Wrexham Guardian

WREXILUI GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Wrexham General Pur- poses Committee was held on Wednesday last. Present, Mr. S. T. Baugh (chairman), the Mayor (Mr. Isaac Shone), Aldermen Beale, J. C. Owen, R. Lloyd, and E. Smith: and Councillors Walter Jones, J. Williams, Richard Jones, Geo. Bradley, and J. Oswell Bury. THE STANSTY SEWERAGE DIFFICULTY.—DEPUTATION FROM THE RURAL AUTHORITY. The principal matter of business was to consider the difficulties of the sewerage of Rhosddu, Stansty, and Chester-road. A deputation from the Rural Sanitary Authority was appointed to wait on the Committee with a view to obtain the consent of the Council to join with the Rural Authority in a system of sewerage which should take from the latter the difficulties in regard to the sewerage of Stansty, and from the former the difficulties of the sewerage of Chester-road. Previous to receiving the deputation the Committee considered the question to be laid before them, and the legal aspect of the matter was laid before the Com- mittee by Alderman Owen. In the course of the discussion Mr. RICHARD JONES objected to the plan of receiving the sewage of Stansty into the borough sewers on the ground that the local brooks were already polluted to a serious extent, and to receive the sewage of Stansty would be to increase the nuisance. Mr. BRADLEY Well, What is your alternative? Mr. RICHARD JONES Let the township of Stansty go where they like. Alderman BEALE I thought you were interested ? Mr. RICHARD JONES I am interested both ways. If we are to have Chester-road drained then Wrexham will benefit, and I am in favour of it, but is it just to let more people drain to Hafodywern farm when there is too much sewage there already ? Mr. BRADLEY There is not enough sewage there. Mr. RICHARD JONES He cannot have the dry with- out the wet, sir it is all nonsense; The CHAIRMAN explained that Colonel Jones would take the sewage of Stansty if the Council would divert an equivalent quantity of storm water. Then came the question, what would be the probable cost to divert the storm water from the upper pari; of the town. Aldermen OWEX said the question was whether they could, in the face of the legal and other difficulties, go into the question. He had a decision there which was all fours against them, and it would place them in the greatest difficulty possible. The SURVEYOR said the cost of abstracting the storm water would be about £2050, and the cost of sewering Chester-road 41,000. The Rural Authority offered to drain Chester-road if the Urban Authority would give them permission to rua the sewage of Stansty through their mains. Mr. BRADLEY So it would be cheaper for us to allow Stansty to drain into our system than sewer Chester- road in the ordinary way. But then there are the legal difficulties. Aiderman OWEN There are two authorities—the Urban and the Rural, and if you unite these districts you will find from this case very much difficulty. Alderman BHALE said the case was very much the same as one he had previously quoted in regard to Worcester, Alderman OWEN here laid the case, upon which he raised the legal difficulty, before the Committee. It was reported in the Law Journal reports for April, 1879, and was a case, Newington Local Board Cottingham Local Board and others, heard before Vice-Chancellor Malins in the Chancery Division. It appeared that the plaintiffs, the Newington Local Board, had given per- mission to the Cottingham Board to drain into a por- tion of their sewers, and it was provided that so far as practicable all storm waters from such district shall be prevented from flowing into the said outfall sewer of the Newington Local Board, and that the sewage of any other district or places shall not be permitted by the said Cottingham Local Board and, their successors to pass into their sewers, so as to discharge into the said outfall sewer of the Newington Local Board without the consent of the said Local Board first had and obtained." Two of the defendants had drained into the sewers of the Cottingham Local Board, and consequently into the sewers of the plaintiffs, without their consent, and they applied for an injunction. The defendants rested their case mainly on section 22 of the Public Health Act, 1875. By section 21 the owner or occupier of any premises within the district of the local authority had an absolute right to cause his drains to empty into the sewers of that authority without com- pensation. By section 22 parties withdut the district had a right to drain into the sewers of the nearest dis- trict by the payment