The Cardigan Bay Visitor

:1.. :r_ MERIONETH COUNTY COUNCIL. The quarterly meeting of the Merioneth County t', y Council Wei- held at the AF.ml,iy Rooms, Blaenau Fesiiniog, on Thursday or l.-st week, v «n thrv i Wjfre pre$>Dt A!der:r.u P -r \T B- i. c'a r roar, pres'tui i* t1 1 i • loo-■=. i Festiniog, viec- chairiii-, Aldermen W. j., ,:ii. Blaenau Festiniog: John Hughes, Corwen J. Hughes Jones. Afcerdovev A. Osmund Williams. Deudraeth; E. 1-i. Dr Edward Jores. Caerbyroo Lewis Lewis, 3r- mouth; Andreas R-ber s Biaeaau Fcsti<- iog and; the Hon. C. E. Wvnn. Riuig Councillors Pa id Edw ards, Llansanttii'aed iiliam Koulkcs J< nes, C'orwen E. Jarrett, Lhn -rillo: John Parry. Bala:1 Jorm Thomr.?. Llanycil H. E. Roberts. Lianawch- llyn; John Roberts. Dr Iff' !!ey (run!): John Ev.r«s, i Barmouth Chivies W.i'li-un.-s, L'ar.aber John Davies, Dyil';j-n G. V". Khubv, Llwyng-r; G. H. I)i- R(,' rt IVry Joa-s?. J. I Lloyd Jones. i. i 1). phrcy Roberts, ar.d Wi-liatn i)..v;,s. F- i-t-cios: • K. Bowen Jones, Liarfrot: W. E, 0 k.ey. M,i -n- twrog; fyuvdd H. Jones, Taisatuat R. Cl.-irlfs Anwyl, I'enoai l H. u Haydn Jores. N-n Mess:s R bert nes. county clerk: J. 31. JOLTS, county surveyor: Maj'-r i Best, chief const.e Do Rici nrd denes nvd.cal officer of health and Mr John Richards, c-wmy 1 treasurer. INABILITY r-> ATTEND. f?ri I. cCe wer, recc- freir, Mr W R. M. Wyn::?, IVn.arth, who wrote! from Karrogr.to. au; am Mr Robert Riel.a ds 1 who wrote irom Liau,:mdv.l. T!;k (<'ITMV 1:. The following lett- r was received ii- in Ellis, M.P. —" L'yi]::?, ('■ ir'.vcn, August :2;tn, Will you kiadlv co,, vy t th Coun-y Council my most hearty and sincere tha> !cs tor toe resolution of .ongraitiii:' ji l? r..id p-v v .-io s r)a->.ed at tin- iast meeting la the kind exprcss'ors of t'ood-o il: uttered am. endorsed < t* ;st ooc,e« on I c i« a master Oi ill > c, bers of the Council, associated with public work on u e behalf of the fair land of Meiicueth. Allow me further to thank you very warmly for your personal good wishes and for your uniform courtesy. Very sincerely yours, Thomas E. Ellis. THE LATH .All: (JLADSTONE. Mr H ecrv E. C.I;.d,tone wrctp the following letter in acknowledgment of the Council's vote ot condolence at the I- death of his father: — "Junp 17th. On behalf of my mother and family. I beg to thank the Merioneth C >untv Council for their wry kind message of sympathy." ACKNOWLEDGMENT. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Mrs Kate Evan'?, Rhydyfelin, Trawsfynydd. wrote acknowledging the vote of sympathy p^s-e.l by the Council at the death of her husband, who was a member of the County Council A PERTINENT SC< IGF.STION. Mr I i.LIAM DAVIKS, Festiniog, the chairman of the Financs Committee, remarked upon the fact that the report of the Finance Committee was always taken before the report of the Main Reads Committee which, to his mind, was hardly advisable inasmuch as there were often recommend- ations in the Finance Commin-e's ropm-t hrsei; upon the recommendations of the Main Roads Committee. For instance, the Main Roads Com- mittee recommended payment that day of the claim of 1cwyn in respect ct mrv n r jads amoo tine to £ 813 lls and that £ £ 00 should be v ted for the purchzlse of a r-Ie! trucii. Under such circumstances, h- suggested t'at the report of the Roads CcTKtV e should b" iii-it ci.i.nder-d and, persooally. he it siiculd always bs taken! first. The Hon. C. H. Wvyy. the chairman of the Road? Committee, i m this vi. van.; L gested that at future meetings the report of the Main Roads Committee should be taken tirst. The suggestion was adopted. IAr:s- KOADS AND bri IK; KS. The report of the Main Roads and Bridges Com- mittee, which held its quarterly me;ing at Dolgelley on Augtui 15th. was brought up by the Hon C. H. Wysn.. The Committei recommenuHl paymeut in respect of the maintenance of main roads to the Festiniog Urban Cotinci!, f:!io 1, Bali Urban Councii, 1:48 17s 4d; Barmouth Urban Council. £ 139 !o-= 0 ? Dolgelley Url;,u; Council, £6.3 10s 8d Towya Urban Councd, £:!(j8 lbs'Jd • 14s 8 In c^nnecrio.i with the Bir- I mouth claim wiiica --va,- for the ycaruidiincr last M«r.:i;. the Committee deducted the amount "chared for watering streets, & and o, hting piy ments made en in c on with the claim of To'.vyii, wrd.ih was £ S 1 lis, £ (> I03 5d amount charge.. f r railing oil'the portion of re id. widened at Towy-j vm deducted, asio 2 7 0s 5di being paymerts m ;d on a"eo int. Mr U VNN said there «*»; noth rg'-ory sp eia! fo r» uo!t upon the i elaims except ia tile c,s." of lowyn, wiiose claim had been carefudy couiiaer-al by 01 sui. ■committee, The payments ma ¡e last cpiarter v. l' £ 4S9 17s Id The amount vctj-.l to the C unty Sufv.-y.?r to met": expenditure en the mr.in roa Is, etc., The payments made in the corresponding quarter of .,ast year to the n councils in repd of main roads was f477 15s 41 and tie a nount voted to the ^•:ncycr in -Sep-r:r!8l>7. fH.O. 1 he Surveyor apF1 i for a s.ni '■ I' sum during the en. ;n'_f' quarter. H", moved t'he a.i .ptnju of the reeoim 1 mf-rd-j-ti-r-ns as tr. cl inr^ of the urban council. Alderman OsM"ND ♦VILMAMS second- d the pro- posit ion which was agreed to anaBinio.isly. Ai( C. H. YNX net moved i ;c roc<)ni- of Committee that upon the Igrmicatirtn of t'-e present tinan.-hd ve-,r Merc-h 5lst, 1S99, -dy p.ymeut< 0. a" r expenditure on msin roads to urban councils should Le ciscondnne. and that thencefor* ard socit t councils should be pa.d ai nually, upon production of aixlited finaiic al statements, the amounts found I to bs due to tli.,zn ;r(I 4,1,h e ,ii)eil, 5,lioul,i JJt: requested to supply ti-.e County .Surveyor quarter' i at least one week before eac- meeting of the Ma i. Roads Committee, with detailed particulars of th,-iri expenditure for tne then current quarter upon the forms supplied to them by the County Council. Mr Wynn said if the claims were paid annually i: would obviate the prese-t diffieu'.ty thr.jiish certain forms not fided up .n goo i time. Tnis would i be more advar.t-ig'-ous to the County Council and the urban council-. Alderman OSMOND WILLIAMS seconded the motion. Mr WM DAVIES, Festiniog, considered that it would be a hardship on the urban councils if they were only paid annually, it would mean that be- fore Festiniog was paid the sum of £ 1,600 due to them they would have to wait fifteen or eighteen months, Although virtually a year, it would mean nearly eighteen months before all the formalities were gone through. If the County Council favoured the recommendation, he should certainly suggest that payments on account should be made. Alderman C. H VVYNN said be would have no objection to payment on, account. The CLERK observed that in some counties pay- ments were made annually. Mr H. HAYDN JONES and Alderman LEWIS thought it ""1"¡ be a h!»-dsh?r or the urban council it they I o wz any payment was lmde. Mr WM. moved AN ame:x«meat that pay- meets on account should be made quarterly. Mr JO'fN I "I 'M < the \vt7r tC,r\R"T<V lifl oql"lntnd tr) rf- ..jir¡.t negative. Erentr a'.ly, if 1- *.<• on i. < i Alder mar ••F. «• -ot-I by JHAYDN JCNE<. to defvr the matter. Alderman C. H.' Wynn afterward moved that the estimate of the County Surveyor of the cost of maintaining main roa(t_q and bridges during the en- suing quarter amounting to £ 900 should be ap- proved and the motion was adopted. The County Surveyor afterward submitted his quarterly rep-- rt rn the reads and bridges, in which he stated that the roads were in the same con- dition as on the previous quarter, except that the road in Llwyngwril complained of had been put in a satisfactory condition. The urban district coun- cils in the county had all supplied him with par- ticulars of their expenditure on main roads. Re- Y, ferring to the repairs of the bridges in tie county, the SURVEYOR dwelling upon the Llaneiityd bridge, said if the Fishery Beard persisted in their efforts to construct a fish pass he would protest very much against having a framing under tne bridge as con- templated. The report having been adopted, Mr HAYDN JONF.