other workman. Jas. Haven had measured the work, and said that the charge was too much. A deal of conversation ensued respecting the matter, and his honour, seeing that it was a case which could be more comfort- ably settled between the parties than by himself, advised them to adopt that plan, and adjourned the action for that purpose. AN UNTHANKFUL DEBTOR. MARKS V. JENKINS.—This was a summons on a previous judg- ment, and a commitment would have been ordered had not the plaintiff interceded most strenuously on behalf of Jenkins that his honour would give him another trial. The defendant pleaded great poverty, and excused himself of work on the ground that he had a bad leg. The plaintiff denied the de- fendant's possession of a leg so bad as stated, and told the Court that he certainly limped a little always, but he did so to an extreme on that day. The defendant stated most positively that his leg was in a most dreadful condition, and challenged any medical man to state otherwise. His honour Is there any medical man in Court ? The defendant Here's Mr. Harris, who has seen me dress my leg he can tell in what state it is. His honour: Let Mr. Harris stand up. His honour looking at him, and perceiving that it was one of the bailiffs of the Court, said "Are you a surgeon?" (laughter). Mr. Harris No, sir. His honour: Then you may sit down what can you know about bad legs (laughter) ? Mr. Marks still interceding on behalf of Jenkins, his honour stated his willingness to suspend the order for commitment for a short period, to enable him to pay a portion of the debt, telling him that he had to thank the plaintiff for the leniency towards him. The parties then left, but before another case had hardly com- menced; a scuffle was heard in the hall, and two officers were despatched to bring before his honour the guilty parties. However, they returned without them, and, after receiving a hint of disapproval of such conduct from his honour, again started, and after a slight absence returned into Court with Messrs. Jenkins and Marks. His honour of course was anxious to know the why and wherefore of the disturbance, when Mr. Marks stated, under feelings of visible nervousness, that when he left the Court the defendant said something to him about having paid for some hair, and immediately lifting his walk- ing stick, struck him across the head. Of course his ire was somewhat excited, and an attempt was at once made by him to get the stick from his opponent, and a scuffle ensued but the knight of the bad leg proved stronger than expected, and Mr. M. found himself lying on the floor with his opponent on the top of him. The defendant, whether from fear of punishment or from over-exertion in competing with Mr. Marks, appeared almost incapable of breathing. He excused his conduct on account of the irritability of his temper, and hoped his honour would over- look it this time. His honour, however, did not exactly feel in- duced to permit a case,, not only of contempt to his Court, but also an outrage committed upon an individual who had been the means of preventing him (the defendant) from being im- prisoned, told Jenkins that he had rendered himself liable to a fine of £5 for this unheard-of conduct. The sound of the £5 seemed to render the lame man more sensible of his position, and he at once commenced beseeching his honour to show him every leniency—in fact, to overlook his conduct, which seemed somewhat to have a slight effect upon the charitable feelings of Mr; Marks, who once more commenced pleading in the behalf of his antagonist. This was listened to by his honour, who, ever willing to take the side of mercy, said that, as Mr. Marks had so kindly interceded for him, he would do what he could but he wished Mr. Jenkins fully to understand that he as judge could not allow such outrages as that which had just occurred to take place in any Court ever which he had to preside. He, however, would this time allow the parties to leave the Court—a permission which they immediately took advantage of. Several cases of summonses on previous judgments were dis- posed of by committal, and the Court, which disposed of many cases throughout the day of minor interest, broke up about nine o'clock.
GLAMORGANSHIRE EASTER QUARTER…
