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BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

SPECIAL POLICE COURT.

RHYL.—

iRHYL AND PRESTATYN | TRAMWAY…

SPECIAL POLICE COURT.

. RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL.

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RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at the Workhouse, Ruthin, on Mon- day. Mr. Owen Williams presided, and there were present --Messrs. John Garner, John Roberts (Nantglyn), Robert White, Evan Davies, E. Powell Jones, R. B. Pugh, R. Rogers Jones, John Evans, W. G. Richards, Hugh Jones, R. Davies Jones, Thomas Jones (Plas Coch), E. Williams Jones, with the Clerk (Mr. R. Humphreys Roberts), the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. T. O. Jones), and the two Inspectors (Mr. E. Evans and W. Jones). THE POLLUTION OF THE RIVER DEE AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. The Clerk having read a letter from the County Council on the question of the pollution of the river Dee and its tributaries, the Medical Officer reported as follows on the subject:— Accompanied by Inspector Jones, I visited the various sources of pollution of the river Dee as pointed out by Dr. Bruce Low in his report in 1895. The most aggravated cases have been removed, others more or less abated, and some now in the course of being removed. The nature of the country through which the river passes is such as Dr. Bruce Low states :—High mountains rise on either side of the stream, and what dwellings there are, are mostly situated down in the valley close to the river-that proves the great difficulty of absolutely preventing drainage from the different Swellings from entering the stream, with- out either removing the dwellings or di- verting the course of the stream even if this was possible, the water would not then be free from pollution, as the surface workings of miles of highway are certain to enter the stream, besides the pollution caused by a great number of cattle that are continually grazing along the banks. Llan- degla.—The cesspit privies in the village which are situated in gardens sloping to the stream remain unaltered. I have sug- gested that these should be converted into the Pail-closet system. Llanarmon.-The pollution caused by entrance of drainage from pigstyes, and of slop water into the mill race has not been remedied also the privies which are situated on the steep bank of the stream remain unaltered. I have suggested that the drain should be di- verted into the field, instead of entering the mill race directly, and that the privies should be converted into the Pail-closet system. The pollution caused by the drain- age from the Camddwr farm has not yet been removed. The buildings of this farm are situated on the banks of the stream. I understand that improvements are about to be made to remedy this source of pollu- tion. If these sources of pollution must be removed the only remedy is to carry out the above suggestions. Since the last meet- ing of the Council, five cases of scarlet fever occurred at Park, Llanarmon. I visited this place with Inspector Jones, and came to the conclusion that the infection in these cases was probably conveyed from Liverpool. All the usual precautions are being taken to prevent the disease spread- ing.' A brief discussion took place on the subject of the pollution of the river Dee and it was decided, on- the suggestion of the Clerk that he should reply to the letter of the County Council pointing out what the District Council had already done in the matter, and with regard to the nuisances that had not been abated, that it was the intention of the Coun- cil to abate them as far as possible; but, at the same time, that the Council did not see its way to compel owners, &c., to carry out unreason- able works, whilst the stream was allowed to be polluted at other places, between the water- shed in the Ruthin district and Chester. THE COUNCIL AND THE TIED HOUSE QUESTION. The Clerk, having read the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council with refer- ence to the tied house question, said he failed to see that the magistrates had anything what- ever to do with the matter. In the first in- stance Mr. E. Powell Jones: Nor have we anything to do with it either (laughter). 'The Clerk, proceeding, said the police were in the first instance under the control of the Chief Constable, and then the Standing Joint Committee. The Chief Constable was answer- able to the Joint Committee for the conduct of the police. He did not know whether the Council, by passing the resolution referred to, suggested that the police did not do their duty, or that the persons in authority did not do their duty, and that it was the suggestion of the Council that they did not enforce the Act of Parliament already in existence. Be that as it may, the magistrates had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Mr. W. G. Richards said he thought, when the resolution was passed, that the magistrates had something to do with the matter. He based his resolution on this impression. The Clerk I was not here, or I would have advised you otherwise. The first proposal was by Mr. Garner. That was not seconded, and Mr. Richards' proposal calling upon the magis- trates to instruct the police to enforce the Act was carried. The Chairman What is the Act of Parlia- ment in reference to this matter ? The Clerk That is what I should like to know. What are the clauses in the Act of Parliament that they are called upon to exer- cise. Mr. Garner's