The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

NEWTOWN AND LLASLLWCIIAIARIS 1 LOCAL JjOAiiD* FRIDAY. Present.: Capt. Pryce-Jones (chairman), Meeers C. Aorgaia, G. H. Ellison, E. Jones, J. Hughes, P. Lloyd, D. Owen, W. H. Lewis, Thoa. Jerman, Evan Ashton, Henry Roberts, John Lewis, W. Cooke (clerk), R. W. I)aviea (ausveyor), ana John Pryce (inspector). THE STEAM ROLLER. The Chairman said that, he rose to ask a question of privilege. The steam roller belonging to the County Council would be working in course of the next fortnight, and would be in the neighbourhood of Newtown for two days. There was a feeling among some of the members of the Board that application should be made to the County Council for leave that it might be tried in Newtown, on the Mitford-road and Park-place. Mr David Liamer, of the County Council, had also spoken to him upon the question. The Council would meet in the course of the next week, and a letter written by order of the Board Le had no doubt would meet with the favourable con- sideration of the Council. Mr C. Morgan: I do not see why the main streets cannot be done. Mr D. Owen.: Are we prepared with stone and all the necessaries. The Chairman We will ask the Surveyor, Mr I Owen. Mr C. Morgan: I beg to propose that the Board make the application. Mr Lloyd: We might adjourn the question until the Surveyor comes up. It is useless going on with the question until we uave this information. Mr C. Morgan: There is plenty of stoue in the yards. Mr Lloyd We are not going to roll the stone in the yards (laughter). Mr C. Morgan I am quite aware of it. Mr Henry Roberta: Xhare are plenty of streets metalled to try the roller. Mr E. Jones There is not enough of stone on Park- street. Mr Lloyd: This is rather an important matter. The steam roller is very heavy indeed, and if you do not have the road properly prepared for the rolier you will have the streets in a worse state than before. It woa't do to have the streets done in patchca. The Chairman If the steam roller is not tak#a advantage of now, it will be about two months "bsfore we jet it b, re again, as it is going all round the County, It was then agreed to write a letter asking the Council to allow the roller to be used upon the roads, with the consent of the Board's Surveyor and the Street Committee. REPORT UPON THE RIVER BANK. THE BOARD'S PRIVILEGES. The Clerk read the following letter upon this question from the Solicitors consulted by the Board. Newtown, October 23th, 1893. Dear Sir,-We enclose tracing received from your Board's Surveyor shewing the river and West bank of the river tteveru from Short Bridge to King's Bridge, with the properties extendiug along with the bank. Having duly considered the izifurination received irom you, and consulted tine autnormes upon me points suummeu iui UU1 wusmci- ation, we are of opinion (1) That the soil and freehold of the river bank from the point a to the point b on the plan, (including also the bed of the river lo the centre ot ^lie stream,) belongs to the owners of the respective properties extending along the said bank (subject to any right of way or other easements over the same which may have been required by, or on behalf of the inhabitants of the town), and your Board has no right to enter upon the banks for the purpose of making permanent or other improvements without the consent of, or arrangements with the owners. (2J It is a question of considerable doubt whether the Boaru or private individuals can acquire a right by prescription of depositing soil or rubbish on the river banks, and the better opinion seems to be that the owners may restrain them from doing so. Hitherto, it may be reasonably contended that such deposits have only been allowed on suiiurance. (3) As to the right of the Board to erect a fence across or interfere witu the approaches to the river banks at the short Bridge, we are of opinion that this can only be done under Section sa of the Towns' Improvements Act, which provides that It any building, or hole, or any other place near any street be, for want of suffioient repair, protection, or enclosure, dan- gerous to the passengers along such street, the Board shall usa the same to be repaired, protected, or enclosed, so as to prevent danger therefrom," and the expense thereof is thrown upon tiie owners. If this spot is dangerous without being protected or enclosed, care must be taken that in proceeding under the section the Board do not interfere with the rights of the owners of the river Dank to access to tueir -respective properties along the bank as hitherto exercised by them. WILLIAMS, GITTIUH & TATTLOK. There was silence after the reading of the above, and Mr Lloyd was the first to open tne discussion by asking what the Board intended to do with regard to thaobstruction put down. The Chairman taid that he thought the intention *of the board would be to leave them there, after re- ceiving the letter from the solicitors. The portion' of the land where the post* were put down was under the jvriz-dietiou of the Local Board and the County Council. Messrs Williams, Gittins, and Taylor stated that under a certain Act they had a perfect rigfe; to do wbat they had done. As they all knew, wnat had been done had been done before, years ago. Some people thought that the posts came out a little further than when rails were placed there. Apparently the difference was very slight, so that practically the Board only done what other Boards £ »d doue. irom that letter it appeared that the Local Board had set a bad example in putting refuse upon the banks. The action taken by the Board was taken upon the ground of a very strong report that had been made by the Medical Officer of Health. He would reier to that report, which was dated July 7th, 1891, whn Dr Palmer reported that he had in. spected that portion of the river bank to which his attention had been directed, and found in several instances