= drew attention to the forms sent to the urban district councils to fid. The form sent to the Clerk to the Urban Council of Towyn would involve several days' work to fill. It would be merely a matter of statistics and would in no way act as a check upon the accounts. The Hon C, H. WYNN* said it was necessary to be supplied wo h statistics so as to see what was being done. They acc-pted the accounts of the different urban councils as thoroughly accurate and in n, need of checking. Mr ANWYL of Pennil asked the County Sur- veyor whether the byelaws in connection with the use of m;iin roads were being strictly carried out apd whether the foreman had copies of the bye- laws ? The Surv eyor replying in the affirmative, Mr ANWYL asked whether the foremen were supposed to exphin tne provisions of the byelaws to the roadmen Tee County Surveyor again affirming, Mr AN- WYL said cue of the roadmen in his district knew no more ab'ut the byelaws than an animal. He WYL said cue of the roadmen in his district knew no more ab'ut the byelaws than an animal. He kocv? cot-dcg about "tira nv-v s pr< hibnicg overloading of waggons. that wa< the duty of tae oreman, but Mr ANWYE said the foreman lived at ) yeilcv d lrm visited Peons.: whereupon .be H'i Ti- WYNX suggested that Mr Anwyl I shouldpio.c? -:ir question before the Main Roadstjym- mittee, It WJI.s the duty of the (Jomnu 11 to go into r u* t- of rr ;o 'P "nance so a:- *i°t to take up Crr/ncV. Kv. feit sure that the Committee would only be too glad to investigate Mr Anwvl's complaint. Mr A-NV/yl said he wa3 much obliged to ivlr Wynn for opening the door to him, but he might p int cut that some time ago he wrote to the Clerk C, as tu who was responsible for the removal of brusb- 11" ovev-haiigicg r,'ss banks a distance of several fe-t, the Cuunty Council or the farmer". The Clerk wrote stating that he had forwarded Mr ^.nwy'rs letter to the County Surveyor who would commnn.eav- dith him on the matter. He had w ted, but the County Surveyor had J ..t: .'ated with him. (Loud laught r.) Tne Hon C. H. WYNN, referring to the question of the removal of the brushing over-hanging grass banks. sind the duty devolved upon the owners and Lot tiie County Council. Mr E. W. KIKKBY desired to state that the road in Llwyug rd was now in an excellent state of repair ami would require uo further repairs for sornf years. Mr ANDREA. ROBERTS said there was a road in the dísr:ct üt Festiniog known as Brandy-rca I. (Lalighter ) He desired to know whether that Wd. really tio- name of the road, and if so, whence had it rriginatcd, (More laughter.) Mr V\ M. DAVIES said the original name of the nud Pandy-rocU!. It was afterward named K;m..y-:<jud and a wag had inserted the letter" b" in iront of the r, thus making it "brandy." (Laugi.t r.) He was pleased to say that the name Iii" IF t derive its crigin from ny undue liking for i vandy by inhabitants of mat particui»r ti let. (Laughttr.) Oil tL P". P sition of Mr C. E. WYNN, seconded by Mr ANPRKA* ROBEIIT.S. the reccram; n iation of tlse Ma n Roa Committee that the County Coun- cil c-.iit:iuate ti e sum or xuv towards tne erectu-n of a s:at"b e for vehicular traffic over the ri\or Krwe-.t, nerr Bnarthmeini, Llanuwchllve, such br dge to be built in accordance with the plan and SJ e ;icdti'.n (submitted by t!>.e Courry S>ir- ■ i-yor ■.i.d ur.d-.r hia supervision was adopted. Mr. W VNN said he understood that the proposed Inidge, which was practically a culvert, would iu- volve an expenditure of about 190. The IV ad-i Committee brought up the repoit cf the sub Committee appointed to enquire into the application submitted by the Edea-mon Rural P.st.'e: Council with reference to the proposed n-ew 1 »ri.• •- e' th-' river Dee at Cor.-en. The sub Committee recommended that in the event of the pioj-cted bridge being erected, the Ddol-road, Cor wen, be not declared a main road, that the County Council do not undertake to make all proper approaches to such new bridge, but that the Coun- cil contribute the sum of E200 towards the erection of such approaches. The Roads Committee felt that the si eof the bridge ought to be re-considered and that a suitable bridge could be erected a little higher up the river at less expense, but which would still meet the requirements of the district. Tne report having been adopted, the Hon C. H VNN moved, in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the Roads Committee, that a ten-ton com- pound steam roller suitable also and arranged for traction purposes should be purchased for the use of the county from Marshall, Sons, and Company, Limited, Gainsborough, at the sum of jE415, with the extra amount for belting and that a six-ton truck should also be purchased from the same com- pany at a price not exceeding £63. Mr Wynn said a sub-committee was appointed to consider the matter which had been discussed in all its aspects. It had been decided at the last meeting that arrangements should be made for the purchase of a steam roller, but a sum of money was not voted. The steam roller, which with the belting and truck w..t»ld coso £300, would be wanted in about six weeks or t ,o months. Mr Thomas Jones and him- selr isited the Royal show at Birmingham and carefully examined four kinds of engines. They had come to LIe conclusion that Marshall's was by far the best. He had wntten to several urban district councils in England about the Marshall steam rollei rjd they all confirmed this opin'on, rue roller at i'I the places working satisfactorily. On the pr oposition of Mr HAYDN JONES, seconded oy Ait::iuiaii OSMJND WILLIAMS, the recommenda- tion was unanimously adopted. The Roads Committee recommended that the proposed new byelaw for regulating the scotching of carts. &c., on main roads and highways in the county should not be adopted. The CHAIRMAN- said it would be difficult to ad- minister such a byelaw. Mr JOHN IHOJIAS said the matter was worthy of re-consideration and proposed that the Committee should further consider it. Unless they did re consider it he could only class them as akin to members cf tne long eared fraternity. (Loud lan 2 hter.) Mr R, C AM\ YL seconded Mr Thomas's pro position which was rejected by sixteen t -)ten. The Roads Committee recommended the ap pointment of a sub-committee to inspect the dis- trict road leading Loin the old toll bar at DIIIHS Mawddwy to a point on the main road leading to Delgeil'jy with a view to declaring it a main road, the Mallwyd Urban District Council making an application that effeer. The recommendation was adopted, and Mesa's R. C. Anwyl. John Roberts, and Dr John Jones were; appoint-to a committee of inquiry, it be\ £ g also a-r-ed tiiat they should submit their report to tilf- l; xt meeting. THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COUNTY. MrWm. Davies, Cae'rblaidd, Festiniog, chair- man of tile Finance Committee, brought up this Comoij^teo.^ report on the financial position of the l cd. Mr DAVIES, commencing with the receipts, said the balance in hand as per last state- ment on May I4rh on the general county account was £ f! 205 10s lid. During the quarter, the Cor- wen Union had paid the first instalment of the 4Ad county rate, X271 12s Festiniog Union, first instalment, £f127 6s 4el Machynlleth Union, first instalment, fl87 9s 6d and Bala Union, rate in f.hl, £ 521 12s_Sd total, £ 1,90S 0s 6d. From the Treasury, £ 45 had been received in respect of the judge's lodgiuga for 1897.S as per sheritf £ 2M0s Sd, conveyance of prisoners to gaol £362 18, 8d, bc^nses and estate duty, 18978, final payment; 12:i :;J, customs and excise duties, 18!17.S,fin'l1 payment, being a total of £ i9, lis id. Other payments made to the Council were 9119 10cl in respect of fines and fees, per justices c;erks £ 53 15a (id, fees, per inspector cf weights and measures :t:27 -is lid, bank interest allowed June 30th i7 10s, half-yearly rent of county courts at Bala and Dolgelley £ 3. one year's rent of garden and triti; at Dolgelley £ 20, tor two licences for traction engines and 2s 6d in respect i 1 :cod supplied to a prisoner at Corwen, the lutttr making payment. This brought the total receipts on the general county account to £ 6,412 Is 9d. Tne payments made during the quarter included miscellaneous bills and salaries passed at the last Council meeting. £723 13. lid (less cheques un- presented amounting to JE5 2s 9d). The other pav- ments made by the Council were to local authori- ties in respect of main roads, £489 17s Id; to public vaccinators from exchequer contribution account, f28 16s to the County Governing Body, £ 465 18s 6d, being the d rate levied for inter mediate education; and E103 8s Id, being the difference in the same under the old assessment; customs and excise duties, 1897-8. jE166 12s 3d to the County Surveyor in respect of the maintenance of main roads and bridges, £850; criminal prosecu- tions, ;CII"7 5s 6d (the cost in connection with the murder trial being JE106 12s 6d) and two cheques, uo present ad at the las: meeting but since pre- sented, bringing the total to £ 2,943 12s 7d. In connection with the police account, the Chi, f Constable was paid 9710, of which E560 was for police pay. £ 120 for contingencies, and £ 30 for conycyatco oi prisoners. The total payments made m connection with police and other accounts 12s 7,1, leavicg a balance in hand on !'•> o oon Seneral county account of £ 2,466 J3 -a. bluee then, however, the Dokelley Union had paid £ 522 of the county rate. b Pro- ceeding to the receipts on the loan account, Mr Davies sua the balance in hand AS per last state- ment in May was £ 616 Is 3d. Since then bank interest, amounting to £ 1 0s 4d, had been received and £ 2,977 from the Public Works Loan Board' being balance of loan sanctioned by the Local Government Board. This brought the total on the receipt side to £3,594 Is 7d. On the payment side there were itemsi of £ 315s 6d, law.charges re loan of £ 2,9, i £ 1,1S/ 10s Od to the North Wales Counties Asylum, being f,890 12s 6d for additional accommodation and 1:296 17s 6d for water supply (the fourth instalment). This brought the total pay. ments to £ 1,190 15s 6d, leaving a balance in hand on the loan account on August 13th, of 92,403 6s Id Mr Davies next turned to the Police Pension Fund (revenue account). On the receipt side there were in fines and fees per justices' clerks, f44 lis 2d deductions from the:pay of the force, E14 19s 7d per Chief Constable for old clothing, pedlars' fees, service fee;, and reward, £ 16 2s, bringing the total to £ 75 1 —9J, leaving a balance overdrawn in con- nection with the fundon August 13th of fl09 5s 2d. The balance overdrawn on May 14'h in connection with the same fund was £ 41 9s 9d. Since then £ 143 iSs Lid had been paid in pensions to ordinary constables. On May 14th, 1S92, there was invested in connection with the Police Pension Fund (capital account) in Bank of England stock, 9298 2s Id at cost, 9999 Ss, and there had been no transaction since. He moved the formal adoption of the state- ment. Mr E. P. JONES, Festiniog, seconded the proposi- tion which was agreed to. tion which was agreed to. Mr ANDREAS ROKERT.S asked what had been done in reference to the claim of the Bala Council in respect of main roads? The CHAIRMAN said the matter had been referred to the Local Government Board to decide. The CLERK remarked thattheGovtrnment Board would send an inspector down to inquire into the matter. Nothing could be done until the inquiry way held. Mr DAVIES then submitted the other reeom- mo ;r.ations of the Finauce Committee. The Com- mittee recommended payment of £ S39 14s Sd on account oi main roads as stated in the report of the Mam Roads Committee; £ 805 10s 9d in salaries and misoe!L.i;'ious bills for the quarter t30 to the Western Sea Fisheries Committee, being a moiety of the precept Elfli 2s Id to the Public Works Loan Board, being an instalment of the now loan for aoylum purposes and interest £ 793 Os 9J ir. police pay, etc., for the quarter ending December, 1898, and 9900 to the County Surveyor in respect of wages, team labour, and materials on account of main roads and bridges for the -quarter ending December, bringing the total recommended for payment to £3,564 Ss 3d, compared with;(3,455 9s Id during the last quarter. On the loan account the Committee recommended payment of EI,190 153 Gel being f3 fis 6d on law charges and £ 1, 1S7 10s pay- able on November 1st to the Treasurer of the North Wales Counties Asylum towards additional accommodation. This made a grand 'Lotal of £ 4,6S1 lis 7d recommended for payment compared with X4,t)S 88 1 Id voted for payment in September. 1S97. The recommendation of the Committee was adopted as were also the recommendations that the Clerk should be directed to negotiate for the loan of £ 2,500 for the erection of police buildings at Blaenau Festiniog, and that a eum not exceeding 1:500 should be vot- d for the purchase of a steam road roller and truck as recommended by the Main Roads Committee. Mr WM. DAVIES said he nrgbt point out that there had been an appreciable incrtase in the re- ceipts of the county since 1S90. In the year ended March, 1S90, the liosno s and estate duty received was £ 0,3SG in 1S91. £ (j,5S9 in 1S92, E6,914 in 1S93, £ 6,494 in 1891. £ 6,806: in IS9,), £ 6,208 in 1896. £ 6,487 in 1897, £ 6,459, and in 1S9S, £ 6,902. o: an ii,ci, on IS92 of £ 516. (Ap- plause.) Tne tu-toms and excise duties received for the year ending March, 1890, were nil; IS91, £ 930; 1892. £ 1,080: 1893, £ 1,040: 1894, £ 1,041: 1895, £ 1,000; 1:1,076 1897, XI, 119, and 1898, l, L),, or an iocrease on 1891 of ^neat, iieai.) me rates under old basis tor county purposes during 1S96-7 was 7.1d; for intermediate i for technical education, ^d during 4 1S97 S, under new ba-sis, for county purposes, 7-Vl intermediate education, J,d: technical education, :vi. During 1898 9, under new basis, for county purposes, i for liitci iiieliate education, (l, and for technical enucatioD, Ad. There was an increase in the total rates of I in the current year com- pared with 1896-7. Under the new system, the amount expended on the main roads maintained by the County Council was in 1S95 6, £ 3,029 in 189'?- £ 100; in 1S97 8, £ 3,137. The payments made to the urban district councils during the same period were, 1895 6, £ 2,276 1S96-7. 12,214 1897-S, £ 2.->34. In 1897 S, the payments made to each urbJu district wer-, Bala, ;C49 Ba-mouth, E226 Dulgfi e} £:21 Towyn, E831 Fes-tiniog, 91,207 making the t tal of £ 2,534, whilst, in 1896-7 the payments made were. Bala, 1:172 Bar- mouth, £ 324; Dolgeiby, £ 139 To,, y,i. £ -174; Festiniog, 1: 1. 105 moking the otil of £ 2,214. The Hon, C. H. WYNN, reftrring to the pay- ments in I" SptCt of main roads, said although the expenditure was heavy it compared favourably with the expenddure of other counties. They had had many difficulties to contend with which grain ally were being overcome and as time rolled on he hoped to see tne expenditure lessened and the roads even in l)-t ei- condition than they were at the pre sent time. (Hear, hear.) THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. The Council then proceeeled to the consideration of the fi'th annual reporc of Dr Richard Jones, Blaenau Festiniog, the county medical officer, and the observations of the Sanitary Committee on thp report. Copies of the report, which was for th" year ending December, 1897, had been supplied each member. Dr Jones, in his report, stated t'rat he had reeeiwd reports from the medical officers of the urban distr:cts cf Bala, Barmouth, Dolg-lley, Festiniog, Mallwvd. and Towyn and the rural dis- tricts of. Bala, Deudraeth, Dolgelley (including Llanaber, Llanymawddwy, and Talyllyn), Edeyrn- ion, Corwen, and Pem.al (Machynlleth). The number of births and deaths in the Llanegryn dis- trict had also been received, the Medical Officer through illness not being able to send a detailed compilation. That was the first report in which he (the County Medical Officer) had been able to obtain a correct estimate of the population through- out the county. In the Edeyrnion rural district the parish of Llanarmon, situated in the county of Denbigh, had been withdrawn and added to other parishts in the formation of a new district (Llan- silin rural district). In Machynlleth rural, the sub-distiict of Pennal, including the parishes of Pennal and Llanwrin, was the only one situated in the county. The area of the county excluding Pennd was 423,2EO aerf-s, being 56,863 for urban and 366,390 for rural districts. The population of the county was 51,363, being 23,192 urban and 28,171 rural. During the ye tr 1,303 births were registered giving a birth-r.it" of 25-3 per 1,000 per annum. as compared ,itF, 25- 7 for 1896. The corresponding rate for England and Wales during 1897 was 29 7 III the six urban districts 634 births were r, (,t, L, lkrlll an urban birth-rate of 27 3 per 1,000 p i- annum. The highest birth-fate, 33*5, was in Fesiiniog, and the lowest, 16-6, in Bala: Mall wyd had a birth-rate of J 7 "5 Barmouth, 18 0 Dolgelley. is-i and Towyn, 24'1. The birth rate in tl;e urban districts was much below the average with the exception of Fes'iniog. The birth-rate of Euglish urlnn districrs for 1S97 was 30 7. During the year 669 births were registered in the nine ritr,il districts, giving a rural birth-rate of 23*7. This was much below the average. The corresponding rat" for 1896 was 24'9. Tiie lowest birth-rate was in Llanegryn and the highest in Deudraeth. The number of deaths registered in the county dnrmg the year was 919, which with a population of 51,363 gav« a d<-ath-rate of 18-4 per 1,000 of the popula- tien, a decrease of 0-6 per 1,000 as compu-ed with 1896. The death-rate for England and WaLs during 1897 was 17'4. The rate for Merioueth must be considered high for an agricultural county. In the urban districts 451 deaths were regis-tered, giving an urban death-rate of 19'4 per thousand per annum, as compared with 17'1 for 1896. The death-rate for the English urban districts for 1897 wm 19-1 per 1,000. The death-rate in the districts was as follows :Ba,a urban, 25 8 (corrected rate. 20 96) Towyn, 23 23 Festiniog, 19-08 Dolgelley, 1, 8; Barmouth, 16-8 Mallwyd, 11'6, In the nine rural districts 49S deaths were registered, giving a rural death-rate of 17'6 per 1,000 perannumas com pared with 17'5 for 1896. During the year seven- teen deaths were due to injuries. It was a note- worthy fact that only one of these was a', the Festiniog slate quarries where about 4,000 men were employed. In the county 61 deaths VK registered from the principal zymotic diseases, eking a zymotic death-rate of 1-24 per 1,000. this showed a great improvement as compared with 1S96 when the number of deaths was 116 and the rate 2 1 per 1,009. The improvement was mainly to he found in the urban districts, particularly Festiniog urban. At Barmouth there was oaly one death from zymotic disease, at Dolgelley 7 deaths from zymo ic diseases, Festiuiog, IS and Towyn, 7, giving a rate of 1-42 per 1,000. The English urban zymotic death-rate for 1897 was 2'87. In the rural districts 28 deaths were registered from the principal zymotic diseases, giving a rate of 1'08 per 1,000 as compared with 1'39 for 1896. Zymotic diseases were all regarded as preventible diseases, and it was satisfactory to note the marked improvement throughout the county as compared with 1896. The total deaths in the county of those under one year was 219 one and under rive, 65 five and under fifteen, 31; fifteen and under twenty- five, 63 twenty-five and under sixty-five, 251; sixty-five afnd upwards, 286. Throughout the county seventeen deaths were registered from the effects of scarlet fever, viz., Dolgelley, 1; Festiniog, 1 Towyn, 2 Bala rural, 3 Deudraeth, 5 Dolgelley rural, 1, and Edeyrnion, 1. In 1896 the deaths from scarlet fever were only four. Seventeen deaths were registered from diphtheria and Dine from croup as compared with 26 and 14 respectively during 1896. This was sat- isfactory and might to a certain extent be taken as indicating a better sanitary condition of dwelling- houses throughout the county. The case mortality from diphtheria among the 359 cases notified was 4 7 per cent. This was very low as would be seen from the table, showing the mortalities per cent in cases diphtheria treated at eight various hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. There was only one death registered from typhoid fever during the year as compared with 10inl896. The reportthen dwelt upon the infant mortality, 219 deaths amongst infants under one year being registered. Of these, 115 were in the urban and 104 in the rural districts, ihe rate of infant mortality throughout the county Pfr registered births compared 4 in 1896. This must be looked upon as high, especially in the urban districts, the urban infant mortality being 181 3 and the rural 164. In Ihla urban the rate was 296*2 Mallwyd, 238 Towyn, -19 o Dolgelley, 217 Festiniog, 164. The cor- responding rate for England and Wales was 158 and that of English urban districts 177 per 1,000 registered births It could not be too widely knewn that the artificial feeding of infants required a grea. deal of care and that the chances of life among infants thus brought up were less favourable than among infants fed on the breast. The proper leang of infants thus became an important factor n vhe ieduction of the number of deaths this, to- g.therwith the greater liability to contract in- fectious diseases, the evil effects of overcrowding defective sanitary conditions, dampness of d wèr ling houses insufficient clothing, climatic con- ditions and want of general cleanliness had all to do directly or indirectly with infant mortality Particulars of the causes of all the deaths in the county were then given, showing a large percentage of deatns irom chest affections and from heart- disease. Oui of 915 deaths, no less than 3^ were from lung and heart causes, being 33-8 per cent. The deaths from heart disease including all diseases of the circulatory system throughout the county were 102, being at the rate of 2 07 per 1,000 on the population, as compared with 2'19 for 1896. The highest rate was recorded at Towyn, 3-8 Dolgel- ley urban came next with 3"2; Bala, 3-0 and Deu- diaetn, 2'8 The lowest rates were in P.vanal 0-S2- laDab ,10; Festiniog, 15 Edeyrnion, 1-8.' The d-adis from rheumatism throughout the couniy were only two. Taking the last live years from diseases of the. circulatory system, there died in 1893, 106 in 1894, 97 in 1S95, 100 in 1896, 121 art. in 1897, 102. This was a mean of 19S per 1,000 of the population during five years. It was Hv,e tit, ave— throughout England and Wal s and was no • ,toy t •- .-otm: for. Tiie dilapi- dated condition of dwelling-houses in many of the districts, together with the general surroundings of the BAme, materially influenced the health of the inhabitants and rendered them more liable to rheu matism and subsequent heart affections.- from which they ultimately died. From chest affections other than phthisis, 119 deaths were registered, giving a rate per 1,000 of 2'4. In the urban districts the rate was 2-3, and that of the rural district 2-5. From phthisis 89 deaths were registered, giving a phthisis death-rate of l'S per thousand of the population, being the same as that of 1896. Dampness of soil bore a direct relation to this disease. It was proved beyond a doubt by the late Dr Buchanan of the Local Government Board that in the towns where the ground water was lowered and the soil surrounding dwelling-houses dried by thorough subsoil drainage, the deaths from phthisis were re- duced as much as 50 per cent in some towns. Or- dinary drainage and the proper sewering of towns would materially assist in this dirrction. The death amongst persons 65 years of age were 2S6, giving a rate of 5 8 per 1,000. This was very high in some districts, particularly in Bala urban, BarmoutW, Towyn. Bala rural, Deudraeth, and Ede rnion, Particulars of the number of cases of infections diseases coming to the knowledge of the health officers were not given for Llaoegryn and Pennal. Apart from those, 735 cases were notified during the year, as compared with 1,337 for 1S96. a de- crease of 606. In Festiniog the number of caoes of diphtheria had fallen from 438 in 1896 to ISO in 1897. in Deudraeth they had 142 diphtheria eases, compared with 64 in 1897. In Dolgelley urban 42 cases of diphtheria were notified in 1897 as against 6 in 1S96. In 1S93 the number of cases notified was bdb in 1894,576; in 1S95, 820 in 1896, 1,337 and in 1897, 735. The rate of notifi cations tor 1897 was 14*3 per 1,000 of the popula- tion as against 24 p<r 1,000 in 1896. Tiiis, ,o far, was satisfactory. There were no infectious hospi ta's in the county, with the exception ot one- private infectious dizea-ses hospiul at Dolgelley. The water supply of the county taken as a whole was good, but there were some notable exceptions. From Mallwyd they learnt that the supply was in a very dangerous condition and liable to surface pollution. This water was generally used in dairy work, In Llanymawddwy the unsatisfactory con- dition of the supply had several times been re- p' rted ou, The supply of Cynwyd (E(lerynion) wa" defective. In Llamtber the bad and scanty sup- ply of Dyffiyn has b-ou repeatedly reported on. During drought tt e people f t'l. N-illage suffer con- siderably. Nothing had IHelt d'ne, although a s| eci 1 report was presented iu 1893. This was an iirgeur matter and required immediats attention." In Harlech (Deudiaeth) m st of the inhabitants obtain their supply from s,. all streams running through the vi llage. The*- are un loubtedly open J to pollution and have probably I)- eii the cause of outbreaks of enteric fevpr (typhoi ) during recent years. The authority have .7 considered the ques- tion of the water supply for m my years but it is greatly to be deplored that no practical measures have been taken to remove this existing serious danger to health." The importance of heilthy dwellings in their bearing upon public health was dwelt upon in almost all the rtp rts of the district medical officers. In Mallwyd the leaky roofs, dampness, and want, of eave spouts was noted. The dairies in many of the farm houses were dan gerously bad. In some the inhabitants seemed to he entirely ignorant of the elementary rules which should guide them in the preparation of their prcduce. W hen they heard of cheese being stored in the same room as a patient suffering from fever and no effort being made to prevent the risk of spreading the dis ase, it was time something should be done and doue quickly. Could not the tech- nical education rate levied in the county be utilized in educating the inhabitants ? Let the lecturers on agriculture devote themselves, more particularly to this question of dairy farming frcm its hygienic and sanitary aspects, or better still, let the children in the day schools be taught the rudiments of hygiene and sanitation and prevention as applied to infectious diseases. This was a subject deserv ing the most serious consideration of the Council. In Bala rural the state of dwelling-houses was gradually improving. No active measures had oeen taken in Edeyrnionin reference to the sleeping accommodation of farm servants which had been reported upon some months ago. In Dolgelley rural tiie great want of the district was proper dwelling-houses for farmers and labourers and proper attention to their surroundings. In Fes- tiniog urban the attention of the Council was called to several small tenements where, either from sanitary defects, dampness, or over-crowding, the conditions were such as to require improve- ment. In Pennal (Machynlleth) many of the dwellings of the working classes were in an unsani- tary condition, clay, earth, or stab being used for floors of bedrooms or chambers. All the district reports showed that work in this direction had still to be accomplished in many parts of the county. Ti.e defects were undoubtedly pointEd out by the health officers and it only remained for the differ- ent authorities to find the ways and means of remedying them. Hundreds of yards of new sewers had been laid by the different local authori- ties during the year, and in the majority of the cases where defects in existing drains and house connections were r, ported, these had been remedied. In dist, icti there was great need of p-oper drainage. At Llanuwchllyn some improvements had been carried out. At Llandderfel there was still a tendency to stagnation in the main drains. The ditches required flushing. The drains at Cynwyd were unsatisfactory, particularly the slop drains refuse being still deposited at the back of houses. The employment of a competent enginpel to co-isult and assist in the construction of works for the purification of the sewage of Corwen had not been decided upon. At present the sewage flowed into the river Dee. The drainage of Towyu met all requirements and Aberdovey had been completely re-sewered. At Trawsfynydd, 200 yards of new sewers had been laid and at Penrhyn- deudraetli 250 yards. Dolgelley urban was well supplied with main drains and they were constantly flushed. In Fes'iniog urban the drainage scheme for the whole district had not been commenced, but th". question of the purification of sewage had been prominently before the public during 1897. The cjunty was to be congratulated on a decreased general death-rate and a decreased zymotic death- rate as compared with 1896. The infant mortality was still high and the conditions of the dwelling- houses, together with their sanitary arrangements, & in some parts of the county was such as to demand immediate attention. The general report on the county closed with a table comparing the statistics with that of Carnarvonshire combined district which has a population of 152,726. At Carnarvon the births numbered 3,976 at Mer- ioneth 1,303, Carnarvon having a bifth-ratp on the population of 26 and Merioneth 25 3. At Carnar- von the deaths numbered 2,749, at Merioneth 949, the death-rate at the former being 17'9 and the latter 18'4. The zymotic death-rate in Merion- eth was 1'24 and Carnarvon 0 87. The infant mor- tality at Merioneth was 172'7 and Carnarvon 133. The phthisis death-rate at Carnarvon, however, was 2'4, compared with 1-8 in Merioneth. The table further showed that the Notification AcS had been adopted at all the districts in Merioneth except Bala rural and Pennal (Machynlleth). Dr Jones next gave a summary of the district re- ports supplied him by the district medical officers. Commencing with Bala urban, the report gave the population at 1,622 birth-rate, 16'6; death-rate, 25*8 corrected death-rate, 20-96 infant mor- tality, 296'2 and zymotic death-rate, nil. Of the forty-two deaths, eight were among persons not belonging to the district, thus giv- ing the corrected death-rate. Six died at the work- house and were from the Bala rural. There were eight deaths under one year of age. The sanitary condition of the town was steadily improving, great steps having been taken to improve the district in this respect. The High-street improvement had added greatly to the health and comfort of the in habitants. The main drain in High-street had been re-constructed in a thorough manner. A number of new houses had been builo, but more detached villas were required. There was an abundant supply of pure water. Proceeding to Barmouth which has a population of 2,500, he gave the birth-rate as 18-0 death-rate, 16'8; corrected death-rate, 16'; infant mortality, 190'4 and zymotic death-rate, 0'4. The health of the town and district had been good. Two im- ported cases of typhoid had been reported. The death-rate was by no means high when they con- sidered the population, which during the summer months was greatly increased, making the average for the year at least 3,500. One visitor died of typhoid and another was drowned, thus giving a corrected death-rate of 16 The new scheme to supply the town and district with water from Llyn Bodlyn had bjen completed. Barmouth was to be congratulated on the satisfactory state of sanitary affairs in the district. Dolgelley urban, which had a population of 2,470, had