of a sum for compensation. Two of the defendants without the district had drained into the sewers of the Cottingham Board and paid compen- sation, and the main object of the action was to prevent the main sewer of the Newington Local Board from being overloaded by having thrown into it the sewage of other places than those which were not properly within the district of the Cottingham Board. There wa3 a covenant by the Cottingham Board that the sewage of any other place should not be permitted by them to flow into the plaintiff's main sewer, but after this covenant was made the Public Health Act was passed, which said "that the owner or occupier of any premises without the district of the local authority may cause any sewer or drain upon such premises to communicate with any sewer of the local authority." It therefore appeared to the learned judge that the subsequent Act of Pariinanent had made lawful what the Cottingham Board had covenanted should not be permitted to be done, and on the principle that the Act of Parliament repealed the covenant the case fell through. Alderman Owen remarked that in the binding document they would have thought the phintifis had done everything necessary to protect them- selves, but such was not so, and the argument he drew from the case was that if the Urban Authority gave permission to the Rural Authority to run Stansty sewage iato their sewers they would lose all po?/er of control over those sewers. Mr. BRADLEY suggested that an arrangement might be made for Stansty only. Alderman OWEN There was an arrangement here. The MAYOR said that the Public Health Act of 1879 gave power to two bodies to join together for the pur- poses of the Act. Alderman OWEN referred the Mayor to the case which he said showed that subsequent Acts of Parlia- ment broke the contracts made. The CHAIRMAN said he saw the case as clearly as possible. If the Council consented to a plan by which the Stansty sewage would go into their rewers another party might take their sewage int;) the Stansty sewers, and the Wrexham C0uncil would have no power to prevent them. The question was how far the Council could bind Stansty. Could not an agreement be made by which they could bind the Rural Authority to allow n'me but the sewage frol1l Stansty t.) flow into the sewers ? Alderman OWEl. There was an agreement here. The CHAIRMAN thought that before they further dis- cussed the question it would be well to hear what the deputation had to say. The deputation was then invited to the Council Chamber. It consisted of Mr. J. Oswell Bury (clerk to the Rural Authority), Mr. J. H. Ffoulke", Mr. W. Thomas, Mr. Low, Mr. Thorneycroft, Mr. Owen Hughes, and Mr. A. Baugh (Messrs. Shone and Baugh, the Authorities' surveyors in connection with the Stansty scheme). Mr. Charles Rocke was also present as a ratepayer of Rhosddu. Mr. J. (Is WELL BURY (who spoke on behalf of the deputation) said Mr. Chairman and gentlemen,—We attend as a deputation from the iairal Sanitary Authority of the Wrexham Union in reference to the proposed drainage of the Stansty district, and to solicit your approval for a scheme for the mutual benefit of the Urban and Rural Sanitary Authorities. The question of the drainage of Stansty district has been under con- sideration of the Rural Sanitary Authority for more than five yars: and on several occasions representations have been made to your Board as to the advisability of draining the district into the main sewers of the town of Wrexham. In 1874 the General Purposes Committee agreed to recommend the Council to allow the Rural Sanitary Authority to use the main sewer to drain Rhosddu into, but the terms and the indemnity required from all costs, charges, &c., in the matter were too stringent for the Authority to entertain, especially as the indemnity was to extend to the Council's arrange- ments with Colonel Jones in reference to the increase of sewage. In 1875 and 187G negociations were again opened with the Urban Authority, but without success, and in 1877 the Rural Sanitary Authority decided to revert to their original scheme, and the plans, &c., having been sent to the Local Government Board an inquiry was held early in 1878 by Samuel Smith, Esq., Local Government Board Inspector. The following is an extract from the rejiort of the Inspector after the inquiry :— There are two objections to the scheme. The first is th,t the land at the outfall site in Erlas has not been acquired, and the second is that from tho Cross-roads iu the Chester- road to Bhosnessney there will be a confide' able length of un- productive seweis. If the Local Authority