The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

» Llanrwst Board of Guardians. THE usual meeting of the above was held on Tuesday last at the Union, under the presidency of Mr E. J( i-,es-Williams. The following members WI rt: also present :—Rev J. T. Williams, Messrs John Berry, Win. Williams, O. Lloyd Jones, Rd. Evans (Dolwyddelen), Thomas Hughes (Maenan), John Roberts (Tie Brvs), John Hughes, John Morris, Edwaid Edwards, Win. Roberts, John Davies (Penrnachno), and the Cleik (Mr Hugh Piei ct). The Relieving Officers' Reports. Mr O. Evans-Jones, the relieving officer for the Llanrwst district, reported that he had relieved 173 paupers with ^51 is id during the past fort- night, and a cheque for £$2 was granted him. Mr Roberts, the relieving otiicer for the Pentre- voelas district, had relieved 154 paupers during the past fortnight with £ 45 us 8d, and a grant of £ 46 was made for the next fortnight. J Master's Report. The number of inmates in the house on the last day of the week was 34, as compared with 33 in the corresponding period of last year, Twelve vagrants were relieved during the week. The Recent Appeals. The Chairman referred to the recent appeals of Messrs Gower and J. Evans Jones, of. which, no doubt, they had all heard or read, and said that as it was possible to deduce a wrong impression, he wished to state that the Assessment Committee had succeeded in obtaining an advance on the rateable value from £96 tc Z207, so that the rates had benefited to the extent of C22 10s. It was for principle that the Committee and Board were lighting this case—Mr Gower having said before the Committee that he would not consent to a penny advance on £ 96 rateable value-the Board had won not only a moral victory, but a substantial one.

Mr Bryn Roberts, M.P., and the Education Bill. Folly of "No Rate" Policy. MR. J. BRYN ROBERTS, M.P. for Eivion Divison of Carnarvonshire, on Monday addressed his consti. tuents on the provisions of the Education Act, and showed the folly of resisting its administration. The proposal of Welsh County Councils to refuse to administer the Act, seemed, he said, absolutely impracticable. Unless, within twelve months, the County Councils submitted a scheme to the Education Department, that authority, which in England would mean Sir William Anson, and in Wales the Bishop of St. Asaph, would submit a provisional order to Parliament giving probably but a bare majority of one on the Education Com- mitte to the County Council, and such a scheme would practically give the control of all the voluntary schools to the Church party. There were also practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the" no-rate" policy If the objector deducted from his county rate the amount due to the maintenance of voluntary schools there was nothing to ear-mark it, and the proportion he had paid might, at the will of the County Council, go to the\ denominational school after all. There was a vast difference in the present case to the precedents of refusals to pay Church rates and tithes. In those precedents the odium of distrain- ing fell upon the clergymen, but in the present case the disagreeable business would have to be enforced by the Liberal County Council and the Assistant Overseer, who in the majority of cases would be a Liberal and Nonconformist, and who had to discharge his duty or give up his office. Non-pay- ment of Church rates and tithes only inconvenienced the parties benefited by.the injustice, but in the present case the children would suffer, and the large majority of these were Noncunfdhni-ts. A policy that would lead to the shutting up of schools would excite the indignation of parents at d alienate Nonconformists with* probably disastrous effects. There was no alte-I native but to make tt e best of the Act and agitate for the complete popular control of all schools maintained by public funds.

