The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

GLADESTRY. ENTERTAINMENT.—An inte-esting entertainment of a miscellaneous character was given in the Bap- tist Coapel on Thursday evening at seven o'clock, Sept. 23th. The pastor of the church (Rev. G. Phillips) presided. Mr J. H. Lloyd, bead master of tie Endowei School, Huntingdon, acted as adjudi- cator on the competitive parts of the programme; and Mr R. D. Davies conducted the choir. Various recitations were given, and a selection of pieces sung, including several solos. Prizes were given for the beat impromptu speech on the subject of Knife and fork." Seven competed. P ize* were also given for the best reading of Romans, 16th chapter, and from the 7th over the 15th verse. Seven competed. Prizes were given for the best reading of unpunctuated reading. Eleven competed. Considerable interest and amusement were created by the competitions. The 21 prop:r Dames puzzled the scripture readers, and the unpunctuated reading was a problem diffi- cult to solve, whilst the subject of the impromptu speech taxed the oratorial skill of the competitors, and the given time of three minutes was a apaca too extensive for some of the speakers to fill. The pro- ceeds of the entertainment were in aid of the funds of the Sunday School. There was a good attendance, and all seemed to enjoy the rendering of the pro- grame. The Chairman at the clo-te expressed thanks to Mr Lloyd for adjudicating, and to all who had taken part. =

RHAYADER. RURAL SANITABT AUTHORITY.—THE NEW- BRIDGE WATER SUPPLY.-The ordinary meeting of this authority was held at Rhayader on Wednes- day. Mr S. C. Bvans-Williams presided, and there were oresentMr R. Lewis Lloyd, Mr Thomas Pugh, Mr Richard Morgan. Mr David Lloyd, Mr Roger Walker, Mr D. W. Owen, Mr Evan Evans. Mr Ed- ward Thomas, Mr B. Lewis, Mr J iIorma.n (clerk), Mr Gordon Richardson (medical officer), Mr J. R. Powell (sanitary inspector). With respect to the proposed new water supply for Newbridge-on-Wye, the clerk produced authority from the Local Government Board authorising the Board to borrow a sum of J6850 for carrying out the said work of water supply. It was determined to borrow money at 3t per cent. from Newbridge-on-Wye Court of Foreateri, subject to the costs being reasonable. The following tenders were received for carrying out the work<:—Mr Henry Welsh. Hereford, XI,994 Mr E. Thomas, Llanidloes, £ 1,485; Mr John Rees, Hereford, £ 1»271 9s lOd Mr Henry J. Davenport, Newbridge- on-Wye, £ 1,117 12s Mr P. D. Clarke, Newtown, .£1 096 10s Mr E. Marpole and Son, L anidlues, £ 1,077 Mr T. Jones Davies, Cardiff. £ 1,0>'»0 Messrs J. E. Nott and Co., Brecon and LlanHr'ndod. £ 999 19i 6d; Mr S. W. Dawson, Knucklaa, £ 997; Mr John M. Willis, Builth, XSIS 2s and Messrs C J. Dayiei and Co., Builth, £ S18 8.. 9d. The Sanitary Authority decided to accept the lowest tender (that of Messrs C.J. Davies and Co.. Bailti), subject to the u«n-U oonditions-references from the person tendering an 1 sureties for the due fulfilment of the work. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Gordon Richardson), reported a scarletfever case at Newbride-on-Wye, but did not think it necessary to close the eohool at that plaon at present, as the house where the fever brake out was at the extreme end of the village. He reoorted that the house belonging to Mr Thomas Roberta, Bridgend, near Cross Gates, was quite nnfit for habi- tation, and that the inhabitants should not be al- lowed to occupy it during the coming winter. The Board gave directions for proceedings to be taken to have the hoote closed.

HARVEST FESTIVALS. NEW RADNOR. The harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Baptist Chapel on Sept. 24th and 25th. On the Sun. day sermons were preached by the Rev W. B. Nichols, of Kington. On the Monday evening ser- mons were preached by the Revs W. Skinner, of Presteign, and T. D. Jones, of Franksbridge. The introductory part of the service was taken by the pastor (Rev G. Phillips). Select hymns were sung, Mr J. Bounds conducting the choir. The germons were of an earnest and impressive character. Col- lections were made. The chapel was decorated with mottoes, corn, fruit, and flowers. OLD RADNOR. Harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Congregational Chapel at Gore on Oct 3rd. when ser- Imons were pre*ohed by the newly-appointed minister (Rev J. D. Williams) and Rev G. Phillips, of Even- jobb. The servioes were at 2-30 and 7 o'clock. There was a large congregation in the evening. Col- lections were made. Select pieces of music were nicely rendered by the Choir, Mr W. Lwill conduct- ing, and Mr Davies presiding at thi orgin. The chapel was very elaborately and tastefully decorated. YARDRO, RADNOR. Th* harvest thanksgiving ►ervice was he'd in the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel on Wednesday eveniug, Sept. 27th, when a sermon was preached by the Bey G. Phillips, of Evenjobb. A collection was made. There was a good attendance. Select hymns were nicely sung by the Cboir conducted by Mr Probert. The chapei had been dressed with corn, frnit, and flowers, in accordance with good taste. A neat motto was also placed behind the pulpit. CASCOB. The harvest thanksgiving services were held by the Baptist church on Sept. 29th. Sermons were preached by the Rivs D. Davies, of Maesyrhelem, J. Roberta, Rock, and the pastor (G. Phillips). The services were at Cnmilward at 10-30, and at the Storling at 2-30 and 6-30. There was a good attendance. Collec- tions were made. Select hymns were sung by the Caoir conducted by Mr Edward Gittoes. Meesr. Davies and Roberts rendered good service by their earnest and powerful sermons. LLANMEREWIG. Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held at Dol- forwyn Church, on Friday, September 29th. The Church, as on former occasions, was beautifully decorated by the Misses Moore, Brynderweu. Fruits and vegetables were kindly sent by the following: Mrs Welch, Castle Forwyn, MrsChadwick, Dolforwyn Hail; the Misses Moore, Brynderwen; Mrs Salter, the School; U, s Stephens, the Potteries; and Mrs Williams, Bell Shop. Holy Communion was cele- brated at 11 o'clock. At the evening service the church was crowded. The anthem "I will lift mp mine eyes," Clarke Whitfield, was well rendered by the choir, the solos and verses being taken by Mr and Mrs Salter and Miss Maggie Stephens. An eloquent sermon was delivered by the Rev W. Vaughan Jones, M.A., rector of Tregynon. On the following Sunday evening the thanksgiving services were continued, when the Rev John Fisher, B.D., curate of Llanilw- chaiarn, preached an admirable sermon to a large congregdtion. The fruit and vegetables were sent to the Montgomeryshire It.firmary. WELSHPOOL. On Thursday, the Nonconformists held their harvest thanksgiving services at the Presbyterian Chapel, which was beautifully decorated for the event, and representatives of all kinds of flow ers, fruit, and cereals were to be found in the decorations. The windows were profusely dressed with moss, chrysanthemums, dahlias. sunflowers, marguerites, grasses, and the sere and yellow leaf. The pulpit with ivy, cactus, dahlais, hips and haws, helitrope. -an- flowers, ferns, and grasses. Around the chapel were buncnes of barley, oats, and wheat, Virginia creeper, and autumn leaves. Hanging baskets of moss were to be seen be, o and there, and the gas standards were tastefully dressed. The wreath above the puipit was prettily worked, while below were fruit, vegetables, and flowers, with large loaves of bread, were pleasingly arranged, in the centre being a miniature stack of oorn. The whole decorations were the willing band of workers:—Mrs T. R. Morris, Mrs Edward Hughes, Trade Hall, Misses Davies, Victoria Terrace, Mrs D. Lloyd, Broad-street, Miss Rees, Castle View, Mies Wilhaws, Glaahafren, Miss M. Jones, Star," Miss Owen, Mrs Richd. Williams, Mre Evan6, Mrs C. Davies, Miss Baines, Miss V. Reese, Miss Morgan, Misses Baines, and Rev T. C. Jones. In the afternoon Rev J. W. Wright, P M., addressed the meeting. In the evening addresses were given by Rev W. G. Dawson and Rev J. Idrisya Jones, and Rev T. C. Jones acted as chairman. The ehapel was crowded to excess, and the meeting was most enthusiastic. The choir was conducted by Mr E. R. Hughes; accompanist, Mr Jaoins Davies. Ia the anthem Miss Stuart Baines sang the solos very pleasingly. Collections during the day amounted to over X5. Ihe proceeds are to be devoted to the British School. Rev W. G. Dawson, in his remarks, said that the beautiful surroundings implied evidence of a song of thanksgiving. With the farmer there was a go .d deal of anxiety and also a good deliuf hope. They ought to loW deeply grateful for the refreshing showers, and render to God a song of thankfulnesa. Let them remember that thanksgiving is good, but as Philip Henry put it, Thanksgiving is better." They as Nonconformists ought to take their part in "primary education." Their country ITS? enS^r«d to them by the system of government; property was WPrP sacred; and liberty was eecated to ever> .,v._ kept the law, They were proad of their country, for "God had not dealt 80 with any n&tiou. Their country was also eadeared to them by its relig on, and that in Protestant form. But there -%ab one mournful aspect-it& moral character. There was in their midst-proifigac-y, intemperance, and IID mo- rality. They were patriotic in regard of the army, navy, and the commerce ot their country, but was there not another object to be accomplished. Enlarged dominions would add nothing to the true dignity and to the strength of the country unless the correction of morals were made. It is righteous- neas that exdteth a nation." True patriotism meant the litting up of virtue and the suppression of vice. Was not the education of the children a truiy patriotic work?—that they may be taught to judge rightly between good and evil; the educating of the reasoning faculty, that troth may be known from error, and that they may counteract vice by inculca- ting within the minds of the young, good, and noble thooghts. The rev. gentleman concluded with an earnest appeal to maintain their nonconformity by contributing to the interest of the British School that it may add to the dignity of the youth of the town and neighbourhood.—The Rev J. Idrisyn Joues, in a pointed address, said that the best manner in which they could return thanks to God was by helping Flis church by realising it w&o more blessed to give than to receive: by promoting religious unity, and assist- ing in the removal of the hindrances which lay around them. -Rev T. O. Jane. in conolusio'l, i;, ged the adherence to the principle of andenomin*:itjudLdra and civil and religiose liberty. NEWTOWN. CRESCENT CHAPEL.—The Harvest Thanksgivings Service in connection with the Presbyterian Church and Congregation worshipping in the above place was held on Thursday evening last. A large congregation was p esent to listen to all appropriate discourse delivered by the Rev. D. Lloyd-Jones, M.A., Llandinam; and a collection amounting to A3 10s. Od. was made towards defriving the Presbyterian general debt. Liberal conttibutions of fruit, flowers, cerials, and garden produce were sent, and which, after being used for tastefully decorating the interior of the build- ing by many willing hands, under the efficient supervision of Mr G. Barrett. were disposed of on Friday evening, in the School-room, the pro- ceeds being divided between the poor-relief and band of hope funds connected with the chapel. FORDEN. The thanksgiving services were held in the Parish Church on 27th September, the little edifice being crawded at both services. At the afternoon service an able sermon was preached by Rav. Grimaldi Davies, vicar of Welshpool, and at the evening service by the vicar of the parish. The decorations were lavish and of good taste. Col- lections were made and the offertories were for the church expenses and the Sunday school.