could (and I am yiven to understand they can)-arrange with the Corporation Of Wrexham and obtain permi-sion to connect the proposed sewerage of 8t"llSty with the main sewer of Wrexham at a point near tli2 Cros-roads in the Chester-road, it will be un- necessary to construct the long length of unproductive sewor, besides which a much smaller scheme could be devised for effectually s^werin? Ehosnessney .1:1 the townhlp of Acton, and an outfall could be acquired with it: that township for the disposal of the sewage thereof. It will also be unnecessary: to construct the proposed main sewer in the township of Bieston and Krlas, and finally the difficulty of acquiring an outfall nte in Erl s will be overcome, as it will not then be required and further, a saving in the cost of the sewerage worts of'these town-hips wi;l be effected to the extent -of about £ 1,500. In accordance with the suggestions of the inspector, directions were given to the engineer to prepare a new schem° and a deputation waited upon your Board to endeavour to arrange for permission to cany out the f .llnwi)'1'- scheme so far as the same would adect tae UKXXrity = "That the R,r»l A,.thorny V'Vi ,ustruct, at their own cost, a mam sewer ex- should constiuct, cw;_ Roads .n chester.road to Lambmt-street, Wrexham, such sewer to become the ipot to the unconditional iigut_oi the Kuial >.am- tarv Authority to dispose of the Stansty sewage Sto itUnfortunately this proposal broke down owing to the terms suggested by your Board being such L the Rural Sanitary Authority could not possibly Certain such as indemnifying the Urban Authority a^aiir-t ail proceedings on the part of Colonel Jones, ™d to'the original scterne was again reverted to £ 3 divisional agreement entered into for-acquiring an outfall site near the Erlas HaH I arm. The neces- sary notices under the Public Healtn Act, 18to, have been <nven, and everything is prepared for carrying the Sien^e out, but before taking a final step the Rurai Authority are anxious once more to lay before you a proposal which they consider will mutually benefit the I s two authorities and effect ft-very large saving of ex- ] penfliture on both sides. Since 1S74 the Rhosddu dis- J trict has greatly increased in population and houses. < Most of the new property is within the Parliamentary Borough of Wrexham, and really forms a portion of the 1 town of Wrexham. The Urban sewer in llhosddu 1 Road is within a few yards of some of the property in < the rural district, which perhaps requires draining more than any other within their jurisdiction. In the Chester-road the urban sewer does not extend beyond the top of Chester-street, and as you are aware, the properties built along the Chester-road to the borough boundary do not share the benefit of the main drainage system of the town. Three wants seem to be needed, viz., the Rural Sanitary Authority want Rhosddu district drained; the Urban Sanitary Authority want Chester- road drained and Colonel Jones wants more sewage and less storm water. If the Urban Authority will grant permission to the Rural Authority to drain into the Urban sewers the two first wants will be supplied the Rural Authority will save a considerable amount by not having to take their pipes through Rhosnessney to Erlas Farm, and the Urban Sanitary Authority will be saved the entire cost of construction of the Chester- road sewer. To meet Colonel Jones' requirement, your Borough Surveyor has already, we believe, submitted an estimate of the probable cost of diverting an equivalent quantity of storm water from the Urban sewers to the increased quantity of sewage to be brought from Rhosddu and Chester-road. The estimated cost of such diversion does not exceed, we are given to understand more than one-fifth of the prob- able expense of constructing the Chester-road sewer. If such an arrangement as this could be arrived at, the scheme could be promptly carried out to the mutual advantage of the two authorities in a pencuniary sense, and to the great benefit of the inhabitants of Rhosddu .and Chester-road who have such good grounds for complaining of the continual delay in providing them with proper means for the protection of their health. Public attention has been forcibly attracted lately to the epidemics of fever and diphtheria existing in the Rhosddu district. Out of 2G deaths registered from Stansty during this year 13 were due to zymotic diseases, viz., 1 diphtheria, 1 typhoid fever, 10 scarlet fever, and 1 diarrhcea. It is thus evident that a large proportion of the deaths in Rhosddu district arise from preventible causes, and we trust