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CARMARTHEN TOWN COUNCIL.

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CARMARTHEN TOWN COUNCIL. The Carmarthen Town Council held their half- quarterly meeting at the Guildhall last Tuesday, when the following members were present :— Mr T. Davies (mayor), Alderman John Morris, Councillors Howell Howells, James Davies, D. Parcell Rees, D. H. Thomas, T. Jenkins, W. L. Hughes, D. Rixon Morgan, D. Griffiths, and W. Vaughan George. Mr John Hughes, F.R.C.S., medical officer of health, Supt. Smith, Mr John Morgan, surveyor, and Mr John Williams, inspector of nuisances, were also in attendance. CORRESPONDENCE. The Mayor read a letter from Mr Bland, rail- way contractor, with regard to the charge made upon him by the Council for water used at his stables, viz., E4. He said it was excessive, and ought not to he more than 1:2 103, which would be quite enough, as there was no waste water. The Mayor said that some time ago it was increased from E2 10s. to E4, and it was according to the overage increase they made to other people.—Mr James Davies said he thought that Mr Bland ought to be the last to complain. An enormous lot of money had been spent upon the new road to the station, and that ought to make him silent on that score.—Mr T. Jenkins thought the charge a very moderate one as com- pared with Mr Hansard's, who had to pay El for only two horses.—The letter was allowed to remain on the table. A similar application was read from the owner of the Old Foundry. The present charge was C6, whereas it used to be only 22.-The Clerk said that when the Council increased the charge they were under the impres- sion that two engines were used, whereas there was only one.—The letter was referred to the water committee. Another application from Mr David Davies, the tenant of the Mansel Ground field, for water to be conveyed to the field was also referred to the water committee. WATER COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following is the report of the water com- mittee of tHe 14th May, 1890 Resolved that the resignation of George Elias be accepted, and the surveyor be instructed to appoint a man in his place as engine-driver at the Water Works." The following is the report of the meeting of the 28th May :—" The engine-driver reported that a leak had been discovered in the tube of the boiler at the pumping station, but that there would be no pressure during the sum- mer, and the surveyor confirming this, it was resolved that the pumping should be continued until a favourable opportunity presented itself of having the necessary repairs effected. Resolved that water be supplied to the Carmarthen Brewery by meter at the price of Is. per 1,000 gallons, as heretofore, until further order. Resolved that the water supply of the town be cut off from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m."—Mr D. R. Morgan I rather object to the brewery having the water for Is per 1,000 gallons.—Mr James Davies asked the surveyor how he expected the poor people who had to go out in the morn- ing and come for their breakfast at eight o'clock to get it without water. They could not have it ready boiling from the tap. It was agreed that the water be turned at 7.30 instead.—Mr D. R. Morgan Would it be necessary to stop the supply of the whole town in order to supply the breweries ?-Surveyor We supply the brewery when the town supply is cut off. When it is cut off the reservoir rises about two inches.-Mr D. R. Morgan Is per thousand gallons is very inadequate, as they do not take it all the year round.—Mr Thomas Jenkins did not think the cutting off did any good. He was in a house some years ago which was burnt down because they could not find the chap to turn the water on the fire.-Mr James Davies said they should look after the requirements of the public and not those of a few private breweries. The good of the inhabitants came before the breweries.—The Surveyor, in answer to Dr. Hughes, said the water was only used for domestic purposes.—Mr D. R. Morgan proposed, and Mr James Davies seconded, that the report be adopted, with the alteration that the breweries be not supplied.— Mr G. Griffiths proposed, and Mr H. Howells seconded an amendment that the report be adopted as read. The amendment was carried. P WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following is the report of the above com- mittee of the 6th irst., 1890:—"Resolved that the council be recommended to purchase so much of the Misses Marsel's property adjoining the western approach to the station as is required to widen the road according to the plan prepared in 1888 that the application of Mr James Davies for leave to lay an overhead telephone wire be not granted that the necessary repairs be done to Carmarthen bridge and to the footpath over the bridge that the plans produced of a house at Fountain Hall, a house at East Parade, and new kennels at Traveller' Rest, be passed that the surveyor obtain a quotation for a cargo of Hags by the next meeting of the council; that provided the County Council will furnish the kerbs, and keep the path in repair when made, a footpath be made from Woodbine Cottage to PoMtcarreg farm." The Mayor suggested that the question of the new road be adjourned till the next meeting, as they were such a small com- pany that day.