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DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE.

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DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE. BRYNMA WR. THE FAIRS QUESTION.—In pursuance of the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Local Board of Health, in Beaufort- sti eft, placards have been officially circulated prohibiting the erection of stalls, booths, &c., and giving notice that persons persisting to do so after that notice will be prosecuted. The notice, however, seems to produce very li-tie effect, for placards of rather a formidable nature are largely circulated in de6ance of this order, stating that a fair will be held. Whether this movement will lead to anything unpleasant it is difficult to say but appear- ances, at present, tend to make us believe it will. A meeting was held on Monday last, at the Colliers' Arms, and was attended by a majority in number and value of the ratepaying inhabitants residing within this district, when it was unanimously resolved that a fair should be held, as usual, on Whit-Monday next, and on the other appointed days for fairs. It was further resolved that a subscription should be made to defray any costs arising out of any proceedings which might be adopted by the local authorities. A sub- scription list was handed round, and about X30 were at once subscribed, and a strong expression of opinion was manifested as to the conduct of certain members of the Board. Messrs. Simons and Plews, solicitors, Mertbyr, were appointed solicitors to this Ratepayers' Association* SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH. THE FAIRS QUESTION. A special meeting of the Brynmawr Local B-ard "f Health was convened) by requisition, at the Offices in Beaufort-street, on Monday afternoon last, when there were present Messrs. G. Hicks (in the chair), J. Judd, R. B. Jones, Henry Judd, T. Hope, R. Wain, D. Morgan, and D. Watkins. The Clerk to the Board (Mr. E. J. C. Davies) read the resolution passed at the last general meeting of the Board respecting the question now under dis- cussion, and also the bye-law bearing on the method of calling a special meeting of Local Bnards. He also mentioned to the Chairman, who was absent from the last meeting, that a requisition had been presented at that meeting by a deputation from the pri cipti inn- keepers and others in the town, praying the Bo..rfl to pass a resolution by which the fairs, hi he to pro- hibited, should be resumed, arguing that t^e town generally would be pecuniarily benefited by such a resolution being passed. A abort and unimportant conversation took place as to the formality of the present meeting, when two separate deputations entered the Board-rooga—the one consisting of ministers and leaders fron the diffeTent chapels, who attended to oppose the rescinding of: the resolution; and the o'her composed of those gentlemen who attended on the last Board day. The Chairman briefly explained the object of the special mewing, and alludiag to the motion formerly passed, by which the holding of fair was discontinued, said be was the parent of that resolution He gave notice at a meeting of the Board, in due form, that he would introduce such a proposition, and succeeded in passing it. He did so conscientiously, believing that what be did was right and nothing that he had h. ard since had altered that opinion. He still thought that the holding of fairs in Brynmawr was very injurious to the town at large, and if any of the members of the deputation in favour of the fairs bad got anything to say he should like to hear them fiist; but whatever was said he hoped they would keep order, and pay that respect to the Board and ev. rybody else in the room, »hich they would like to receive themselves— that they would offer no interruption. It appeared there were other gentlenun present who would have remarks to make on the opposite side of the question, and he expressed himself ready to hear first what the supporters of the fairs bad to say. After an embarrassing silence of a few minutes, Mr. Benjamin Ward said What objections have you to the fair ? The Chairman We are not disposed to discuss the matter in that kind of way. We have expre-sed our objections, and have passed resolutions to that effect here. It is for you to say why we should alter those resolutions. Mr. Ward: It is a great loss to us. We must allow I that in the first place. The Chairman said the expense in cleaning the place after the fairs would completely ran away with the receipts. Mr. Lloyd How long would you require a man to be doing that ? The Chairman We will give you half a day, Mr. Lloyd. Mr. Lloyd And a very liberal allowance, too. Mr. Lloyd continued by saying that a fair was to be held at Briery Hill, and would, no doubt, in time improve, until it became an important one: He did not think the Board were giving the ratepayers fair play. The Chairman Have any of you gentlemen told us yet the object of the fair, or the benefit of the fair? Mr. Ward: The benefit is m the disposal of our goods. A member of the deputation said it was better for the fairs to be held at Brynmawr than for the people to go to Abergavenny. The Chairman In answer to that I may say that there is no doubt the members of this Board have a greater interest at stake, generally, -than anybody in rynmawr; and it is natural that, having mure interest, they would have more desire to promote the welfare of the town than you have. The only ques- tion at issue is-which is the best way to do that ? You say it is by holding fairs otheis say it is not. Mr. Ward remarked that other towns did not abolish the fairs. The Chairman I will remove that objection, if you phase. You say, why do other towns hoid fairs ? The object of fairs is the exhibition of stock or merchandise; that I think none of you will attempt to gainsay. Well, tben, if that be so, you know no merchandise in the shape of corn or live stock would ever be exhibited here. It is not convenient. It is not an agricultural neighbourhood. Fairs established in this town can only be for one purpose-pleasure. Mr. Ward We could get a stock market here as well as a fair. The Chairman It has been tried several years. Mr. Ward asked when. The Chairman said they had not been tried for 10 or 12years. Mr. Lloyd spoke of the markets for ponies, which were at one time very numerous, and