GLAMORGANSHIRE EASTER QUARTER SESSIONS Commenced at Cowbridge, on Tuesday at ten o'clock, before the following Magistrates — HENltY THOMAS, Esq., Chairman. Sir G. Tyler, K.C.B. T. W. Booker, Esq. R. N. Carne, Esq. Hugh Eutwisle, Esq. Robt. Boteler, Esq. li. Frauklen, Esq. M. P. Traherne, Esq. It. Lindsay, Esq. J. Bruce Pryce, Esq. Chas. C. Williams', Esq. II. Austin Bruce, Esq. Cant. Hewett. William Llewellyn, Esq, Rev. J. M. Traherne. (Court Coleman) liev. H. L. Blosse. H. Gwyn, Esq., M.P. Hsv. Itobt. Knight. (Court Coleman) Rev. H. L. Blosse. H. Gwyn, Esq., M.P. Hsv. Itobt. Knight. Win. Keynick, Esq. Ilev. lioper Tyler. Griffith Llewellyn, Esq. Rev. C. It. Knight. Thos. Penrice, Esq. liav. Edwards Harding. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jurv* I THOMAS LEWIS, Foreman. Nathaniel Llewellyn. ¡ Robert Howe. James Barnes. "William Spencer. J. Reynolds. John Thomas. Thomas Lester. Benj. Price! William Morris. ltichard Price. II. Gardner. William Hardy. II. Gardner. William Hardy. Evan Jones. I Chris. Spencer, Thomas Williams. Gilead Spencer. David Spencer. Ilichard Aubrey. J. E. I)aNis. J. James. The proclamation against vice and immorality having been read, the Chairman said the calendar contained about 30 cases, which were of so simple a description, that he felt it would be wasting their valuable time if he attempted to offer any direc- tions respecting them—they requiring only the exercise of their common sense and judgment. There were some cases from Merthyr and Swansea, and in order that some bills may be at once returned, he would direct bills from these places to their consideration. The magistrates then adjourned to the Bear Inn, when the following business was transacted :— CARDIFF GAOL.—The Clerk of the Peace read the report of the justices of the Cardiff gaol, which showed that the present system of dieting had proved of benefit to the prisoners by maintaining them in good health for upwards of thirty years, and that although when compared with the expenses of Swan- sea gaol, which were less, they saw no reason for effecting a change. The surgeon's, chaplain's, and other reports con- nected therewith, were read, but contained nothing of import- ance. Reports similar to the above, in reference to the House of Correction, were next read, and were passed without any observation. REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following report of the Finance Committee, at a meeting held at Pyle Inn, on Thursday, the 4th of April, Sir G. Tyler, Knight, in the chair, was then read Your Committee have carefully examined the several bills re- lating to the expenditure of the last quarter, amounting to £ 1,470 12s. Ijd., of which £ 107 19s. 10,d. is for expenses incurred at the county gaol in an improved process of drainage, which your Com- mittee are informed by the visiting justices of such prison has proved of great benefit to the general health and cleanliness of the esta- blishment, and has, in every respect, confirmed the expectations held out by the patentee. The cost of such drainage has been EIO,9 19s. 10^d., towards which £ 92 was granted at Easter, 1819. The visiting justices recommend that they be empowered to purchase from the patentee the right of permanent use of the patent at such prison. Your Committee find the several accounts (with the exception of a charge by Mr. Cuthbertson, as coroner, for an inquest Oil Eliza- beth Joseph, which inquest, as appears by the police return, was not held by the coroner, but by a person deputed by him for the occasion, he not having appointed a deputy under the statute), to be correct, and recommend them to be paid. The yearly accounts of Mr. E. P. Richards, the treasurer, have been examined and found correct; a balance of £1,281 9s. id. is now due by him to the county. Your Committee having taken into consideration the expenditure for the ensuing half year, find that a rate of one halfpenny in the pound, producing £ 1,126 12s., will be required. The expenditure of the county in the years 1845 to 1850 has been as unde-:—1845, £G,!50; 1846, £ 7,796 1847, £ 11,826 1848, £11,973; 1849, The repairs of county bridges were—1846, £ 60; 1847, E17 1848, £ 253; 1849, E190. The Clerk of Peace's bills, inclusive of his salary, amounted to- 1845, £ 240; 1846, 923-3 1847, £ 215; 1848, £ 156; 1849, £127. The Coroners' bills in the following years amounted to-1845, £ 756; 1846,1:638; 18.7, E761 1818, £767; 1849, X839. The items comprised in their several bills have been strictly investigated,—in some instances