.In •^EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 4Wu WESDAY.-THE GREAT SALE of property by jfmars. Cooke Bros. at the Bear Hotel, New- town- Nine lots of desirable freehold dwelling houses, public house, and building site will be put op for public competition at three o'clock. R THURSDAY.—AT WELSH POOL the presentation by the Conservatives to the member for the boroughs takes place. Lord Powis will preside, and takes the chair at seven o'clock. The chief speaker is the former unsuccessful Conservative candidate for the Montgomeryshire Boroughs—the Marquis ,o( Loudpaderry,-a descendant of the gallant old gentlemen who spent a fabulous sum in rescuing the seat from the Tories. Special travelling facilities are afforded by the Cambrian Railways Company. R.FRIDAY.—THE BAPTIST CHURCH at Newtown bold a Sale of Work and Rummage Sale at the Victoria Hall, to be opened at three o'clock by Miss Lewis, Mount Severn, Llanidloes. The committee announce that all articles will be offered at reasonable prices, and as the vat iety of goods will (to quote a hackneyed phrase) be end- 1MS, no difficulty should be experienced in realiz- lag a hapdsome sum in aid of the chapel funds. SATURDAY.—THE VICTORIA HALL is to be the goene of the second day's Sale of Work, etc., promoted by the Baptist Church. Even those wbto have no money to spend beyond the cost of admission will find various means of being enter- tained by the attractive programme provided.

THE COUNTY RATE. THE adjourned conference of the repre- > senfcatives of the various Unions and County Council on the county rate basis was held on Tuesday at Newtown. It was chiefly temarkable for an extraordinary suggestion by the representatives of the Newtown and Llanidloes Union. It is well known, we should have imagined, that an Assessment Committee has no power, when fixing the scale of deductions, to take cognizance of depression in trade. If that were granted, the result would be, for instance, that all ..the flannel manufacturers in this county would want a deduction of about 75 per cent. on., account of the disastrous fall in prices of the fabric, and the consequent reduction in profits. Similarly, every indus- try would be continually pestering the committee with appeals for aid to meet the chronic complaint. But our local representa- tives wanted (by mixing up the question of agricultural depression with that of deduc- tions) to practically remove a large portion of the burden of taxation from the country -to the towns. The result was that their case for a revision came perilously near being laughed out of court. It appears that -the basis of deductions had been agreed upon by all the Unions throughout the- county; and also, we believe, by the County Bate Basis Committee. On second thoughts, however, the members of the Newtown and Llanidloes Assessment Committee decided, t>y an infinitesimal majority, to re-open the whole question.-for the sole purpose (as far ,.8& we can discover) of bringing about a partial relief of the burdens of agriculturists by increasing the burdens of other indus- tries. Deductions from the rateable value of property are made varying according to its wear and tear-or, in other words, to the amount necesssary to be expended yearly in tEa»n<«.ining it in the condition it was found in when first taken. It will be seen that some kinds of property need a much larger outlay than others to keep it in its proper state. The amount primarily fixed upon by the -Committee as a fair deduction on land and buildings was 10 per cent., and that on mills, factories, etc., 25 per cent. The proposal was made by the one dissentient Union that 15 per cent should be the rate zf deduction off the former class of property and 20 per cent. on the latter! The mem- bers of the Conference saw clearly, however, that whatever scale may be adopted, it must be arrived at quite apart from the question -of the price of stock or the value of fodder. In Ateham Union, which is chiefly agricul- tural, but five per cent. is allowed on the former class, and we should imagine it difficult even for Mr FORRESTER ADDIE to prove that three times that amount should o,agowed in this county The Conference failed to arrive at a decision,, and referred the whole question of deductions to a select eomrnittee, which will take evidence from "reprewntatives of the various industries affected, and will we have no doubt present a scheme more equitable to all classes than that now propounded.

THE NEWTOWN EISTEDDFOD. THE list of subjects for the Newtown annual eistoddfocl is issued to-day, and the committee may be congratulated on its programme. In mnsie, the chief prizes are to be awarded for the ■ singing of HANDEL'S Sing unto God," and SULLIVAN'S fine glee for male voices, The Beleagared;" whilst vocal and instrumental goloiste are fully provided for. In the literature section, the chief prize is offered for an essay on II Small Holdings," and a minor one is that for an impromptu essay, the subject to be given at the time by the Adjudicator. Translations, recita- tions, speeches, and poems are also included. In the "Art" department several prizes are offered for drawing, writing, and fretwork. A prize is offered for suggestions on the improvement of the eisteddfod," but the committee have shown that they need little aid, if any, in the popular- ;isiug of,this most successful event. BAD DEBTS AND THE ART OF SWINDLING. The Inspector General in Bankruptcy, Mr JOHN •-SHITH, has just issued his annual report on the amoant of money which has been lost to creditors the insolvency of their debtors in England and Wales. Although the total given exceeds the vaat sum of ten and a half millions of money, it doo. not represent one farthing of the immense fames which have taken place through inveetment ,in rotten public compm es. This rotten form of swindling is practised to an enormous extent, and despite the numerous warnings that are brought under the notice of the public daily, they allow 4heuuelves to be duped by the golden opportuni- ties which -tfoe companies' circulars set forth. It $a stated that it had become cusotnary for a man with a failing or an insolvent busine s to transform hie conoern into a public company. The reason laf this eourse of procedure is given in the follow- ing extract of the report Some portion of -the insolvency which would formerly have ap- "peared in the Bankruptcy statistics, now appears i eonnection with the winding up of limited -ampanies, in consequence, on the one haad, of .1 the facilities which exist for the conversion of insolvent businesses into that form of enterprise, and on the other, of the pressure of recent bank- "ruptcy legislation, which has driven insolvent debtors to avail themselves more eagerly of such "facilities in ordei to escape from the more stringent provisions of the bankruptcy law." The severe blow which came upon the community through the collapse of several apparently sound building companies and banks must not be forgot- ten, and which in connection with other things, is to be taken into thought when considering the slow- ness of trade. Mr SMITH thinks it a matter of some satisfaction that the general business of the country is in a condition to have withstood the shock which it has received with so little damage. He shows in the result of his analysis of bank- ruptcy that more than half of the business failures are due to speculative trading, about twenty per cent to fraudulent adventures commencing with- out capital, seven per cent to neglect of business for gambling, while only two failures in a hun- dred are attributed as the result of accidental circumstances beyond the control of the debtor. «

