The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

Correspondence. [In no case are we responsible for the opinions expressed in this column.] To the Editor. COLWYN BAY RATES. DEAR SIR,-It appears that the Chairman of the Finance Committee has found out at last that they are under the indignation of not only a very large majority of Colwyn Bay and district rate- payers, but throughout the Country even the English press is indignant at their folly in reducing our beautiful sea-side resort which was fast coming to the front as one of the best in the country when considered in all its bearings Once more Mr Bevan tries to throw the blame on the law and it looks as if he would like to lead the Public to understand that we, have a Public Health Act of our own at Colwyn Bay and has come into torce this financial year of 1893 & 1894 I suppose it is because people cannot understand wby our Local Board are harassing their Ratepayers, wholesale like this, and different to other places. Mr Bevan says in his letter that they must take these proceedings within six month after the demand note as been made in writing and as our rate were made in July this explains why pro- ceedings have been take against the defaulters that cannot pay and them that can but won't and that is why they have summoned hundreds of the ratepayers, because they wanted to have their legal remedy that is to sell these people's goods and chattels for the rates what poor opin- ion they have of their neighbours and what vain glory they have gained to themselves unless the chairman and his finance committee truly believe that every ratepayer that they have summoned was a rogue and did not intend to pay their rates but he says that they the defaulters are unworthy as citizens who had not paid their rates by September 29th last and that they should receive emphatic condemnation and must be very defect in their moral character surely this is strong language and enough to make one bald-headed where the cap fits I trust he intends to include the defaulting members of the board as it is publicly known that several of them had not paid their rates long after the time I wonder has any- one read such fallacious statement what does the Reverend Gentleman and deacons on the board think of themselves under such condemnation again what will the visitors that come here think of us if they believe in what Mr Bevan says. But a little summons paper is mucjh more con- venient to the collector than going about the country for the rates The coersioners who were in the majority on the finance committee were so anxious this financial year that they started on summoning before the 14 days had expired which the Public Health Act demands, and the summons was dismissed again they soon summoned a batch of ratepayers which got dismissed and the remainder withdrawn on account of the water rate and it appears as if summoning is their system this year particularly with them that has exposed some of their deficient so it is not law that induced them. Mr Bevan can explain till doomsday he will never be able to convince the public that this tyrannicial way was required in Colwyn Bay. When the Ratepayers found that this was their policy they made their minds to break its neck in its infancy, Mr Bevan and his party have only themselves to blame for getting into such disgraceful fog, if they had done their duty to the ratepayers half as honourable as the ratepayers had done their part and studied their interest more at the board room and less of their own Colwyn Bay to-day would stand much higher in the estimation of the Government Auditor when He comes the Public, I feel certain that every ratepayer intended to pay their rates as soon as they could or they would have tried to get out of it by employing a lawyer which is quite evident could have won 50 to 75 P. Cent of their cases they had more than one Pig by the ear the only two that had Lawyers to defend them Won what causes the hno..I)Oe c0fntnittee to sum- mons the ratepayers this year more so than the years gone by, Their were a few people last year summoned nine months after the declaring of the rates and they received the same Rates I am not aware of a single gentleman that has employ- ed all their ingenuity to escape bearing their just share of their rates unless he means Mr Aves whom they summoned before the 14 days the law demanded, and that was the finance committee's fault, If Mr Bevan means myself that I published my triumph in my letter which you so kindly published in your paper of January 19th If he is annoyed at that I paid the balance of my rate when my assessment was settled as I promised and no sooner and then I asked why my summons and expenses was withdrawn, I glory in defeating my enemies that first summoned me to a Police Court in my life and I would be delighted if I could make Mr Bevan and his collector to pay the expenses of the court instead of the rate- payers it would soon bring him to his right mind I would like to know why the summoned a Lady that was getting her income in instalments at certain time of the year that had obtained per- mission from the finance committee to pay her rates at a certain time, what benefit was it to the Ratepayers by expose and drag her to the Police Court at Abergele, again why was several women that could ill afford the expence in the first batch of summons that only owed 30s. and 40s. balance on houses rated at £50 and £ ,60 a year and others not summoned who owed 3 and 4 times that amount, again two property owners and lodging House Keepers their district rates about each one that had paid £ 7 was sum- moned the other that had only paid £3 was not summoned