charges have been modified, in others disallowed. The increase of works, and the great popula- tion of the county, have materially increased the number of cases requiring the holding of inquests by coroners, but your Committee would recommend that in no case should the expense of an inquest be allowed where death may be caused by pure accident. The expenses of prosecutions at the assizes and quarter sessions have been as under:—Assizes: 1845, £ 765; 1846, £ 846; 1847, £1,194:; 1848, £ 1,276; 1849, £ 1,190. Quarter Sessions: 1845, LI,018 1846, £ 1,442; 1847, £ 2,;45; 1848, 92,889; 1849, £ 2,271. The average costs of such prosecutions were as under Prosecutions at Average Prosecutions at Average Assizes. cost. Sessions. cost. 1845 £ 41 £ 19 £ 104 Lio 1846 44 19 131 11 1847 74 16 281 10 1843 75 17 305 '9 1849 58 20 219 10 The buildings and repairs of county prisons were— 1846 E62 14 10 Ca-ceiff £ 228 0 10 Swansea 1847 2 11 11 „ 1175 8 0 „ 1848 295 2 4 1203 13 1 1849 110 10 1 „ 244 5 8 Your Committee find that the female wards at the House of Cor- rection have not been warmed by the application of hot air as on the male side, and the surgeon of the prison reports the want thereof materially to interfere with carrying out solitary confine- ment, in the winter season, when it is not safe to shut women up day and night in cells communicating with the open air by door- ways, and without fire or warmth within. The cost of such im- provement will not, it is estimated, exceed £45, and they recom- mend that it be carried into effect. The sum of E 220 voted for the purchase of land adjoining the walls of the prison, from the Town Council of Swansea, remains to be paid when the Council are pre- pared to complete the conveyance to the county. No alteration has been made in the salaries of the several county prisons during the past year, but a female turnkey has been em- ployed at the county gaol at a salary of 10s. per week, as autho- rised at Easter, 1848. The visiting justices of the several county prisons recommend an increased salary to the respective head turnkeys. The number of commitments to the several prisons were in- On Summary On Summary For Trial. Convictions. For Trial. Convictions. 1845 98 272at Cardiff 78 94 at Swansea 1846 ..141 207 „ 73 88 11 1847 257 309 „ 135 183 11 1848 221 349 ..144 .190 11 1849 225 317 „ 83 142 11 The average cost of maintaining prisoners at the several county prisons has been as follows:— 1845 £ 4 18 71 at Cardiff £ 5 8 5K at Swansea .1846 6 8 84 „ 6 13 2 1847 6 2 5 8 2 10 1S48 6 0 3 „ 7 1 6H „ 1849 4 13 2 „ 7 16J. „ Tile failure 01 tne potato crops, with the consequent increased price of bread, during the years 1846-7-8, greatly increased the usual average cost of maintenance. The annual certificate signed by the Chairman of the County Roads Board has been laid before your Committee, which renders it necessary that a rate ofE3,661 7s. 4d., or 1, d, in the pound, be raised in aid of the tolls arising- on the turnpike roads of the county. Your Committee having gone through their annual report on the general expenditure of the county, subjoin the following statement for the information of the justices. The attention of your Committee having been drawn to the heavy amount raised as county rates during several years, com- mencing in 1840, have prepared returns from such year to the pre- sent, of the gross amount of payments by the treasurer, the amount of rates raised and of the re-payments, by which the amount of such gross payment has been reduced, thus showing, as nearly as may be for practical purposes, the real expenditure of the county. Gross pymnts Repymnts by Actual Ex- County Rates by Trsrer. Trsry, &c. penditure. raised. 1840. £ 7185 £ 461 £ 6724 £ 5057 1811. 7498 1355 614-3 5395 1842. 8287 1454 6404. 6833 1843. 10011 1785 8226. 7083 1844. 7324 861 6463 6202 1845. 6450. 1043 5407. 5074 1846. 7796. 1762. 6034 4511 1847. 11826 3682. 8144 5638 1848. 14878 6934 8044 10704 1819. 