—Mr James Davies. It is their fault that they are absent, not ours. The matter ought to be finished to-day. -Mayor: The approach to the station is 209 square yards, and the price they want for it is £ 60.—In answer to a member, the Surveyor said that rate would be over 21,000 an acre.—Mr James Davies said they spent about 21,500 a short time ago before upon the approach to the station, and it was only a whim of one or two to please some friends. If they paid for it themselves he would thank them, but it ought not to be made with public money. They had a good road and footpath there already. -Mr T. Jenkins proposed, and Mr D. R. Morgan seconded that the report be adopted, with the exception that the question of the new road be postponed to the next meeting of the Council.- Mr James Davies It would be a great deal better if we were to leave it alone altogether. PRIVATE TELEPHONES. Mr. V. George said that before they passed the report, he thought it was only right to grant a telephone to Mr Davies, as they oiHit to encourage their tradesmen to carry out their work. He proposed that Davies's application be granted.—Mr James Davies seconded.—MrD. P. Rees said he had been inquiring if it would in- volve any danger, and he thought it would not. Mr D. R. Morgan said that if Mr Davies's appli- cation be granted, they would not then be in a position to refuse anybody else, and they would be continually receiving similar applications. He contented that the wires were dangerous. They all remembered that a few years ago the tele- graph wires used to be over Spilman-street, but the Government had said they were dangerous, and they had to be pulled down. If Mr Davies wanted a telephone wire, he could apply to the Post Office authorities, and not the Town Council. He must come to them and ask for permission to have a telephone wire from the station to his office (laughter) they would Rot be in a position then to refuse it.—Mr Vaughan George said it would be a very good thing to see every gentleman in the town having a telephone wire, as it would be a good sign of increasing prosperity.—Mr James Davies Mr Davies has told me that he will have it done whether the Town Council liked it or not.— Mr D. R. Morgan If he says he will do it without our permission, why should he ask us at all > Mr James Davies Because he likes that straight line of business. He has told me he will do it. Mr T. Jenkins withdrew his motion. He should like to see Mr Davies getting it, for the very reason that he (the speaker) himself would like to get it (laughter).—Mr James Davies I think we ought to grant all such applications for such men as you, who do such good to the town.—Mr D. R. Morgan moved, and Mr Howell Howells seconded that the report be adopted (that was, that the application be refused), and with the alteration that the new road be adjourned to the next meeting.—On being put to the vote, five voted for Mr Morgan's motion, four against, Mr T. Jenkins remaining neutral. ANOTHER APPLICATION. An application was read from Mr Owen Elias, foreman of the corporation labourers, for increase of wages.—The Mayor said that it had been before the finance committee, and they recommended that his salary be increased from 19s. Gd. to £1 Is., the same as his predecessor, — The in- j crease was granted. AMENDMENT OF RATES. The next business was to consider the amend- ment of the borough and district rates by the in- crease of the assessment of the asylum and other premises as drawn up for the Council.—Mr D. R. Morgan proposed, and Mr Howell Howells seconded that the two rates for the current financial year be altered according to the new assessment of the asylum and other premises, as shown in the supplemental valuation list sub- mitted to the Council. The new assessment ex- ceeds the previous one by £ 3,235 15s. Od., due to an increase of the Great Western Railway Company's premises, and that of the Joint Counties Asylum. In the former, according to the new valuation, there was an increase of from E401 to £1,133, and in the latter an increase of from £100 to £2,603 15s. The motion was carried. ASSESSMENT OF THE BOROUGH TO THE COUNTY RATE. The next thing on the agenda was to consider the recent assessment of the borough to the county rate by the