The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

THE TENURE AND TAXATION OF LAND. The following is a paper read by Mr Owen Price to the Llanidloes Farmers' Club, reported in the COUNTY TIMES of last week:—We have it recorded in the Bible that Cain and Abel at a very early period in the history of the world were both engaged in agricultural pursuits, and later on we find Abraham and Lot in possession of large tracts of land, and their shepherds quarrelling for the best, pastures for their flocks. The same spirit still exists to a large extent on the Welsh mountains, and very often quarrels and disputes take place which are not so promptly and honourably settled as in the case of the two Patriarchs. We find that the Romans enacted a code of rules called the Laws of the Twelve Tables," under which one half of the inhabitants of each district were to be engaged in the cultivation of the land alternately, whilst the other half were engaged in war. It is remarkable that th" Romans never lost any ground that they had acquired by conquest. Agriculture and war being their only occupations their armies were bodies of husbandmen, who settled on the lands they had conquered, and every husbandman was necessarily a warrior. A great amount of obscurity prevails as to the manner in which landed property was held in England previous to the Roman Conquest. Agriculture had been introduced by the Gauls, who had crossed over from France, and taking possession of unoccupied lands, were able to cultivate them successfully, and thus in- structed the native Britons in the art. This, ac- cording to Ca>?ar, was about a hundred years before he arrived in the country. The Romans were skilled in husbandry, and effected great improvements, so that large quantities of corn and wool were exported annually to the Continent. It is evident, that they did not dispossess the natives of their lands, but rather, by assisting them to cultivate those lands according to their own methods, conferred a benefit upon them. This state of things continued until the year 408 of the Christian era, when the Roman Emperor, finding that the troubles of his empire at home rendered it impossible for him to govern so distant a province, collected a large army of Romans and Britons; and with them abandoned the island." Soon after this the Picts and Scots ravaged the country without mercy. In vain did the natives implore aid from the Romans. They turned their eyes to the Saxons, who, about the middle of the sixth century, landed in England, and having quickly driven the Picts and Scots back to their own country, they subdued and nearly ex- terminated the Britons and their laws and peculiar customs, and at different intervals established the seven independent kingdoms of the "Saxon Heirarchy." The few remaining inhabitant natives that escaped the cruelty of the Saxons retired into Wales, where necessity compelled them to practice the cultivation of the land. It appears that there was not much progress made during those trouble- some times, although the land was divided by the Arglo-S&xons into large estates and faims. Yet the most remarkable arrangement of the land of England was made under the reign of Alfred the Great towards the end of the ninth century. He divided the whole country into small sections, called takings, the management of each division being vested in all the inhabitants paying "scot and lot." This wise and great Prince established an excellent, complete, and efficient system of internal policy. These takings represented something similar to the parishes at present, and eventually so many titlings were united into one shire, and the country was divided into so many shires aa now exist. During the succeeding centuries various alterations and improvements were made respecting ownership and occupation of land, rendering the tenants more secure in the improved cultivation of their farms. Long leases were generally given in Scotland and many parts of England towards the end of the last and the beginning of the present century, but at present tenants are not so anxious to accept leases, and it appears to me that if an Agricultural Holdings Act was passed under which every tenant would receive compensation for the unexhausted value of all improvements made by him, it would be far preferable to any lease. It so happens that under a lease the tenant expends a large sum of money in improving his farm for the first portion of his tenancy, and during the last years of his leaso most if not all the improvements are taken out leaving the farm at the expiration of the lease in its original state (,f deterioration. A system of this kind must be condemned as wasteful, and it, should be our aim and endeavour to establish a system of tenure of land, under which deterioration would be prevented and the occupiers would be encouraged to improve their farms, thus increasing the yield of the soil and bringing more commodities into the market, not only for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the nation at large. In certain parts of the country compensation was given under local customs, but these customs differ in almost every county, and in 1875 an Agricultural Holdings Act was passed through Parliament, but it was only of a permissive nature and was neither a complete or satisfactory solution of the question. A Select Committee was appointed by the House of Commons in 1848 to investigate and report upon the matter. The Central Chamber of Agriculture made a most complete and exhaustive report on the customs prevalent throughout England in 1874, and many attempts were made in the years 1872, 1873, and 1874 to pass measures dealing with this question, and as a result the Act of 1875 was placed on the Statute Book. But it was soon found that the original customs existing were far better in the interests of the tenants than this abortive measure. Very soon after the Act was passed there were proposals made to amend it and many bills were brought forward by different members to alter and improve the Act of 1875, and in 1882 a Royal Com- mission was appointed to enquire and report on that subject. In the Session of 1883 another Agricul- tural Holdings Act was passed of a compulsory nature, giving the tenant more compensation for improvements. Under this Act the landlord must give his consent to many improvements before the tenant can claim the unexhausted value of such improvements at the determination of his tenancy, and even under this Act the tenant is not as well off as he is under the general custom of the country. Its machinery is also somewhat cumber- some and expensive, and as a result the Act has not been generally adopted. In 1893 two Commissions were appointed by Parliament to inquire into the subject of agricultural depression—the Welsh Land Commission and the English Land Commission. Both the Commissions were occupied for a long time in takiner evidence, and both have at last pub- lished voluminous reports and recommendations upon the matter. When giving evidence before these two Commissions I advocated an amendment of the Agricultural Holdings Act giving compensa- tion to the tenant for several improvements for which he is not entitled to anything under the present Act without the landlord's consent, such as laying down land to permanent pasture, works of irrigation, or works for the supply of water for agricultural or domestic purposes, making of per- manent fences, weiring against floods, and the reclamation of waste land, also drainage. I also expressed an opinion that every tenant is fairly entitled to compensation for keeping the land up to a high standard of excellence, and that general improvements, producing good heart and high farming should be allowed for