13191 8140 5051 1689 The increased expenditure at Swansea in the year 1847-8 arose from the necessary extension of the prison, which has been ren- dered sufficiently large for all necessary purposes. Your Committee find, that although the costs of prosecutions form a very heavy charge, yet it is such only in appearance as re- gards the county expenditure, as the whole of such expenses, as well as of the maintenance of prisoners after sentence, and the costs of conveyance of those for transportation are repaid by the treasury. Your Committee, therefore, consider it their duty to call the atten- tion of the Court thereto, that the several officers of the county be directed to use every endeavour to keep all such costs and expenses at the very lowest practical amount; and with reference thereto, your Committee have inquired into the expenses incurred in the removal of prisoners for trial from the several prisons to the places at which the sessions are usually held, which expenses are not repaid but form a charge on the county rates, and would be saved if the prisoners in custody at the several prisons at Cardiff and Swansea were tried in those towns, instead of removing them from place to place, as at present. With the same object your Committee have had returns made to them of the expenses of witnesses for attending at sessions during the past three years, and of the probable allowances which would .have been made to them had the suggestion now made been in operation, they find the following sums would have been saved— On Prosecutions. For Hemoval of Prisoners. Total. 184 7 £ 369 E226 £ 595 184 8 521 204 725 1849. 362 191 553 GEORGE TYLER, Chairman. EXPENDITURE FROM EPIPHANY TO EASTER, 1850. Cardiff Swansen house gaol. of correction. £ s. d. £ s. d. Maintenance of prisoners 102 7 5,1 92 6 8 Clothing for prisoners .21 0 0 319 0 Incidentalexpenses. 57 18 8g 55 18 61 Repairs. 167 15 3j 10 1 0 Salaries. 163 14 0 119 0 0 Conveyance of prisoners for trial 41 2 1 41 7 9 Relief to do. 011 dis harge 2 6 6 1 6 9 Removal of convicts (which will be paid by Treasury) 914 0 0 0 0 Calendars at assizes 110 0 110 0 X,567 8 0i 325 9 9 567 8 01 £ 892 17 9.1 Clerk of Peace 81 7 2 Coroners. 202 4 0 Lunatics. 3714 0 Printing and stationery 18 2 0 County Treasurer, his year's salary, £60; as treasurer in police, £ 40 100 0 0 Bridges 123 18 2^ Mr. Coke, his attendance as deputy clerk of peace, Epi- phany sessions, 1850 9 9 0 EI,470 12 11 ESTIMATES POIT- Mids. Quarter Mich. Quarter Salaries at County Prisons £ 270 0 0 zE27000 Maintenance of Prisoners 200 0 0 200 0 0 Incidental Expenses at both Prisons 100 0 0 100 0 0 Clothing of Prisoners 50 0 0 40 0 0 Do. of Turnkeys 35 0 0 0 0 0 Repairs of both Prisons 120 0 0 100 0 0 Clerk of Peace 100 0 0 80 0 0 Printing and Stationery 40 0 0 100 0 0 Maintenance of Lunatics 50 0 0 50 0 0 Coroners' Bills 200 0 0 180 0 0 Prosecutions 500 0 0 400 0 0 Prosecutions at Summer Assizes. 0 0 0 250 0 0 £ 1,665 0 0 ;CI,77000 THE CORONERS' EXPENsEs.The chairman drew attention to a paragraph contained in the finance committee's recom- mendations, that in no case should the expense of an inquest be allowed when death may be caused by pure accident." Sir George Tyler said that it behoved them all, in the administra- tion of their duties on behalf of the county, to keep down their expenditure in every branch as much as possible. He did not think that it was requisite to hold an inquest in every instance, and more especially when it was clearly known that death was occasioned by pure accident. Some little conversa- tion existing as to the discrimination to be made between deaths by accident and design, Mr. Meyrick thought that it might be left to the coroners' discretion, for he was sure that they would not hold inquests if unnecessary. Mr. Robert Knight alluded to the remarks made by Dr. Niclioll at a pre- vious session, that in any cases were bodies should be thrown' up by sea on to a beach, that no inquest should be held on them, unless there were marks of violence discovered on the bo lies. Mr. R. N. Cams thought that inquests were held for the purpose of discovering whether death was, or was not, occasioned by accident. Mr. Bruce Pryce thought that no coroner should hold an inquest unless absolutely necessary. The motion was adjourned until next session. The chairman thought that all coroners" accounts should be sent in quarterly, and that they should not be left over for the following session if they were, it had been suggested that they should not be allowed. Mr. G. II, Yeriry. coroner for Ogmore, in connexion with what had fallen with regard to inquests, would beg to state that the annual num- ber of inquests held in his district did not often amount to more than five or six. There were some quarters when he held no more than one, and frequently none at