if they had been allowed to remain would probably have increased. The Chairman said Mr. Lloyd's rem rk was an argument against himself. The fairs ha. been tried, and according to his own showing were failing. Mr. Bush There are pigs sold at Abergavenny fair by hundreds, and they live on bacon up here a good bit. (Laughter.) The Chairman Well, there are other gentlemen here who have an interest in Brynmawr. I should be glad to hear what they have to say. The Rev. T. Nathan, a member of the deputation opposed to the fairs, presented a memorial on behalf of the superintendents, teachers, and scholars of the different Sunday schools, and also from the elders and members of the Tabor chapel. He believed there were more requisitions from the different places of worship in the town condemnatory of the fairs. With the permission of the chairman, he would say a few woids that might perhaps remove the objections of those friends who had spoken in favour of the fairs. There were evils connected with things that were in them- selves a convenience and a necessity this, of course, arose .out of the abuse oi such things, and though here were inseparable evils, yet were they toleraied for the sake of the good. While thev admitted that there were evils connected with all firs, if they could show that the fairs sutk as they had had in Brynmawr were not necessary at all, then they would perceive that the evils were far greater there than anywhere else. He would now give them a few reasons he had thought of to show that they were not, in any sense, necessary to Brynmawr, and therefore were great evils. In the first place, they were not worth considering business fairs. They had every facility now for obtaining those things easily for which fairs were formerly, and in some places still, a necessity. They had railway communications and other conveniences of a like nature. Secondly, because these fairs were a hindrance to the legitimate business of the town. Those busi- nesses, which were recognized as absolutely necessary were, really injured drapers, grocers, bakers, and ironmongers do less trade, according to their own statement, during the filir, than at any other time, and that for a variety of raasoos; as fur example the sitreets were almost Woekaded, and it was scarcely safe, especially for ifemales, to venture out during the fairs. Every one would admit there were more drunken persons reeling through the streets, and he did not think it was safe for delicate females to pass through the streets at those times. Again, people.' spend money fo* drink and other useless things at pleasure fairs, and lose employment for some time, and therefore hare no money to spend in. things which were really absolutely necessary. Every grocer and. draper in the town, was quite prepared, he was sure, to endorse the truth of that assertion. And further, those persons who were seemingly most benefited are not really so, unless that benefit a ose from the temptanon whiih is placed before the public. l'he publican consequently, cannot prosper i0 bUM,,(S^ if the people have nothing to spend. It ws w. II known the public house- were n.,t *o well atr-o ised just before the fairs as they were g. n r lly. the people saving theii money for the fair. Grnt tb t the publican reaps a harvest from the fair, yet,—every publican knew that the men who thus spent in the fair, lose, many of them, a greater part of the week's employment, and in consequence, have not so much to spend in the future. He believed if a fair calculation were made for a whole year without a fair, and a comparison made with a year in which fairs were held, it would be found that the publican would be a gainer by the stopping of the fairs, while the town it-elf would be spared the witnessing of those de- moralising scenes which were to be met with at Bryn- mawr fairs. Think of the pernicious influences exerted upon the minds of the young by these fairs. Many a young man, he doubted not, could point to the Brynmawr fairs as the place where he took the first step in his downward career. It was at the fair he firs, became drunk, it was there he began to lose his self-respect, and give himself up to a course of sin and shame. And many a young woman could date her fall to the exciting scenes and influence of the fairs. Think of the beastly scenes, the foul language, generally witnessed and heard at these fairs, and they would be convinced that they were not only unneces- sary, but were a curse to the morals and religious welfare of the people. He believed heartily that if the greatest and most interested advocate of the fairs were calmly to reflect on the matter, they would at once come to the conclusion that it would be far bet- ter, and more honourable, a'.d more manly, to lose the seeming profits of the .fair than to be helpers to the moral i'jury of one inhabitant. Requisitions were presented on bthalf of the con- gregations of the Bethesda Chapel, the Primitive Methodists, the Libanus Chapel (in Welsh), the Wes leyans by Mr. Swa'n, i n behalf of the Brynmawr Band of Hope and Temperance Society by Mr. Daniel Lewis, from the Rehoboth Chapel by Mr. T, Roberts from the Calvary Chapel, and others. The Chairman said he felt it tight to all present to say that he had that morning received a letter from Mr. Bailey, requesting him to make known to him ihe resolution they came to at the DJ. eting in order thai he might take the necessary measures with regard to the workmen. The Clerk, at the request of several members of the Board, read the letter received from Mr. Bail. y on the question of abolition being fif-st mooted, which spoke unfavourably of the holding of fairs, as tending to the loss of time a"d labour at his works. The Chairman stated that Mr. Hen, y Bailey was the principal employer of labour in the neighbour- hood, and he (the Chairman) was as sure those present would not pay him that disrespect to go contrary to his wifhes if this matter. For hi- own part he had always thought the fairs were injurious to th- town. and he was still of the same opinion. He had received another letter from the Parsonage at Nantvglo, which he read to the meeting. This letter was expressed in terms of disapprob tion of the fairs. The Chir- mar having lead th, s,- letters assured the deputati ns that the'r requi-i'ions should have careful considera- tion from the Board, and in order to giv, them fair opportunity ot discussing ir, in a manier just to them- selves and the public at large, he wou'd ask them to retire. The rt-por'erf w re pr. sen,, and they would know through the mediam of the district Pres- what, there opinions were n the suijet-t of d cu.