Government Inquiry at Colwyn Bay. Gas Extension and Town Hall Site. Application for Loans. AT the Council-room, Colwyn Bay, on Tuesday morning, Mr R. H. Bicknell, C.E., Local Gov- ernment Board inspector, attended to hear three applications made by the Colwyn Bay and Col- wyn Urban District Council fotr sancLon to borrow the following sums of money: i,4,500 for laC purchase of the Town Hall site; £ 8,210 for the purpose of gas extension; anu £ 2,680 for electric light extensions. The following were present:—Mr Geo. Bevan, J.P. (chairman of the Council), Councillors R. E. Williams, J. Berth Jones, Thomas Roberts, Hug'h hu-mJi, Dicken, John Williams (.w clerk of the Council), Mr Jos. H. Roberts, Mr E. T. Davies (assistant clerk), the Surveyor (Mr W. Jones), Mr Pennington (gas manager), Mr T J. Linekar, Mr A. R. Tudman, (electrical engineer). Mr F. A. Oortez-Leigh, M.I.E., of the firm of Messrs Lacy, Ch.rchugh, and Sillar, Manchester, consulting engineers to the Council, was also in attendance. Town Hall Site. With regard to the first application -to borrow £ 4,500, the clerk read the report of the surveyor on the site known as "Glan Aber" and "Rhianva," situated in, Conway-road, which it was proposed -to acquire for a site of Town Hall and public offices. He had come to the conclu- sion that the same was well-adapted for the purpose, being in a central situation and in close prox.mity to the railway station. He valued the property at £ 4,840, being £1 per square yard. The Clerk said the application was made on the grounds that, owing to the rapidly increasing size of Colwyn Bay, new public buildings were urgently needed. The price of land was going up, and in future years, a much larger price would have to be paid for a site. The Inspector asked the surveyor how he arrived at his figures, in the matter of valuation of the site. Mr W. Jones said that the Council uad made several enquiries for land for the purpose of public buildings. He had valued this particu- lar site at £ i per yard, taking into considera- tion the price per yard asked for other sites in the vicinity. A piece of land within 150 yards of this site, was valued at £2 14s per yard. The Inspector: Then you consider this a good bargain for the, Council? Mr W. Jones: Yes, a very good bargain. The best the Council could possibly obtain. In reply to the Inspector, it was said that the present value of the houses thereon would be about 62,0o0. The Inspector remarked that if the Council had determined to pull down the houses, he could grant them a longer period for the loan, than for land money, but if they left the houses up the time would necessarily be shorter. The Surveyor said that the council had not quite decided what they would do with die houses at present, but they were unanimously of opinion that the buildings were utterly inade- quate for use as publi'd" offices. The population of the town was given by 'he clerk as 9,000, the assessable value of 659,000, and the out-standing loans, under 'he Public Health Act, ^67,464. Mr Byrne's Opposition. The scheme was opposed by Mr T. Byrne, a late member of the Urban District Council. Mr Byrne said he was on the Council when the scheme was mooted. It was brojght forward by Mr .Geo. Bevan, as a surprise, and without any notice, and he (Mr Byrne) was the cnly member who opposed the movement at the time. Mr Byrne paid a tribute to the valuable services rendered the town by Mr Bevan, bat he saw that they were not prepared to have zny addi- tion made to thair rates at the present time. 1 The burden of rates would soon become too heavy to bear. The rateable valic at present was 4^59'000- During 1901 it increased by £ "4,500. During 1902 the increase was but £1,500 or ;61, 6oo. This proved that the development of the town was practically at a standstill. Tradesmen and others were suffering from the effects of a bad season. However kind the Council were to them, they would not be able to avoid putting on another shilling rate shortly. Building had been going on rather fast in the town, and now there was stagnation practically. There was no employment for people here after the season was over. Cabmen, boatmen, and others were comparatively badly off during the winter. And now the Council were asking for a loan of nearly j £ i6,ooo. Tne large schemes of improvement in drainage and Promenade exten- sions, would cost a tremendous amount, and if this application was granted, a large sum of money would be necessary towards the building of public offices. The site was not "central," as the surveyor had alleged. According to the latest ordnance survey map, the centre of the town was Sea View-crescent, nearly a quarter of a mile away. The speaker mentioned two other sites which he said could be obtained at a low figure. The s'ze of the Glanaber site was very much larger than was necessary, and the other sites would be ample and more central. Llandudno recently built a new Town Hall on a site given by Lord Mostyn. The Estate Com- pany of Colwyn Bay was receiving big sums of money from that town, and he thought the least they could do was to give a site f-or a Town Hall for Colwyn Bay. The Inspector Then, I understand, Mr Byrne, that you object to this, on the grounds tnat a new Town Hall is not needed, that the site is too expensive, and that the. state of affairs in Colwyn Bay at present do not justify an additional bur- den being put on the rates. Mr Byrne: Yes, sir. The Inspector pointed out to Mr Byrne that, in the event of the Council acquiring this site they would be able to let the houisei-tlfereon at a good rental, and that therefore there would be no actual loss. And, further, as the price of land was 'going up in the district, ..leY could ac- quire this property now at a much lower figure than they would have to pay at a future time. The Gas Loan. The application for sanction to borrow the sum of £ 8,2io for gas extension was next heard. The Clerk of the Council supplied various figures with regard to the matter, and Mr ren- nington, the gas manager, gave the necessary particulars.