NEWTOWN ANDLLANLLWCHAIARN LOCAL BOARD. The monthly meeting of the members of the above Board stas held at the Board Room on Friday, when there were present:—Capt. E. Pryce-Jones (chair- man), Messrs G. H. Ellison, David Owen, C Morgan, William Francis. Richard Lloyd, Edward Jones, John Hughes, William Lewis, Thomas Owen, D. Lewis and Henry Roberts with Messrs William Cooke, clerk, R. W. Davies, surveyor, and John Pryce, inspector. PUBLIC RIGHTS. After the reading of the minutes, and before the business of the Board was proceeded with, Mr Rd. Lloyd rose and wished to be informed whether it was perfectly clear thtt the Board itself had any right to interfere with the public rights. There had been access to the banks of the Severn from time im- memorial, and if the Board closed up the banks they would brt obliged to provide other places for people to deposit their refuse He considered it hardly fair to take away the public right by putting those posts 4-,Iiere and thus preventing the public aaing the bank3. The banks had always been used for the purpose of depositing waste soil from the excavations of new buildings, and it appeared to him that if any oue of the ratepayers took steps to remove those posts that they (the Board) would find themselves in a very humble position, because they could not take any action. The Board had no right to interfere with the public rights any more than a private in- dividual, and likewise they were liab!e to the same penalty. He was afraid the Board were in the wrong, and before they set an example to the public they should be sure that it WAS a good one. The Chiirman said that the Board at its last sit- ting thought it wise to take the steps which had been taken, and he regretted that Mr Lloyd should disagree with the action of the Board, as a similar course was adopted by a previous Board upon Severn Green, and at the present time the pouts erected there stopped carts unloading a lot of material whica in inuny cases wa-A nothing but filth and rub- bi-h. There had been, and there was at the present time, a strong f'esling in the town that the banks of the Severn at the Long Bridsre had been in a very deplorable state for a very long time. He believed that the Board had been Mr Richard Lloyd Do not misunderstand me. I did not refer to the Long Bridge. The Chairman said that he meant the Short Bridge. All efforts to prevent the nuisance in the past had failed, and be thought be mi?bt say on behalf of the members present at the last meeting of the Board, that the only course which appeared open to them in the interest of the ratepayers and the public was to take steps for the erection of those posts, and so put an effectnal stop to all such nuisances in the future, and prevent the banks becoming practically a manure heap in the very middle of the town. Re- garding the legal part of it he coald not profess to give a legal opinion more than Mr Lloyd. What had been done had been done by the Board, and of coarse the Board would take the responsibility of it. It was the intention of the committee to have pillars in the centre sufficiently wide to enable oarts to go there should it be necessary for them to do so. Mr E. Jones said that the course taken was taken without the cognisance of the Board. He knew nothing about it. and it was done in an irregular ma.nuer. It, was done in committee or at an adjourned meeting, which, -he Mid, wudom irregu- larly. Mr David Owen: I beg yoar pardon, it was done at a regular meeting. Mr E. Jones There was no notice given of it. Mr David Owen said he protested against the erection of the posts at the time. He was of the same opinion as Mr Lloyd, and if one of the ratepayers would take an axe and cat one of them down at the base that would be a nice little point for solicitors and the Board to decide. It would be a splendid little opportunity to see what the Board was made of. He thought that the widest plan now would be, as it was a useful place for the carting of stones- The Chairman: Pardon me, but I think we are going a little wide of the question raised by Mr Lloyd. Mr David Owen As to the legality of the pro. cedure. The Chairman I think you are going into other proposals. Mr David Owen said that he was strongly of opinion that they had done what they ought not to have done. He protested against a scheme that pre. vented poor people putting their caravans there, and who had to sleep out in all sorts of weather. He supposed that they had no means to go into a house. He thought the best plan would be to put a bar across and keep it locked The Chairman Then you are in favour of it. Mr David Owen I am not. The Chairman You want a bar across it. Mr David Owen: How are you going to get the stone away ? Mr Ellison: That is what the committee are deciding. The Chairman said, in reply to Mr Edward Jones, who questioned whether the matter was properly ctrried, he might eay that the question was discussed at a committee meeting of September 6, and they recommended the Board to adopt the course now under discussion. Tnis was not the first time, he was sorry to say, that Mr Jones had brought a charge of irregularity against the Board. He did so at the last meeting of the Board. Mr Jones was upon the com- mi ttee that decided the present arrangement, and a hundred to one he had a notice of it at the time. The recommendation of the committee was presented to the Board and carried. Mr J. Hughes It was brought up at an adjourned meeting. The Chairman It was brought up in regular order. Mr J. Hughes: It was not upon the agenda. The Chairman I am perfectiy confideut the Board was in perfect order, even if it was an adjourned meeting. Mr G. H. Ellison called the attention of the Board to the fact that all the business was not concluded at the general meeting, and the reports of the standing committees were adjourned. Consequently, the report upon the banks of the Severn formed one of those reports, and in the ordinary course came up for discussion at the adjourned meeting. The Board was perfectly in order. Mr A. S. Cooke thought the action of the Board at the last meeting was very creditable indeed, and it was a disgrace to previous B jards that action had not been taken before. He did not agree