all. He was most happy to comply with the wish of the magistrates, but requested the liberty of receiving the expenses annually instead of quarterly. The quarter sessions would shortly be removed to the extreme ends of the county, and the favour he asked would be ex- tremely convenient, with regard to the saving him expense. Granted. A rate of one halfpenny in the pound, to raise the sum of £1,126 12s. towards defraying the expenditure for the ensuing half year, was ordered to be made. I The vestry justices of the several county prisons recommended an increased salary to the respective head turnkeys. The propo- sition was that they should receive instead of 18s. per week, the sum of 21s., as it was considered that the lesser sum was not a sufficient remuneration, considering the responsibility attached to such situation. The chairman thought that in considering this proposal the gentlemen should not allow any misplaced economy to weigh their opinion in the matter. The additional expense would not be great, and he thought the question should be whether the increase would add to the efficiency of the gaol. A lengthened conversation ensued, when the proposed increase was negatived by a majority of 8 to 11. COUNTY ROADS EXPENDITURE.—R. Knight, Esq., pointed out the great difference existing in the amount of rates and ex- penses of turnpike roads in Glamorganshire, when compared with that of Carmarthenshire and also that they had to look after 50 miles less of road in the former county, than in the latter. It was shown by the gentlemen present that the traffic was greater and after some conversation the matter was dropped. LUNATICs.-Howell Gwyn, Esq., drew attention to the enormous charges made by Mr. Leach, proprietor of the Britton Ferry lunatic asylum, when compared' with other scales of charges. A resolution to the effect that the charges of Mr. Leach being considered exorbitant, that that gentleman be requested to make a reduction, if not, that some further arrange- ment for the maintenance of lunatics must be made by the magistrates, was carried unanimously. BRIDGES.—The county surveyor reported that the bridge over the Taff river required attention, from the foundation having been shaken by the procedure of the works on the South Wales Railway. Sir George Tyler, W. Coffin, Esq., J. B. Pryce, Esq., and C. C. Williams, Esq., were appointed to inquire into the matter.—One hundred pounds were voted for the repair of Lloughor bridge, a vessel having struck it and damaged it considerably. POLICE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Clerk of the Peace then read the following report of the Police Committee;- Several bills relating to the expenditure of the police force during the last quarter having been examined by your Committee, they find them correct. Your Committee having taken into account the balances of the last quarter's expenditure, the rates now payable, and the pro- bable expense of the next quarter, find the following rates will be reuuired ¿ Merthyr District £ 330 16 3* z, Newbridge 227 16 6j 4 Ogmore „ 166 1 5 1 1 Swansea 179 9 10 J Your Committee -have considered of the present allowance to prisoners confined in the police stations for hearing or sent off to the prisons, and recommend that such allowance be reduced from sixpence to fourpence per pieal they also recommend that the front of the station at Caerphilly be paved, under the superintend- ence of Capt. Napier, and that he also have cupboards put up ia the living room. Your Committee also recommend that the outside walls of the Maesteg station be painted at the proper season, and that the chimney be altered, to prevent the rain falling down. Acting on the suggestion of the treasurer, your Committee re- commend that the moneys forming the superannuation fund now invested in his name, in the Three per Cent. Consols, should be transferred into the names of the lord lieutenant and the chair- man of the quarter sessions for the time being, and that all future moneys be invested in their names. C. R. M. TALBOT, Chairman. The various suggestions made in tW above report were adopted, and the rates indicated ordered to be levied 011 various districts. The accounts of the Merthyr stipendiary magistracy were likewise read and passed. COUNTY ROADS BOARD.-The name of Robert Boteler, Esq., was added to the county roads board, instead of Edward Tra- herne, Esq., deceased. EXPENSES OF MAINTAINING PRISONERS.