Conway Board of Conservators. .I Annual Meeting at Llanrwst. Election of Officers. Appointment of Clerk. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.] THE annuati meeting of this Board was held in the Magistrates' Room, Llanrwst, on Wednes- day. There were present Mr O. Isgoed Jones (chairman), Messrs J. Blackwall, Mr Davies- Jones, Rd. Conway (Llandudno), Hugh Owen (Llandudno Junction), Peter Mclntyre, J.P., J. E. Humphreys, Hugh Jones, and H. Brandreth. The Late Cicrk At the outset, the Chairman paid a tribute of respect to the late clerk of the Board, Mr Grif- fith. Although he did not hold office very long, they had known Mr Griffith for many years, and during the shout time he had acted ue did his work admirably. He, therefore, moved a vote of condolence with Mrs Griffith and the family in the loss they had sustained by the death of Mr Griffith. The motion was duly seconded, and carried in' silence. Appt I itment of Clerk. The Chairman announced that the next busi- ness was the appointment of a clerk in succes- sion to the late Mr Griffith. Mr Mclntyre said that as the oldest member of that Board, he claimed the nIght to propose that Mr Aliard be appointed as their clerk. He cordially welcomed him on his return to the neighbourhood. Mr Davies-Jones seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman commented upon the fact that the proposer and seconder of the motion were at one time applicants for the vacant clerkship, but they had afterwards withdrawn. It was very pleasing to find those gentlemen taking the part they now took with regard to the appoint- ment. Mr Latimer Jones had also withdrawn his application. Mr Allard appropriately thanked the Board for his re-appointment. A New Member. Mr Hugh Jones, of Cusitom House-terrace, Conway, was reported to have been appointed to succeed Mr Jelf Petit as representative of the net fishermen of the Conway district. Election of Chairman. In proposing the re-eledtion of Mr O. Isgoed Jones as chairman, Mr J. Blackwall observed that Mr Jones had very ably filled the chair since the death of his (the speaker's) faither, and in asking them to re-elect him to the chair he could not pay Mr Isgoed Jones a greater com- pliment. Mr Hugh Owen seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman briefly returned thanks to the Board. The Vice Chairm,.tn. Mr Mclntyre proposed the election of Mr J. Blackwall as vice-chairman for the year. Mr Hugh Owen seconded, and the motion was unanimously carried. Auditor. Mr Peiter Mclntyre was unanimously re-ap- pointed as honorary auditor for the ensuing year, on the motion of Mr Davies-Jones, second- ed by Mr Conway. Watch Committee. The Chairman, Dr Prjchard, and Messrs J. Blackwall, Mclntyre, Brandreth, and H. Jones were elected as a Watch Committee. Sea Fisheries Committee. M,1" J. E. Humphreys was appointed as repre- senta)tive of the Board on the Sea Fisheries com- mittee in succession to Mr J eM Petit. Finance. Mr Mclntyre presented a financial statement which showed a debit balance dtue to the clerk amounting to £ 19 ns rod, as compared with £14 xos 3d due during the corresponkliag period in the year 1901. The report was adopted and Mr Mclntyre was heartily thanked for auditing the accounts. The Chairman pointed out that from the finan- cial statement the public would see that the Board's object was not to make a profit out of their transaction. There was a motion on the agenda by Mr Brandreth with a view to in. creasing the price of trout licenses, tne idea be. ing to increase the funds. The expenses of the Board were kept as low as possible and he hoped something would be done to improve their financial position. The Clerk pointed out that the necessary notice of me intention to increase the price of trout licenses had not been served upon the Fishery Board. It was eventually decided to adjourn the matter until the, April