Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

THE INSPECTION OF CARRIAGES. The Town Clerk reported that he had received a report from Mr G. Rogers, Oswestry, relative to his inspection of hackney carriages, motor cars and other vehicles licensed by the Council.-Mr Ed- wards enquired whether it was a fact that Mr Rogers had refused to accede to the request of the Council that he should not undertake any repairs of the carriages ?-The Town Clerk replied tkat that was a fact, but there was no time to make arrangements for another inspector. He added that Mr Rogers informed him that the business at Oswestry was now carried out by his sons that he would not be sabject to any restrictions and tha,t after this year he would not accept the appoint- ment.

THE STAT1 Of THE ROADS. Mr Owen, Fronhyfryd, wrote calling attention to the state of Llanbadarn road in frent of Caradoo road, and opposite tke road leading to St. David's road. The residents complained bitterly of having o pay heavy rates for improvements of which they did not get their share.—On the motion of Mr R. J. Jones, the letter was referred to the Public Works Committee for consideration.

THE STUDENTS' HANDBOOK. A communication was received from the College stating that the Students' Council were again this year publishing the handbook for students and others interested in the College. It afforded an excellent opportunity for advertising the town both in connection with the College and as a health resort, and asking the Council if tkey would advertise in it.—The letter was referred to the General Turposes Committee. THE ASSOCIATION Of MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. A circular letter from the Association of Muni- cipal Corporations was read asking the Council to become members. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee.

THB HARBOUR WORKS. The town clerk reported the receipt of a letter from Mr Waltnesley, with reference to the certifi- cate which was about being granted to Mr Lester, the contractor of the Harbour Worka, and sa.id there were one or two financial matters whieh he thought the Council would agree ought to be dis- cussed in committee. It was resolved that the letter should be coreidered in committee.—The town clerk further reported with reference to the breach made at Rofawr by the sea, and that the plan with a view to the further protection of the Harbour had been prepared and sent to Mr Lester for his estimate of cost, but he had not yet received an answer.