a birth-rate of 18*6 death-rate 17 S infant mortality 217, and zymotic death-rate 2*8. The proposed extension of the district had not yet been accomplished, Few houses had been built during the year, but several old cottages were re-con- structed and improved. Proper house accommoda- still remained the great and urgent want of the district. The physical health and strength of generations to come were seriously effected by badly-constructed and ill-ventilated houses, by defective ceilings, and the want of fire places in bedrooms. There were still some of the old open privies in the district, but during the year considerable improvements in this direction had been made. The proper drainage of dwelling- houses had a moit important bearing on the public health and required constant supervision. There was not one registered com- mon lodging house in the district which should he provided. The water supply was consta,it and ot excellent quality. Diphtheria was somewhat prevalent during tlu year. There were six deaths trom diphtheria and one from scarlet fever. One of the most important duties of local authorities in dealing effectively with zymotic diseases was L see that there v-ere no such things as defective drains, slop drain?, sub soil drains, the proper pav ..no nt of ftreets, and the accumulation of ti,tii, t,; they tended to generate or pro- pagate diphtheria. The birth-rate was very low and the death-rate somewhat high for a small urban district. The infant mortality, being 217 per 1,000 registered births, was considerably above the average, and was connected generally with insanitary conditions. There were eight deaths frcm heart disease which were connected closely' with faulty dwellings, Festiniog, with a population 12,000, had a birth- rate of 33*5; death-rate of 19*08 corrected death- rate 19 0 infant mortality 164, and zymotic death, rate 1.5. The lowering of the death-rate in 1S97 as compared with 1896 was to be mainly attributed to the decrease in the number of deaths from zymotic diseases. The deaths of children under five years of age was at the rate of 6'S per 1,000 of the population. The number of deaths among infants under one y or of age was sixtv-six. A" milk formed the staple food supply of children under five it became important rhat it should lie j supplied underthebest possible conditions. Toavoid all risk of conveying disease by nr-iaus of milk it should be boiled before consumption. There were 180 cases of diphtheria not fir oi, of wh'cn live died. Tt.e niaj< rity of the notifi. d r.ucs werj of a mi id character There were eight imported £ ses of typhoid, but no deaths, Thu di.appeara:cc typhoid from the district dated from the intiin- duction of the piesent water supply from Morwyn- ion Lake. Tnere were eighteen d-aths from hea.t di-ease and it was suggt^t-td that thi-i was due to hard work a t:1e ql1dnit: climatic ccnd:tio!1s, too much tea drinking, and excessive use of tobacco. Tiie majority of dwelling-houses II, a healthy. During the year plans of forty-three new ItlJnses were passed. Five hundred and thirty live yards of main drains had been constructed, forming pari, of the main sewerage scheme ab ;iit t » bl cnimeiiced. Mallwyd had a population of 1,209. The birth- rate was 1,'5, dt-adi r<.to 11'oi, inÎit¡¡" morialiry 238, ztmotie dt .1 't-rate nil. Tiie wat-r supply throughout the d striel was i.,a \>ry d condition and open to surface pid ution, This was especially the case in almost every farm in the dis- trict. This water was generally used in dairy work and was a source of grert danger. Th", farm huiid. ings were in many oses dilapidated and insa-dtary and tae dairy bad, milk, battr, and cheese being in tiie same compartment as pig meal and pig wash, etc. Man ure heaps were plentiful, being stored up against dwellings to the height of five feet or more and allowed to remain there for months. Pigstyes were to near dwelling houses and cisterns supply- ing water to houses. Towya urban with a population of 3.400, had a birth-rate of 24"1 death-rate, 23"23 infant mortality, 219 5, and zymotic death-rate, 2 05. The vital statistics showed anything but a satis- factory condition of public health during the year. Excepting the year 1891 the death-rate was much higher than in any of the preceding thirteen years, mainly caused by the high proportion of deaths among infants under one year and by an unusual number of deaths from zymotic diseases Ofthetotal deaths, 80, as many as IS were infants and 7 from z/motic diseases. Epidemics such as scarlatina and measles must from time to time occur, but toese diseases only accounted for 3 of the deaths amongst infants, the remaining 15 pointing generally to inherited delicacy. This should strongly impress on parents the importance of their understanding and carrying out sanitary rules. The dtath-rate from heart disease was more than double that of England and Wales. Many of these cases resulted from rheumatism which was frequently the result of damp and badly-ventilated houses which are often the starting points of phthisis from that there have been several deaths during the year. There was one death from diphtheria, which, however, was not epidemic in the district. The epidemic of measles necessitated the closing of Aberdovey E'ementary School from November 29th, 1897, to January 17th, 1898, The schools at Towyn were also closed for the same re ison. Building WAS proceeding vigoro isly at Towyn, hut there was still an inadequate supply of artisans' dwellings. There had been a considerable increase of houses at Aberdovey especially at Bryndyfi Hill. The water supply and drainage of Towyn and Abet dovey was satisfactory. The report after wards dealt with the rura' dis tricts in the county. Bala rural showed a popula- tion of 4,493, and had a birth rate of 20 25 death rate, 15 1 corrected d ath-rate, 16-45 infant mortality, 120"8 and zymotic death-rate, 0'44. Of the 74 deaths recorded six died in the Workhouse, one died from drowning, and one was the result of a trap accident. Scarlet fev<-r was prevalent at Llanuwehllyir. and there were severed cases at Pare, Rhof-ygwaliau, and C wmtirmynach. Two deaths were registered The state of the dwelling-nouses was gradually improving, as was also the drainage of the district. Tne water supply was like wis- satisfactory. Deudraeth, with a population of 8,107, had a birth rate of 29 8; death rate, 21 S infant- mortality, 202 and zymotic death-rate, I -60. The birth-rate as usual was a high one. The "eneral death-rate was above the average, showing a con- siderable rise since 1896, owing chiefly to the excessive mortality amongst infants. Fatal rases of scar'et fever occurred in Pmrhyndeudraeth, Trawsfynydd, Harlech, and Maentwi-og, and fatal cases of diphtheria at L'anfrothcn and whooping cough at Ta'sarnau. There were seven fatal ea«es of German me isles at Traw>fynydtl. The populous village of Penrhyndeudraeth had now an excellent warer supply. A of t he population of Miufiordd depended on their -.water i supply from three shallow wells which were in some danger of pollution. It would be prudent that these questionable sources should be replaced by the main which lay so conveniently near the houses. Most of the inhabitants of Harlech obtained water fro-m small streams running through the village, which were undoubtedly open to pollu- tion and had been probably the ciuse of out-breaks of enteric fever during recent years. A proposal was on foot to carry out a small scheme for the supply of water for Llantiedr. The construction ol a larger reservoir would largely augment the pre- sent water supply at Maentwrog. One source of supply consisted of a well in the middle of the village. This well frequently dried up in the sum- mer and the water was bahle'to surface contamina- tion There were improved sources of water supply at Trawsfynydd, Gellilydan, and Talsarnau. The Dolgelley Workhouse district had a popnh. tion of 3,000. The birth-rate was 21 "3 death- rate, 1,3; corrected death-rate, 10 infant mor- tality, IS/ o zymotic deatn-rate, 