that, for the common good, the Urban Authority will see their way to com- bine with the Rural Sanitary Authority and consent to their proposal. If your consent is obtained, the manner of carrying out the scheme can be a matter for after- consideration, but it may be well to state that the Rural Sanitary Authority have given permission to Mr. Shone to prepare a scheme on his "pneumatic system." Air. BRADLEY referred to the point raised by Alder- man Owen, and said he chould be glad if Mr. Oswell Bury could clear up the question of security against the drainage of Brymbo or Acton or any township in ad- dition to Stansty carrying their sewage into the drains, and thus overburdening theirs, and bringing them at loggerheads with Colonel Jones. He was sure they all wished to meet the Rural Authority in a good spirit if they could. Mr. OSWELL BCKY If we ask this authority to allow the township of Stansty to drain into the Urban sewers no drainage from any other place shall come into it besides that. We are not asking you to take the sew- age of an outlandish place, but of what is partly within your district. (Hear, hear). Alderman SMITH But then if you have no power to prevent such. Mr. OSWELL Bi'RY We have entire authority over all our sewers. Mr. FEOULKEM We will give you a guarantee against that. Alderman Ovv EN then explained the law of the case to the deputation. Mr. OSWELL BellY, in reply said there was a similar instance already in existence. Where did the Wrexham Workhouse drain into? Why the Wrexham sewers; and where was the Workhouse ? In the township of Bersham. They could enter into the matter with a saving clause if they liked. It was very certain that the Rural Sanita-iy Authority would be compelled to carry out their original scheme very quickly if the Urban Authority did not join them. It was of no use quib- bling about technical difficulties when people were dying. (Hear, hear). Mr. W. THOMAS By way of disposing of Alderman Owen's objection, if we cannot defend you by any deed, what deed have you already in existence to prevent our carrying our scheme out ? Alderman OWEN We are different authorities. Mr. OWEN HUGHES urged the committee to take a broad view of the question and look at the saving to the ratepayers. Mr. RICHARD JONES said he had attended two meet- nigs of the ratepayers'of Stansty in connection with this scheme, and they had decided that they would go down to Rhosnessney and have nothing further to do with the Urban Authority. They had too much sewage already, and their inspector (Mr. Hugh Davies) had reported for them on the pollution of the brook, and it was wrong to try and bring the ratepayers of Stansty into difficulties and trouble hereafter. Mr. ROCKE said he appeared there under a very pain- ful sense of duty. It was his misfortune sometime ago, to move from Gresford to Rhosddu, in the township of Stansty. He, his wife, and family had scarcely got located in the house before his daughter was attacked with typhoid fever, and also his servant. After an in- terval of ten months his eldest daughter went away to Swansea, and on her return, on a Saturday evening, she slept In a room overlooking some premises in the occupation of Mr.'Wallis. The next morning she com- plained of the room being stuffy," and said her sister ought not to sleep in it without the window being open. Within a few days from that time she was stricken down, and, after a brief struggle, died, leaving a loss irreparable to his wife and himself, He was convinced that the sickness with which his family was first attacked, and from which they had a very narrow escape, was the one which ended fatally to hi's daughter, and was due to their surroundings and the emanations which were thrown off from the various nuisances abounding all round. It appeared to him that Rhosddu was floating in sewage, and it was the duty of all who loved good health, and who wished to I see others situated so fortunately as they were them- selves, to do their best to procure for those around them a state which conduced to health and vigour. If death I visited one of their families they would feel as he did, that the death lay at their doors. He said that those I deaths, which were avoidable, lay at their doors. It was a state of things which could be dealt with and I ought to be without delay. The CHAIRMAN said he believed that every member of the meeting deeply sympathised with Mr. Rocke in the misfortune he had sustained. That Board and the Rural Authority had been in communication for some years with regard to taking the sewage down Chester-road, and he did not believe