with members raising little pontslike those that had been raised there that evening. The question was were they agreed or not? He was convinced that if they were going to tell people that they had a perfect right to take those posts np, it was very unwise (hear, hear). If Mr Owen felt so strongly upon the subject and pitied those people sleeping in caravans, perhaps an invitation could be given th«m to stop at Kerry-road (laughter). He thought that it was a disgrace oo the town to have the banks always in the condition they were. Mr C. Morgan said it was a question that had been before the Board for a long time. The Medical Officer had condemned the banks as a nuisance, and his opinion ought to be paramount to any member's of the Board. Mr E Jones He never reported it. Mr C. Morgan Don't into er n pt. You shall answer presently. It was not the intention of the Board to entirely stop the public obtaining stone from the banks of the rivers, as it was under oonsideration to leave room between the centre posts for a oart to pass. After some further discu sion, Mr Rd. Lloyd sug- gested that they should take no further aotion until they had ascertained what their powers were, and he moved that this should be done. Mr David Owen seconled this. The motion was then put and carried. SHALLOW WELLS. The Clerk said that a letter had been reoeivedfrom the Local Government Board reminding the Board that they had not yet received any reply to their let- ter of the 29th August, requesting to be informed of, the number of shallow wells in use and why they I were in use. Mr Pryce, inspector. said that there wera about 71 shallow wells in use, and they varied in depth from 12 feet to 42 feet. Mr Morgan Have you any complaio of any of th-Pe P The Inspector: No sir. The Clerk: How is the last question to be an- swered, respecting the reason why they were now in use? It was decided to leave the question to be answered by the Clerk and the Medical Officer and Mr C. Morgan, chairman of the Sanitary Committee. WATER AT MILFORD. Mr R. E. Jones wrote saying that he was aware of the defective supply of water at Milford, but there was another supply about 200 yards from the cot- tages, but if the B lard hid any suggestions to make he would be glad to take them into consideration. It was referred to the Sanitary Committee. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr Bliss, tenant of the sewerage farm, wrote ask. ing the Board to make some abatement in the rent, as last year. Mr Evan Ashton proposed th it they do the same as last year and allow 5 per cent. Times were very bad, never were worse (Unghter). Mr W. Francis seconded, and it was carried. THE BOARD AND THE GAS COMPANY. The Clerk said that he was instructed to writq to the Gas Company and ask under what Act or Pro- visional Order they were carrying on the works, and he received a reply from the secretary to the effect that His directors were proceeding now as their predecessors had alway d.)ne" (loud laugh:er). Mr D. Owen Short and sweet. a The (Jhairmau asked it they were going to take any action with regard to the letter. He moved that it be referred to the committee that was empowered to take the matter up. Mr W. Lewis seconded, acd it was carried. THE WATERWORKS COMPANY AND THE BOARD. The Chairman said that they had a letter from the solicitors of the Waterworks Company, and they had also a report to make with regard to the flushing by the tank. He thought it would be better to have the report read before the letter. Mr A. S. Cooke thought that it would be better to read the letter first, and take no action until they had heard the report read. This was agreed to. Newtown Waterworks y. Newtown Local Board. The Directors of this company have place i in our hand the correspondence which has taken place between your Board and the Company, and which were observed a" extending for so long a period as from January, 1892, to the end of last month. It is to be regretted that the terms ot the agreement referred to in your letter of the 12th January, 1892. were not amicably arranged before th < expiration oi the notice given in December, 1891, and which expired on the 4„h June, 1892, but we submit that the directors were not in any way responsible for this, nor for the subsequent delay which has occurred, and inasmuch as your Board have not replied to the letter or the secretary of the 4th of September, 1893, covering a copy of tre resolution of the directors passed that day, and which required an answer withm 14 days. The directors are now, although unwillingly, compelled to take immediate steps to have the dispute as to price, etc., fixed by a judicial authority in the manner indicated by the several statutes in force. The necerSity for this is still further enhanced by the fact that in the contra- vention of the conditional permission given to your surveyor to use the water for testing purposes oa the 20in September last the Board nave, without any notice to the turncock or to the Company, on one or more occasions taken the water of the Com- pany for testing purposes. It appears to us person- ally that it wilt be a great pity to incur the very con- siderable expense which will be involved by having the question fought out before a judicial authorities, but on reference to your letter of the 4th March last would rather point to that being the wish ot the Board, and we can only suppose that as far as the Board are concerned the correspondence which has since ensued was more tar tne purpose 01 aeiay tnan anything else. If we are mistaken in this view we must again ask you to give us a defiaite reply on TuursJay next at the very latest. Yours truly, TALBOT AND WATKIN. The Surveyor then read the report of the com- mittee upon the flushing cart, which dealt with the experimeuts conducted by the committee, and which the committee recommended the Board to adopt. Mr C. Morgan said that he did not think it was necessary tc say a great deal in proposing the adoptiou of the report presented by the committee. They ail knew very well the unsatisfactory sta e ot flasning taat the town had been submitted to previously, in fact it was so much water thrown away and money spent in vain. The committee had gone to a great deal of trouble in ascertaining from a. number of large towns their mode of flushing, and that system they proposed to adopt a8 the only practicable way of flushing with success. A number of the ratepayers witnessed the experiments made with tha new van, a.a well as aevaral members of the Board, and he was proud to mw that they entirely agreed with the means now suggested, and supported the action of the Board. By the new arrangement a solid body of water of some 460 gallons was poured into a sewer in the space of some 45 or 46 seconds, and he was satisfied that a quantity of refuse was removed from the sewers that had not seen day- light for many years. It was eo efficient that they were determined to ask the Board to adopt