meeting. Fishermen's Rights of Landing. A letter was read from John Jones, a net fisherman of Conway, asking the Board to go into the question of legal rights of fishermen to land with their nets within the tidal area. In reply to the chairman Mr Hugh Jones said a complaint was made mat Coloneil uough had stopped the landing of the men on the gtravel-led ground, which was below high-water mark. It was subsequently decided, that the clerk write to Colonel Gough aski-n-V for his authority to .stop fishermen using land below higii water mark. Night Fishing. MR BRANDRETH AND OUTSIDE CRITICISM. In accordance with notice of motion Mr Bran. dreth moved that all holders of trout licenses be prohibited from fishing except between sun rise and sunset. The Board ought to make a hard and fast rule on the point because trout fishermen undoubtedly caught a large number of sewin under cover of darkness. The Clerk said he was not satisfied that the Board had a right to adopt such a rule. Mr Brandreth held that a clause was inserted on the licenses to the effect that the holder could not fish at night time. The Olerk said, he was rather inclined, to doubt it. Mr Mclntyre was also of opinion that it was a dioubtfud point whether the Board could put a stop to the matter. All they could do was to suggest to private owners the adoption of a rule to that effect. The clerk was instructed to make inquiries into the question. Mr Brandreth observed he hoped that the new Fisheries Act suggested would prove of benefit to them in that particular direction. The Clerk added that the law was very weak on such points at present. Mr Brandreth wished the representatives of the press to note that when he first moved in the direction already indicated, he did so because he felt it was the unanimous feeling of the Board. (Hear, hear.) He made that remark owing to outside criticism. The Use of the Sparling Net. Mr Brandreth called attention to the use of the sparling net in trout rivers, and pointed to the possibility of the capture of salmon in these nets. He moved that steps be taken to put a stop to it. The clerk pointed out that the necessary notice had not been served upon the Fishery Board, and the point could not therefore be gone into at that meeting. The Use of the Gaff. On the motion of Mr Brandreth the bailiff's were instructed to carry out the bye-laws in reference to the use of gaffsi after the ist Septem- ber, when fishermen were supposed to stop using these instruments. The Inspector's Report. Mr Moses W. Roberts reported that all the rivers had been visited, and the number of licenses ex- amined by the bailiffs for the season was as follows: 23 salmon rod (one pound), 4 monthly, 75 weekly, and 202 dailies, totalling 304 the increase in the salmon rod on 1901 being 62 Total trout rod 622 an mo case on 1901 of 169. 6 net licenses, 2 weirs' 1 basket, total 9, being the same number as last season. The total number of licenses inspected by the batLfts was 935. Total licenses for 1901 was 704, shewing all increase of 231. TROUT ROD FISHING. The trout fishing ( n the whole had been very good. The biggest brown trout caught with rod and line was taken in Crafnant Lake, by Mr F. Rothwell. of Manchester, on Sept. 30th, weighing 7lbs. SALMON AND SEWIN ROD FISHING. This fishing had been fairly better than last season, especially the sewin in the River Conway. The biggest salmon caught with rod and line in Conway River, in flat pool, was taken by Mr H. D. Brandreth, of Dolwyddelen, weighing 21lbs. The respective weights of the six largest salmon caught with rod and line, was 2ijlbs, 2ilbs, ISlbs, ISIbs in the Conway River, and two 2olbs each in the Lledr River. NETS AND WEIR'S FISHING. Six net licenses were issued in Conway River between Trefriw and the Estuary, being the same number as last season. The season had been rather poor for netters. as the floods in the months of July