The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. A U Correspondence and A dvertisements to be ad- dressed to the Editor, "Reporter" Office, Bulwark, Brecon, on or before Friday morning. The Editor will not undertake to return rejected communications, and wishes his correspondents to understand that whatever is intended jor in- sertion, must be verified by the name and address of the writer.

THE LOQUACIOUS OBSTRUCTIVES IN .( THE COUNCIL, AND THE WATERWORKS. EARLY on the morning of the 5th of September, 18G5, we believe we can with confidence announce that the Engineer may bring in an amended esti- mate for the Waterworks to supply this Borough, the total amount of which estimate will not, in all probability, exceed Soooo Os Od. We are led to this utopian conclusion from the fact that he (the Engineer) was enabled, in one week, to reduce his detailed estimate by about X822 3s 6d; and bas- ing our calculations on this fact, we find that it will take exactly 7 weeks, 15 hours, 35 minutes, and 39! seconds, to reduce the remainder of the above mentioned sum of SOOOO Os Od, time to run from the last meeting of the Local Board of Health, on Monday, 17th inst., and which meeting was there- fore adjourned till Monday, 24th inst., in order that the Engineer might report progress (?) Hav- ng arrived thus far satisfactorily, we were further led to calculate the time about which the Water- works would be opened; and in the course of our investigation, we found that what is in arithmetic called an irrational or impossible root (Anglice; root of impossibility) entered into the calculation which we were unable to eliminate, the result con- sequently being positive infinity, or never. This is however hardly to be regretted, as it is perfectly clear that should the town exceed an expenditure of X6000 on the new Waterworks, the surplus, after paying all charges on existing debentures and expenses of maintenance and repairs of new Works, will not at the end of 30 years be sufficient to pay off the debt incurred, even if the surplus be squan- dered by dragging in parties unconcerned in the Works, or be carefully put by to accumulate in an old stocking, broken teapot, or other equally pro- fitless but no less safe place. Although we believe, that speaking roundly, there would have been suffi- cient funds after leaving a good margin to pay off in 30 years £ 6700 at 5 per cent by half-yearly in- stalments. From what we can see, however, it seems to us exceedingly doubtful whether anybody will take any water in the Borough at all, as it ap- pears to be the intention of the Board to claim all pipes and appurtenances relating to the supply of water to any private house as their own freehold property, whether in the street or in the house, and these notions we apprehend might cause some doubts and disputes to arise as to certain rights of property, it has not been publicly stated what the cost of this would be, nor have we seen the esti- mate. That this idea took its origin from a laudable desire to become lords of the soil to as great an ex- tent as possible, is shewn from the wish expressed by some members that the Board should keep a strip of land proposed to be dispensed with conse- quent upon the reduction made in the reservoir and filter beds; the motive being that at some future time, it might, and probably would be de- sirable to enlarge the works, in the mean time the turncock could grow potatoes in the land at X5 per 11 annum per acre, and this, notwithstanding that it was stated by the Engineer that when the enlarge- ment was made the outlay would be about five times a great for an equal amount of work as if made at once in addition to deranging the supply of water to the town for some weeks. Now, what we should like to know is this If it is advisable to take land for enlarged works, why is it not ad- visable to carry out the works themselves on a similar scale especially if the probable available revenue will justify borrowing funds sufficient ? Allusion was made on Monday last at the meeting, to a most elaborate and detailed report which some favoured few of the learned members of the Board appear to have had the opportunity of studying; but, unfortunately, this report was not before the Board, a fact no doubt much to be regretted, as a perusal of it might have cleared up some of the trifling difficulties we have here stated, and we might then have had the felicity of aniiotincingtcr- our readers, as some too sanguine people used to do when we were all children together, that the waterworks would positively be commenced this snmmer.-Communicatecl. u

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. These Sessions were held on Monday last, at the Town Hall, before Geo. Cansick, Esq., Mayor, and Joseph Joseph, Esq. George Jones was summoned, charged with an assault and battery. Mr. Games appeared for the defendant. Margaret Rushmore deposed that on the 5th of July, she asked Mary Talkington to take a cup of tea with her she came, and Jones came after her and caught hold of her by the shawl; she (witness) told him not to come to her house and kick up a row, that she would not have it; he then abused her and kicked her not only in the face, but all over the body; she had suffered very much, and was in bodily fear of him. James Morris, nailor, of Swansea, stated that/he was at work for Mr. Richards Mrs. Rushmore asked him (witness) to go and have a cup of tea he went, Jones came in shortly afterwards, and struck Mrs. Talkington he commenced abusing Mrs. Rushmore, and tried to get her into his hon at the same time he threatened to kill her he (witness) then went to the rescue and liberated Mrs. Rushmore, by putting his leg under Jones, and placing him gently on the ground. Elizabeth Davies deposed that on the day in question, she heard a great row she went to see what it was she saw the complainant and the defendant in hold he was pulling her towards the ground by the hair of her head, and she appeared to be losing her breath fast.—Fined Sl including costs, or 14 days.

BO ARB ~6¥ HEALTH MEETING. Th members of this Board assembled at the Board rooms, at the Town Hall, on Monday last, when the following members were present:—George Cansick, Esq., in the chair. Alderman—Col. Pearce, K.H. Councillors.—John Morris, John Prothero, John Griffiths, Thomas Williams, John Davies, Phillip Bright, Lewis Hughes, Thomas Trew, and William De Winton, Esq. S. B. Evans, Esq., Town Clerk. The Town Clerk read the minutes of the past meeting, and said that he had seen Hargest, in reference to the sureties, who placed in his hands two bills showing that certain property had been conveyed to his sons. He was bound to tell the Board that such secruties could not be accepted by them, that they were not in conformity with the specifi- cations or the advertisments, there should be personal sureties. Mr. Morris said they were bound to deal with the matter in a commercial point of view, the Board were unanimous in favour of Hargest, he being a townsman, but it was necessary that the proper sureties should be given, as required by the specifications. The Mayor said that Hargest had informed him that he thought he should be able to get per- sonal security by that day. Hargest was sent for and in reply to the Board said that he could not get the security required only what he had oflered. The Board altogether expressed their regret but were compelled to proceed with the next tender, which was Davies and Rixen's, of Neath, for contract number 3, their* amount being £ 3001 9s. 5d. Mr, Davies said that the Board could not accept Rixen and Davies's tender, inasmuch as the resolu- tion of Mr. Alderman Williams's at the last meeting had been carried, which was that the cost of the works should not exceed the sum of £ 6000, including everything, therfore as the matter then stood it would be considerably over that amount, he thought the Board should have some limit to their expenditure, he had hoped that they would not have exceeded the original amount of £5000. If they went on in that manner maknig resolutions at one meeting and taking them to- pieces in the next, they would never come to any conclusion, and the matter would get into the hands of a private company after the manner of the Gas Works. He would never be a party to deviate from the resolution of Mr. Alderman Williams, that they could not acsept any tenders that would exceed £6000. The following is the amount the works would cost if the present tenders were accepted £ s. d. G Jordan 2100 0 0 GuestandCrymes. 140 0 0 Rixen and Davies 3001 9 5 Regulator 60 0 0 Engineer's pay. 120 0 0 CilwhibertMill. 200 0 0 Land. 619 0 0 X-6240 9 5 Col. Pearce said that they would no doubt receive a good income from the Railway Companies, who would no doubt need a great deal of water. Mr. Prothero moved that the tender of Messrs. Rixen and Davies should be accepted, that the amount of X300 would not be much. Mr. Bright said that it was not only a matter of X300 only, originally it was intended that the works should cost no more than X,5000, when they had the specifications andestimate from the Engineer it was two or three thousand pounds over that amount, and at the rate they were going on, by increasing the amount continually, by adding another £:300; he agreed with Mr Davies, that they should have some limit to their expenditure. He would therefore move an amendment to Mr. Prothero's motion. The Town Clerk asked the Board if they were going to take upon themselves the responsibility of proceeding apart from his advice. Alderman Col. Pearce said that Mr. Prothero was beginning at the wrong end, they should first of all ascertain whether they could get borrowing powers. 0 Mr. Griffiths said that they had had meetings and adjourned meetings on that subject, and it was high time to come to a conclusion. He there- fore begged leave to second Mr. Prothero's motion. Alderman Col. Pearce said that he thought the money was to be paid back in 30 years, he 11 should like to know how the Engineer made his calcula- tions. If they went for further borrowing powers, they would have some cause. Were the various railways, when application was made for borrowing powers, taken into consideration 1 --J The Engineer said they were not. Mr. Bright said that Railways were no new thing at that time, and that they were taken into consideration at that time, although he was not a member of the Board then, he heard the minutes read, and found that from the application of Mr. Cobb, for to construct the Waterworks for Railway and other purposes, the Board had taken the mat- ter in hand. He would then put in his amend- ment to Mr. Prothero's motion. "That this Board will not sanction an expenditure of more than X6000 for the new Waterworks, and as the tender "Sent in, do not come under that sum, the matter be referred back to the Engineer, to see if such further reduction cannot be made, as will bring the entire expenditure within the said sum." He did not know as Col. Pearce had said how the calcula- tions were made. Mr. Thomas Williams seconded the proposition. The amendment was then put to the meeting, which was carried by a majority. Some further conversation, took place, and the Board formed a Watch committee for the purpose of appointing a police officer, there were five appli- cants, but only two were qualified, and after read- ing the testimonials, P.C. Watkins, of the County Constabulary force, stationed at Bwlch, was unani- mously elected, and the meeting again adjourned until next Monday. b

BRECONSHIRE ELECTION.' The Election of a Knight to serve in Parliament for the County of Brecon, took place at the County Hall, on Tuesday last, at 10 o'clock the old member came forward, the Hon. G. C. Morgan, for re-election. We observed the following gentlemen present:—Henry Gwynne Vaughan,"Esq., High Sheriff for the countv, Returning Officer Penry Williams, Esq., H. Allen, Esq., Rev. H. Bold, Dr. P. Lucas, Col. Pearce, K. ff., H. P. Price, Esq.. J. W. Vaughan, Esq., Rev. Garnons Williams, Dr. Jones, David Thomas, Esq., J. Williams, Esq., George Cansick, Esq., Joseph Joseph, Esq. Rev. D. Price, Rev. R Price, Sydney Davies, Esq., < <Sc. The usual proclamation and writ having been read, the High Sheriff introduced the bu- siness of the meeting in a neat speech, and called upon any gentleman present to propose a fit and proper person to represent the County in the new Parliament. Penry Williams, Esq., of Penpont, rose to ad- dress the meeting, and said that it had once more become their duty to return a member to represent them in parliament for that county. The late par- liament had been one of long duration. The Law which existed required them to send some one to represent them in the new parliament. He must confess that they would have great difficulty to get things better managed than they were in that country—they saw the progress of the country, the revenue was improved, trade and commerce was greatly enhanced, and it was a great pity that the present mode of conducting public affairs should be altered; Her Majesty had declared a dissolution, and had appealed to the country for a new govern- ment. The present representatives did their duty and a fair share of credit was due to the adminis- tration of the House of Commons. He should be sorry to see all kind of measures brought before the house carried without some opposition they had confidence in those whom they sent to repre- sent them in parliament, and that confidence was not misplaced in their late representative. When the next parliament assembled, no doubt, important measures would be brought before the House. The ballot, the £6 franchise instead of the Xlo, the church rate question, and malt duty. These were all important measures to the country that was the reason why he mentioned them. The Hon. Can- didate in his address, said that he would vote against the ballot, he concurred with him in his views. The £6 franchise might work as well as the £ 10, there were many occupiers of X- 10 houses who were not so intelligent as many occupying £6 houses. The church rate had become a burden in the land, if that burden could be removed, he would gladly support any measure that would do so. The chan- cellor of the exchequer was quite correct in what he had done as regards the malt-tax, great ad- vantages would arise from its abolition. He begged to propose the Hon. Godfrey Charles Morgan, as a fit and proper person to represent the county of Brecon in Commons House of Parliament. (Cheers.) Henry Allen, Esq., of Oakfield, rose with the greatest pleasure to second the nomination of his honorable friend, who was a member of the ancient house of Tredegar. That gentleman had taken an active part in the army in the defence of their country, and he was a fit person to take a part in the council of that country at home, (hear, hear,) should they think proper to re-elect him, he would go back a representative free and independ- ent. Having been so well acquainted with the horrors of war, he well knew the blessings-of peace. Mr. Williams had touched upon the toqics of the day, therefore it would be useless for him to oc- cupy their time any further. He begged leave to second the nomination of the Honororable Godfrey Charles Morgan, proposed by Mr. Williams. Rev. H. Bold said that before proceeding any further, he should like to make a few remarks. He wished to draw the attention of his honorable friend to some matters at home, and hoped that he would pay a little more attention to them, he, (Mr. Bold) could not help hearing, as he went through the county, the complaints that the farmers and his constituents did not see his face as often as they should. Brecon was not the same then as it had been years ago, the Railways were all over the country, he should come and take a little interest in the business of the county, instead of leaving it entirely in the hands of so few, scarcely ever were there more than half-a-dozen gentlemen present to manage the whole business of the county, they were quite neglected gentlemen who had a great deal of property should attend oftener to those duties. He did not wish to say anything offensive. He should not have been there that day, only that he had a grievance "to complain of. He lived within eight hours ride of London, and he could not get his letters until mid-day the day after they were posted, they were very badly dealt with in that matter all along the Wye-side, and he wanted his honourable friend to say that he would endeavour to remove that great inconvenience, and not let the government rest until the object should be removed. Mr. H. P. Price said that he had listened with a great deal of attention to what Mr. Bold had said, and quite agreed with all he had uttered. Though the honorable gentlemen belonged to an ancient family, why not make his -appearance amongst them oftener, and see to the requirements of the county he represented. The words that fell from Mr. Bold were only too true, that county was quite neglected by that ancient family alto- gether. What fell from Mr. Bold could not be a source of unmitigated pleasure to him. The one gentleman had said that he belonged to an ancient family, the other that he possessed great gallantry, although he was not of the same political opinion. as the honorable gentleman, he had great regard for him, lie knew that he possessed good qualities, but if he associated a little more with his consti- tuents than he did, he would become much more popular, and attend a little more to matters con- nected with the county he represented. He had not gone there to support the gentleman of an opposition party. They may rely that the policy of that country was such that commanded the high esteem of all other nations. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman then asked the electors if they had any other candidate to bring forward, (cheers and cries of no,) he then declared the Honorable Godfrey Charles Morgan, duly elected the Knight to represent the County of Brecon in the Commons House of Parliament. (Great and loud cheering.) I The Hon. Gentleman then addressed the meet- ing as follows :— Gentlemen electors of the county of Brecon,— I return you my best thanks for the honor you have done me in electing me your Repre- sentative, and before I go any further I will take this opportunity of thanking those gentlemen here as representing the electors of the county, and of expressing my grateful thanks to you for past favors conferred upon me and for the kind support and treatment I have always received at your hands during these last six years, and for the courtesy, kindness, and friendship, I have received from all classes of my constituents. Gentlemen, I must have political ememies, it is in the nature of politics to breed them, but as yet, I have not found one personal enemy in the whole county, there must be some few who differ from my way of thinking, some who disapprove of my votes, but from them I always have experienced the greatest delicacy of feeling and generosity of sentiment 111 informing me how erroneous I was in my ideas. Gentlemen you have also now elected me for the third time without opposition to be your member. I think I may fairly conclude from that, that first—I am not distasteful to you, secondly-that conservative principles are those held by far the greater majority of the electors, that you are gentlemen still proud of the country in which you live, still attached to the constitution that has endured so long and brought such blessings upon those who still live under it. Gentlemen you have elected me without opposition, and there are many advantages incidental to no contest in a cour-tv, and there are of course a certain few who inks the noise and the excitement and perhaps the beer. I of course know very well that there is no elector in Breconshire who regret it on account of the money, he might gain by his vote. W e all know at Bre- con at all events that Brecon elections have always been carried on upon purity of principle and I trust it will always continue to be so. But gentlemen a contested election always brings with it great bitter- ness of spirit and leaves behind it rancorous feelings that afterwards are a great drawback to prosperity, and take long years to soften and assuage, and then you have this advantage that your member can go to parliament unpledged to any particular crotchet of a portion of the electors but gentle- men I should not act and speak differently than I have done were I undergoing a contested election I wish to come before you as one professing certain opinions and principles, but at the same time as free and independent. I prefer that all should know what my political principles are without doubt and deception, and were I canvassing the county I would not endeavour to catch any single vote by evading or blinking any one question. I think those who support me know by this time what manner of man it is they support. I wish that those who agree with me shall have confidence in their member, those who disagree with me should also recognize my consistency. Gentlemen, I do not intend to make a regular election speech, by praising up to the skies everything that the conservatives have done, and by villifying all that the