¡,¡i"n. The deputation here re' red, with the exc ption of tne female p itiott i-f it, w uich consisted f Mrs. Aubrey, who requested to be allowed to have her say on the ques'ion. Permis-ion having been accorded, she informed the Board that. she had reared ten children, and that, she had paid her way to every- body, so far. She had taken £ 10 or £ 2'>attht last fair, and she did not see why the fair should not be h- ld for business. She had to take her pigs to Aber avenny, a distance of eight miles, and she might sell or she might nor. It was a at expense. The Chairman assured Mrs. Aubrey that her obser- vations should not be lost sight of. Mrs. Aubrey Thank you, I am v, ry much obliged to you. She continued that -he considered the dis- continuance of the fairs a great los o her, and hoped the Board would reconsider and rescind their decision, and retired. The Chairman then expressed himself willing to hear what the members of the Board had to say on the matter. Mr. R. B. Jones remarked that the principal part of the deputation against the fairs had been brought up to public speaking, and therefore had a gr, at advan- tage over the depu-ation in favour of the fairs. As for the question of trade, they did not go into that at all they only talked of the evils caused by people coming together and getting drunk. He thought that it would be an advantage to the town if the fair? were continued. There was as much drunkenness at p-tys and draws as at the fairs, and they found that thore were less complaints of misconduct, &c., after fairs than after pays Mr. Henry Judd thought that if the people did not spend their money at fairs in Brynmawr they would go off with excursions and spend it. Mr. Wain remarked that it was understood no shows were to be established in the town, and it was certain they were of no benefit. Now, he found that there were shows here every pay and draw for instance, they had now a show there, which the proprietor him- self told him attracted as many as 9110 people of « night, and that he had turned as many as 300 or 400 away from the dl-or. It had been there nine or ten days, and he thought it did a great injury 10 the town. As regarded the fairs, Mr. Jones had just remarked I hat there was quite as much drunkennefs soing on at pays and draws as at fairs, and quite as many cases for the police court. He was sure, if the fairs were d' ne away with here, there would be excursions which would induce the workmen to le"ve the town and go to other towns where there were fairs and other amusements, and thereby do a great injury to the trade of the town. Mr. Nathan said that fairs were a great injury to all trades, with the exception of the publicans. He could not agree with him on that poin'. They all lived upon one another. He could prove from his bills that bis expenses last fair day were double that of any other corresponding week in the year; his butcher's bill was double that of any other week in the year, and the more trade he did the more he spent in the town. He spent in the towt last year over X.700 he cut up at the fairs meat in 6d plates and Is. plates, which the people at the fairs came in and partook of, and it did good to the general trade-all were benefited by it. Then again, there were the confectioners, the fruiterers, and the toy- sellers. They all did a trade. He verily believed that the laits really did no harm to the town, and, as regarded drunkenness, there was as much of that at the pays and draws as at the fairs. If they did not have a fair in Brynmawr, when any little amusement went on out of the town, they might depend tl.e people would go to them, and..take their money with them. TIle Chairman I certainly believe this one thing. Whi su" Monday is a general holiday, and if they don't ke p it here they will some-h,-re else. Mr Wain said the masters would in that case have some difficulty in getting their men to work. He could mention several cases where ihe men went to Abergavenny fair when half a-dozen or a dozen of them would get locked up in th- police station they were brought befor- the magistrate-, and Ih, ir friends were obliged to go down next day to get them out. Mr Jones The people d n't get in the same state here as they do at Abergavenny and Newport look at the charges brought in the last three or fuur years, and comt are th< m with those after pays. Mr. Wain Some time ago they preached against a fete. I got up. I got it up just to show that we coul-1, get such things up in the town, instead of the mon-y going out of the town with excursions. They wished, it, no doubt, to be a failure, but I am proud to say it. was a great success. I was congratulated ou the following morning by Mr. Jayne and several clergymen to find there was not one case for the police-court The Chairman Quite right I recollect it myself Mr. Wain Mr. Let-- and Mr. Griffiths also mentioned the fact to me. The Chairman That was certainly bringing a lot of people to the town. Mr. Wain And a great deal of good it did to the town. I must say it is really too bad to do away with the fairs. The Chairman said he would like to comply with the wishes of those who wanted the fairs he liked to pay every respect to them, as far as practicable. He would now wish to hear what other gentlemen had to say on the matter, that it might appear publicly. Mr. Wain said he did not speak for his own part altogether a great many had asked him where the pig market would be held this year, and whether it would be held in tb e yard. He said, "yes." He should therefore, they sa w, have as much as he could do. A great many had a: iked him to come there that day and speak on the fa irs' question, and he told them he would attend the Board and tell them what he really- thought. The Chairman Quite right. Mr. J. Judd: With respect to the statement that the fairs do no harm to the town in a commercial point of view-tho ?y may not do any harm to the pub- licans,-but I thio k they do harm to some of thim- those who live outside of the town. It does a good deal of harm to th e grocers and drapers, I am sure. Before every fair that is hel.1 here 'he pe., 1 k"e' their money for a week or so, i'l "< d. r t • -I'O:-IIIj at try f,ti and very fr- que fly ih- v 1, t'we o r da s at S "t lie c e, a;¡d ¡hey, in ten e e, ti.at t • >tV.i>• k.' II, In t:5 or tit) m ,,1 floc et. Y'r Mor^-m "vlor m io d me y emay t every f u- > s £ 5 ou' of oi- pockf-t. ,i-. J -i Wt n -a) t'i -an., n>i t •» au- (I b., L i: In lid t'lig t eir ■> k. I c on- sider, besides, that it is a great moral evil, and shall consider it my duty to vote a»ainst it. I have been living here as long as most people, and I have watched he different fairs, and have seen no good in one of them yet. Certainly there were a few horses and ponies brought here to be sold the first time, but they decreased every time till, last of all, there was no one here to buy, because there was nothing to sell Mr. Wain There are a few comractors who have taken this opportunity of speaking agaiast the fairs because they were losers. Some of them I know would be very glad to give their contract up because it docs not pay them. Mr. Hope I stated my views at the last meeting, and they have already appeared in print. In the first place I was a strong advocate of the fairs I thought they would be a general benefit to the town. I may say now that my opinion has been altered very much indeed from what it was then. The sort of fairs we have here now is very different from the fairs I ex- pected we should have had. I thought we should have had a very different sort of fair to what we have now. Now it appears to be more of a pleasure fair, and I am afraid the evil counterbalances the good. As far as my own feeling goes, I don't think the fair does me either good or bad. The Chairman What of the public good. Do yru think they are any benefit to the town. Mr. Hope Indeed, I don't think so. unless we hnve a diff rent class of tai, s to what we have. I think they have proved a failure. Mr. David Morgan said he could not say, as Mr. Wain had said, that the fairs were of any benefit to him at all. Mr. W ain I did not say so, Mr. Morgan. The Chairman He advanced no reason. Mr. Morgan The larger business he does, the more profit to himself. The Chairman The amount of business we do, and the motive a man speaks from, are two diffrent things. Mr. Morgan The fair is a loss for me. Every fair that is held, I am pounds out of pocket. There are pounds spent that ought to be mine, and others have them. In my own opinion I don't believe it does any bent fit to the publicans themselves, and taking he year round, they receive a good deal of money on that day, but they don't receive pqui11 to what they average on other dnys. That is my conscientious opinion I have no bad feeling against any publican in the town. I have been benefited by the publicans and they by me. I have ijo ill fpelin agaimt any man in the town at all. Bur. what I s.y is my con- scientious opinion. I have spoken to many of them, but they are not all benefited. As for the fairs, they are an evil in the town. There are other evils here. There is a large tree of evil growing on Brynmawr, and these fairs a,e one strong branch of it. We ou;- ht to try our b. st to cut it down. I here are many other evils I could speak of if I should speak in my own language. The fairs, in a moral ligh ii,jur,- the young folks and inhabitant" of the i-eigtil,ourli od. Mr. R. B. Jones th ught Mr. Morgan managed very well in English. His remarks were not enough. Mr. W a, kins expressed himself unfavourab'e to the fair", for many reasons, which he found himself unable to state in English. Respecting the pig mar- kets on the hills, they benefited no one. Mr. Wain Mr Morgan says that he does not be- lieve that any tradesmen in the town are benefited by the fairs, inasmuch as I h.y spend on the tair day whar they would have spent three or four weeks before. W. 11, we will L«ok at it m this light: W.- say next Monday is the fair. Supposing that the publicans and confectioners and others take of a bulk P,500, and that on the Monday following the Saturday of the pay they only take £100. Well, suppose that £5.10 is taken to another town, there is only the same £100 to be spent in Brynmawr on the following day. Then does not the town lose by it ? Why should not the town have the X500 that is taken to other towns? The Chairman You speak now of the travelling shows ? Mr. Wain I am speaking of the inhabitants of the town. On Whit-Monday they will go to some place of amusement, and if they can't have it at Brynmawr they will go to some other place. There is plenty going on at Newport and Ahergavenny. Mr. Judd They will go if there is one here. Mr. Wain I can't agree with the feeliDg that the publicans only a'e benefited by the fairs. We all live one u on another. Some days the grocers and drapers do more than I do. We must take the good with the bad. The Chairman One thing we must look at. The signatures on this petition (alluding to that presented at the last meeting) are numerous and influential, and deserving the respect of the Board. As far as I am individually concerned, I should like to pay that respect to their wishes in a way that would be beneficial to the town in general. I think Mr. Wain's party will make Whit Monday a holiday, and I merely throw out this suggestion. Suppose the Board did entertain the notion of allowing one fair on this Whit- Monday: would that meet the wishes of the people ? I don't propose it, you understand. Mr. J. Judd I should think not, indeed. I am so satisfied in my mind that it is an evil. The Chairman If you are desirous to meet the wishes of the people who signed this petirit)ti-th, y are respectable people, and I should not like to run counter to their wishes. Mr. J. Judd There are a great number who have S'gned t' is petition who have also signed against it Mr. Wain said there was no one more anxious than he was to do anything for the benefit of the town. Top Chairman I am happy to tell you that we are all unanimous on that point. The only thing we have to disc iss is which is the besr. way tu do it. It is but right, as Mr Roger Edwards is not here, that I should read to you what he says. He first of all regrets that I was not prest-nt at the last meeting, and that he con- sidered if I bad been there I should have been amused, if not edified. He then says Nothing will convince me that the fairs are not injurious to the welfare of the community, and especially to the town and trade of Brynmawr, until they alter materially in their cha- racter, and I am afraid there