the plan. The amount of money needed would be about £ 40, but he could fearlessly say that by adopting the new mode taey would have a more perfect scheme, and finally it would cost less, as less water would be required. It might be asked what they were going to do with the old vau, but they had already bad an enquirer for it, and it was possible that it would be purchased by the Coanty Council, so that they would get the value of it, and the X40 would be reduced considerably. He had great pleasure in proposing the adoption of the re- port as he thoroughly believed that it would be a more couvenienc mode ot flushing, and at a consider- able saving. Mr David Owen rose to second it although in a measure it was against his mind, as his plan was to convert the old cart into a tank van, as he considered that it would answer the purposes quite as well. Mr C. Morgan We shall get the value of it. Mr David Owen: That may be so. The new tank seemed to be doing miracles, and perhaps they could not do better than go in for it. It auswered admir- ably well, and he did not know that it required any further comment from him. Mr Richard Lloyd said that it was not a question touching the Water Works Company, but the method of flushiug the sewers. Of course he should "at vo e upon the question, but he rose to say that in hit opinion they had come to a conclusion rather too hastily, and he would give them his reason for saying so. Tney were about to change the method of tlush. ing the sewers, but the reason the present flu-thing system was not satisfactory was not tin* to shortness of water, but owing to some portion of th" system wanting rectifying, viz.: the sluices, which were not water-tight. In order to have an improvtd system of flushing they proposed to provide a cart at an an- ditional cost of X40. The cart had got to be kept somewhere, and had to be taken out, perhaps two or three times a week, by horses to the point where the flushing is to tike place, so that it would need the taking out of the cart, filling it with wa er, and then taking it to some part of the town to empty it. Thus there would be increased labour and more horses would be required. He did not kouw whether they had gone into the cost of those th ngs. Then again there was a difference in the quant-ty of water, and instead of having about 2,000 or 3,OOù gallons of water, th-y would only have about 430 gallons. How much better it wouid be to have tne sluices put in order, even if it cost £ 150, as then they would have a much better flushing system, and a greater quantity oi water would be obtaine 1. It would be better to have the wat r from a 12 inch main if the nluices were repaired than from an 8-inch pipe. He maintained that to adopt the new system would eventually cost the Board more money than if they repaired the sluices, as iu the course of t vo or three years the cost would have increased. He was afraid that it would turn out a most expensive moJe, and not an effectual one. They could not use more water than what the cart would contain, and there- fore when they emptied the car- they would rt-qute to go bank and get it refilled, and by the time they had refilled it the other water wou d nave spiead and the power wasted. If thny adopted the recommenda- tions of the committee that evening they would be arriving at a hasty decision, and in his opinion a very expensive one. He would not vote upon it, so that it might not be thought he was doing so in the iu terests of the Water Works Company, and he did not intend to act so while he was there. Mr G. H. Ellis >n said that as a member of the committee he supported the motion. He did not an- dercttud why Mr Lloyd should say that the motion was hasty, bectnae it had beeu betore the com,:iitt. e for months. They could not deal with it very well until they hid received information irom tilFr towns as to the working of the syntem, hut from the infor- mation thus obtained is was found to act most effec- tually, and moat of the members of the Board present when the letters were opened were also of the iu.me opinion as the committee. Regarding the question of expense raised by Mr Lloyl he was strongly of opinion that there would be a saving by the new method. The committee intended to recommend the Bosid to have a day for flushing, and once a week, at all events, would be quite sufficient to c eanse the sewers. Mr Richard Lloyd did not think that any water works o^mpany would allow a Board to have a day 'forflusutag, but that they would be only allowed to use it wbet. it viould not interfere with domestic pur. poses. Mr G. H. Ellison, continuing, said that he did not think the oogt would be so much as Mr Lloyd eeemed to think It was only a question of one horse, and they had got a man already. Mr Jones There will be two men. Mr Henry Roberts said that one was enough. Mr Ellison said that respecting the pressure of water they csuld only obtain about 320 gallous after waiting hall an hour, and that spoke very much in favour of the present mode of flushing, when over 400 gallons were sent down the sewer in tLe space of a few seco.-tds. Mr Richard Lloyd said that if thpy delivered the 460 gallons in 46 seconds, it wiuld take a long tim- to obtain it and take it to the place where it was to be sent down the sewers. Mr Ellison said that from the observations he had made he was prepared to say that toe new method would be a success, and he h ^ped that the members would agree to it by a large majority. The Chairman said that if th new scheme was not suitable, their was no doubt that the old scheme was very hr behind. That part of the town which Mr Roberts had referred to (MiLord-roa 1) at, the pretent time could not be efficiently flusned because ot the miserably low pressure—Mr Lloyd w,,uld pard,,n him saying so—which was utterly incapable of flushing the sewers as they ought to be flusaed. If it w(.uld be necessary to use additional horse power the Board h*d got an additional horse. Mr Lloyd ha i referred to their action being hasty. The Bmrd had not been hasty at all; in fact the letter from the solicitors of the Company to the Board blamed them for being "O long. Tne Board had all along felt strongly upon the point, and now they felt stronger upon it than before. It was rather unfortunate that complaints should be made about a new system by those who had not seen it working, becm-e no one could speak about the new system unless it had been seen in work. The committee of tha Board Wde present at those trials, and were unanimous, with the exception of Mr Edward Jones—(laughter)—that this system was an improvement upon the old system. Kven if they spent X150 upon the sluicas the f-cheme would not be improved to the extent they would desire to see it improved. The pressure was not sufficiently strong, and therefore they were obliged to resort to artificial means. The Company might now s&y that the Board should not use their wt..r in theaay time. Of course the