another party owed a balance of eighteen pence district rate and 15s. water rate the collector called on the Monday they would be certain to bring the money down to the office on Saturday but during the week they received a summons to appear in the Police Court at such a time on Saturday morning I could give you several cases of the same but I am glad to find that Mr Bevan's tenants that had not paid their rates a few days back has not been dragged to these courts and I hope they will not be as I am certain they will also pay and this is not the only case of favouritism shown in this affair but this does not debar anybody else from paying rates and I hope that the wealthy class will not begrudge paying first as they will not feel any inconvenience in so doing I hope and trust that Mr Bevan and his coercioners colleagues will stick to their policy when next they come before the electors for re-election then we will be able to compensate them for their trouble and anxiety. I all], your &c., Glyndwr, Colwyn Bay, W. DAVIES. Jan. 30th, 1894. [In the above letter, the writer informs us (too late, however, for the corrections to be made), at their folly in reducing our beautiful seaside should read at degrading our beautiful seaside," and towards the close of the letter more than one wrong pig by the ear" should be read instead of the expression used.-ED. W.N.] SIR.—In the three previous issues of the TVeekly News,, there has apeared an advertisment for a Clerk to the Colwyn Bay Local Board-, salary £ 50. I also noticed that, at the last meeting of the Board, it was decided to insert this advertise- ment in some of the leading provincial papers in England. The hurried manner in which the decision was arrived at, does not strike one as though the Board had been fully impressed with the impor- tance of the question they were dealing with. Had the members acted upon Mr Bevan's motion (to adjourn for a week, in order to allow time for consideration), they would have been pursuing a wiser course, and one that would have commended itself in the minds of the ratepayers, as showing that they were anxious to discuss the matter fully to the best interests of the town. To me it seems that selecting a candidate for this office, is a very important duty, and much of the future success and welfare of Colwyn Bay, may be dependent upon it. No one for a moment would wish to say any- thing disparagingly of the valuable services rendered by Mr T. E. Parry, during the many years he has occupied the position, when, however, the place w.as small and comparatively insigni- ficant but has not the time arrived when it may be expected that a Clerk to the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn Local Board should devote more of his time and interest to the duties that are incumbent upon him, than could be looked for from one who has been engaged in so many other similar capacities, and whose non-residence in the town must have been a considerable disadvantage to him ? My object in writing, is to call in question whether the Board is not acting in a penny-wise and a pound-foolish spirit, in offering such a meagre salary for so important a post. It is very clearly stated in the advertisement. and no one would deny the necessity in this case, that candidates must be solicitors, men who have had to earn their position by years of study and training in law. It does not seem to me likely that any solicitor from a distance who is a credit to his profession, is going to apply for the vacancy, and to dispense gratis his legal advice to the Board (and it needs it) for the miserable remuneration of L50 a year, -with the chance of making a respectable living, after having, first of all, given as much of his time as may be required to the services of the town. If the Board had advertised for a gentleman of independent means, and offered him this sum to meet his expenses in sundries, the honour of being Clerk to such a distinguished assembly might be successful in securing a good man, but to expect anyone who is at all worth his salt to devote his time and energies in promoting the interests of Colwyn Bay prior to all other duties, for LSo a year, is an insult to the legal profession. Surely, if the Llandudno Commissioners consider the services of their Clerk to be worth £r5° to them, our Local Board ought not to begrudge Lioo at least, if a suitable man can be found. The new Local Government Bill, that is likely to become law at no very distant date, will impose, upon the District Councils which are to take the place of the existing Urban Sanitary Authorities, many new duties which will involve greater responsibility, and call for more time and labour from the hands of the officials. This fact itself would have justified the Board in pausing in order to allow time to consider the matter) before taking any immediate steps. The question is necessarily an urgent one, and does not provide the Board an opportunity to rescind the minute at the next meeting, and so on I am fully convinced that what is most needed at the present time, to advance the permanent interests of Colwyn Bay, is to secure the services of a thoroughly competent man, whose experience and knowledge of affairs make him fitted for the post he will be required to fill, and, in so doing, the Local Board will avoid the many disgraceful blunders that of late have held it up to the ridicule of the neighbouring towns, and is fast bringing it into bad repute among the inhabitants of Colwyn Bay. If such a man is forthcoming on the terms offered, that he is more generous in giving his services, than the Board is cognisant of his worth, is the opinion of a RATEPAYER.