PUBLIC WORKS THE MEDICAL OFFICER*8 REPORT. Alderman Peter Jones submitted the report of the Public Works Committee and the Sanitary Committee. The latter committee recom- mended that the Inspector take the necessary proceedings in accordance with the Dotices served by him for the removal of swine at Penparke. That the Inspector comunicate with the Bank Manager as to the state of No 80, Cam- brian street, and to ascertain what further infor- mation he was expecting from the Council. That Eagle court and White Horae court in Queen street be included in the next list of courts to ke paved, &c., under the Private Streets Act. That the Sur- veyor be instiucted to report upon the state of the urinal in Smithfield road, with a view of improving, or demolishing the same. That the Town Clerk be instructed to consider the advisability of taking proceedings against Mrs Mary Parry for the sale of diseased meat. The Commit- tee instructed the Sanitary Inspeetor to give special attention to the troughings and downpipes, with a view to their being put in an efficient state of repair throughout the Boreugh without delay. The report of the medical officer for the past year contained the following renaarks -The number of birthe registered daring the quarter was 44 (18 males and 26 females), as com- pared with 50 in the corresponding quarter of 1902, and 39 in tIe corresponding period of 1901, u^ulTalvub lu «uuw«^ til 1000 en a populatiou of 8013. The number of deaths registered as having occurred within the Borough during the period was 34. as cempared with 35 in the corresponding quarter of 1902 and of 27 in the corresponding quarter of 1901, aid is equivalent to an annual death rate of nearly 17 per 1000. Amongst the 34 deaths are inclnded those of two persons who were not inhabitants of the town; also that of the child whose body was found on tIe beach. If these three deaths were subtracted from the total of 34 the correct total for the Borougk would be 31, and tkisj number ia equivalent to an annual death rate of 15 5 per 1000. Five deaths were due to tubercular affections, 4 to heart disease, while to bronchitis and pneumonia were attributed 4 deaths. Ten cases of notifiable infectious diseases were notified during the quarter; they comprised nine cases of scarlet fever and one of facial erysipelas. The case of facial erysipelas occurred in High street. The patient has had pre- vious attacks of the same disease. Of the 9 scarlet fever cases four occurred in one household in Chalybeate street. Three occurred in another household in Terrace road, while the remaining two cases occurred in separate houses in Queen street. With regard to the cases in Chalybeate street one of the patients had a previous attack of scarlet fever in the preceding quarter, in fact, the only inhabi- tantwbo suffered from the infection in that quarter. Strict attention was then paid to the isolation. The patient recovered without further spread of the infection. The rooms were thoroughly fumi- gated, tke walls washed down with carbolic and re- papered, t ut in the last quarter this same patient got a second attack of the fever, and this time three other me ml era of the family also got infected. Dressmaking was carried on at one of tke infected hou&es in Queen street. This was prohibited dur. ing the period of infection under tke special clause of the Faotiry and Workshops Act which came into foroe last year. At present only one case is under treatment; the others have all recovered and the rooms have been fumigated by the inspec- tor. The condition of the present common lodging houses is fairly satisfactory. I shall give a more detailed description of these premises in my annual report. The condition of Fountain court, Spriug gardens, and the river shore adjoining Spring gardens is as bad as ever. The property along the river side is now in the hands of the Corporation, and considerable improvement ought to be immediately effected by the Corporation. I have supplied Mr Hall, for the purpose of the Souvenir, with meteorological statistics based on the average of the past nine years. These aver- ages will be preseated in the annual report. The committee recommended that the gardener be requested to give his attention to the shrubs, &c., around the Board School, and to do any necessary work in connection therewith. The letter of Mr Evan Davies, of No. 8, Lisburne Terrace, calling attention to the state of Trevor- road and footpaths was considered, and the Town Clerk was directed to report thereon. The letter of Mr T. W. Powell, dated 2nd January, 1904, oalling attentien to the state of the road leading from the Victoria Terrace to Cliff Terrace, and asking the Council to take over the roadway upon the terms set forth in the petition which aocom. panied his letter. The committee deemed the present to be a favourable opportunity to settle the boundary between the Corporate Estate and the Penglaise Estate at this part of the borough, and they recommended that the necessary steps be taken in the matter, and that pending further consideration of the application the Borough Surveyor be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of continuing the present railing in front of Brynymor Terrace to Victoria Terrace. The plan of a dwelling house proposed to be erected by Mrs David Howell on the site of No. 24, Port- land Road was examined and was recommended for approval by the Council. An amended plan reeeived from Mr David Phillips showing the exits provided for the proposed new Hall, &c., in Terrace Read was examined aad considered. The committee recommended that two exits be required to Terrace Road ef 6 feet each, and one to Bath Street of 6 feet, and the other of 6 feet to Portland Street, by means of an exit from the Arcade itself, and the Boroagh Surveyor was instructed to see Mr David Phillips and inform him that provided the same is amended to this extent the plans will be approved of. The com- mittee were unable to approve the amended plan, the exits shown being, in their opinion, inadequate. They recommended that provision be made for four exit., each to be of a minimum width of six feet.—The report was adopted.

THE HARBOUR. Capt. James bieught up the report of the Her. bonr Committee as follows :-The application of Mr E. R. Lester to be relieved from payment of harbour dues was discussed, and its further con- sideration deferred; the tender of Mr E. R. Lester, dated 8th January, instant, for filling in a quantity, estimated at between 1,100 and 1,200 tons, of beach shingle into the breach in Rofawr, caused by the recent heavy seas, for the sum of £110, the work to be campleted before the next spring tide was considered and the committee recommended that an offer of E80 be made to Mr E. R. Lester for the work and that groyne No. 7 shown on the plan prepared by the Borough Surveyor of proposed new groynes on Rofawr be extended, so as to be of equal length with groyne No. 10 on the same plan. Relative to the breach made by the sea at the Harbour recently, Capt. James said it was argent that the work should be at once undertaken and instructions were given by the committee to Mr Lester to proceed with the work, he having agreed to accept the offer of £ 80. The work had been completed.—The report was adopted.