on leaving, and that the landlord should he amply protected against a bad tenant. It is also my opinion that valua- tions under the Act, should be left in the hands of one experienced man in each county, which would save expense, and would be more satisfactory than under the present Act, such single arbitrator to be appointed by the County Council or the Board of Agriculture. The report of the Welsh Land Com- mission embraces similar recommendations, re- specting such improvements, and on that point the Commissioners are all unanimous. But on the question of judicious rents there was a very wide divergence of opinion amongst the witnesses, and the Commissioners have issued a majority and a minority report, the former recommending the adoption of a land court and the latter objecting to such a course. In my opinion it would be a fatal mistake to establish any system that would tend to destroy the present relations of landlord and tenant. Any interest the landlord may feel in his? tenant's undertaking, and any sympathy and kind- ness would be neutralised by the effect of a system carried out more or less on commercial lines. There would also be the certainty of the employment of lawyers and others under the court, which would mean a considerable amount of expense which would have to be paid by some of the parties concerned. The condition of Ire- land has been deplorable on account of the great sub-division of the land and the absence of the owners from the island, and we should pause before committing a mistake which might create a similar state of things. No doubt the tenants were better off on the large estates of this country. Abatements and permanent reduc- tions have been made to a large extent on these large estates during the last severe depiession, and the tenant feels a sense of security which is not felt by the tenant of tbip small landowner, and it will be an evil day for the tenant farmers of England and Wales when the law of primogeniture and entail is altered and the land sub-divided similar to Ireland and France at the present day. The far- mers have been somewhat handicapped by the large increase in the price of labour within the last 30 years, and the migration of large numbers of agricultural labourers to the mining districts, more particularly from the adjacent counties. The occupiers of land are compelled to use machinery for cutting and collecting their crops, and for other work. To meet this evil it would be very desirable that more labourers' cottages were built in con- venient places on all large farms. Formerly there were a great number of cottages in almost every county, but in Breconshire about three-fourths of these cottages have been allowed to tumble down, and have not been rebuilt. This is a great mistake and it would be a benefit to the owners and occu- piers of land if comfortable workmen's cottages were built with gardens attached. Another matter which, in my opinion, has been carried rather too far, is the large consolidation of the farms. Although I believe it is most essential that we should have large farms and small farms intermixed, still it has been too much the custom in some coun- ties to let two or more farms to one tenant, in many cases allowing the buildings to fall in decay. In the course of time it will be found a false policy, and the amount of expense that would be incurred by the landlord in repairing such farm buildings will eventually be balanced by a reduction in the rent on account of the permanent deterioration of the land through being allowed to run out of cultivation. TAXATION. The Land Tax is ,i very irregular charge upon the land, and in some parishes in England ran up to four shillings in the pound until relief was granted in the Finance Act of 1896, under which the tax is not to exceed one shilling in the pound in any parish. Fortunately in Wales the amount, as a rule, is under sixpence in the pound, and in many cases it has been redeemed by the owners. The Finance Act of last year exonerates entirely the owners of property who are exempted from the pay nent of Income Tax, from the payment of land tax, and all those persons whose income does not exceed C400 per annum are allowed one-half of the amount of their Land Tax under the same Act. This tax was established in 1692, and at that time until 1798 it was charged on personal as well as real property, and the report of the English Land Commission, page eight, states that The Land Tax on persoualty was repealed in the year 1833." It is only by way of surmise, possible to come to any conclusion, as to why the tax on personal estate was such a failure. The reison seems to have been that the land tax act provided no adequate machinery for its assessment" The report further eays that it is a tax full of inequalities. There is a great diversity of practice with regard to its colleotion, and it operates with peculiar unfairness on the agricultural interests in the parts of the country in which the depression is most severe." On some large estates this tax is paid by the landlord, but on small properties it is generally paid by the tenant. The abatements allowed this year have tendency to render the incidence of this tax still more complicated, and it would be a great boon to the farming community if the Government would devise some means to abolish it altogether. The School Board rate is a heavy charga on the farmer in many parishes. The average rate in all districts where boards are formed amounts to eight-pence in the pound. The rate varies from two-pence in the pound to two shillings in the pound, and even more in some few instances. There are 292 parishes in England and Wales where the rate exceeds one shilling in the pound. This is a charge of a national character, and should not be levied by a local rate, and the Government has practically acknowledged that such is the case, by granting contributions to all rural school boards under the Agricultural Rating Act. The Parish Council rate is quite a fresh in.position, and no allowance is made towards it in the act just mentioned. The expenses fall entirely on the parishes where the improvements are effected. The highway and sanitary rates are administered by the District Councils. The average highway rate for the United Kingdom for the past year was 6;d in the C, and the sanitary rate Id in the R, excluding those towns and villages where sewerage works and a water supply have been pro- vided, and whore separate rates are made. The land within those separte areas only pay one-fourth of the amount of the rate. Contributions are also received towards these rates from the Treasury under the Agricultural Rating Act. The County Council rate is expended on the maintenance of the police, lunatic asylums, main roads, county bridges, technical education <1nd other payments, towards which the councils receive a largo amount by sub- ventions from Imperial tax"8, as well as a share under the Agricultural Rating Act, for the past two years. The average rate of the various County Councils for the past threfJ years has been about 6d in the i. We come next to the poor rate as ex- pended IIv the Board of Guardians, in which a con- siderable reduction has heon made within tho present cell tnry, it appears from statistics which were collected by the English Land Commission that the average of the poor rate in 1893 was 9Jd per £ in 142 unions in England and Wales, whereas the poor rate in those unions in 1863 amounted to Is 4d in the X, and the same rate in the year 1803 reached the high sum of 3s 4d in the C. Taking the rural unions of the country there seems to have an average reduction in this rate of something like 24 per cent. within the last 50 years. No doubt some of this falling off is