that house refuse had been deposited thereon, and nuisances injurious to health were thereby caused. And now came the amusing part of the whole thing. He was quoting from the Mont- gomeryshire Express. "After a long discussion they agreed to deal with the matter in the usual way"- (isughter)-and the usual way had been for a long time to allow the refuse and deposits to be a dis- grace and discredit to the town, and an injury to health as certified by the Medical Officer. He fancied that they werj unanimous in the matter, although some members of the iiuard uid not appear to be so. Looking at the. question, apart from the injuries to health, he thougnt it was a danger to life to leave that part of the river bank opeu. He hoped they would be unanimous in the interests of the rate- payers who put them upon the Board and turned thorn out. Mr Wm. Fianois: Turning us out next election, you mean. The Chairman Well, no. Mr Lloyd I am sorry for the way in which you have put toe matter before the Board- The Chairman: .Excuse me Mr Lloyd, bat do you not think it would be better to adjourn this matter df we are to have adebate upon it? Mr Lloyd: I don't mind; I am quite willing. Mr Francis Let's have it now. The Chairman Weil, perhaps someone will moryea cresolution. Mr Lloyd i be ketter states quite clearly that we have no right 1.0 put posts there. The owners of the property tutve the rigtit of the banks as far as the middle of the river, and the Board cannot pre- vent them bavii g access to their own property. If the place is dan^rous it is necessary f ir the Board to take tome tep-i to prevent the danger. You stated alto that some of the posts were erected there in the past, I never remember them. I know that the county surveyor for the quarter sessions put down one or two posts around the county property to -prevent the depositing of refuse against the abut- ments of the bridge on the right hand side, but not to step up the road to the river. But the Board are deaimgr with property that does not belong to them. It was said at thH iHft Board meeting that a chain •was to be put across, and anyone wishing to pass was tofpply for the key at the Local Board Office. The question for us is-Are we to take immediate fiteps to cemove the obstruction ? As to the report of the Medical Officer respecting the nuisance injuri- ous to J:3",th, it was for the owners of the property io take proper steps to prevent the deposits being placed te. As to the report of the Montgomery- shire Exprxsx, what have we to do with the reports of the newspapers? YOK may find dozene of aawspapersi-all disagreeing upon the same thing, as dozens of men might disagree. Coming to a decision as the Exprtts reports, doea not say that the Board same to a right decision. The Chairman I think yoa misunderstand it. It is not an account of the meeting criticised, but it gimplgr sta ''Cs what took place, and that nothing did take placp, WP ich was the usual way. It is not an opinion of the Express at all. Mr Lloyd: Well, then, I misunderstood you. What I mean ia-that we are not to be guided by the papers. It wJuSidear by the letter of the solicitors that the BouJhfiod done what it. ought not to have done. I do n()t see it is neces:-ary I sri"uld say any. thing more. I oo cot see any room for any discussion upon the matter. I do not see that anyone can argue that he should leave these posts thtre, They should be taken from there, aud it is Lr better for us to do so than allow others to do it for us. It ia far better to acknowledge thfl wrong, and thereby remove it. Mr Edward J&nes: I nave always been of opinion that the public have acquired a right over the surfaea of the place, and providing any of the owners attempted t.- close the place this Board would have a rigtit to take up any fence. There baa been a right by the course of time f.r the public to go to the j rive r, and it cannot b„ closed by the owners, and it is for the B ^ard to p>otect the rights of the public. The I.OA* been guilty of trespassing, accord- ing ta the letter, and has been creating nuisanoeg in the past \*hen emptying the fpi4den§, J quite under. The been guilty of trespassing, accord. ing ta the letter, and has been creating nuisanoeg in the past vhen emptying the lpiddelgi, J quite under. stand the nuisance referred to by the Medicil 0nicer, but I do not think that they occur to that extent now. There his been some talk about plant- ing trees there, and I am of opinion that it would be an" improvement. But by doing so the Board would oe infringing the rights of the owners, as the roots of the trees would be placed in the sub-soil, which is private property, and the Board could net own the trees afterwards. The first thlng that they ought to do wou!d be to obtain permission of the adjacent owners of property. The ChairmanI abould like to hear your opinion of the posts. Mr Jones: I do not think that the owners would think that we were attempting to claim the land by putting down the posts, but that we were desirous ot an improvement, and to prevent nuisances. If the owners wanted an explanation, the Board would give them an explanation. But the intention of the Board was good. Mr D. Owen: They did not carry out their intention. Mr Jones: Who, sir? Mr Owen The Board in putting down the posts, because they have left room for a waggon to go through the opening, so that it was not to prevent that. I would propone that they be taken up, and cut up for the use of the poor of the town, until coal is cheaper. It is not wise to leave them there to show the innocence and simplicity of the Local Board of Newtown, perhaps for years to oome. Let 118 take them up. The Chairman I need hardly point out that such a resolution would be out of order. Notice must be given in order to rescind a minute of the Board. He would ba a bold man who would propose to take up those posts after they had decided unanimously to put them down. Mr U. