The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

Now that the first shock of the catastrophe which carried the London, with its two hun- dred and seventy souls, to the bottom of the Atlantic, has passed away, men's minds are sufficiently calm to reflect upon the circum- stances attending the wreck, so far as they have yet been made known to the public. Un- doubtedly such an appalling incident has its great lessons, lessons of a material as well as of a moral nature, and it is a duty that these should be carefully sought and made widely known. Few in our island have not either occasion, at some period in their lives, to cross the ocean, where wind and wave may do fierce battle with the stoutest ship or to see relatives and friends depart on the same venture. To scrutinise the history of such an event as that which as lately occured is therefore a matter of personal interest to all. The moral features of the case were suffi- ciently apparent and striking even in the out- line first given to the public, and no words are required to enforce the lessons conveyed in the simple narrative of the surviving seamen. We see the noble ship struggling vainly on its p n course, and labouring day after day against the billows, until at last the fight for progress is relinquished, and safety is the only hope. We see how that hope hour after hour dies away-hoiv it becomes clearer and clearer that the fight is one of life or death, and not simply of progress or return. All on board become perfectly aware of what is at stake, and the pursuit of businebs, the hope of joining rela- tives or friends on the distant shore are forgot- ten in the anxiety for life-dear life The battle continues through dismal nights and weary days, until it is announced that all is over, and the raging elements must inevitably obtain the victory. Men, women, and chil- dren, nearly three hundred of them, hear the words which literally are the knell of death. But a short time now, and the waters must swallow them up. It is not death alone, but death in a form to appal the imagination- death to which a death-bed is a couch of ease -death without the parting word to mother, wife, or friend. How is the doom received ? Without vain lamentations or useless cries, but silently, with a solemn calm that at least ap- pears like resignation, the multitude bow their hearts to the fate which they feel Almighty Wisdom has decreed. We turn to the page Z, which records how the Birkenhead went down off the African coast-how, when the women and children were embarked in the boats, with as many of the male passengers as they would hold, that noble regiment of Highlanders stood steady on the deck as if on parade, without an effort to save themselves, and sank with a cheer for the safety of those who had escaped from the doomed ship, rather than a cry for themselves. A glorious example that will stand bright on the page of history when the record of war shall have been wiped away. But from the case of the London we learn that women and children can display equal heroism, and look Death as calmly in the face. But passing from the moral aspect of the history we must take a glance at some of the material lessons which the facts afford. Here is a ship, nearly new, and, as it seems, so well built that its owners themselves feel proud of her. The captain is an experienced seaman, of ability at least equal to the most esteemed of his class, and of unimpeachable courage and nerve in danger. Apparently, all should go well with the vessel and its freight. But for days a storm has been raging round the coast, and the vessel itself has experienced a rough time in making its way down Channel. On its arrival at Plymouth there is a lull in the tempest, but the barometer is still falling, and the meteorological reports from other places on the coast are so unfavourable, that the storm signals are hoisted. Why was the vessel put to sea directly in the teeth of an impending ZD gale? It was carrying no mails, and bound by no penalty to perform the voyage in any given time, The only reason is, that ship- owners, eaptains, and even the public whose safety immediately concerned, have come to attach so much importance to the quickness of a passage, that a speedy voyage is attemped at any risk. Our various lines of clipper ships are in constant competition one with the other, as tp which shall make any given transit in the I shortest time. Hence the anxiety to avoid any j delay. The determination to obtain speed at any risk is seen even in the build of such vessels as the London. It is not too much to say that they are constructed for speed as the chief con- sideration. The result is patent to the minds of nautical men. Captain Greenhow, Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine, has, for one, asserted that within the last few years a much larger propor- tion of ships exposed to severe weather has been lost than at any former time. The ships at pre- sent built," he states, "are of too great a length as compared