—J. Bruce Pryce, Esq., directed attention to the circumstance that the expense of ihe maintenance of prisoners was much greater at Swansea than at Cardiff. The average .cost of each prisoner was 50s. more a Swansea than at the Cardiff House of Correction. The Clerk of the Peace said, that the difference for the last quarter was not more, on the average, than 12s. each prisoner. After some discussion, the subject was dropped. ALTERATION OF THE GLAMORGANSHIRE SESSIONS. The next duty of the magistrates was to appoint a day and place for the purpose of taking into consideration the holding of the sessions at Cardiff and Swansea—an alteration which would materially decrease the expenditure of the county. The chairman stated, that it was proposed that the next session of Neath should proceed as usual, but that a day should be appointed previous, for the purpose of considering the necessity of altering the places of holding the sessions. The first alteration would take place at this time next year, and they would then be held at Swansea instead of here." Rev. Robert Knight thought, after what Dr. Nicholl toll him on the subject, at the last sessions, at Cardiff, that the subject was to have been discussed at the present time, but; now it appeared that a special session was necessary. Ho certainly understood that such was Dr. Nicholl's intention. The chairman assured Mr. Knight that he was mistaken. The finance and police committees wished that the Thurs- day previous to the next general sessions should be the day named. Mr. Booker, on looking at the expenses of the county, pro- posed that, a.t this special sessions, such expenditure should he looked into. He had made a calculation of them himself, and he had found them as follows Police, E1,183 2s. 101(i. levied by county rates, county road board, L3,661 7s. 4,1. í total, £ 21,025 10s. 2-Lcl. from which total deduct ES,149, which the treasury repaid, and the net expenditure wosdd be found to amount to £ 12,894. Mr. Meyrick referred to a petition, signed by the inhabitants of Merthyr, which was then laying before the court, and although its prayer was for the removal of the session from Bridgend, &c., to Swansea and Cardiff, yet it was an ex- pression of public opinion, which he considered of some im- portance. lie thought that in making the alteration, they should dispossess themselves of all personal feelingJ) and to that side of the question which promoted proper economy. Every individual would agree with him that it was necessary to consider well any question where a reduction to expendi- ture could be made. The chairman (to Mr. Booker): You do not mean that 1,2 are to go into the whole affairs of the nation (laughter) P Mr. Booker thought that the special sessions would be a cord opportunity for reviewing any expenses which might exist,"and expedient means could then be adopted for a reduction. The chairman was fearful that if they got into general ex- penses that the business of their special sessions would oc.cnp/ a week and not a day. Mr. Booker I cannot help that. Mr. Coffin thought that if the conversation was continue 1 they would find themselves in a labyrinth. In his opinion the proposition of Mr. Booker ought to be taken at a general, and not at a special sessions. Mr. Booker's reason for requesting the incjuiry at the spec:l sessions was, that at the special sessions, generally sP"=: they all had sufficient duties to perform. The chairman was sorry that the court must decide against it, as proper notice had not been given, and advised that measures should be taken for the matter being brought 011 at the next Neath sessions. The petition from Merthyr having been read, the formal- motion, that a special sessions be held on the day of meeting ot the finance committee, which takes place the Thursday pre- vious to the next Neath sessions, at Pyle, was carried. Rev. Robert Knight gave notice that a question to the eJ0:. why the expenses for repairing the roads in the county ot Glamorgan exceeds so much that of Carmarthen, be put tu t ve chairman, or other members of the County Roads Board, at the next Midsummer Sessions to be held at Neath. The magistrates returned to the Tovvn-h :11, when the f, 1- lowing cases were proceeded with :— POWDER MAGAZINE AT NEATH.—An application was made y Mr. Grove for leave to erect a powder magazine on ceit.ii:i