and August carried the fish past the nets to the upper parts of the district rivers. The biggest salmon was caught by net fisherman James Field- ing, on the 25th July, weighing 33lbs. The respec- tive weights of the five largest salmon, caught with nets, was one at 331bs, and four 25lbs each. The Board's baiiiffs and the Gwydyr and Mr Brandreth s keepers' account of the salmon and sewin caught with rod and line in Conway and Lledr rivers during the season of 1902, is as follows: River Conway: 31 salmon, weighing 3191lbs 148 sewin, 1791bs. River Lledr, 43 sa mon, 329ibs 7 sewin, 121bs. The total of salmon and sewin in 1901, river Conway only, was 23, weighing 2381bs. An increase of 156 was shown on 1902, weighing 26oilbs, and there were no returns from Lledr river for the 1901 season. SPAWNING TIME. This has commenced favourably, both in water and weather, and a good number of salmon and sewin have spawned in the Conway and Lledr r'vtjrs' especially sewin in the tributaries about lalyboat, Trefriw, and Llanrwst. DISEASED FISH. There has been no traces of disease, excepting a slight sign in the Lledr River in the middle of the season at low water, but not one dead fish had been found. SPARLING NET FISHING. Nine sparling nets were used in the Conway River in season 1902, between Trefriw and Conway Bridge, as follows Three by W. R. Jones, Conway ree> James Craven, Conway one, 'ihomas L.oyd; oi.e, James Fielding; one, F. Kitchen, Trefrnv. Increase of four on 1901. The water that runs from the Cyffdy Lead Mine to the Llugwy River was now brightening Thanks to the Chairman. This being all the business on the agenda, Mr Mclntyre moved that a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded' the chairman for his ser. vicM during the year. They all knew how well Mr Isgoed Jones had attended and how admir- ably he had conducted the duties devolving upon the chairman. He hoped Mr Isgoed Jones would live long, to remain in a position whidh he filled so well. (Hear, hear.) Mr Brandreth seconded, and observed he fully concurred in Mr Mclntyre's remarks. The motion was enthusiastically carried, and the Chairman briefly acknowledged. Bailiffs' Holiday. On the application of the chief water bailiff (Mr M. Roberts), the bailiffs were granted their usual week's holiday. Disorderly Behaviour at Carnarvon, ATTENTION having recently been called by a Non- conformist minister at Carnarvon to the disorderly behaviour of young men who visited the town on 44 pay-day at the neighbouring quarries, a confer- ence was held at Carnarvon on Saturday to consider the question. After a number of speeches, in which a somewhat pessimistic view was taken of the influence of the Churches, resolutions were passed recommending the adoption of certain measures with a view to effecting an improvement.

—— Said a miserable little boy, who had just received a scolding from his father, "Ma, I wish I'd never been born." "Why, Charley?" "Well, I think I'd a been a better boy." "I am building," the pensive maiden said, "A castle in the air." "And what is the corner-stone?" he asked. She answered: "A solitaire." LIST OF NEW INVENTIONS, specially compiled for the "Welsh Coast Pioneer," by Mr George Barker, 77, Colmore-row, Birming- ham: The Tunis combine cycle stand and carrier, W. H. Taylor, Oiarfield, R.S.O.; a slewing combinatio4 box, T. M. Naish, Bristol; an improved washing machine, F. Probyn, Pontypool. The Wesleyan circuit authorities of Bagillt have decided to erect new ministers' houses at Chester :and Bagillt, to enlarge the existing chapeS. at Queensferry, and to enlarge and reno- vate the Ebenezer and Soar chapels at Bagillt. Towards the cost bazaars will be held at ,nes- ter, Flint, and Bagillt, and the following- officers have beea appointed: -President, the Rev D. Dairley Davies; secretary, the Rev D. Gwynfryn Jones, Chester; treasurer, Mr Joseph Edwards, Bagilflt.