suggestion was one requir- ing a great deal of explanation, because the matter is not at present under the control of the county magistrates. I know there is a commission sitting, and is dealing with this matter, and a proposal to bring in more strict regulations with regard to tied houses and pub- lic houses generally. At the present moment, however, it was useless to pass any resolution of this kind, as the magistrates have no power to interfere with, or deal with tied houses as such. All they have to say is, whether the houses are conducted properly or not. Mr. Garner said what he intended to bring about was the enforcement of more restric- tions. The Clerk There are no fresh restrictions to be enforced. The magistrates are bound to carry out the Act of Parliament as it stands. The Chairman said the magistrates had some- thing to say as to the way the houses were conducted. As to whether the houses are tied or not, they have nothing to say. Mr. Richards said he took for granted that the magistrates had jurisdiction in this matter, and it was on this that he based his resolution. The Chairman said he would be very glad if the magistrates had authority in this matter. These tied houses no doubt-not all of them, but a great many—were a thorough nuisance to the general public. Mr. White We have nothing to do with the matter, and we can do nothing but let it drop. Mr. E. Powell Jones We have nothing to do with it. The Clerk said that, unless the Council were prepared to say that, the Chief Constable and the Joint Committee had not done their duty, they had nothing to do with the matter. Mr. Richards said there were many people in the country suffering from the effects of drink- ing bad beer. The Clerk: The remedy is not with the magistrates, but with the Inspector under the Foods and Drug's Adulteration Act. Mr. Robert White thought the Board should apologise to the Chief Constable for the re- marks made at the last meeting of the Council on this matter The Clerk said he had not acted on the re- solution then passed, as he could not see how they could have interfered in the matter. Mr. John Evans pointed out that beer was now being made out of sugar and Indian corn, and expressed a hope that Parliament would bring in a bill compelling the brewers to brew in future from hops and barley. The Clerk Can you prove that the brewing of beer in the way you state is best for the health of the people? (laughter). The subject then dropped. FFORDD DDWR, LLANFAIR. Mr. John Garner called attention to the serious state of the above road, situated at Graigfechan, in the parish of Llanfair, and urged that something should be done to make it passable. There were, he said, a family from Southport now living occasionally in the neighbourhood, and were spending a good deal of money for the benetit of the place, and the Council shou.d encourage these people, and others, to come and remain in the place. If the road were repaired, it would be a great convenience to the locality. Mr. R. H. Pugh thought it would be waste of money to interfere with this road. Mr. Garner, after further discussion, pro- posed that the Surveyor should make a thorough inspection of the road, and report to the next meeting. Mr. John Roberts, Nantglyn. pointed out that Mr. Garner and Mr. Pugh, the two repre- sentatives of the parish, did not agree as to the desirability of repairing the road. Owing to this difference of opinion he would propose that the subject be, for the present, adjourned. Mr. R. Davies Jones seconded, and this was agreed to. THE FERTILIZERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT. The Clerk submitted to the Council a slip of the advertisement issued by the County Coun- cil, drawing the attention of the public, more especially farmers, to the opportunities now offered them to have their feeding stuffø analyseil at a small cost by the county analyst. Mr. Henry Williams said this was a very im- portant matter for the farmers, and that the County Council had done a proper 'thing in bringing it before the community. CYCLING ON SUNDAY. Mr. Evan Davies gave notice of motion with reference to cycling on Sunday, explaining that he did not think the District Council could do anything more in the matter than making a representation to a superior authority. THE NANTYNE WATER SCHEME. Mr. Thomas Jones, Plas Coch, called atten- tion to the above scheme, and suggested that the Clerk should supply all available informa- tion with regard to the same, in order that the same be placed before the parishioners of the district concerned. The Clerk said this was not necessary. Mr. Thomas Jones said it had been stated in the Council that the construction of this scheme would mean a rate of 5s. in the £ on the whole of the parishes interested. That was most mis. leading. In the first place, it should be dis- tinctly understood that the expense would only fall upon those consuming the water. The ratable value of Llanychan, Llangynhafal, and Llandyrnog, according to the rate signed last May was £ 8,297 7s. 9d. A rate of only 6d. in the £ would bring in jE207 a year, and this would be quite sufficient to pay the capital and interest upon the money borrowed, the same to be repaid in 30 years. The Clerk again stating it was premature co supply the information asked for by Mr. Jones, the subject dropped. FINANCIAL. The Clerk, in submitting his estimate for the coming half-year, said that the sum required was jE920, as against £1,194 the corresponding period of last year, thus showing a decrease of 1274.