County Council. TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. In 1889 the county authorities levied a rate of 3d in the £ upon the borough of Carmarthen, which was however subsequently reduced to 2d, on representations being made by the borough to the county authorities. A meeting took place between representatives of the borough and the county, and it was admitted that the borough had been assessed to expenditure for which it was not liable to contribute, and it was arranged that on the next occasion of making a rate the borough should be charged only with those items to which it was properly liable. This year, however, the original error has been committed again, and a rate of 2d in the £ has been made upon the borough to cover the cost of the county police. The estimates for this rate are not made out so as to distinguish properly between the expenditure for which the borough is liable to contribute, and that for which it is not liable but it seems pretty clear that on those estimates there is no occasion for levying any rate at all on the borough. I have very little doubt that this rate could be quashed on appeal to the County Quarter Sessions, and I think an appeal is the only safe way of relieving the borough of the impost; but as the appeal must be made, if at all, to the next Quarter Sessions, which are held on the 4th July, and notice has to be given of the appeal fourteen clear days before that date, I have thought it best to lay a case before counsel with a view to taking prompt action, if so advised. An appeal would have to be made in the names of the overseers of the parish, and I have no doubt they would allow the names to be used if they were indemnified against personal liability. I should mention that I have written to the chairman, treasurer, and clerk of the County Council pointing out the mistake which I consider has been made. The chairman suggests that if an error has been made it can be put right with- out the expense of an appeal, but unless the County Council would at once hold a special meeting to amend or rescind the rate I do not see how without an appeal we could prevent the rate or some part of it being collected. I would suggest that the Town Council should pass a resolution in the following form:—"That the town clerk be authorised to take what steps he thinks proper towards relieving the borough from the rate recently ordered by the County Council, and, if so advised to ask the over- seers of the parish to allow:an appeal against the rate to be made in their names." Mr T. Mostyn Davies Have they a legal right to levy this rate on the borough ? I think the Town Clerk ought to be present at such an important meeting as this.—The Mayor said that he could not attend that day, and they must excuse him, as he had gone to the funeral of his brother-in-law.—The Assistant Clerk (Mr Thos. Evans) said that Mr Thomas had told him to ask the Council to pass the resolution at the end of his statement that an appeal be made.—Mr Howell Howell proposed, and Mr D. R. Morgan seconded, that the matter be left in the hands of the Town Clerk to act at his own discretion, and it was carried. VETERINARY INSPECTOR. With regard to the appointment of a veterinary inspector under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, the Mayor said that they had lost Mr Rees, and they would have to consider then jwhether they should advertise for one by the next meeting or not. It was stated that the salary was £5 5s. per annum.—It was resolved that the appoint- ment be made at the next meeting of the Council, n and that they do not advertise, and also that Mr Lewis Rees be appointed to act until the appoint- ment be made, if anything should occur. —It was resolved that the Corporation Seal be affixed to in authority for investment in consols by the Treasury.—A bill from the Clerk of the Peace was ordered to be paid. ANOTHER APPLICATION. An application was made from Mr .William Davies, the town crier, for an increase in his salary. The letter stated that he had been in their service for three years, that his present salary was £8 per annum, that for that money he had also to do all the Corporation's posting, and that during the last two years the number of "cries had greatly diminished. He hoped the Council would increase it to 6s. a week. It was resolved that his salary be increased to 910 a year.—This was all the business.

CARMARTHEN COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

CARMARTHEN BOROUGH POLICE…

NOTES FROM PENCADER.

-------_-BANQUET TO MR. T.…

WHATELEY'S "WHAT NOTS."

THE ALLEGED RACING OF ATLANTIC…

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LAUGHARNE ECHOES.

WALTIIAM WATCHES AS TIMEKEEPERS

CARDIGANSHIRE CO U N T Y GOVERNMENT.

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