FOOTPATHS. Mr Samuel submitted the report of the Footpaths Committee, which stated that Mr Wm. Thomas bad been appointed chairman and that the following gentlemen were recommended to be co-opted as members :-Messl"S J. H. Jenkins, R. G. Bennett, David Owen, W. R. Hall, S. March, W. H. Colby. The report was approved.

THE FLATS. The Finance Committee reeommended payments amounting to zC748 8s 7d, whioh were ordered, and the iveatments to be made in reference to the sinking: fand.—The application of the Aberyst- wyth Cyolieg Club for a lease of the Flats for the purpose of an athletic ground was considered, and the Council recommended that the application be refused. The Conu",id. .ec.uun..nd..d. meeting of the Finance Committee be held on the 15th inst., to consider the appointment of a char- tered accountant, a,nd to fix his remuneration for the examination of the Corporation accounts.— The application of Messrs Owen Bros., for a lease of a piece of land in Greenfield-street, for the purpose of workmen's dwellings was considered, and the Committee recommended that the land be offered on lease by auction.-T.. town clerk reported the result of an interview he had with the Public Works Lean Beard, who reqaired that in the event of tIe loan of £ 10,500 being granted by them they would require to be secured with a nrat charge on the Corporation estate.-The Committee instructed the town clerk to interview the respective mort- gagees, and ask them to postpone their respective mortgages in favomr of the Pnblic Works Loan Com- missioners. Referring to the payment of R100 one year's salary to the magistrates' clerk, Mr Roberta, the ckairman of the Committee, stated that the difference between that sum and what they had re- eeived in fines and fees was £ 18. He did not knowkow the deficiency compared with previous years.— Mr R. J. Jones I think it is better.—Mr C. M. Williams (to Mr Roberts) Do you suggest that that should be sent to the magistrates (Iaughter).-With reference to the application, of the Cycling Club for a lease of the Flats, Mr Roberts said he had voted against the recommendation and some other member had better move the adoption of the recommendation.—Alderman Peter Jones in mov- ing the adoption of the recommendation, said he thought the Council should retain the land in its own hands for public purposes. The land was acquired for a definite purpose, and a legal diffi- culty would present itself in leasing the ground, He did not think that the land should be handed over to anybody and thus bar the pnblic. Re- creation grounds were held for the benefit of the community generally.—Mr D. Thomas seconded the resolution.—Mr Edwards asked if it was a. fact that the Council could not leasa the ground to a body like the Cycling Club. It was rediculous to say that the land was being retained for recreation ground for the public. They had had the land in hand thirteen years, but the recreation ground bad not yet been made. It was true an attempt was made to make a public park; but that was a disgrace to the town.—The Town Clerk stated that the land was vested in the Couneil as an Urban District Council and application would have to be made to the Local Government Board for sanction to purchase the land for that purpose and that having been done there would be no legal objec- tion to granting a lease on the ground to anybody. They had got land for a particular purpose and they must rid it of that onus.—Mr Gibson moved an amendment that the matter be referred back to the committee for further consideration. The proposition put before the last committee meeting was to turn the whole of the flats into a munure heap. To make that grennd the dumping place of the refuse of the borough would ruin the town. -Mr Foesett Roberts seconded the amendment but it was defeated on being put to the meeting. -Mr R. T. Jones then moved an amendment that the application be acceded to and that the Council lay the facts before the Local Government Board and ask them for their sanction in the matter. He said he understood that the Cycling Club were prepared to expend between C600 and £ 1,000 on the ground for athletic purposes and he thought it was their duty, if they got quid pro quo, to give them every support that they could. The ground was obtained for a special purpose which had been abandoned entirely. He did not see any difference between leasing the ground to the Cycling Club and renting;it to differ- ent people as they did at present. Visitors in the summer time complained that there was no recre- ation ground. If the Council would not provide one, they ought to support those who were willing to do me. If they were going to remove the nuis- ance caused by the manure keap on the other side of the railway to that ground the nuisance would be greater. It was argued that the ground was close to the cemetery, but surely tkey were not going to refuse the application on that ground. The present football field was practically a. portion of the cemetery field, but the flats were really further away from the cemetery.—Mr Edwards seconded the amendment and said he thought that a town of the status of Aberystwyth to be withont a recreation ground was really disgraceful. Thousands ef visitors came to the town every year and there was no place in which their sons and daughters could have tennis or any other recreation. For many years the Council had spoken about convoi ting that land into a recreation ground and the people were sick and tired of it, because the Corporation had not the means at present to do so. There they had a body of men, as respectable as the Council, prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on the ground. A re- creation ground was very necessary to a. health resort.