accounted for by the fact that subventions are received by the guardians equal to 3d in she £ on the rateable value of the union, the contributions under the Agricultural Rating Act have also reduced this rnto by about one-third. Under the Act 43, Elizabeth, which was the first general act dealing with the relief of the poor, it was enacted that all pprSOll8 should be called upon to contribute according to their circumstances," and it seems that personal property continually contributed towards the poor rate, until it was exempted from such payments by an act passed in 1840, and it is mentioned that the reason why they are not now so rated is not because Parliament has decided that they ought not in equity to be rated, but merely because of the inconvenience which was found in practice to arise from rating them locally. This act was made an annual act, pending the consideration of the whole question of local taxation, on which question a commission is now sitting. It is evident in my opinion that poverty is a national calamity, and ought to be supported by a national rate, and I maintain that the poor rate should be charged on all property, whether real or personal, and that every person should pay according to his means such was the contention of a great number of the witnesses that appeared before the last land com- mission, and the report and recommendation of the Land Commissioners for England entirely confirm the equity of such a proposal. From a table in their report the annual value of rateable land in the United Kingdom is X49,918,740, and the annual value of other rateable property, X160,640,835, or a little more than three times as much as the value of the landed property, while the annual value of properties that do not contribute to local rates amount to £ 228.839.471, or in other words, more than the value of land and all other property con- tributing to local rates at present. So that if every person in the Kingdom contributed equally according to his means towards all local rates, they would be practically reduced to one-half their pre- sent amount. The report says "We come next to the burdens imposed by direct local taxation, which we have shown falls exclusively on less than one- half of the property of the country, and on that por- tion of property which has hitherto contributed the largest share to Imperial Taxation." "We recognise the difficulty of suddenly rectifying the position of rateable and unrateable properties, in the matter of imperial and local taxation, in consequence of the magnitude of the financial interests involved. But this difficulty demonstrates the magnitude of the inequality at present existing in the taxation of these properties, an inequality which must increase as local taxation increases, as it is clear that it w/!I continue to do, unless very substantial relief is given to the local rates." Acting on the recom- mendation of this report the Government con- sidered the question, but taking in view the magnitude of the financial interests that are involved in the question," they fought shy of deal- ing with the matter as a whole, but brought forward and passed the Agricultural Rating Act, under which all agricultural land only contributes one- half of its value towards most of the local rates for five years from the date it was passed, which Act is thoroughly equitable as far as landed property is concerned, but the owners r.nd occupiers of house property are fairly entitled to consideration, and other properties assessable to local rates have a just claim to the equalisation of their rates on the same principle, atrd it is to be hoped that the re- commendation of the Local Taxation Commission will point out some method under which our legislators may settle this wide and important sub. ject on a basis that will be fair and equitable to all parties concerned. For myself I believe the only method to be adopted is that all taxes of a national character, such as the poor rate, the cost of the police, lunatic asylums, education rates, and also road rates, as the roads are used by all her Majesty's subjects, should be levied on the income tax prin. ciple, without any exceptions, of course. The tithe is another payment on the land more in the nature of a rent charge, it bears very unevenly and irregularly ru different farms, the valuations for its commutations having been made almost entirely on land that was under tillage, whilst meadows and permanent pasture escape with a very small charge; on many mountain farms the tithe does not exceed 4d an acre, whilst on mixed farms it runs from Is to 28 an acre, and on grain farms it runs to double that figure, or even more in some cases. I have endeavoured to place the question before yon in a fair and reasonable manner, what with foreign competition and o her things, the occupation of the farmer demands more security in order to enable him to adopt an improved system of farming, thus producing a greater number of young stock, and forcing the same to maturity, so as to prepare them ready for the market at an early date.

FORDEN BOARD OF GUARDIANS. WEDNESDAY. Present: The Rev L J Lee (chairman), presiding, Mr E R James (vice-chairman), the Rev J Sawer. Messrs W Pritchard, F Langford, T Rogers, J P Jones, J Edwards, J Davies, J H Stephens, J Whettal, 10: Hughes, W Rogers, E Davies, R Jones (Churchstoke), T S Pryce, W P Jones, R Jones (Aston), D Gittins, J Holloway, John Jones, T I Hotchkiss, D Jones, W Edwards, George Davies, C Morris, and J D Howells, with Mr J E Tomley (deputy clerk). THE ESTIMATE. The estimate of tho Common Charges of the Union for the half year ending Michaelmas 1899. was presented as follows:—Inmaintenance (includ- ing school fees) £430, out-relief £550, lunatics £390, salaries £410, officers rations £100, extra medical fees £10, vaccination expenses £80, registration £30, loan £153. other charges JE407, contingencies £300, total £2,860. The credits included receipts by the Collector for stone and other accounts, and for maintenance of Matron's children £160, grant under Agricultural Rates Act JE375, and deductions under Superannuation Act £15, leaving £2,310 to be raised. The expenditure by the school attendance committee was estimated to amount to £31108 from which was to be deducted JE9 12s 8d, the grant under the Agricultural Rates Act, leaving £21 17s 4d to be raised.—The estimates were adopted. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The relatives of tho late Mr R Scotson, Caethro, wrote acknowledging the receipt of the vote of conoolence which the Board recently accorded tho family in their bereavement. THE RECEPTION OF LUNATICS. The Local Government Board wrote .stating that they sanctioned the alterations which the Guardians proposed to make with a view to the reception of lunatics from Bicton. and they further assented to the expenditure of a sum not exceeding JE110 upon the works in question, the proposed wards not to be occupied before the Lunacy Commissioners, and the Local Government Board had prescribed regulations in pursuance of section 26 of the Lunacy Act. THE APPOINTMENT OF A RELIEVING OFFICER FOR WORTHEN DISTRICT. The above appointment came up for consideration, the five candidates selected at the last meeting presenting themselves before the Board. They were: D R Jones, Heniarth Mill, Llanfair; R D Thomas, Abermule; W T Jones, Gungrog Cottage, Welshpool; E W Tudor, Chirbury; and P E Vaughan, Worthen.—Each candidate was proposed and seconded with the exception of Mr Vaughan.— Eventually the choice lay between Messrs William Thomas Jones and E W Tudor, the former being elected by a majority of 8.—The successful applicant having been informed of the result of the election returned thanks, aud the Board rose.

GUILSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL. To the Editor of the COUNTY Timims. Sir,—In the COUNTY TIMES of March 4th it ia stated that a letter was read from the Vicar sug- gesting that a list of the charities distributed should be printed, etc." May I be allowed to say that so far from suggesting anything of the kind, I wrote to the Chairman strongly deprecating the publication of the names of those who received the charities. I said that to do so would be hurtful to the feelings of the poor, and would serve no good purpose. The suggestion that I did make was that, as the Council were not satisfied with the present method of distribution, blank forms should be sup- plied to the members to be filled up with suitable names for the guidance of the Churchwardens. This, as will be seen, is a very different proposal from that passed by the Council.—Yours truly, F. H. HAWKINS. The Vicarage, Guilsfield.

4. THE EISTEDDFOD. To the Editor of the COUNTY TIMES. Sir,—Is it possible that there can be anyone so blind and narrow minded in the district of Caereinion as the one whocalls himself Caereinioo Farmer ?" It seems that there are some yet. It can be said about them, that they are happy, acoording to their own opinion, even in the Slough of despond.' Like a little bird between the bars of a cage, knowing nothing about the pleasure of flying in the open and airy chambers of the green and leafy trees. There are many to-day in Wales who have been horny handed sons of toil," now like shining stars. Yes, there are young people in the district of Caereinion, who a few years ago used to spend their leisure hours on the roadsides, in the villages, and public bouses. But now they have taken to study music, poetry, etc., have become total abstainers, and are willing and good workers in the Church of God. All this is due to the Literary meetings and Eistedfodau held in the neighbourhood. No, the Eistedfod is not a waste of time, it partakes not of the nature of gambling, neither does it tend to inmorality more than any other movement or meeting. If we take those reasons given by Careinion Farmer for giving up the Eistedfod, we may also give up the festivals, prayer and preaching meetings. Then, what would become of the Welsh nation ? R. G.

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MONTGOMERYSHIRE CHARITIES ENQUIRY. MOCHDRE AND PENSTROWED. The Assistant Charity Commissioner (Mr T. Marchant Williams) sat at the Muchdre National School, on Monda\, to enquire into the charities of the parishes of Mochdre and Penstrowed. There were present the Vicar (the Rev D. Lewis), Messrs John Leach, J. G. Inglis, Richard Morgan, aud David Tilslev (clerk to the Parish Council).-Tho Vicar, replying to the Commissioner, said there were no charities connected with any of the religious denominations in the parish. The National School was built in 1874 on glebe land by voluntary contributions, and the site was conveyed to the Archdeacon of the County and the deeds were now at the Diocesan Registry, St. Asaph.— The Commissioner: Why did you not write for them ? The Vicar I did not think it necessary.— The Commissioner But you had notice P-Tiie Vicar said he had brought with him all documents in his possession. He had only been in Mochdre five years, and had never seen the deeds of the school. He had not discovered any charity belong- ing to Mochdre.—The Commissioner said the school was a charity.-Al. John Leach said there was a British School in the parish, held in the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, for which the committee of the school paid the nominal rent of Is per annum.— The Commissioner: I suppose that goes towards the support of the ministry (Iaughter).- Mr Leach Yes.-The Commissioner said the rent of a school- room attached to a Nonconformist Chapel was usually substantial, and was paid to the trustees for the purposes of carrying on the chapel.-The Vicar said there were two other chapels in the parish-a Wesleyan and a Baptist-but so far as he knew no charity was attached to either of them. There were no church lands independent of glebe latids.-The Commissioner: Yon have poor in the parish? The Vicar: Yes.—The Commissioner: But they have not been thought much of in the past ? The Vicar: I am afraid not.— Replying to further questions, the Vicar said the population of the parish was 421. The Vicar of Mochdre owned 166 acres of land in the parish it was Church property and part of his income.—Referring to the existence of the two schools, in so small a parish, the Commissioner said it was a funny thing that there should be two such schools. It was a waste of teaching power.—The Vicar said one school in the parish would be self-supporting, as it was they lost zC25 a year because neither school had the full number of scholars.—The enquiry then closed. ABERHAFESP. Mr T. Marohant Williams sat at Aberhafesp on Tuesday. There were present the Vicar (the Rev T. Harries, the Rev Powell Williams (Congrega- tional minister), Mr Thomas Evans (Chairman of the Parish Council), Mr Evan Rees (schoolmaster). -The Vicar produced the deeds of the National School.—The Rev Powell Williams said there were two Congregational Chapels in the parish, Bwlch. yffridd and Bethel. Connected with the former was a manse and a schoolroom, built subsequent to the original chapel, on land given by Lord Sudeley, which had never been legally transferred, and for which no rent had ever been paid. The manse was built about 30 years ago.-Py the Commissioner He had deeds onlr for the chapels. He paid a nominal rent for the manse to the chapel trustees. —The Commissioner: Then if you wanted to sell it you could not. Mr Williams No.—The school. room was erected about 8 years ago. He had in his possession a letter from Lord Sudeley present- ing the site.-By the Commissioner: The chapel had been in existence over 100 years. Lord Sudeley always dealt generously with Nonconformist chapels and gave them land when they wanted it for any purpose.—Mr Scott Owen, the agent to the estate, told them there was no objection to transferr- ing the site if they considered the expense would justifiy the proceeding.- By the Commissioner He th>;u^ht that a sum of money, about zC60, was left some years since, absolutely to the church, by an old deacon named John James. He did not know the exact terms of the will, but he believed a portion was devoted to the erection of the manse. —The Commissioner said be would have to procure a copy of the will.