with the breadth, and the long, fine ends, which have no buoyancy make them dangerous sea boats. When a vessel thus constructed meets a heavy wave, the long attenuated fore end, instead of rising on the wave, cuts into it, burying itself in the water, and perhaps preventing the vessel from rising at all." Again, These long, narrow ends prevent the ship being kept close to the wind in high sea and render i; impossible to have her to with safety, causing her to lie open to the sea. i Had the captain of the London been able to lay the t vessel to, with her bow meeting the sea, < she ought to have ridden safely through any ] gale; but the construction of the ship rendered < this impossible." This expression of opinion by a ] recognised authority on nautical matters will go far to vindicate Captain Martin from the imputa- tion of having neglected an obvious precaution, in not keeping the vessel's head to the wind. Other ships in the same storm, but constructed on dif- ferent principles, were able to weather out the gale. The Christiana, which perhaps the owners of clipper ships would regard as an old tub" con- tended with it for nineteen days, and, although abandoned at last, was at least able to keep afloat until the safety of her crew and passengers could be secured. Another point which appears to be disregarded in the construction of such vessels as the London, is the imperative necessity that their engine- rooms, hatchways, &c., should be sufficiently pro- tected against the danger of shipping heavy seas. At an early period in the storm the engines of the London were disabled by the immense quantities of water shipped into the engine-room; and another first-class vessel, the Amalia, foundered in the same tempest from precisely the same cause. It is astonishing that such simple contrivances as would obviate a fatal disaster of this kind have not long since been adopted. Wrought-iron sliding shutters beneath the deck, made, if necessary, on the revolving principle, and to be closed by chain and windlass in case of need, would effectually guard against accidents which have sent many a good ship to the bottom of the sea. As long as such obvious precautions are not adopted, owners have themselves to blame when fatality overtakes their vessels. Lastly, what is the system of loading adopted in the case of these passenger ships ? Is it true that the London, for instance, had 1,200 tons of iron in her hold, which rendered her heavy as a log upon the sea; that on her deck were fifty tons of coals, which scattering about in the storm, chocked up the apertures through which the sea should have escaped as it broke upon the vessel; and that the total weight of her cargo sank her a foot or two below her proper water-mark? All the circumstances of this wreck demand a search- ing inquiry, in the public interest—not a vindic- tive inquiry, which seems to be regarded as the necessary condition of an official investigation, but such an investigation as shall ascertain and digest the lessons of the past, and result in the adoption of every precaution for the future.

ENGLISH CALVINISTIC METHODISTS MEETING. The public meeting in connection with the laying of the foundation- stone of the English Calvinistic Methodists Chapel in the Watton. (Continuation of the report in our impression of last week.) The REV. MR. HOWELLS, said-I cannot refrain from turning to you Mr. Mayor, and saying that I am very glad to see you in that chair, because I know that behind your back it may be supposed that the whole of the congregation of the Welsh chapel are wishing well to this new English cause, and it does not take a great deal of trouble to imagine that the same feeling prevails with your brethren in the whole of South Wales. Our great object is the advancement of the kingdom'of Christ and the salvation of souls, and we are bound to look upon any language that we may use as a mere instrument. Sad will be the day for us as Christ- ians-as a Christian body of Calvinistic Methodists —when we shall get worshipping in our own language on its own account. I yield to none in my love to the language which began as the language of social life, and advanced until it became the language of religion; and this position having been attained, it has remained in it to the present day. People say that it is dying, and I suppose there is some truth in it; but whenever it dies, depend upon it, it will die game. It is fighting very hard for ex- istence, and with a good deal of success at present, and it is very likely that the struggle between it and the almost Almighty English will continue for some hundred years or so in some parts of the country. Poor Welsh! It seems to be driven back by the English to the mountains, as the waters of the Usk are so driven by the sea, and I dare say that at the end of two hundred years it will have taken its last breath in some mean cot on the brow of Cader Idris but it will retain in its last hours its former religiousness, and become in those hours even more religious than before, and when it dies it will die on its knees, exclaiming 0 God, if I must perish, keep the faith!" Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, for making these remarks, not exactly con- nected with the subject I have to speak upon. I often accuse my dear friend Mr. Davies of being very ambitious, and he has given an ambitious title to the subject on which I am about to speak. Of course you all understand the meaning of ecclesias- tical polity to be church government. I may say this at starting, that we are disposed to think that we can fairly compare our forms of church govern- ment with hints respecting the same in the New Testament, and that there is a great deal of harmony between them-harmony that is all the more inter- esting to us because it was entirely undesigned. We are not Episcopalians in the sense in which the Church of England is Episcopalian, though we are disposed to say that we are in a certain sense Epis- copalian. We may venture to assert that our bishops are as good as any to be found in the world but still, in the strictest sense of the word, we are not Episcopalian, though we sprung from the Church of England. For the first seventy years of our history—from about 1740 until 1811— we remained somewhat connected with the Church of England. During those 70 years the founders of our body gathered the people together as they could get them, into barns, private houses, and in course of time into very plain chapels. Looking at the body as it now is, we cannot put our fingers on anything that we owe to the Church of England excepting our confession of faith. We have a oon- fession of faith, and that is to a very large extent the same as the confession embodied in the 39 articles of the Church of England. I feel from my heart very thankful for the lessons which our breth- rn then taught us with reference to our ecclesias- tical polity. And now as to the constitution of a particular church of our body. If I were to give, in a few words a definition of Presby- terianism, I should say Government by elders, In the hands of this session of elders the govern- ment of each church is entirely placed. In one case the members govern themselves. For instance, when members are admitted among us, they are not brought before a few, as is the case with our Presbyterian brethren, but before the entire church. The claim for church membership is brought be- fore the church in its entireness, and they cannot be admitted except by vote of the entire church. It is true our Presbyterian brethren provide for one thing which we do not provide for, and that is the power of appeal for private members from court to court, until the general assembly itself is reached. When a member thinks he has been wronged by the kirk session, he may appeal to the district session, and if he is not then satisfied., H nay appeal to the general assembly. This good ;hing does not exist among us as Calvinistic Meth- odists, though-we call ourselves Presbyterians. Here you have an illustration of the strength of the congregational element in one body. The rights of particular churches are guarded with special jeal- ousy, and the church lets as little go out of it to the monthly meeting as it possibly can. Ishould, not- withstanding, very much like to see this power of ap- peal granted to every individual member of our oody. Our particular churches, moreover, have the entire management of their own funds, and they have the choice of their own deacons, or as they are called in some parts, elders. I think I have told you all that is necessary to be mentioned respecting our particular churches. Passing from the constitution of individual churches, to that of the monthly meeting. I may say first, that the monthly meeting alone has the power of authoris- ing the building of new chapels, or the making of any extensive alterations. Besides, that meeting alone has power to give authority to any who may be desirous of commencing to preach. Monthly meetings receive messages from time to time from the churches which they embrace, but cases of this kind occur very seldom. I dont think we are a body given to over much legislation. The churches are allowed to do the very utmost for themselves, and in cases of difficulty the monthly meeting holds out a helping hand. Our associations alone have the power of ordaining ministers. They are or- dained at the" meetings of the association. Mr. Howells then referred to the duty of all people to do what they can for the extension of the kingdom of our common Lord and Master, without minding the various forms of church government so much. The REV. W. ROBERTS said—I rise before you in no little embarrassment. I am entirely without a subject. I suppose I am called upon to address you on all things in general and some few things besides." I-hatb been delighted, as you have been, I have no doubt,-with the addresses to which we have already listened, and when I heard those gen- tlemen deal so ably with the subjects upon which