Company might turn their taps off and atop the supply. But the Board were not bound to the Water Works Company, as they could use the Severn water, in fact they hid two or three schemes, and therefore they would be practically independent of the Company. The Committee were hignly de- lighted that so many members of the Board, includ- ing the farmers, were present at the experiments, and he hoped that other members would speak ia support of the scheme. Mr Richard Lloyd said that he did not intend his words to me.n that the Committee hid beeD inhiste, but he meant that it would be rather hasty to p<ss a resolution that evening until they kuew more about thA cost. He did not condemn the cart, a item what he had hfard it acted most effectually (hear, hear.) He believed that it was false economy in not repairing the sluices. He then reiterated his former arguments aga nst the adoption of tHe scheme. Mr A. S. Cooke, estimated by past expenditure that it cost them X20 annually to keep the uluice^ in perfect order, and he considered th-tt that X2) would go a locig way towards the expense of the keep ot a horse. He had se"n the letter from other towns that had ezperienced the same difficulty with 'he sewers as they had done, and those placaq, by the adoption of the cut system, were relieved from be troub!e of bad sewers. He had great pleasure in supporting the motion. Mr W. Lewis also snpported the motion. He v as present when the cart wan tried upon the New-read I m and in Higu-streot. In his opinion the cart system must be a great success and boin to the inhiib.tai ts of Newtown. Resp^ctiug the cost, he did not think the cost of extra manual labour would be so v ry much, as some me-nbers of the Board would wish them to believe. He believed that every member of the Board would approve of th new system when they savr it in work. Mr D Owen suggested that as a load would be loo much for one horse to take up Milford itoad the horse should take half a load, which, he felt su e, would be quite enougn to flush the s3wers, and they could then pay the Waterworks Company for the whole load-(Isugtiter)-bee&a.e it would be a con- sideration for them. Mr E. Jones The old cart will do that (laughter). Mr D. Owen: We have already got customers for the old cart (laughter). There is nothing that can come up to the present system for flushing pur- poses, and I suppose that in catering the streets it surpasses the old one very much. The motion was tnen put and carried, Mr Lloyd and Mr E. Jones, did not vote, and Mr Frauds bad ¡Aft, thA rrwim Mr Owen, in answer to the Chairman, said that he did not vote becaose he did njt understand the question. Mr G. H. Ellison then suggested that they should f-- the lett-r to the committee. They would remember that the committee oould not bring any tecommendition before the Board because they wanted certain information. That information had now been obtained, and he thoncrbt that it the 1. tter was referred to the cuamitree it would be satis- fac ority settled. He asked Mr Lloyd, as chairman of the Company, to ask the Company to waive the conditions laid down in the letter Ilutll the c mmittee bad met. Mr Lloyd said that he was there as a member of the Local Board, and not as Chairman of tHe company, director, or anything else. Mr Ellison And as eu jh we appeal to you to bring the matter before your Committee. Mr Lloyd I think you had better reply by letter, that is the proper course. Mr Eliison said that they we-e all aware of the proper course, but they were trying to get the matter settled peaceably. Mr C. Morgan thought they might instruct their Chirk to acknowledge receipt of the let er, and tate t' at it wild now before the committee of the Be ard. He was of opinion that he would not be out of the way in ask;ng the Board to appoint a special com. mitiee to go into the whole case. He quite under- ftood Mr Lloyd not advocating the claims of the Company, he thought that it would be wrong but at the same time Mr Lloyd heard all that was said there. He s"conded the proposition. The Chairman said that in the letter arbitration was referred to, but a little ti-ne ago the Company were not prepared to go into arbitration, and would not listen to it. The motion was then put and carried. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. Dr Palmer (medical officer) reported as follows I have to report two cases of typhoid fever in your district. One case is in the Back Lane, and the other at Brynaire. The water supply at Brynaire is Herived from a well, the water of which I have ex- amined, and am of opinion that it is impure. The water supply of the house in the Bick Lane 13 derived from the Mochdre Reservoir, and I have again ex- amined that water, and found it to be pure and wholesome. With regard to the casa in the Back Land it is to be noted taat the enl ivia. at the top of the Lane has been particularly offensive, but as I have learned tha'. there is a strong probability that this patient has drank water from Borne of the thai- low wells in the neighbourhood, I am inclined to at- tribute this oase as well as that of Brynaire to the dri iking of polluted water. The pAtients' condition wid not at present permit of th ir being questioned, but I trust later on that they will be able to furnish us with such additional information s will enable us to determine conclusively the source or sourc s of the disease. lu the meantime I recommend that the well at B ynaire be cleansed, such pr-c lUtioti^ are tiken that I have no fear that the milk from Bryn- ilirfi dairy ian beeome polluted. There has been a widespre-id epidemic of diptheria of a mild type in your district during the month, and after much con- sideration I have arrived at an opiuion that this epi- demic has been introduced by the unsatisfactory cond tion of your fewera. I recommend that the sewors be very carefully examined, mora thoroughly, flushed, and m re efficiently veutilated. I have ex- amined the water from tle Gro well, and still find it auspicious. Mr C. Morgan was not satisfied with the Medical Officer's c -m nent upon th* Gro well. It was sun. picious, and ought to be look-d into, and he proposed that a sample of the water ba sent to the County An,il)st. Mr Roberts said that tb;ar8 were pigstyes close to the .11. Mr David Owen seconded the motion. He thought that they should take a nota of what Mr Roberts had paid about thi pig-tyes. The motion was then carried. PIG STTICS IN PARK LANE. Mr Edward Jones called the attention of Mr Pryce, the i isuecior, t > the state of same pigstyts in the Park Lane, and which offensive at a di.tance of 200 vard", a-vay. Mr C. Morgan soid tbt be was glad Mr Jones had mentioced it, as it W414 intolerable. SUBVrYOa's REPORT. Mr Davies reported that the moulting had been commenced and th*t a large quantity of Macadam would be required on New-road to form a foundation for it. The surface draing throughout the town reqair^d cleaning out and re-laying in some places. He suggested draining Broad-street through Old Church-street to the river. H asked that notices De issued by the Board prohibiting si .ps nnd other domestic refuse being thrown into the street gullies. He reported having fixed three vent shafts, and that seven additional shafts were necessary in the sewerage system. He again drew the attention of the Board to the immediate necessity of adopting the Public Health Amendment Act, 189W, which prohibits; 16.