—Mr Williams said the Bethel chapel was the property of the Mother Church.— Replying to the Commissioner, Mr Williams said there was a Baptist chapel and a Wesleyan chapel, but no Methodist chapel. To the Baptist chapel was attached a burying ground. The Commissioner said there were very few records of charities in the parish. In 1856 a letter was addressed to the Rector, a Mr Davies, asking for particulars of any charities, and Mr Davies repli- ed that there were no charities, but in 1857 a letter was received at the Charity Commission from the churchwardens and overseers of the parish stating that they bad perused the rate books and found that the whole of the charity money, both interest and principal, had been distributed among the poor, so that none remained.—Mr Rees said he had been unable to discover records of any existing charities. The records of the parish were produced, and the Commissioner, reading from these, said that he noticed that on the 29th February of each year £ 1 5s, left by Madame Warren or Waring, was to be distributed among the poor of the parish. The last recorded date of this charity was 1837, when 20 poor people received sums ranging from 3s to la. Evidently the charity had become lost. On the 21st April, 1760, he noticed that the churchwardens and the overseers of the poor met in the vestry to consider the best means to make up the sum of £50, I due to the parish as charity money, and loaned out to one Evan Vaughan, gentleman, Newtown who had failed.—The meeting considered it incumbent upon them to make up the loss, and arrangements were made for its use to the benefit of the poor by a proper reduction in the rate. One of the trustees, Samuel Morgan, considering that as he was at fault in lending the morey out without the consent of the parish, agreed to allow any person in the parish who bad any common land in their possession, for the sake of peace, to retain that land for a certain period of years. The Commissioner: That is how property is lost, lent on promissory notes. Mr Rees said the last entry concerning the charity was made in 1792. Mr Poweli Williams said the conjecture of some of the elder members was that the money wa<* absorbed in the fund raised for the erection of the school.— It was also mentioned that on February 6th, 1797, H. Proctor made a gift of XZ 2s, which with the sum of 15s interest On a charity of 215 was dis- tributed to decayed housekeepers.—The Commis- sioner said there was a rumour current that the sum of JE8 6s 8d was to be paid out of the general purposes of the Aberhafesp estate to the National School Fund. He noticed that the heir paid JE8 6s 8d up to 1884.-The Vicar: Yes, the subscrip- tion was that amount.—The Commissioner: Why did you reduce it ?—The Vicar I do not know.—The Commissioner: Are you sure it was not to be paid as a rent charge ?— The Vicar said it was always paid as a subscription.—The Commissioner said in 1884 it fell to £ 6 5s, and in 1895 to JE3 3s, the sum paid now.—The Commissioner, after a few remarks, said he would write to the owner of the estate, Mr E. B. Proctor, Carno.— Mr Rees said Lord Sudeley paid £ 8 6s 8d to the fund.—Mr Williams said he believed Lord Sndeley and the owner of the estate left the money conditionally that the parish should I provide a similar sum.—The Commissioner: That is quite possible.—The inquiry then closed. LLANDINAM. The enquiry into the charities or the parish of Llandinam was held on Wednesday at the Village Hall. In addition to the Commissioner, there were present the Revs Morgan Jones (R.D.), E. O. Jones (Llanidloes), D. Lloyd Jones (Llandinarn), Professor Parry, Messrs E. Jones (Trewythen), John Owen (Llandinarn Hall), R. Griffiths (Ffinnant.), Dr. Beddoes (Aberystwyth), Messrs Thomas Edmunds (district surveyor) E. Savage, James Hamer (Llan. dinam Hall), H. E. Rees (Lion Hotel), R. Kinsey (Red House), R. Pryce Griffiths (Clerk to the Parish Council), and John Meddins (Cwmllwydion). The Commissioner said the last inquiry was held in 1834. Among his files he found a copy of the benefactions tables erected in the church. On a visit to the church that morning be found that the I table was not there, which was a great pity. It ought to be replaced, so than people might know how many charities were left to the parish, and how many were lost through carelessness. Some one wrote to the Charity Commission some years ago sending a very careful account of the charities, together with a copy of the benefactions table. He was greatly indebted to Mr John Owens for giving him a resume of the charities of the parish, which would facilitate the inquiry very much. The first charity considered was the Consolidated or Pantpoeth Charities made up of several bequests, including £50 by Catherine Lloyd, ClO by Josiah Penry, £10 by John Wilson. and il4 by an un. known donor, in all, according to the report of the last inquiry, amounting to a4. The property was purchased for Cl25, but only zC84 was accounted for. In all probability the bequest amounted to £ 125, but the previous Commissioner could not trace more than JE84. The property produced a yearly rental of £ 16, subject to deductions for repairs, etc. The deeds were formerly in the possession of Mr J. Pryce Dalies (Maesmawr Hall), as one of the trustees. He died in 1896 and the deedshad been, and were now the subject of a correspondence with the solicitors of the estate. The trustees were Mr Mr Edward Jones (Trewythen) and Mr William Pryce (Park), and the charity was distributed by them on the 21st December, aided by the Vicar and others. — Mr Edward Jones said that the charity was distributed jointly with the others. The accounts for the past year were produced by t,be Vicar, who said the number of recipients was 106. 