they have spoken, I felt sorry that I had not some definite subject to bring before you. However, two or three things have been suggested by what has been said, and by the interesting ceremony which we witnessed to-day. When I thought that the Calvinistic Methodists were going to build a Gothic church in the Watton, it occurred to me that very remarkable changes are taking place in our Calvinistic Methodist friends. The Calvinistic confession retains its place still in the book, but I think you will all admit that it is not so rigidly adhered to as it was sometime ago. There are some changes taking place in theology. I dont mean to say they are becoming less Calvinistic. I dont think they are leaning towards our Wesleyan friends. I rather think they are leaning towards Germanism. I hope that that tendency will be soon checked. There are some changes taking place in the matter of ministerial education. Some of you remember the time when it was considered great heresy to believe in ministerial education at all-they went in some measure on the promise that what they should speak would be given to them in that hour," and we have even witnessed it in the mighty effects they have produced in their works. We see also some changes of polity. Our Calvinistic friends have been drawing near to us with smiling faces as if they meant to be one with us. Then they draw back as if they would join some other sect. It is sometimes ':I will," and sometimes "I wont." If they said "I will" we should be delighted to have them, and form one body. Then there is another matter in connection with which there is a slight improvement, and that is the increasing tendency to a settled ministry. Sometime ago they lived in tents, but now they are going to live in well-built houses. They are having ministers of their own, and they bad almost got a minister before they had got a church. I am very glad that they have fixed upon Mr. Davies, and in him I see another illustration of the same thing. He was educated in college and meeting lately with a very zealous gentleman in the train, we had some talk about Mr. Davies, and I congratu- lated him, on having such a man for ministerial work, and he concurred in my views a< to his char- acter and piety, but with one qualification, and that was, that Mr. Davies leaned rather too much towards Congregationalists. I wiw,, very glad to hear that, as it gave an explanation of a thing that I could not understand. I felt when I saw Mr. Davies first that I was drawn by some invisible cord towards him. There is also an improvement in connection with church architecture. They are going to build a Gothic church. You recollect the building of the Welsh Methodists old meeting-house. What they are going to do now with this Gothic chureh I cannot understand. However, I am glad to see an improvement in that direction among them. It is one in which I sympathise greatly. We are in considerable difficulty as to the calling of places of worship. We sometimes call them cha- pels-the old Nonconformists used to call them meeting-houses. I have an objection to the word meet- ing-house. I have a slight objection to the word chapel. I believe the building is something more than a mere place of meeting. We are in consider- able difficulties as to the style of church archi- tecture that we should adopt. There are some divers and- amusing opinions on the subject. Mr. Roberts then made reference to the architec- ture, forms, &c., of the early churches, and con- tinued-I am disposed to look with considerable favour on these Gothic structures, looking at some-! thing else besides the mere house. I am glad that they are coming into use, and I hope that we shall witness in connection with their interior a good position for hearing, &c which would make them all that could be desired as places of public worship. The REV. H. GRIFFITHS followed in an animated and interesting speech, which was listened to with great attention. The REV. MR. THORLEY said-When I was in- vited to take a part in this meeting, I felt no incli- nation to excuse myself, not that I thought I was able to put any new views before the meeting, but because I wished toshow my good will towards my brethren and towards their church. I dont think that it is so great an evil as some people appear to imagine, that we are distributed. I think there are advantages as well as disadvantages connected with it. Men hold adverse opinions on the subject of religion but we should all strive to work the work which God has appointed us to do, and seek to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of sin uuto God. Our meeting is a meeting whose object is the promotion of the 11 work of God in connection with the preaching of his own Gos- pel, and I have been reminded, while listening to the addresses, of that axiom of the Apostle, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three but the greatest of these is charity." We are not met here in the spirit of rivalry, but in the spirit of true charity, and grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Mr. Thorley then made reference to the style of church architecture of the present day, from which (he said) he did not want to deviate; and of earlier times, when the preaching of such men as George Whitfield and Howell Harris was so much blessed. To the young men present, who were studying for the ministry, he said they would be soon labouring In the stead of their older brethren, and gave them some good — advice. Of the handful of Christians who were undertaking the erection of the new chapel, he spoke in complimentary terms but reminded them that the work before them was a great one, and that they must keep to it. He congratulated them on having arrived at the first end of their troubles, and wished that they might get as safely through the other end. He next adverted to the Welsh language, which, in common with other speakers, he said would die hard if it is to die. In speaking of the new chapel, Mr. Thorleysaid that the people would no doubt be waited upon at their own houses,, when they could give a substantial expres- sion of their sympathy with the cause. After refer- ring to the great Head Stone" of the Church, he concluded a very interesting speech by saying that no man would regret at his dying day that he had done too much for Christ, and quoting an epi- taph which he had read in a churchyard, What I spent that I had, what I gave that I have, what I left that I lost." The REV. MR. DAVIES said—I only rise to ex- press my profound thanks to my christian brethren, who have so cheerfully and willingly joined us in this meeting, and for the kind wishes which they have expressed with reference to myself. With regard to one of them, I am disposed to say "Save me from my friend." I rejoice to have with us on this occasion one to whom I owe, under God, the greatest blessing of my life. I am proud to have him with us on the occasion of laying the founda- tion stone of the new chapel. I refer to myfather in Christ Jesus, the Rev. Mr. Howells, of Trefecca College. I have also to say to the friends here who have come together in such large numbers, that just as your representatives on the platform have expressed their kind wishes, you will have the op- portunity of manifesting your goodwill. We should be happy to get some substantial proof of your kind christian feeling and good wishes. A deputa- tion will be sent from our church, and a house to house call will be made. The offerings on the stone to-day amount to X260 12s. 6d and it is but fair and right that I should say that one gen- tleman has taken this opportunity of showing the true generosity of his nature and his liberality of feeling. I refer to the Earl of Brecknock, who has very generously sent us a subscription of £100 to- wards our building. I have only to thank you again for the kindness which you have all shewn. I feel cheered and inspired by your manifestation of feel- ing, and I hope that this expression of your kind- ness will inspire me with redoubled energy to try to reach that further end of the difficulties to which my brother Mr. Thorley has referred. REV. D. B EDWARDS said-I can assure you I came here without the slightest intention of making a speech, but still they say I must say something, that I may go out somewhat different from what I came in. There is an old saying something of this fashion, "Doctors agree to differ," and I think that it might apply to various christian denominations, that they likewise should agree to differ. Differ we do strongly on some points, but we should not be jealous of one another for that reason. There are many chapels in Brecon, and I am glad to find there is one more in course of being erected, and they will still need to increase. There is a great work to be done. There is a person here to-night whom I am strongly inclined to congratulate on the high and responsible position which he occu- pies, and I propose a vote thanks to our worthy mayor, who has so ably acquitted himself in the discharge.of the duties arising out of, and con- nected with the chair. MORDECAI JONES, ESQ., said-I should have told you that we had the loan of this hall from the time we commenced to this, and we are to have the use of it until our own place of worship is ready. We feel the kindness and now acknow- ledge it publicly.. REV. E. WILLIAMS said-I have much pleasure in rising to second the motion of a vote of thanks to our worthy chairman, and I am sure you are all ready to do the the same. I am glad to see him in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said—I am very pleased to re- ceive your thanks for my attendance here this eve- ning. If I have been of any use at this meeting, I have had my reward. I hope we are all profited by the addresses we have heard. I hope this meeting will be only an instalment of other co- operations of religious bodies of this town. The interesting proceedings then terminated. The speakers were frequently applauded during the delivery of their addresses.