—Mr Wm. Thomas said there was a disposi- tion to lease the ground on the security of seven cr ten hundred pounds being spent there. It appeared to him that that would be juet enough money to spoil tke ground for the Council and would be of little or no purpose to the Club themselves. He would be favourdble to disposing of the land were they assured the ground would be handed back to them in the sanae condition as the Club had it. If those hundreds of pounds were spent on it and the ground handed back some time to the Council it would cost more than one thousand pounds to place it as it was before. With reference to the manure heap, Aid. Jones pointed out at the Committee, and he agreed with him, that there was a great deal of difference between the land where they now tipped refuse and the Flats. At the latter place there was a good depth of soil and the refuse could be buried and no nuisance would arise. On the other hand the level of the ground would be raised. Pro- ceeding Mr Thomas said he feared that if the ground was leased to the club, the gatherings there would interfere with the services at the cemetery, in the same way as the shouts of the spectators on the football field near the cemetery. If that little shed-Mr Gibson We have no plans of it.—Mr Thomas We had plenty of plans before the election free of charge. Mr Thomas proceeded to say that if that shed, nicely painted, was an insult to the memory of the dead as it bad been said it was, a play- ground close to the cemeteiy would be a hundred times a greater insult to the memory of the dead and a nuisance to the living. They all knew that the cemetery stood up higher than the flats and, it might be used as a gallery from which to see the sports on the ground. He admitted it would be well for Aberystwyth to possess a recreation gronnd but they were short of land. The Flats was the only land at their disposal, and it was their duty to the ratepayers to retain it and improve it.—Mr C M. Williams referring to the manure heap, asked had not a gentleman who had since complained, built pleasure grounds near by knowing of the existence of the manure heap. Treated properly on the Flats, the refuse would not be a nuisance. The ground lay at a low level, and could not be used as a recreation ground, because it was often Seeded.—Mr Roberts said that some of the speakers who opposed the granting of the applica- tion, notably Mr Wm. Thomas, professed to be anxious to do all they could to provide an athletic ground. It was a hollow statement to make. They could not be anxious at all, because that was the only available space of ground and they did not suggest any other.—Mr Samuel said if they grantttd a lease of the ground to ths club, it would not be anything like a public park and recreation ground if they were going to charge entrance feep, -Mr T. II. Edwards :Wha.t do they pay rent for?- Mr R. J. Jones, in replying to the arguments, said if after spending all their money on the ground the chb gave up the ground, would not the improve- ments made go to form a yart of the Council's scheme for a recreation ground. On being put to the meeting five voted for the amendment and 9 for the refusal of the application. The Com- mittee's recommendation was, therefore, adopted. -The remainder of the report was approved.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The report of the Library Committee was brought up by Mr Samuel. It was resolved that the Book Committee should bring in a list of new books for the approval of the next com- mittee, but not to exceed the sum of P,40, and also to report upon the question of business dir- ectories which are supplied to the library. It was resolved to ask the Council to consider the question of allowing the general district and water rates on the present premises as was -done j in connection with the old premises. The Chair- man reported that the trustees of the Nanteos estate had sent a list of repairs alleged not to have been completed at the Old Assembly Rooms, but the corumittee do not in any way accept any further liability in connection with the premises, as they are satisfied that they have complied with the terms of the lease. It was also reported that the Corporation had agreed to purchase the Alfred Place site for new library purposes, and the following resolu- tion was accordingly passed:—"That the Com- mittee regards with pleasure that the Town Council have fixed upon a site for library pur- poses to meet Mr Carnegie's offer, and hopes the Council will soon advertise for plans for the new buildings." The Chairman was authorised to accept the offer of the Cycling Club for the use of the chairs at their last annual cycling sports, that is to receive books on sports and athletics up to the value of £1 Is. nett, the Book Committee to select the books. The fol- lowing members were appointed a Book Com- mittee :-Revs W. Matthews, T. A. Penry, G. Eyre Evans, Messrs D. Samuel, M.A., N. H. Thomas, M.A., Evan Evans and George Davies, with the chairman as ex-officio.-Relative to allowing the rates in respect .of the library pre- mises, the question was referred to the Finance Committee.—As to the new library site, Mr R. J. Jones remarked that if a poll of the town were taken that site would not have been selec- ted.-The report was adopted.