is no hope of that." He then suggests another thing It comes a question for the Board to consider whether it would be policy on their part to allow the fair to be held this time, and immediately after to pass a resolution to abolish them, and publish it far and wide, so that the public might have no cause of complairt." It seemed Mr. Edwards did not iinow that the resolution was passed forbidding thp fairs. The Clerk It was urged by some of the deputation that, although the resolution was passed some time ago, it was not officially published. Mr. J. Judd Well, you know, there would be time enough for that now. The people only come from Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. Mr. W,-ln I should beg to move that the Board will p- rmit one fair to be held in the Near, on Whit- Monday, which is a general holiday throughout the country. By a' olishin that fair you will certainly do a great injury to the trade of Brynmawr. The other fair I *ill say nothing about, but I think the fair I am speaking of will do a great injury to the town if abolished. If there is not amusement here they will go out of the t..wn. Mr. Junes The advocates for the fairs are the greatest ratepayers, and form the great proportion of the inhabitauts of Brynmawr. Mr. Wain I find it very heavy, I know that. Mr. Jones They are rated heavier than any other trade. The Chairman You can't compare the innkeepers with the grocers there is no comparison. Mr. Judd I mean to say that while the grocer nets n per cent. profit, the innkeeper gets from 20 to 30. Mr. Wain: His expenses are a great deal more; of course the Government knolls that. The Chairman: I recoil ct an innkeeper in the town saying that when he was called upon for his income tax, he admitted his interest was 40 per cent. Mr. Wain I should like to net 7t, as Mr. Judd says. I paid over 2700 last year in duty on spirits and wine. Mr. Henry Judd You did a good trade you see. (Laughter.) Mr. Henry Judd then seconded Mr. Wain's propo- sition. Mr. Wain Look at the enormous sum of money which was spent at this station for excursion tickets. There were over X800 spent for excursion tickets, and if each of the parties who went by these excur- sions spent 5s.-they could not go from home undet that-look at the enormous amount spent in that way. Mr. Jones: What is your decision to be ? You take one fair off and let us have the other. Mr. Wain I think every right-minded man in the town can't say nay" to that. Mr. Jones We have two members absent who, if they had been here, would have given their votes on our side—Mr. Ward and Mr. Porter. The Chairman Then why are they not here ? Mr. Jones explained the cause of their non-atten- dance. Mr. Judd We have two who would have voted with us—Mr. Havard and Mr. Roger Edwards. The Chairman I ask you gentlemen this side. are you pr»pared to make any concession as regards the ■ ne fair? Mr .lud I coo-id" hemre > evil as n i. dol) M. o j N- IN cd I t. J d i 1 know if ,II tn b e tor i >e pubiic .«• aft r al' i. t, e n • .<1 owed. M vl..r I s,, ud it like <o fl<t r one in -ii ff is tac ..1) -a .other tu g (I his ,ack. M-. VV,,tu i. s: I II"V a, d plrtie., '"o,u E 0 Vale say they wanted to get rid of the fairs there, only they have no power. Mr. Judd proposed as an amendment that there be no fairs. Mr. Morgan seconded the amendment. The Chairman then put the amendment, when there voted- For-Messrs. J. Judd, D. Morgan, T. Hope, and D. Watkins Against-Messrs. R. Wain, R. B. Jones, and Henry Judd. The amendment was therefore declared carried. The members of the Board inquired how the Chair- man would have given his vote had he been called for it, and The Chairman replied that he would have liked to see a satisfactory concession made, but if such con- cession were not satisfactory he would not think it right to vote for the fairs. Of course, it was now passed that no fairs were to be held, and it had come to their knowledge that a fair was about to be held in defiance. What steps would they propose to adopt in order to prevent such fairs being held. They had passed the resolution, and if they permitted fairs to be held, that resolution went for nothing. What were they prepared to do to meet the exigency of the case. Mr. Jones We have no authority at all that such a fair will be held It is only a matter of opidon. Mr. Moigan: I heard by one man this morning that they intend to hold it in defiance, whether the Board permit it or not. Mr. J. Judd I think we ought to get some papers out at once to prevent them. The Chairman: I regret exceedingly that after each party, for and against, have had their s, y and submitt Pd it to the Boar d (they have recognised the right of the Board to deal with the matter) they should he dissatisfied that they are in a minority. It is very bad grace on their part indeed. I am not disposed, as long as I am a member of this Board to allow dis- affected parties to meet the Board with d- fianep. The Board bus authority and must exercise that authority. Then the question next it, what, course is the Board to adopt ? Shall small bills be placarded about the town telling the people of the resolu ion the Board has come to, and that any party erecting stalls, tables, or any vehicles in the stree s or adjacent to the streets to cause an obstruction, shall be summoned ? Mr. J. Judd What will you do with the shows ? Mr. Morgan I think it is full time for them to quit now. Mr. Hope said that if Mr. Wain did take a little money more than usual, he spent that money amongst them. If he required a pound of beef extra, he got it off a Brynmawr butcher, and if a loaf of bread, he got it from a Brynma wr baker, whereas these people took the money from the place. The Clerk remarked that these show people must subsist while they were in Brynmawr. The Chairman If the erection of shows is a grievance, let Mr. Win give notice to the Board and they would discuss it at their next meeting. Mr. Wrfin I wish to say that no shows ought, to be all -wed to stay here more than one night, if at all as long as he fairs are discontinued. They do a great injury to the town. They pay no rates or taxes, and take the money "f the ratepayers out of the town. As long as one is forbidden the other ought to be. Mr. R. Jones I beg to move that th's Simms get notice to leave in twenty f ur hours. He has been here long enough and gets a tremendous lot of money. You would he surprised a, the