BRECKNOCKSHIRE FARMERS CLUB. At a Public Meeting of the farmers of Brecon- shire held at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon, on Saturday the 20th inst.—Lord Brecknock in the chair.—The following resolution was proposed by Mr. Cornish, of Llanspyddid, and seconded by Mr. Williams, of Skethrog, and unanimously agreed to. Resolved"That a club be established in the county of Brecon, for the purpose of promotino- the science of agriculture, and for discussing and "con- sidering any subject which may tend to the benefit and prosperity of the agricultural interest, and that the club be called the Breconshire Farmers Club." The meeting then resolved itself into a commit- tee for electing officers for the year, and forming rules for the guidance of the club. Mr. David Thomas, Brecon, was elected chairman, and Mr. David Downes, Maesmawr, vice-chairman. Mr. John Morgan, of Bolgoed, treasurer. Mr. Penry Lloyd, Brynderwen, and Mr. Rees Williams, Pen- celly, honorary secretaries for the year. It was decided that the club should meet on the first Saturday in each month from October to March, both inclusive, at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon. The annual subscription of members to be not less than five shillings, and of honorary members not less than ten shillings. The object of this club is the diffusion of agri- cultural and horticultural knowledge, by holding meetings for discussion and lectures on these sub- jects. The club will hold its first meeting on Saturday the third of February, at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon, on which occasion Mr. Flewett the manager of the Herefordshire Artificial Manure Works, will read a paper on cattle feeding. The chair will be taken at 3 p.m. Any gentlemen who wish to join the club, can do so on being proposed and seconded by two members at this meeting.

BRECON WATERWORKS. To the Editor of the" Brecon Reprrter." Sir,—It devolves on me, officially, }y the direc- tion of the Council of this Boroupi, to correct, through the medium of your new/paper, the inac- curacies embodied in the letter jf Dr. Prestwood Lucas, on the subject of these waterworks, contained in your last impression, and acUressed to his teliow He ^trulv. states that tb Corporation estimate for their plan is £ 7000; Jut he is in ^ter error when he says that tfo other proposal oners to supply the town with water for £ 3500.' Let him only look at Mr. Colo's proposed bill, and he will at once see that hv estimated cost is the same as that of the Corporate plan_XiOOO and that he proposes by his bill to borrow an additional sum of £ 1700 for t.'ie waterworks, (besides a sum of .£1000 for his drainage scheme.) This Corporation of ours, which is so burdened with debt that it ought scarcely to call its corpo- rate soul its own—the extent of whose debt ,w0 cannot estimate, because the Corporation has L dared to produce a true statement of its accounts J for more years than I can tell you of—this | poverished Corporation "—owes exactly £ 800, f°r a debt contracted and charged on the Corporate ( property by the old" Corporation, in the ear 1835, and owes no other debts whatsoever, beside3 current liabilities, except those debts existing at the time when the Markets' Company's Act was passed, and for which that company are expressly liable. Subject to that charge, the Borough is entitle to a clear income from the Markets' Company 0 £ 210 per annum, applicable to corporate, and 110 to drainage purposes. In respect of the current expenditure of te Borough, there is a considerable balance to its crea'E in the hands of its Treasurer. The Municipal accounts were duly auditedy printed, and published up to September, The subsequent accounts (which involve no ordinary expenditure) have also been made up> are now ready for audit. The contract for the construction of the workS I has been duly executed by the Board and their vetf (I efficient and experienced contractor. # I have no knowledge of the "good authority which justified Dr. Lucas, in his opinion, in statM that the Board had not raised a shilling of n>e required £ 7000." But I know this, that, a* l < time of his writing, some hundreds of pounds been subscribed, and had been paid into the hav*. of Messrs. Wilkins and Company, to the credit the Board, on account of the waterworks; and tb^ it appears very probable the Board will have siderable difficulty henceforth in deciding as to tH preferential claims of competing subscribers. r | It would seem that Dr. Lucas, by his j j regarded somewhat contemptuously the turning I the first sod. He probably forgot, at the momeJ"| the first sod. He probably forgot, at the moinepti that, the member of the Council who rose t° sl'C i port him, was one of the most agile and enthusias I actors on that occasion. t Dr. Lucas says, in some part of his letter, tb he, hesitates, in writing certain statements. It Ilry pears to me that he might, becomingly and useful r have hesitated also if he had reflected on the rece' date of his entrance into the Council, and his c° j sequently comparative ignorance of the affairs |- the Borough. He might still, in my humble j«^C j ment, have further hesitated, in so addressings fellow ratepayers, if he had considered that seven"? j not most, of the members of the Council are the largest ratepayers of the borough, and are t. able and disposed, without his or any other ance, to take care of their own interests in character.. pt r Permit me to add that the Council, as an .aDCJe oC corporate body, are determined, irrespec any temporary or other consIderatIOns, that illi control of the affairs of the borough shall not' ef j their time at least, be transferred to the mercie3^ a private, mercenary company, but shall conf^e to be eld by the constitutionally represents f hands of a Public Municipal Corporation. d ;i I have in the foregoing remarks confinedmyseJ! intentionally, to what I have understood t0 the tenor of my official directions, and have &cC ingly abstained from making Such other | as the letter of Dr. Lucas obviously suggests. I am, sir, J YQur most obedient and humble sesva 'I STEPHEN B. EVANS, Brecon, Town, Clerk. I 25th January, 1866.