19 —The Commissioner That is a very large number, j nearly the whole of the population, I should think. ] Looking over the accounts he said he noticed that j the highest sum distributed was 8s. He found a 1 fault with them in distributing the charity among f so many, but they would occasiollally find it desir- able and necessary to give one person even a pound or two, which would be a great help. It required I great consideration to draw a distinction between) three and four shillings. He was very glad to find ( the accounts so well kept. It was very seldom he < saw accounts kept so well as those before him. The next charity was that of an nnknoWp donor," described in the report of 1837 as anony- mous rent charge." It related to a rent charge of £ 3 a year upon a farm called Pant, wh'ch the tenant distributed annually subject to decluctiolo for repairs, and gave a list of the recipients to the churchwardens. This by the landlord's (Mr J- Bennett Walker) authority he discontinued in 1893. From papers produced within the last few davs by a former churchwarden it appeared that this ChfllfiI was created under the will, proved on the 6tb October, 1710, of Hannah Hamer, and that varioa? attempts had been made to deprive the parish of its benefits. The case was referred to the Charity Commissioners in 1857 and again in 1883, and oil both occasions the Commissioners advised that pro- ceedings at law should be taken, but this was not acted upon. The case had again been the subject of correspondence with the Charity Commissioner* for the last three years, and in the courso of the enquiry it was found that some 17 acres of common land were allotted to this farm in 1826 for the benefit of the poor of Llandinarn parish. The Com- missioners had now taken proceedings for the restoration of the rent charge free of any deduction* -In the course of the discussion the Commissioner said that within the last month the landlord had paid the sum of t2, which had been handed by the Commissioners to the Attorney-General, in whose hands the case now was.—Mr John Owen' said the trustees were claiming for all arrears since 1895 without deductions.—The Commissioner said, all that was due would be recovered. In regard to the 17 acres of land referred to, the Commissioner said that though the land was given to the trustees for the benefit of the poor, the landlord would saf that he had used it for 30 years as part of hit property and the poor had never claimed it, and the difficulty would be to clear that up. After 12 yeara a charity was irrecoverable, and it struck him that the land would be lost on that account. But they would certainly secure the 93.-111 reply to the Commissioner a member said the landlord always distributed the charity, and in addition supplemented it with a contribution of his own. It was usually distributed on the last day of the year- The Commissioner said the parish would have to write to the Commissioners and they would frame a scheme and appoint trustees. In all probability they would make the owner one of the trustees if the parish did not object. Gabriel Jones's charity consisted of a farm called Rhoswen, from which a rental of CB a year was obtained subject to the usual deductions for repairs, etc. The property now belonged to t,he parish. The trustees were as in the other c). trities, and the money was distributed jointly with the Pantpoeth charity. Thomas Davies's, or the Closffynon charity, appeared, from a case stated in 1857 by the church- wardens and trustees to the Charity Commissioners, to have ceased in 1844. The Commissionsrs advised an action for distress, and from the Parish Vestry it appeared that in 1868 it was decided to levy a rate for the purpose of the law snit, but after con- sultation with a solicitor this intention waS abandoned. The property now belonged to Miss Marsh, and the value of the charity was £ 1.—The Commissioner said it was lost absolutely.—Mr John Owens said if the facts were brought to the notice of the owner she might restore the charity. —The Commissioner said he did not know what the depth of her moral feeling might be. He would write to Miss Marsh, but she was not in any sense liable. Ann Read's Charity of the yearly value of 10s was paid up to 1885, sometimes direct by the then owners of the Plas Dinam estate, sometimes by the agent. There, however, was nothing in the title deeds of the estate to show that it was in any way charged upon the property, and it was believed to, have been an amount left by will by Mrs Ann Read who would apparently have had no title to charge the money on the property.— Evan Phillips's Charity was described as lost in 1838. It had been referred to the Charity Commissioners with iho, other cases in 1857, and they advised a search to be made for the will, etc., but no steop were believed to have been taken.—Within the last few days a cutting from an old newspaper had been placed before the trustees, from which it appeared that under the will of John Blaj'nev of Gwernerin, proved on March 24th, 1752, the Voel Farm, Llan- dinam, was left for ti e purpose, of maintaining a charity school, one of the conditions being that a building should be erected nut more than 1,000 yards from the Church. The case had been referred to a solicitor who was noting for the Commissioners in the Pant Charity, and he considered that it waa lost. The farm now belonged to Major Beadnell.- The Commissioner said all these charities were irredeemably lost. The Commissioner next. enquired as to the sum of £ 100 left by Mrs M. A. Brome, the interest to be devoted to the repair of the school erected in 1853 for the children of poor persons.—The Vicar said that the money had been invested in 2 per cent Consols in the name of the Vicar and the church wardens. The School was closed in 1892 and the dividend had since been paid to the National Provincial Bank. The accrued amount was now £ 33 2s. Id.—The Vicar wanted to know what, they could do with the money, whether it would be lawful to use it in repairing the National School. The old school was now used as a Sunday School. The house had been let at £4 a year and the Vicar had retained the money until he received instructions to its application.-The Com- missioner said the Vicar would have to prepare to clear statement of accounts and forwara it to the Charity Commissioners. Then, if they applied to the Commissioners as to the mode of application, the latter would frame a suitable scheme. Speak- ing as a outsider, he considered that the building sh mid continue to be used as a Sunday school. By a will dated 6th October, 1843, John Griffiths left £ 700, 3 per cent Consolidated Bank Annnties, the interest to be used in the endowment of a National Charity School for the education of 20 boys and 20 girls, in memory of the Morris's of Penybryn and the Benbows of Llandinarn. The amount with arrears of income appears by 1883 to have amounted to 9719 8s Id, which was then in. vested with the official trustees of Charitable Trusts. The half-yearly divided is £10 15s 9d. The school had not been used since 1892 and the dividend had since accumulated at the bank and now amounted to R135 ls9d.