amount of money he takes. H- took abou X700 from Abergavenny. The Chairman You. k no w be is not upon our land; but Mr. Bailey has given us authority to deal with that land. Mr. Wain said there had been a fair established in 1859, and there had not been sufficient notice given that it had been abolished. No doubt a good many people would come to erect stalls here. Mr. Jones suggested that the Board would not in- struct Mr. Thomas to take harsh measures against any person who would erect stalls. A great portion of the community was very much dissatisfied that the fairs were stopped, and it would only be adding fuel to the fire," to deal harshly. The Clerk You must remember Mr. Walpole and Mr Beales. The Chairman said that supposing they were defermined to do so in defiance, the better plan would be to have the notices duly prepared and give Mr. Thomas and Sergeant Joseph instructions that the fairs would not be permitted. The instructions to prepare the notices forthwith having been given to Mr. Thomas, the Board rose. 0 PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, before J. JAYNE, Esq., M. J. ROBERTS, Esq., and H. BAILEY, Esq. SETTLED OUT OF COURT.-By payment of the usual court fees, the charge against illary Evans for assault, preferred by Rachel Price, was allowed to be withdrawn. THE BLACK Lrox KAMI'ANT.—Thomas Evans, landlord of the Black Lion Inn, was charged with having refused to admit the police, when requested, on the 2nd instant.-P.C. Evans said he went about eleven o'clock to visit the Black Lion, and knocked at the door; some one came to the door, and asked who was there; he replied, "the policemanno reply was made, and he was not admitted; he knocked at the door again, and some one again came to the door and asked who was there he told them he was a policeman, and the person at the door said "you are not a policeman;" he told the person he was, and threatened to summon them if they did not grant admission; they refused to do so.-Defendant was fined 10s. and 7s. costs. REFUSING ADMITTANCE TO THE POLICE.—Jane Godfrey, of the Clarence Inn, was summoned for refusing admittance to the police on the 1st instant.—The defendant stated that she had retired when admission was applied for by the sergeant and another police-oiffcer.—The Bench reminded the defendant that she was responsible for the acts of her servant, who refused to admit the police, and then said that the case was one of thoughtlessness on the part of the servant, and of no wilfulness on the part of the defendant, her mistress. The case was, therefore, dismissed on payment of 6s. costs. A BREACH OF THE PEACE.—Two young men, named Charles Lewis and John Davies, on bail, appeared to answer a charge of a breach of the peace at Brynmawr, on the 1st instant. The defendants admitted the case, and were fined 7s. 6d. and costs each, or 14 days' imprisonment. RESISTING THE POLICE.— Thomas Davies, Nantyglo, puddler, was charged with resisting the police, on the 1st instant.— Defendant denied the offence.—P.C. James Evans stated that on Saturday night, the 1st instant, about half-past twelve o'clock, he was bringing a prisoner (John Davies) into the police station on a charge of lighting in the street, when James Davies came up to him in Beaufort-street, and asked him (complainant) to release him; he requested him several times not to interfere; he had a little cane in his hand, and, seeing he would not loose prisoner, he gave him a little cut with the cane across the shoulder; he then said, I will knock your brains out;" he then called another constable (P.C. Oram) to appre- hend him, and he was accordingly locked up.—The defendant admitted having been drunk, but denied resisting the police; he only asked the police-officer to release his brother, as he had not been in disgrace before.-The Bench imposed a penalty of 10s. and costs, amounting to 17s. 6d.; in default of payment 14 days' imprisonment. REFUSING AOMITTANCH.—Charlotte, Meredith, of the Wine Vaults, was charged with having refused to admit the police on the 2nd instant.-P.C. Evans stated that on the night in ques- tion, about 11.30, he visited the Wine Vaults, Brynmawr, and applied for admission; the landlady came to the door, and asked who was there, and he replied "the policeman;" she replied, you are not a policeman;" he rejoined, "lam," and she said, Come to the window for me to see you;" he did go to the window, and he supposed she saw him.—The defendant was ordered to pay the costs. DRUNK AND RIOTOIIli.-IOlln Davies, Abraham Jenkins, and David Jenkins were charged with having been drunk and riotous on the 2nd instant. P.C. 9 proved the charge, and defendants were fined 5s. and costs each. ANOTHER VOTARY OF BACCHUS.—William Griffiths, a shoe- maker, Beaufort, was charged with having been drunk and riotous, on the 2nd. P.C. Morgan preferred the charge, which was admitted, and defendant was fined 5s. and costs. CRUELTY TO A DONKEY.—Joseph Jones was charged with cruelly ill-using and killing a donkey, the property of David Owen, of Cwm-nant-garn. Mr. G. S. Davies prosecuted, and Mr. G. A. Jones, of Abergavenny, was for the defence.—David Owen deposed in Welsh that he was a coal carrier, and employed a donkey at that work on the 23rd of May he went into the stable, and found that the donkey was very much bruised j he in took the animal to Mr. Llewellyn, a veterinary surgeon the animal died in about a week afterwards, and the veterinary surgeon recommended him to ask the defendant for compensa- tion.—Cross-examined by Mr. Jones: The donkey was nine years old; it did not die from hard work; would not have taken £2 for him, whatever his age; lie went up to the hill afterwards to graze, but could not do so j did not know who had injured the donkey until Walters had told me defendant and Walters are bad friends.—David Walters said: I live at Cwm- nant-garn on the 23rd of May I went into David Owen's stable, he having asked me to do so; the animal was in an awful state; there were several cuts and bruises on the loins, and it lost its water; I told Mr. Owen there and then how it was done, that I had seen Jones beat him with a large stick like a stake, and used his two hands to it; he was trying to drive him out of the field; that was about half-past five o'clock the same morning; the donkey fell down twice; Jones was beating him about the loins the donkey was trespassing in Jones's field.