The Conway Annual Horse Fair Arrangements, An influentially attended meeting of supporters of the annual Conway Horse Fair, was held, in the Guild Hall, Conway. on January 12th, the chair- man of the Committee (Mr G. O. Jones, of Merchlyn, Conway,) presiding, the business beingthe election of Officers for the ensuing year. The Mayor of Conway, (Councillor Dr R. Arthur-Prichard,' J.P., C.C.) was unanimously elected President; and Mr D. R. Davies, of Plas Isa, Glanconwy, was elected Chairman of the Committee. The following re- elections also took place: -'ri-easti ret-, D. Jones, Metropolitan Bank, Conway; Secretaries, Coun- cillor J. W. Tosdevine and Mr A. W. Jones. It was arranged that the next meeting should be held that day week. At the second meeting, held on January 19th, at the Guild Hall, Conway, the business to be considered was the best way of giving a prize in the Stallion Class. It was decided, on the pro- position of Mr W. F. Jones of Bodidda, seconded by Mr E. Jackson of Eglwsbach, that the Sec- tetaries write to each of the District Secretaries, inquiring what number ot mares (at a two-guinea service-fee)each could guarantee in his District, and asking such District Secretaries to make it known that all guarantors will be invited to a meeting for the selection of Judges. The meet- ing also arranged that the District Secretaries should be asked to send in their answers on or before Friday, February 2nd, the d.ite of tne next meeting.

The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art. On Saturday, January 27th, the President of of the R.C.A., (Mr. H. Clarence Whaite, R.W.S., President of the Manchester Academy of Fiiiit Arts) presided, at Plas Mawr, Conway, over the annual meeting of Academicians and Associates. There were also present twenty-five other Aca- demicians, namely, Messrs A. W. Ayling, S. Lawson Booth, Goorge Cockram, J. H. Cole, G. Crozier, J. Pain Davis (Hon. Sec. R.C.A.) J. Hey Davies, J. Douglas, B. Fisher, B. Fowler, Peter Ghent, Cuthbert C. Grundy (Vice President R.C.A.,) Anderson Hague (R.I.), Julius Hare, George Harrison, Leonard Hughes, J. Clinto 1 Jones, Joseph Knight (R.I.), Henry Measham, A. F. Perrin, Charles Potter, J. C. Salmon, W. J. Slater, James T. Watts, and G. Swinford Woo J (Hon. Treasurer R.C.A.). There were seven Associates present, namely, Messrs Arthur Baker (F.R.I.B.A.), Chisholm Cole R. Grierson, B. Hoyles, F. W. Longshaw, A. Netherwood, and S. Sidley. Mr H. Clarence Whaite, R.W.S., was unani- mously re-elected President, an honour which he has held since the initiation of the Academy.— In acknowledging his re-election, the President remarked that,the Academy's position (financially, and in point of membership, as well as in the growing excellence of its exhibits) was most satisfactory. The President also made feeling references to the Academy having lost by death, since the annual meeting of 1893, three Academi- cians-Messrs W. Laurence Banks. George Wells, and Knighton Warren. The Vice-President, Hon. Secretary, and Hon. Treasurer having been then re-elected to their respective offices, the following were elected o I the Council:—Messrs George Cockram, J H. Cole, B. Fisher, B. Fowler, Peter Ghent, Anderson Hague, George Harrison, Leonard Hughes, J. Johnson, J. Clinton Jones, Joseph Knight, A. F. Perrin, Charles Potter, J. C. Salmon, and W. j. Slater. Mr John Finnic was then elected on to the list or Academicians, as were also three Associates, namely, Messrs S. Sidley, G. Sheridan Knowles, (R.I.), and Arthur Baker, (F.R.I.B.A.), Messrs Harold Hughes, (A.R.I.B.A), Paul Knight, G. Hall Neale, Oliver Baker, and Reginald Smith, were elected Associates, out of a long list ot candidates. The Receiving Days for the 1894 Exhibition, were fixed for April 27th and 28th; Varnishing Day May 8th, Press View, May 9th; Private View, May 12th; the Exhibition being opened, to the public, on May 14th. Messrs B. Fisher, B. Fowler, Peter Ghent, and Anderson Hague were appointed the hanging Committee, and Messrs W. J. Slater and B. Fowler were elected. Honorary Auditors.

PREVEN:T,ED. NTS 14 d;, 86apr. purposes. KFRL E T e hhal Green 'London, E.