liberals have done. If there was a gentleman opposite seeking by his able arguments on the other side to claim the votes of the electors, it would be necessary for me to do so, but I am spared that, and so I would simply state plainly and conscientiously and straightforwardly, and in a very few words why I am proud of the faith I hold, and why I think conservative government is entitled to the support of the country. At the present moment there is as you know a great struggle for as- cendency between liberal and conservative opinions. If you read carefully the election addresses and speech es of the liberals, they accuse us of sailing under false colors, of trading upon liberal principles upon the hustings, and carrying out a reactionary policy in the House of Commons, but I think we can say to them you are judging others by yourselves. The present government came into office because they said Lord Derby's Reform Bill did not go far enough, and a liberal government was the only government that could deal with a Reform Bill properly I need not tell you gentlemen how they have dealt with Reform. The present government came into office pledged to reduce the expenditure of the country, they took it over from Lord Derby's government into an expenditure of 64,000,000, and in a few years time the liberal government had raised it to 72 million. I would ask you whether that is trading upon false promises or not. In spite of the enormous expenditure the elasticity of the revenue and the falling in of the long annuities, caused the Chancellor to have a surplus each year, but in not one single instance did he endeavour to lighten the burden of that great body of our coun- trymen, the British agriculturists. He remitted the paper duty, which is scarcely felt by an in- dividual within these realms, and he refused to apply any portion of his surplus to lower the duty on malt. The malt tax stands alone and the only reason they assign for keeping it on is its enormous amount, why I should think that was the very reason for taking it off. It is the only tax that has not been either modified or totally repealed. It is a tax that falls more especially upon the poor man, it is a burden upon those who cultivate the land, and prevents them from growing upon their own farm a product that he believes to be most beneficial and advantageous to him "it is very well to say that the farmer benefits also by the remission of the taxes, in common with the rest of the nation, but I don't believe he ever felt the advantages of the repeal of the paper duty, and I am sure he has scarcely if at all felt the advan- tage of the lowering of the wine duty, and I think it must be allowed by all that so numerous and Influential a body as the British farmer deserves more consideration at the hands of the government. Gentlemen, the liberals accuse us of a reactionary policy, and the articles in their papers endeavour to make the people believe that if the conservative government came into office they would immediately set about repealing all the legislation of the past few years, can any statement be more false or childish. The liberals say look what we have done in the past six years, but what is there that the conservative government could not have done equally well and in many instances better. I am sure it would not have been difficult for a con- servative government to have managed Foreign affairs better. It is true they have kept in peace, but it has been with the loss of honor. The con- servatives might have given you peace and retained our honor. Gentlemen, I sat through many anxious nights last July, many long and weary, and I may say very hot nights, and I never gave a vote more agreeable to my conscience than I did that vote, the feeling of the country was ex- pressed by the language but not by the vote of the House. Most of the leading orators who hold radical opinions, condemned the government in their speeches and then voted with them. Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Cobden say our foreign policy has heedlessly and perseveringly exposed itself to humiliation and rebuff all over the world. I do not remember Mr. Horsemans words, but they were even stronger than that, he said that wherever an Englishman travelled he felt that his position as a British subject was immeasurably lowered, Mr. Roebuck continued in the same strain, and said gentlemen, they say, will you change Lord Russell who has brought us peace for a conservative statesman. We have peace indeed, and the humiliation will never be forgotten—W1th the exception of Mr. Bright I don't believe there was another Englishman who did not ^at we had lost that legitimate influence i11 councils of Europe, which a bold unswerving and independent policy could have retained for us. I am all for neutrality and non-interference, but I must have complete neutrality and entire non-interference, the liberal cry is non-interference, have they acted up to it 1 if they have, then I don't know what non-interference means. If you interfere you ought to be able to resist an insult, if