—The Commissioners said it was for the parish to decide as to what steps they would take, and they bad an income of something like £ 25 a year, which was a very big sum, and they would have to write to the Charity Commissioners- as to the mode of application. What they should do with the money he did not know. They might use it as a scholarship fund which appeared to be the best thing. The Vicar said he quite approved of that course, and they could not apply it to the school now that it was closed.-The Commissioner said a scholarship of X25 or even two scholarships of X12 108 Od each would be a great boon to the children of the parish. The Commissioners would probably consent to a scheme of that kind and would give the Vicar a voice in the selection of the school. -Replying to Mr Edward Jones as to who should take the initiative in the matter, the Com- missioner said it was open to any two persons in the parish to call the attention of the Charrity Commissioners to it. They would facilitate and. hasten matters by writing that the school was closed and that the mouey had accumulated. None of the Nonconformist Chapels in the parish had any property outside the boundary of the. I parish.—The inquiry then closed. £

FRANK LLOYD'S HORSE SALES. I We have much pleasure in calling our readers* attention to Mr Frank Lloyd's great, Heavy Horse Sales to be held at Wrexham r.ext week, with an entry of over 700. Tuesday's sale will present an interesting event in the competition between 200 heavy town mares and geldings from most of the principal centres of England and Wales for the 15 guinea challenge cup. Several entries will ba forward from Kent and Ireland. Wednesday's sale is set apart for short-legged Welsh wagon horses, light lurry, and vanners, of which there is a prand collection of nearly 250. Friday's sale will comprise a fine selection of 50 shire stallions, 40 shire mares and fillies, 100 unregistered fillies and geldings, and about 40 hunter, hackney, and pony stallions, representatives of most of the lead- ing studs, and combining the blood of such noted sires as Lincolnshire Lad 2nd," "Apostle," Bury Victor Chief," Burv Victor King," Hitchin Conqueror," "Regent 2nd," "Mouacho," "Ercall Wynne," Carbon," Extraordinary," Better Times," "Prince Harold," "Dnusmore Ambassador," Sailoi- Boy," "Lake Commoner," "Kmg Charm- ing, Criterion," etc., etc. Catalogues may be obtained from Mr Frank Lloyd. 4

FORDEN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY. Present: Mr R Jones, Church House (chairman), presiding, Mr E Hughes (vice-chairman), the Rev J Sawer. Messrs W Pritchard, Edward Davies, Thos Rogers, D Davies, John Davies, J H Stephens, R Jones (Pentre), D Howells, G A Kay, J Edwards, John Jones, C Morris, and J Holloway; with Messrs J E Tomley (deputy clerk), W P Hole (surveyor), and W H Pryce Pritchard (sanitarv inspector). VOTE or CONDOLENCE. A letter was received from the Clerk, Mr Charles S. Pryce, asking to be excused from attending the meeting of the Board on account of the death of his son, and requesting that Mr J E Tomley, deputy clerk, should take his place for the day.—On tho motion of Mr R. Jones, seconded by Mr G A Kay, the Board tendered a sincere vote of symprthy with Mr Pryce in his sad bereavement. SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past month he had visited 90 premises, 70 of which he had found to be in a satisfactory sanitary con- dition. Two esses of infections diseases had come under his notice, one of diptheria at Bausley Hill, which was unreported, and ended fatally in June last, and the other a mild case of scarlet fever at Churchstoke. TALBOT ROAD. The Committee appointed to inspect the Talbot Road, Berriew, reported that there were several dangerous places on the side of the road. It was not the proper width as set out in the enclosure Award, viz., 20 feet, it being only 15 feet wide in places. There were a quantity of trees growing on the slope between the road and the river Rhiew, which did much injury and were dangerous to the road. The road was marked in the Award as a private oarriage and public bridle way leading from Berriew village to Newtown and Welshpool main road, and that was set out for the use cf owners and occupiers of the messuages, lands and tenements in Berriew township, and it was directed that this road should be made and supported by the occupiers of land in the township of Berriew. The Com- mittee recommended the appointment of a small committee to confer with Major Corbett-Winder as to the advisability of felling the timber growing between the road and the river Rhiew and fencing the road.—The recommendation of the Committee was accepted.. UNREPORTED CASES. A letter was received from Dr A Bradshaw, in connection with the case of diptheria at Bausley Hill, mentioned in the Sanitary Inspector's report. The writer stated that he had failed to report the case to the Council because he was under the im- pression that the Medical Officer cf Health for the Atcham Union was the proper person to report to. Further the Clerk to the Forden Board had never advised him as to the notification of Infectious Diseases Act being adopied in the Union and had not sent him any notification forms.—Mr E Davies proposed that they write to the Medical Officer of Atcham Union enquiring whether the case had been reported to him by Dr Bradshaw.— Mr G A Kay seconded and it was agreed to,—A letter was also received from Dr J Robinson, Montgomery, apologising to the Council for his failure to report a case of scarlet fever at Abermule, and stating as his reason for not doing so, that he was not certain of the boundary of the district.—Mr T Roarers proposed that they accept Dr Robinson's apology. —Mr David Howells seconded.—Mr T Holloway moved as an amendment that the Council do not accept the excuse on the ground that they were continually receiving excuses of this nature and could no longer tolerate them.—Mr John Davies supported Mr Roger's motion, and said he did not doubt difficulties of this nature would arise until the Notification of Diseases Act came into more workable form. He believed Dr Robinson's excuse was a genuine one and one which they ought to accept.—Mr G A Kay proposed that they write to Dr Robinson saying they trusted such a thing would not occur again.