the Rural Authority would wait much longer. Rhosddu was a sink of corruption, one great cesspool. (Hear, hear). ° Mr. THOMAS, as a ratepayer of Stansty, felt bound to say a word or two in reply to Councillor Richard Jones, because it seemed to him that Mr. Jones did not quite understand the question. Mr. Jones was anxious to save the ratepayers, and so was he. (Hear, hear). Perhaps he was as large a ratepayer as most iu Stansty, and he would strongly oppose any unnecessary and extravagant scheme, but the one which had been sub- pitted to the Council that day appeared to him to be most reasonable, and the most inexpensive, inasmuch as the estimates proved to them that the ratepayers of Stansty would save at least £1,400 by bringing the sewage through the town of Wrexham. There was not the slightest difficulty so far as he could see, and in regard to the question between tiie Council and Colonel Jones, he understood that the Council had already before them estimates of the cost of diverting storm water equivalent to the amount of sewage they would add to the borough sewers. So Colonel Jones would have no more in quantity but a great improve- ment in quality, and such was what he wanted. There was an advantage in every respect. The Council saved or ;1:;1,000- The CHAIRMAN £1,600, but then you have to deduct for the diversion of the storm water. Put it at £1,000. Mr. THOMAS, continuing, said it would then save the borough ratepayers £ 1,000, and those of Stansty, £ 1,500. So if Mr. Jones's scheme wa3 carried out ins'tead of the one before the Council, it would be worse for all parties. Moreover the postponing of the ques- tion would result very seriously for the health of the people of Rhosddu. Mr. RICHARD JONES I wish to correct Mr. Thomas. I speak the voice of two meetings Mr. BRADLEY I rise to order, Mr. Chairman. We don't know the township of Stansty in a corporate capacity. We deal with the Rural Sanitary Authority, and no other authority can enter into this discussion. The CHAIRMAN explained to 1>1r. Richard Jones that the ratepayers of Stansty put their authority in the hands of their representative of the Rural Authority, and that they could not at all appear before the Council. They might, however, make an appearance 'before the Local Government Board Inspector. In answer to Mr. Owen Hughes, the CHAIRMAN said there were twelve years of the contract with Colonel Jones unexpired. Mr. Low Colonel Jones approves of thi3 scheme. The CHAIRMAN Colonel Jones says this, if you can extract an equivalent quantity of storm water, I will take the sewage of Stansty. Mr. OWEN HUGHES In consideration of the rate- payers don't be too narrow extend it; be imperial. Don't take it as a narrow affair. Mr. WALTER JONES As soon as the deputation retire I have a motion. Mr. OWEN HUGHES This is simply a question of pounds, shillings, and pence for the ratepayers. There is so much time unexpired, and you can take away some of the storm water. Take this into consideration; take the storm water away and see what the two schemes Will cost YOU, and then see which is the best for the ratepayers.. Look at it in that way. Never mind Col. Jones. Think on the ratepayers. is only for a time they are for ever. Come now, take it in this way— Mr. FEOULKES We are very much obliged to you, -gentlemen, and we hope you will take this matter into vour serious consideration. Mr. OWEN HUGHES I don't want to be shut up in this way. I am on my legs and you will cut me short. I want them to—— Mr. OSWELL BURY Mr. Owen Hughes does not re- present thëbody of this deputation, and what he has to say we have nothing to do with. u Mr. OWEN HUGHES (warmly) Well, I represent the ratepayers, and The deputation here wished the committee good < morning, and retired. 1 Alderman SMITH said the same arguments had been r used that day as on former occasions, and he was still i of the opinion he had held from the beginning with re- f "ard to this matter, and that was that they should fall i in with the views of the Rural Sanitary Authority, t (Hear, hear.) As had been said before, there was a r great cry out by the owners of property on Chester road ( tor drainage for their respective houses, and that re- 1 [juest alone was a very reasonable one. There were 5 some very good houses along the road, and the rate- payers of that part should be considered. (Hear, hear.) Now they had an opportunity, not only of providing drainage for those who contributed to the rates, but also of benefiting Stansty, a township which contributed very materially to the prosperity of the town. (Hear, hear.) As he had already