1'3. Several new houses had been built ia the district which was thinly populated and almost entirely agri- cultural. Much had been done by the local authority in sanitary improvements in connection With dwelling-houses and otherwise, but there still remained a great deal for accomplishment Those struggling with disease in houses with no fireplaces io bedrooms and no proper ceilings were placed under a great disadvantage as regarded recovery. More attention should be paid to cleanliness especi- ally in dairies. The infectious diseases notified were 22 measles, 11 diphtheria, 9 scarlet fever, 2 enteric fever, and 1 erysipelas. There wa3 one death from scarlet fever. A case of cholera was reported, but the report was proved groundless. Four of the 52 deaths registered were persons be- longing to outside the district. There were 12 deaths among infants under one year of age, an in- crease of 3 compared with 1896. At Llanaber (Dclgelley), with a population of 1,915, the birth-rate was 20'3; death-rate, 12; infant mortality, 102 5, and zymotic death-rate, nil. The district had been very free from infectious diseases, there being only a few cases of scarlet fever and measles. Consumption was the scourge of the district. Proper ventilation might mitigate the evil. Dyffryn was still labouring under a scarcity of water. Nothing had been done since 1893 when an official report was presented. During drought the people of the village suffered consider- ably. At Llanymawddwy (Dolgelley),with a population of 420, the birth-rate was 26 1; death rate, 2'3; infant mortality, 90 9, and zymotic death-rate, 2'7. There had been no cases of infectious disease in the district, but an extensive outbreak of influenza. Nothing had been doie to improve the sanitation of farm houses and the water supply. At Talyllyn (Dolgelley) the population was 1,800. The birth-rate was 20 05 death-rate, 15 5 infant mortality, 1621, and zymotic death-rate, 2*7. There was a marked decrease in mortality com- pared with 1S96. There were four cases of typhoid fever and diphtheria. The Parish Council had im- proved the water supply. I Edeyrnion (Corwen), with an estimated:popula- tion of 4,950, had a birth-rate of 24'85; death-rate, 19 59 corrected death-rate, 17-13; infant mortality, 146'34 and zymotic death rate, 0*404. The population was that of 1891 and had consider- ably increased since. Of the 97 deaths registered 18 were amongst infants under one year of age. The infant mortality was high. There were 12 deaths among persons not belonging to the district. The zymotic mortality was low, there being only two cases. There had been cases of measles at Llaudnll0) he first being imported, from Liverpool. There were 24 cases of scarlet fever throughout the district, but there was no epidemic of the disease. There was an extensive epidemic of German measles throughout the district. Whooping cough was pre- valent over an extensive area of the district and was the indirect cause of death in several instances. Diarrhuia had also been very virulent in the dis- trict, the apparent cause of its spread being sewer gas. There were no cases of typhoid and diphtheria, due doubtless to the excellent source of water supply in most parts of the district. Consumption accounted for nine deaths. The drainage of Cynwyd was very unsatisfactory and required remedying and neither was it supplied. Pennal (Machynlleth) had a population of 1,216. The birth-rate was 22*2 the death-rate, 14-8 infant mortality, HIT; and zymotic death-rate, nil. There was great need of improving the dwel- ling-houses of the workingclasses and also the farm- houses. As long as clay or earth and slabs were used to form the floors of kitchens and bedrooms or chambers much reduction in the death-rate could not be expected. Measles had been prevalent in Penni?' and a few cases of scarlet fever made their appearance at Llanwrin. Mr Charles Williams, Dyffryn, the chairman of the Sanitary Committee, brought up the Com- mittee's report on the annual report, It was as follows This Committee met at Barmouth on August 11th, present, Alderman Roger Hughes, Alderman William Jones, and Councillors R. Roberts, John Davies, and Charles Williams. Dr Jones's fifth annual repoit was carefully examined. We note the birth-rate for the county was low, viz., 25-3, compared with 29'7 for England and Wales. This has not varied much for the last six or seven years. The dee-th-rate is hil-ii for an agricultural county, namely. 18"4, 1 hough a tiifle lower than i last year. The Committee desire to have a com- parativc death-rate cf the counties in North Wales We note with great sa'isfaction that there is a great improvement in the zymotic death-rate, it being 1 24 per 1,000 as again*t2-l fi r last year, but there were thirteen deaths from scarlet, fever as compared with four iu ISDti, Tnis is not, satisfactory or en- couraging. \V c *re also glad to fiud a great decrease in deaths from diphtheria and cronp and also that there was only one cise of typhoid fever registered in the county during the yen and that an imported ease. The rate for itilani mortality is high, viz., 1-,2-- per I,COO. Particular attention is drawn to some of t )it- causes of infant mortality in pa^e 6 of the report, which are very imporcant. Deaths from In art disease arc high. Faulty dwellings stem to be he chief cause. All the health officers seem to with this and also t hat dampness of sod and insufficient dr.linage contribute very materially to phthisis. We also note that there is a decrease of 606 in ca-os notified. The water in home of the dist riets is very unsatisfac- tory, particularly M d'wvd, Lhiaymaw ld»vy, p u't or Edeyrnion, Dy!l' yn, and Harb-co. This going on for years, report report referring to the Mime defect. yVe are ph ased to note that t oe imp rt inre «.f healthy dwelling- I t t up n in tiie repent I Ihe areat want in "1-' "t th- riistrcts se-m oropor for farmer* and l ihoor- i-s' and proper attention to their stiiTouudiags and we would strongly commend the remarks of Dr -Jones on this subject (page; 10) to the seriou-i eon- sidtration of the Council. Tne sewering seems to he carried on by slow degrees and we have reason to believe from different reports that each district is doing its b-st in this respect/' Iu reply to Mr John Parry. Dr JONES said the corrected death-rate could not be recorded as the death-rate of Bala urban, inasmuch as people from out-ide the distric, had died at Bala. Replying to Mr Edward Jones, Dr JONES said the Notification Diseases Act had not been adopted at Bala rura! or Pennal. It, would be of immense ad- vantage if the Act were adopted. On the proposition of Dr EDWARD JONE £ seconded by Mr CHARLES WILLIAMS, it was agreed to recommend Bala rural and Pennal to ádopt the Act. Dr JONi. referring to the suggestion of the Sanitary Committee to have the comparative death- rate of the counties in North Wales in future reports, said that would he impossible as, except in the case of Carnarvonshire, there were no annual reports for the counties prepared. BREAKING THE SABBATH. Alderman LEWIS LEWIS called attention to the annoyance caused by itinerent shows travelling on Sundays. Could not a bylaw be framed to prohibit travelling on the Sabbath ? The CLERK said several county councils had adopted a bylaw' to that effect, but the Home Secretary lefused to accept the bylaw. The Hon. C. H. WYNN said it would be neessary to obtain an Act of Parliament before Sunday traveling coidd be stopped. IJOLGELLKY URBAN DISTRICT. Mr K P. JONES, Festinicg. chairman of the Com- mittee appointed to enquire into the application of the Dolgelley Urban Ditrict Council for an order extending the boundaries oi this district, said the Committee were not in a position to report upon the matter until plans of the proposed extension had been supplied by the Urban Council. The CoiiiiritLee wotill in all pi-t,I)P,I);Ility ba able to repoit upon the matter to the next meeting. AUDIT. The report of the District Auditor upon the county accounts for the year ended March 