TO THE RATEPAYERS OF THE BOIRO OF BRECON. Fellow Ratepayers,—A friendly critic has ed out to me, and I am much obliged to him ^fA' an error in my letter to you of the 18th inst-» w?lG.J I desire to lose no time in correcting, althol, £ does not in the least degree lessen the force 0 j argument.. bi, The correct mode of stating the case &t,birtl The Corporation will bate to pay during ^1 years for their water supply, £ 450 a year at !e3 if they borrow their money at 5 per cent per an«" As regards the proposed company it j. jij nothing whatever to the ratepayers what isJ%| out on their waterworks-whether X3500 or j —and herein lay my error. They undertake their own risk, and I now write on the antho1!I of Mr. Cobb himself, to supply the town »: water for an annual sum (although the sum is mentioned in their Bill) not exceeding £350. a They would not shrink from binding themselves to I a sum "not exceeding X300 a year," a saving the town of £ 150. }i By their bill the company will be restricted to profit of not more than 5| per cent. If their dends exceed that amount, the surplus, by 4 j terms of their act, must be devoted. 1—f'ii | up the difficiency of any former dividend below per cent. 2—To the formation of a reserve fu?J | and lastly the remaining balance must "be app f tinder the direction of the Corporation to the J lie benefit of the inhabitants and improvement of Borough." i. According to the Corporation scheme, i habitants of the borough to its extern est. j from Brynych to the Penna^ifc Lo<Jge, will a covered by the Corporation net It is true o those persons who take water will have to Pa^I rates but if those rates sjfould prove insutsc^y to make up the annual sure .required, the deficit j must be made up by the general district rate «P,j | all the inhabitants within the borough, who WIlS" 'I have to pay their q-iota, however unable from ail, tance to derive che smallest advantage froiii water supply. I Llanvaes, I remember, some time ago, sent t° -g ] a voice of complaint against being rated under scheme, declaring that its inhabitants were abundantly supplied with water, and that it J j not jusi to rate them for what was, as they almoft exclusively f°r the fb^efit of the I in tae High Street; the Bulwark, and other par ofthe town on the same level. t The CoropaIJy> on. e other hand, will only h& the power of charging those who choose to av& themselves of their water supply. Only » request of. the owner or occupier of a house, &c,> will the water be taken or charged for. „ J To me, the company's scheme seems fairei much more, advantageous to the ratepayers th* that of the Corporation. J Iha've purposely avoided mixing up this questl^' with that of the town drainage, the sad of which was only too obvious during the last sun1 mer. It is not alluded to in the Corporation sclieine' I am, yours faithfully, mer. It is not alluded to in the Corporation sclieine' I am, yours faithfully, T. PRESTWOOD LUCAS. P.S.—Since I asked the question at the ToU Council, I have been told that the CorporatlOJ1 have received a considerable part of the money which they require. The Bulwark, January 26, 1866. Printed and Published by DAVID WhjLIams> j his residence on the Bulwark, in the Chapew j of Saint Mary, in the Parish of Saint John the J Evangelist, in the County of Brecon —SATURDAY > » JANUARY 27, 1866. J