said, he did not think they could do better than adopt the plan the deputation had brought before them, and he begged to propose Mr. WALTER JONES Well, perhaps you will propose this? Alderman SMITH then proposed That this com- mittee recommend to the Council that that portion of the township of Stansty which infringes on the borough of Wrexham, he, on terms to be mutually agreed on, drained into the town main sewers, and that the Clerk and Mr. Alderman Owen be appointed to consider the terms and conditions with the Chairman and Clerk of the Rural Sanitary Authority." Mr. WALTER JONES seconded the motion. Alderman BEALE What about the legal difficulty? Mr. BRADLEY thought they could safely leave that question with the Town Clerk and Alderman Owen who could discuss the points thoroughly. He thought they should show a disposition to meet the Rural Authoiity in this matter. Mr. RICHARD JONES; I don't agree with it, and I wish you all to understand that clearly. I cannot agree with it upon law, nor upon the nuisances already exist- ing in the brooks, and here you are going to increase it by taking the sewage of Stansty. We don't know what we shall take them into. I did not like being put down either by Mr. Bradley like I was. Mr. BRADLEY Well, I think I put it on a very good basis. Alderman BEALE said this was not a new thing at all, and he had never been opposed to it. He deeply sympathised with the people of Rhosddu, but he could not see how to get them out of their difficulties. It was very easy to allow the two authorities to amalgamate, and then after that find other parishes draining into their sewers, and he did not see how they were to prevent them. The CHAIRMAN The Rural Sanitary Authority will not sanction any other sewage coming into our sewers. Alderman BEALE But according to Alderman Owen that cannot be done. The MAYOR Oh yes, yes. That case is not at all on all fours with this. Alderman BEALE hoped they would be careful in what they did, because they may get into difficulties hereafter. There was a great deal of force in what Mr. Richard Jones said. He then referred to the recent report of Mr. Hugh Davies, on the pollution of the river, which he attributed to an overflow of sewage, and said he thought the view taken of the matter by Mr. Jones was worth consideration. If the brook was polluted by an overflow of sewage then to increase the sewage must increase the pollution. Therefore it behoved them to be very particular in this matter. The MAYOR, in reply to Alderman Beale, said he was under a delusion. If they extracted an equiv alent quantity of rain water from the borough sewers, then the addition of the sewage of Stansty would not increase the amount in the sewers. The brook was polluted not when the minimum quantity was passing through the sewers, but at rainfalls. Col. Jones was liable to a superabundance of sewage when rain fell. He could deal with all the sewage proper, but when a rainfall came there was an over- flow which went into the brook and that overflow caused the pollution. Whether they accepted the rural sewage or not they would be juntas liable to the pollution. Their liability would not be increased or decreased one iota. All along they had been prevented from carrying out this work by some legal technicalities. They ought to wipe away all legal technicality such as those suggested by Alderman Owen. He had said before that it would be better for the urban authority to give £500 towards the construction of this system than to allow the sewage of Stansty to pass away from them. The time would come when sewage would be of great value and noy,7 there was an excellent opportunity of diverting some of the storm water. The pollution of the brook would one day be a very serious matter and they would have to turn out of their sewers the storm water en bloc, and after that they would have valuable sewage. Alderman BEALE I must answer, Mr. Mayor. The CHAIRMAN We shall be here another hour and a half. Alderman BEALE Well, but he says I am suffering under a delusion. Mr. WALTER JONES Is Mr. Beale going to propose a counter resolution ? If not I rise to order. He has spoken already. Alderman BEALE He says I am under a delusion when it is no delusion. When the Worcester people Mr. WALTER JONES Oh, we have had enough Worcester Sauce. (Laughter). Alderman BEALE You continually interrupt me Alderman SMITH The matter is referred to our Town Clerk and Mr. Owen, who will see to the legal point. The CHAIRMAN immediately put the motion to the meeting, the only person voting against it being Mr. Richard Jones. THE MEDICAL OFPICEIÙ, REPORT. The