ABERYSTAVTHIAN'S BENEFICENCE. Mr W. Thomas moved the fol owing resolution "That this council desires to express their great appreciation and gratitude to Mr W. T. Jones, Melbourne and London, for his many thoughtful charitable gifts to the poor of the town. Mr Thomas said he did not know Mr Jones personally. Mr Jones had thought of the poor of that town and neighbourhood every winter for many years and bad sent large sums for distribution. He had also subscribed largely to the college and the young men's institute.—Captain James seconded the vote with pleasure. He said Mr Jones and himself were sehoolmates and ship mates. Mr Jones had made a fortune in Malbourne and spent it benefi- cently. The vote was unanimously passed.

DIVIDEND WARRANTS. On the proposition of Mr Roberts, the mayor was authorised to affix the corporate seal to a re- quest for transmission by post to the treasurer of the corporation of all dividend warrants on the £ 8426 4s Id consolidated 21 per cent. standing in the name of the mayor, aldermen and burgesses.

ANOTHER LOAN. On the proposition of Mr Roberts, a resolution was passed authorizing tbo town clerk to apply to tbe Local Government Board for tbeir sanction, to a loan of £ 378 10s 7d for the purpose of building and erecting a slipway near South Marine terrace and for paving, kerbing and channelling works in frent of South Marine terrace.

LIGHTING NORTH ROAD. On the motion of Mr C. M. Williams, it was re- solved that the specifications, plalti and sections, estimate and provisional apportionments prepared by the borough surveyor and the lighting of part of a street called North road in the borough be ap- proved of.

THE CASTLIC LAVATOKY. The borough su rveyor stated that he had reo ceived tenders for the construction of a public con- venience on the Castle grounds and these were re- ferred to the Public Works Committee with power to act in the matter.

+ HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. SIR W. WILLIAMS-WYNN'S HOUNDS WILL MEET ON Saturday, Jan. 23 Malpas Monday, Jan. 25 Rossett At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 Grafton Smithy At 10-45 a.m. Thursday, Jan, 28 Knolton Hal At 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 .Terrick At 10-30 a.m.

THE PLAS MACHYNLLETH HOUNDS WILL MEET ON FOXHOUNDS. Thursday, Jan. 21 Friday, Jan. 22 > Pentnaenpool, Dolgelley District Saturday, Jan. 23 ) HARRIERS. Monday, Jan. 18 Rhiwlwyfen Wednesday, Jan. 20 Talywern Friday, Jan. 22 Bryuclyge At 10-30 a.m. TANAT SIDE HARRIERS WILL MEET ON Saturday, Jan. 23 West Felfcoa At 11 a.m. UNITED PACK WILL MEET ON Saturday, Jan. 16.Lydbury North Wednesday, Jan. 20 Little Stretton Saturday, Jan. 23 Chapel Lawn At 11 a.m. MR. NELSON'S HOUNDS WILL MEET ON Saturday, Jan. 16 Minsterley Wednesday, Jan. 20 Halfway House, Westbury Saturday, Jan. 23 Leighton Bridge At 11 a.m.

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