31st, lSIS, was read and certified the accounts to be correct. FRLOCI ROAP. An order was received from the Local Govern ment Board dismaining the main road leading from Friog to Barmouth ferry. Mr KIRKBY thought, before the road was taken over by the Dolgelley Rural Council, it should be defined and freed from oh*true inns. AI.I.KdKD rOLLUTIOi-f OF THE RIVER DEE. On ihe proposition of Aid JONATHAN, seconded by Mr E. JARRETT, the sub-committee appointed in connection with this question, consisting of the Hon C. H. Wynn, E, an ,JIm" Too*. Jones, and John Parry, were appointed represc utativ*s t > attend the conference which it was proposed to hold at Ruabon on Oct. 3rd with reference to the alleged pollution cf the river Dee. TITT: SCORCHER. Mr R. C. Llnwy, moved "That as it j, announced in the public press that the Home Sec- letary proposes short ly to r;quire all bicycles to be registered, this Council, while heartily approving of th-e proposd, begs most earnestly to urge the Home Secretary to require also that on registration a Udf-retit number shall be assigned to all bicycles and the number of each bicycle shall be fixed on •he r-ai- part liter of so a« t • be plainly legible "t a dis'anee of t*ortv y>:r as no regulation will be of any tit;li,y wr.ieh does not »ive the police practical means of enforcing it, as the whole diffi- culty at present lies not in cooking the hare, but in catching her. (Laughter.) Also, that a fee of one shilling shall be paid for such registration and the money after payment of expenses be paid to the county fund that this resolution be for- warded to the Home Secret u-y and a copy be sent to the councils of adjoining counties with a request that they pass a similar resolution." Mr Anwyl said toat. although his wife, himself, and their children cycled, he thought every means should be adopted towards putting down scorching. He poiut- ed out that recmtly in his district a cyclist knocked down a child and rode on without stopping to see what injuries the child Ind sustained. Another cyclist had knocked down an aged wonun and he rode on in the same way. No police officer could possibly recognise and identify a scorching cyclist unless he was marked in some way or other and that was the reason he suggested that the rear part of the cycle should have a number affixed to it. The HonC. H. WYNN doubted the practicabil ty of having a number affixed to the machine. It would have to be so large that there would be danger of its entwining the body of the cyclist. (Laughter ) Air E. JARRF.TT seconded the proposition. Aid JONATHAN proposed that the clause as to cooking and catching the hare should be omitted. (Laughter.) Dr EnwARD JONES proposed and Mr OHMOXD WILLIAMS seconded that the matter should be deferred until the proposal of the Home Secretary had taken a practical form, and this was ultimately agreed to. PENNAL CHURCHYARD. Mr AwYL afterward called attention to the unsatisfactory state of the roadside waste near the entrance to the new churchyard at Pennal. He stated that at present it was an eyesore. He was prepared to supply material for fencing the waste provided he received the approval of the County Council. On the proposition of Mr ANDREAS ROBERTS, seconded by Dr JONES, the matter was referred to the consideration of the Main Roads Committee. S-'KSTINIOG COUNCIL. An application was made by the Fstiniog Urban ¡ District Council for an order under the Local Gov- ernment Act of lS94, directing that the members of the Festiniog Council should retire together on the 15th day of April in every third year instead of the present mode of election and retirement. Alderman JONATHAN proposed that the applica- tion should be granted, stating that a great deal of expense would be obviated thereby. Mr WM. DAYlES seconded the proposition which was carried unanimously. FESTINIOG URBAN DISTRICT. Festiniog Urban Council also applied for permis- sion to have the boundaries of certain wards in the Festiniog urban district re-arranged. Alderman JONATHAN proposed and Mr HUMPHREY ROBERTS seconded that the application should be granted. They stated that the wards as at present arranged were very inconvenient for voting. Persons residing at the far end of Tany- grisiau had to go to the far end of Glanybell to record their votes. Mr CHARLES WILLIAMS and Dr JOES feared that the Council would not be regular in granting the application without referring it to the considera- tion of the Electoral Division Committee. An in- quiry would have to be held in the first instance. The CLERK remarked that however the wards were arranged, it would be impossible for the poll- ing booths to be at the very door of each elector. Alderman JONATHAN withdrew the proposition in favour of referring the matter to the Electoral Division Committee and this was agreed to. WESTERN SEA FISHERIES. The following report for the year ending June 30th, 1898, in regard to the Western Sea Fisheries district was received from the Clerk to the Fisheries Committee (Mr Casson) :—The monthly reports of the three bailiffs show that their efforts to prevent the taking of undersized fish throughout the dis- trict are very successful, although considerable vigilancr; has to be exercised to prevent under- sized shellfish being taken. Many complaints are received from fishermen by the bailiffs of steam trawlers fishing within the limits, but the com- plaints fail to give direct evidence of such breach of the byelaws and almost invariably refuse the use of their boats to assist the bailiff in his duties. Tiie quantity and value of the fish caught in the district compares favourably with the returns of the pre- ceding years. There have been two prosecutions for offences against the byelaws, one for taking mussels during the close season at Deganwy, near Conway, and the ether for trawling within the limits. In each case the defendants were convicted and fined. The proposed amalgamation with the Lancashire Sea Fisheries Committee is still pro- ceeding and the Committee anticipate great ad- vantages if the arrangements are carried through. .3b For the past three years the Lancashirt; Committee have greatly assisted in the enforcement of the byelaws by sending their steamer into the district. In conclusion the Committee consider that having regard to the limited funds at their disposal, very valuable work is effected in protecting the inshore sea fisheries. IMPERIAL OR LOCAL ? i C. On the motion of the Hon C. H. VVYNN, it was resolved to adopt the following resolution passed by the North Riding County Council:—" That the cost of enforcing the observance of the Sea Fisheries Act should be defrayed in England as in Scotland not by the locil rates of the maritime counties but by the Imperial Exchequer and that a copy of the resolution should be forwarded to the Board of Trade." It was further agreed that Messrs W. E. Oakley, C. II Wynn, Dr Edward Jones, the Chairman, and \11' Osmond Williams should he appointed to join a deputation to wait on the Board of Trade on the subject. COUNTY BUSINESS, The following resolution passed by the County Council's Association was, on the motion of Aldet- man JONATHAN, seconded by thp Hon C. H. WYNN, adopt--ol :—"That ;hi? Council considers that the time has come when, in the interest of local self- government and in pursuance of the policy laid down in the Local Government Act of 1888, certain powers of control now exercised by the Local Government Ibaml and other centra! authorities may safely be devolved upon the councils of counties and county but such devolution shall not a k pl ica except on the application of the county or county borough affected." TLLFI DISARMAMENT PROJECT. Mr ANDREAS ROBERTS moved that this Coun- cil, representingtnepeop'.eof Merioneth, hails with ••at-sfaotion the messag- f the Emperor of Russia in favour of disarmam nt and respectfully urges her Majesty's Govt-rnmmt to use all legitimate means to co-operate in this important question." Mr E. JARRETT seconded the motion which was unauimomly "greed to. The Council theu rose. v