—Cross-examined by Mr. Jones: I have no ill feeling against the defendant; I don't complain that they have enclosed a piece of ground of mine; he has called me a thief; I am angry with him for that; I have no manure on their land; we have no dispute about a piece of land they haye threatened to summon me; it is about 40 yards from'where I stood; there are no trees between my house and where the donkey was; I did not go to Owen's till he sent for me j I did not inform about the donkey; I do not know how beatin- with a stick would burst his bladder; I believe the donkey did not die of hard work or 8t!o,rva.tion; can't tell you how Ion0- the donkey was out grazing after he was beaten; the stick was larger than my wrist; did not see the stick after the donkey was beaten,Re-examined by Mr. Davies I am quite satisfied in my mmd tl)l1,t the donkey dIed from the injuries received.-Thomas Jenkins sjiid I am a collier j I went for Mr. Oweu to see Jones to pay for the donkey j he said, "I have done nothing to the donkey, if I had I should pay for it directly; he said so in Welsh.—Cross-examined by Mr. Jones I understood him to mean by saying so that he had not touched the donkey at tll,-By Mr. Roberts His mother told me she should require Q\yeti to come and pay for the grass the donkey had eaten when trespasses on their land.—Mr. Jones, in reply- ing on the Pase, said that there existed an ill-feeling between the defendant's mother and the witness Walters, owing to a piece of land that had been enclosed by defendant, in the alterations made for present railway; he would show aiso that the donkey died fi'Mn old age and hard work, and that seven days after the time of the alleged cruelty it was found grazing on the ijjll —Charles Walters stated that Mr. Jones and Walters (his brother) were very bad frieq-ds; they were quarrelling almost every day; it was above 50 yards from his door to the place where the donkey was; he was of opinion he could nut see from there: the donkey he knew very well; ho would not give more than 5s. for "y Mr. Davies: There is no love lost between me and my brocuor i don't know on waose nart tae ill-feeling is—on Jones's or my brother's; I will swear t iev c.iul-1 not see from hi? house doof.—Wfllia:n Daniel said he kncJw t le donkey in question, and ae appeared to him to be D -ettv nearly worked down; he saw the donkey on the road, STi/axing tnree f]ays after he had been beaten.-Re-exammed by Mr. Davies I M'ill s^year I saw the donkey eat on tne day I saw him beaten.Ann Jones, mqtiier of the defendant, stated that wnen the defendant went out that morning lie had a small yellow stick in his hand, about the me of the handle of an umbrella; he came back with the same stick m his hand, and admitted having beaten the donkey out of the field with the stick.—The case having been heard thus far was adjourned until next court day, for the attendance of Mr. Henry Llewellyn, veterÎïmry surgeon, who would speak to the nature and cause of the bruises sustained by the animal, and whether those bruises were the cause of death. STEALING COAL.—John Itoldng\ and William Itching were charged with having stolen a quantity of coal, of the value of 4d., the property of Messrs. Bailey. The defendants admitted the offence, stating that they were working in a wet place, and did not think it any harm to take a lump of coal to dry them- selves. They promised not to offend in a similar manner a second time. They did net think they had an "allowance." The Bench ordered them to pay the costs, stating that they were very loth to send lads to prison, as it would be ruining them for life. John Jones, Beaufort, miner, was charged by David Davenall with having stolen a quantity of coal, the property of Mr. Bailey. Defendant admitted the offence, and having been fined in the office for a similar offence, the Bench, on his promising to amend his conduct, ordered him to pay the costs, 15s. STEALING GRASS.—Mary Leary was charged by Thomas Probert with having stolen a quantity of hay, the value of 5s., on the 15th of May. Mr. Evans, solicitor, defended. Defendant admitted three former convictions. -The complainant was crossing the Colt-cae, when he saw the defendant coming from Mr. Miles's land with a quantity of grass tied up in a sheet for the purpose of making beds.—Cross-examined by Mr. Evans: The and belongs to Mr. Myles, who leases it from the Duke of Beaufort; did not see Michael Reardon at the place; the woman did not tell me the boy was there; I saw her take the gTass; I waited for her to finish picking the grass; she told me she had got the grass from Llangynider.—The defence was that the defendant picked the grass not out of the enclosure alluded to, but outside the fence, and from the land of the Duke of Beaufort.-Michael Reardon, a lad about 13 years of age, stated that he was not working on the day in question, and going up the mountain he saw the woman, Leary, picking the grass from the land outside the fence; he saw the complainant there; he helped the load on her head, and afterwards saw Probert come up to her; he could swear positively all that grass was gathered on the outside of the fences.—The Bench fined the defendant 20s. and Ss. costs, telling her that if she came again they would send her to prison for three months, without the option of paying a fine; in default of payment of the fine and costs in this case, one month's im- prisonment. Defendant preferred imprisonment to paying the money, but thought better of it before the court rose. DIWXK, &O.