—(1), It shall not be lawful for any person to throw, or suffer to be thrown, or to pass into any sewer of a local authority, or any dmin commnnicating therewith, any mat- ter or substance by which tne free flow of the sewage, or sur- face, or storm water may be interfered with, or by which any such sewer or drain may be injured. (2), Every person offending against this enactment shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, and to a daily penalty not exceeding twenty shillings. 17.-(1), Every person who turns or permits to enter into any sewer of a local authority, or any drain communicating therewith- (a) Any chemical refuse, or] (b) Any waste steam, condensing water, heated water, or other liquid (such water or other liquid being of a higher temperature than one hundred and ten decrees Fahrenheit), which, either alone, or in combination with the se causes a nuisance, or is dangerous or injurious to health. shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, and to a daily penalty not exceeding five ponnds." -The Green brook diversion was progressing tfaTOurably. That a new lamp was necessary on the Dolfor-road. It was decided to discuss the report seriatem, and upon the motion of Mr Richard Lloyd the qaestion I of issuing notices to householders was referred to the Sanitary Committee. ) On the motion of Mr C. Morgan, seconded by Mr Roberts, the question of cleaning the drain was re- ferred to the Street Committee. The application for seven additional vent shafts was also referred to the Sanitary Committee. On the motion of Mr J. Hughes, seconded by Mr Wm. Lewis, it was decided to adopt the Pablic Health Act, and that the Clerk be empowered to take the necessary steps to complete its adoption. Mr E. Jones proposed, and Mr C. Morgan seconded, and it was carried, to erect a lamp upon the Dolver- road. APPOINTMENT OF A SOLICITOR. A motion was upon the agenda for the appomtmeut of a solicitor at a salary of X-5 58 Od per annum, to in- clude all charges. Mr W. Lewis said that as the question was likely to give rise to considerable discussion, he proposed that it be adjourned until the next meeting. Mr Roberts seconded, and it was carried. CLIFTON TERRACE. The Committee reported that the work was pro- ceeding upon Clifton Terrace and would be finished shortly. They had received the following subscrip- tions towards the expense :-Captain E. Pryce-Jones, £ £ ?,5a Mr W. P. Thomas, £ ,2 28; Mr Barker Halhwell, X2 2s; Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, M.P., Y.1 18; Mr Edward Device. builder. XI Is: Mixoq Turner, Elephant Hotel, fl lq; Misses Jones, The Bank, .£1 Is Mr W. Francis, 10s 6d; Mr John Pilot, 10s 6d; Mr Maurice Powell, 5s Mr John Barriogton, 5s. Mr Edmund Buckley, Milford Hall, bad promised to plant trees, and Mr Edward Powell, Plasybryn, had promised to give some evergreens. They recom- mended that a committee be appointed to consider ttie best moans of lmorovinff the banks of the river from thp Short Bridge to the weir, and further that a reward be offered for the aporehension of anyone damaging the plants upon Clifton Terrace. A discussion arose upon the legality of the Board interfering with the banks of the Severn, and it was ouggested that ths question should be referred to the same solicitor when the point raised about the erection of the posts was being dealt with. Mr Richard Lloyd said that he never mentioned anything about legal advice, all he wished was that the Board should look further into their rights, which could be done by consulting their own Clerk. The Chairman said that he was under the impres- sion that the matter was to be referred to a solicitor but nnder the circumstances he moved that the matters be referred to a solicitor. Mr Francis seconded, and it was carried. Mr Richard Lloyd then moved that as they were going into the question of the appointment of the solicitor at the n-xt meeting, that the Clerk write to each solicitor and ask for the amount of their bills before the next meeti no. Mr D. Owen seconded, and it was carried. Referring to Clifton-terrace, the Chairman said they were making eood progress, but any further improvements would have to come out of private sources, as the Board did not intend to spend any more money, and he was glad to see that their appeal had been met so that there could be ro charge of ex- travagance brought asrainst the Board, Mr David Owen asked how they were going to protect the shrubs. Mr W. Francis: Put a bar across it, andlock it up (laughter). | THIS OLD WATSR CART. The County Surveyor wrote asking if the Board were wishfnl of selling the old cart, would they let him know the price required. Mr Edward Jones proposed that they do not part with it, as it would be very usefl11 in going round corners of the narrow streets. Eventually the question was referred to the Street Committee.

KERRY. RENT AUDIT. Mr Webster, Mr Naylor-Leyland's agent, sat at the New Inn on Wednesday to receive the rents of the Agricultural tenants, and allowed a reduction of 10 per cent. On the Thursday he again sat to receive the rents of the cottagers. On Wed- nesday a dinner was provided tor the tenants at which Mr Webster presided, and the usual toasts were proposed and duly honoured. On Thursday a Mackay ^residedTarTd & h&L? agent were enthusiastically received. The dinuo* was provided by Nire Williams, landlady of the New Inn, and was enjoyed by all. /;?.

THEWERN. NATIONAL SCHOOL -This ecbool was exa-mined W short time ago by the Rev. J. H. Lewis, Diocesan Inspector of Soh tola, and the following satisfactory report has just been received by the manairera:- This is a most efficient school. The religions in- struction giv- ii is most thorough and accurate." The general quality of the ecbool isamfollows --Religious instruction, excellent; discipline and tone, excellent; repetition, excellent; and school in regard to re- ligious instruction as a whole, excellent. The fallow- ing children obta asd eertifioates of merit:—Infants Lewis Breeze, Joeesh Preece, Stanley Finney, Thomas Morris, MM Mabel Pheby. Group IV: James Evans, Bertie Simpson, Bessie Davie*, and Eisie Jones. Group III: William, Bebb, Thomas Thomas, William J. Evans, Annie Davies, Thomas Lloyd, and Aauie Finney. Group II Henrjr Thomas. Jotepbioe Pheby, Richard C*f>ewel'. Emm* Bebb, George Thomas, John Davies, Arthur Simpson and Jessie Pheby. Gvosp I: Elizaketh Clewson, Edward Preece, Linda Bebb, Annie Tonnant, William Casewaft, LiWe Preeoe, and Rvbekal^ Edwards.