—This was agreed to. INFECTIOUS DISEASES: A PRKVENTATIVE. Mr Edward Davies proposed that they empower their Medical Officer to examine all houses and patients where there was reason to suspect the existence of an infectious disease. In explaining his motion, Mr Davies said that the Notification of Infectious Diseases Act, as adopted by that Council, was a dead letter. Very few cases had been notified and these had in nearly in every case been accidently discovered. The Council had adopted the Act some years ago, and it was time that the doctors residing in their district should know their duty.—Mr G A Kay, while agreeing with Mr Davies as to the necessity of taking proper precautions agair.st the spread of disease, thought it was going too far to empower any medical officer in such a manner. For his own part if any doctor came to his house on such a quest he should be inclined to give it him straight (laughter). In his opinion they had no right to send their Medical Officer to inspect a house merely on the supposition that an infectious disease existed there.—Mr E Hughes seconded Mr Davies's motion.—The Deputy Clerk being referred to as to the legal position of the Council in the matter, suggested that they leave the matter in hands of the Local Government Board.—Mr W Pritchard concurred and proposed that they defer consideration of the question for a month, and that in the meantime the Clerk's sug- gestion be acted upon.—This was agreed to. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Local Govern- ment Board sanctioning the re-appointment of Mr W. H Pritchard as Inspector of Nuisauces. MISCELLANEOUS. The estimate of expenditure for the ensuing year was presented, the amount to be raised being £1196. The estimate was adopted.—Mr T. Rogers called attention to the bad state of the road near Forden Church and a small committee was appointed to investigate the matter. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1898. The following table shows certain statistics of mortality during the year compared with the average for the district in preceding years and for England and Wales for 1898. For details as to causes of, and agHI at death I would refer tc the table at the end of this report. s, Average of 18 England Forden preceding and Wales, R.D. ytars. 1898. Deaths per 1000) (,f population per > 14'5 162 17-6 annum. ) forden 2 Births per 1000 of population per > 24'2 26'8 29'4 annum. )■ Deaths from) zyniotic C-4 07 222 per 1000 of popu- V lation per an n u ub. ) Deaths of infants under one year of ( lfi age per 1000 per I births per annurn. In calculating the above rates a due division has been made of the population and deaths in the Union Workhouse during the year, between the urban aud rural districts from which the institution receives its inmates. Remirks The rate of mortality shown above is again very low, being much lower than the average for the whole country, and this comparison applies also to the statistics given of deaths of infants and from zymotic disease. The birth rate is slibtly higher than that of last year (23 0) but ia below the average for England and Wale%. Zymotic Diseases.- The following table will show the number of certain infectious diseases which occurred in the district during the year and the probable source of infection. Scarlet Fovor. Di'thorifc. T'phoid. Kr'sip'». No. of houses infected 5 3 0 1 No. of persona attacked 5 3 0 5 No. of deaths 0 1 0 0 In each outbreak orders were given for isolation and disinfection, and a handbill of Plain Direc- tions" was left at the house giving instructions as to checking the spread of infection. Scarlet Fever.—The whole of the cases of scarlet fever have been of a very mild character, and in each case the precautions taken have effectually prevented a spread of the disease. The infection in nearly every instance seems to have been im- ported from neighbouring districts. Diphtheria. -One death resulted from diptheria at Bansley. This case was not notified to me, al- though I nnderstand that a medical man attended it, and further enquiries are being made into the matter. The other cases were at Snead, where the water supply is unsatisfactory, and a mild case at Berriew. Erysipelas.—Two cases of erysipelas of a very mild form occurred at the Workhouse, Forden, where every care was taken under the supervision of the Medical Officer of the Institution. No fatal results occurred and an epidemic was obviated. The general sanitary state of the district is on the whole good, but, as reported to the Council by the Sanitary Inspector, drains and water closets in some places require improvement. Many of the cottages in the district are very old and more or less unsani- tary, and it is to be hoped that the landlords will by degrees replace these with modern and improved tenements. I give below the report of the Sanitary Inspector for the year:—Number of houses visited, 972; number found in a sanitary condition, 719; notices of notices, of all kinds, formal and informal, 240; number of houses to be disinfected after in- fectious disease, 14. Ot-erri-owding.-The only cases of overcrowding which have come to my notice were at the Pullets, Churchstoke, and at the Fernery, Berriew, both of which have been abated. Berriew Water Supply.-I regret to say that the scheme of water supply contemplated for the village of Berriew has not yet been carried out. Nevertheless the general health of the village has been good, and no case of zymotic disease has occurred there during the year. I am happy to report that the sanitation of the Talbot Inn has been much improved. The suspected well at the school has been closed, and the closets there also improved. Castle Caereinion Sewerage.—The objectionable open sewer at this village has been replaced by a proper drainage system, effectively carried out by this Council's Surveyor, thus obviating all risk of contaminating the water supply of Welshpool. Llandyssil.-I would refer the Council to the remarks in my last year's report as to the in- sanitary condition of this village, which has received little or no improvement. No case of zymotic disease has been reported from the village however during the year. The usual tables of births, deaths, population and new cases of in- fectious sickness are appended.—I am, gentlemen. Your obedient servant, C. P. MORETON March 4th 1899.

——■—-♦ CO ft RESPO N DEIS GB. To CORRESPONDENTS. Communications for thts column should be addressed to the Editor, and must be written upon one side of the paper only. They should in all cases be accompanied by ths name and address of the sender, not necessarily f<T publication but as a guarantee of good faith.