—Thomas Harris, charged with having been drunk and riotous, did not appear; the case had been repeatedly adjourned for the production of the evidence pro and con. The case complained of was alleged to have been committed on the 12tli of April. Sarah Vaughan appeared, and stated that the defendant was drunk, and made a disturbance. Mr. G. S. Davies defended. The Bcnch imposed a penalty of 5s., which with the costs amounted to 22s. in default of payment, one month's imprisonment. ADJOURNED CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS AGAINST A BREWER'S TRAVELLER: HARD SWEARING. Thomas Davies, Merthyr, was charged with having been drunk and riotous, on the 17th ultimo. The case was adjourned from the last court day, in order to allow an opportunity for the pro- duction of additional evidence for the prosecution. Mr. G. S. Davies, solicitor, Crickhowell, appeared for the defence. A summons had been issued against Mary Jones, the landlady of Mount Pleasant Inn, for supplying drink to the defendant, and the Bench decided on hearing the charge against her first, and allowing their decision in the charge against Davies to be ruled by that against her. In addition to the evidence given at the last court day, P.C. Cole stated that on the 17th ultimo he saw the landlady of the Mount Pleasant Inn supply Thomas Davies with spirits; he told her he would summon her for so doing, as the man Davies was in a drunken state; she told him that he was drunk and that he would not go away until he had something to drink; he was clearly of opinion that Davies was drunk. Cross-examined by Mr. Davies There was no one present when.she said he was drunk; it was in her house she said so; there were a great many people round when I was talking to Davies; have no doubt Davies was drank did not hear anyone say that he had better go to the station and let the sergeant see if Davies was drunk; Davies followed me to the station voluntarily; he rode fast; he galloped; I swear that the sergeant said Davies was drunk; Davies did not stay long enough to hear the sergeant say so; I saw Davies after he had left the police-station at Mount Pleasant; I heard no one say, "Do not annoy the man; it is his usual way." By Mr. Roberts: He was supplied with liquor in the street, not in the house. The Bench here had a discussion whether the defendant ren- dered herself amenable to the law by supplying1 drink to Davies in the street; the Clerk thought net, and the case was accordingly adjourned in order that an opinion might be obtained on the subject. The case against Davies for drunkenness was then proceeded with. John Kennedy stated that on the 7th of May he was coming down by the Mount Pleasant Inn; Mr. Davies was talking to the man at the door; this was between eight and nine at night; one of the horse's feet was on the pavement, and the other three off; the fore-foot was on the pavement; the policeman then came up and said, "Please to take the horse off the pavement;" and Davies then said he was an outrider from Merthyr; and the policeman then asked him his name; Davies then begun to use bad language; he gave his right name, when asked for it; the policeman then said, "You will have to pay for this again;" Davies then said, "Take me," and the policeman said he would not; Air. Davies said, "I am doing business with John Jones, and you have no right to insult mehe then called for a glass of brandy and water, and after he had drunk it he rode down to the police-station, and I went and stood by the comer of the King's Head; I could not hear what took place at the station; Mr. Davies rode slowly, and not fast; he was trotting; I saw Davies go back to the Mount Pleasant, and begin to talk with John Jones; he did not drink anything the second time; he then rode away steadily; I consider he was not drunk. Mr. Roberts: Have you been talking to anybody about this affair .'—Yes, sir. Did you tell anybody Davies was drunk?-No, sir. On your oath !—No, sir. You told some one he used foul language ?-Yes, sir. You never told anyone Davies was drunk?-No, sir. You are sure of that!—Yes, sir. Mr. Davies objected to such questions being asked. Mr. Roberts contended that the Bench had a right to ask questions to test the witness's credibility. The Clerk: You never said to anyone that he was in a beastly state of drunkenness ?-N 0, sir. Sergeant Joseph said: The :first time I saw John Kennedy respecting the matter was on Sunday last; I asked him what state Davies was in on that occasion; he told me the language he used, and said that Mr. Davies was either" drunk or mad;" he called on me yesterday evening, and said in the presence of one of the constables that Mr. Davies was very drunk that night," and that he would tell all about it as it was fair that the rich should be punished as well as the poor; he further said that if a man named Lankey came to give evidence he would object to it, as he was not there and got his information from him (witness). Mr. Roberts (to Kennedy): The simple question now is, have you been telling a falsehood or not?-If I did say it, I fairly forgot it. Were you here last night at all 7-1 was, sir. Then you can't forget it ?—Yes, indeed, sir. I fairly forgot it. I wish to do justice. Do you remember it now ?—Yes, sir. It is all true, is it then 7-1 suppose it is, sir. Do you often come here to give evidence?-No, sir, I don't practice that much. Well, you have done very well, and I hope you won't come here again. Sergeant Joseph, cross-examined by Mr. Davies: I asked Mr. Jones, the druggist, what he knew about the case; did not recollect him saying that if he came to give evidence he would give it in favour of Mr. Davies. P.C. Oram stated that on the 7th instant, while eating his supper, he heard a tremendous noise in the street; the sergeant and himself went to the door and opened it, and by the time they had opened the door Cole came in, and the defendant rode down behind him; he came to the door, turned his horse round, and went back up the street; from his appearance he was very drunk. Isaac Parker stated that Mr. Davies was drunk on the night in question; Mr. Davies was generally a very good horseman, but he was not a good horseman that night; he said he would have a glass of brandy and water, and that the policeman could put it in his report book; on this occasion defendant was rolling about like a ship in a stress." Other witnesses were called to prove the drunkenness. Mr. Henry Bailey remarked that defendant probably was a little in drink, but he moved off when requested by the police, and he was not in such a state as to justify his being summoned. Sergeant Joseph said the language defendant made use of was very disgraceful. Mr. Henry Bailey: But lie is not brought up for using bad language. Sergeant Joseph said the bad language partly constituted the riotous behaviour with which the defendant was charged. If any lady or female had passed at the time they must have felt highly insulted. Mr. Davies had about a dozen witnesses to disprove the drunkenness. The Bench fined the defendant 40s. and costs amounting, in all to £4, the Bench remarking that had the case not been brought forward it would have been a lack of duty on the part of the police.

CRICKHOWELL.

PETTY SESSIONS, FRIDAY, MAY…

TREDEGAR.

MERTHYR.

PAUPER REMOVAL EXPENSES.