your advice was thrown back with insult in your teeth. If the answer that you get is always mind your own business, then I say you had better mind your own business. The policy of Lord Russell- caused us to be insulted by Russia, snubbed by the French, and treated with scorn by the Austrians and Prussians. Gentlemen-an Act has been passed this Ses- sion, which in my opinion every one of us here will be affected by it more or less. I mean the Union Chargeability Bill. Gentlemen I voted that the Bill should be referred to a select com- mittee, and I did so for this reason, because though I approved of the groundwork of the Bill, I thought it was brought forward in a very iinieeiialr manner, brought forward with a cry against the landowners and county gentlemen, with charges that were utterly false, utterly erro- neous, and contained in a book which was not in our possession in time to refute those calum- nious statements. In that book charges were, brought against the country gentlemen, each and all were accused of pulling down cottages off their estate, and drawing the labourer whether young or old under the impression set forth in that book, and all the abuse that the radical papers could bestow, for I need not say they never lose an opportunity in depicting country gentlemen or any one connected with land, as the- most deter- mined tyrants of the age, as if, forsooth, In the great hives of manufacture there were not also noisome dens and crowded streets where pauperis"1 is huddled together where the cheering tone of wje master and the soothing voice of the mistress is never heard. Under all these misrepresentatIons I say the Bill was hurried on in its presets state, and doubt very much whether it will w° equitably, but we have the Bill, if we had been allowed another year to pass it in order to get more truthful statements, in order to try and ar- range the area of the Union so as to allow of the rates falling more equitably upon every one, It might have been made a much better Bill, have it now and it is our business to make It work as well as it can. I only hope it will »D" swer the sanguine expectations of those who so fond of it in one sense, I have no doubt it will, that is in throwing the burden of the Town poor upon the country parishes. GentlenHm-one word upon the £6 Franchise Bill as it is called, as you are well aware, I voted against Mr. Bill, and I do not hesitate to say that I don think the time has arrived for loweriino, the Í1'!1n- cliise, Mr. Bright in his last election speech h?? told the Birmingham people the benefits that immediately follow the extension of the suffrage; seems to him to be the sole panacea for every efl under the sun. I verily believe he thinks t]¡el would be no more headaches or toothaches if a franchise were passed, I have no doubt the mingham people believe him, believe that the? are worse off than the negro slave, because tfrv have not got the franchise, they say if a man iI in perfect health and everybody who met hlB* was to tell him that he looked very ill, there muS be something the matter with him, he would soo11 be so impressed with the idea that he would come ill, well that is much the state of the inhabitants, they have been so constantly told it'It Birminghan, that they believe it, but I cloD | believe they do anywhere else, or we sh«11 have heard more about it ere this. Why, if tell years ago the £6 Franchise Bill would have iI swered, the next parliament would have, had 1l versal suffrage, and by this time we ,ho.ld le in possession of the disadvantages of Anieflc<* without its advantages. The honorable concluding with a quotation from Earl Grey speech, and sat down amid loud cheers. Mr. James Williams said that the town of con had its grievances as well as the county. land had its Universities, Scotland and had the same there had been talk of one Wales, but he should like to know what had h0 come of it at present. He should like to see tb whole of the members for Wales unite in one body and not rest until they got it. Then there that beautiful Barracks without any soldiers, th Breconians always liked the sight of military and when they were there, they were the means0 circulating a great deal of money in the town. & wanted the honorable member to say that would attend to those important subjects. Mr. Bishop said he hoped Wales was not g0lIVj. begging for an University, but to let them ge^ 1 upon their own merit. The Honourable Member then proposed a fe.. of thanks to the High Sheriff, which was m1'1'1!1. mously carried. The High Sheriff thanked t 1 assembly for the manner in which they had c°fl ducted themselves during the election, and w1 meeting dispersed quietly.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION. The final result of the polling was not ascertfll11 ed at Liverpool until after 7 o'clock, when it announced that Mr. Gladstone had been ele<^e The following is the state of the poll:— Mr. Egerton 9182 j Mr. Gladstone. 8800 Mr. Turner 8784 Mr. Legh g482 Mr. Thompson 7711 Mr. Heywood 7669 The Conservative returns place Mr. third. third. I