Medical Officer reported as follows :— Gentlemen,-Siuce my last report upon August 13th, 32 births have been registered, 20 male3 1tnd 12 female3, making the rde 36 per 1,1-<00 per annum, calculating the approximate census for the past month at 10"-132. Twelve deaths have oc- curred, and the causes were as follows ;-1'neumollia" 2 heart disease, 1 premature birth, 1 diarrhcea, 1; convul- sions, 1; marasmus, 1; fatty degeneration of the heart, 1 scarlet fever, 2; diphtheria, 1; and accidentally scalded,)* The rate of mortality is 13. Four deaths were registered as occurring t. children under twelve months old, and three above that age but uuder five years. I am sorry to say that scarlet fever is very prevalent, most probably imported from the rural district. We are using all means to prevent its spread, and I have ordered one case—Piatt, of Farndon-street- iuto the fever ward, which, so far, has stamped out the disease in tl1at quarter. I purpose pursuing the same measures when- ever isolation will prove of service. I append a list of the infectious cases reported to me.-Your cbediell servant, J. LLEWELYN WILLIAMS. Mr. LL. WILLIAMS said that Mr. Murray Browne was in Wrexham the other day, and together they went around the town and eventually called at the slaughter house and inspected the disinfecting apparatus. After that they went to the workhouse and inspected the apparatus there. Lie thought they should consider whether the apparatus at the slaughter house was suffi- cient or not. Mr. J. WILLIAMS Did he think there were a larger number of cases of diphtheria than should be for the size of the town ? Dr. LL. WILLIAMS Oh, yes, certainly. In the course of a discussion on the disinfecting ap- paratus it was suggested that the Council and the Guardians might conjointly use the new apparatus which the Guardians have ordered. THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. DAVID HIGGINS reported with regard to the various cases of infectious diseases. In several cases of the conversion of cesspits, &c., into water closets, most of the notices served had been complied with, but in the case of 103 on his book he asked for a summons. (Granted.) In continuation he said In obedience to your instructions at the last meeting, I beg to report on the following chimneys, all of which emit at times dense volumes of smoke, which nuisance to the inhabitants and injurious to the property'* the neighbour- hood, and against which there are frequent complaints, viz.: the Nag's Head Brewery, the Sun Brewery, bakehouse chimney, High-street; bakehouse chimney, Yorke-street; chimney, High-street; bakehouse chimney, Yorke-street; Pipe Manufactory, Walks; Hugh Price, skinner, Bridge- street Burton Brewery, Bridge-street. Some of these chim- neys are very low and the nuisance could be removed by carrying them higher, but in all cases I believe the evil could be remedied by the application af an apparatus supplied and fixed by Messrs. Davies, of the Square, Rhos, at a very moderate price, and which I have seen iu operation at Oswestry with very good results. I would, therefore, recommend that notice be given to the several persons to abate the nuisance complained of. The MAYOR proposed that the recommendation of the Inspector in reference to the chimneys be adopted. He stated that on Friday last he, in company with other members of the Council, were coming along Mount- street, when they witnessed one of the most extra- ordinary exhibitions of smoke he thought it possible to see. The volume was most dense and black, and blow- ing in such close proximity to the Old Church that he could not help exclaiming "shame." If the architect of that beautiful church could have risen from his grave and witnessed that black smoke enveloping the building, he would have gone into a fit. (Laughter). There were now a number of inventions by which it was possible for consumers of coal to get a greater quantity of heat from it by their use, and also prevent smoke. It was a loose habit on the part of people of most towns, but it was simply disgraceful. Alderman LLOYD seconded the motion. Mr. OSWELL BURY said the smoke was so dense on a certain day a short time ago that it quite darkened his office and he could hardly see to write. Mr. BRADLEY The smoke was so dense on Friday that we could not see the steeple. The motion was put and carried unanimously. PWLLTY'RWYDD TURNPIKE GATE. Notice was received from the Clerk of the Barnhill and Wrexham Turnpike Trust (Holt-road) in reference to the toll house. The mattei was referred to the Surveyor to report. This concluded the meeting.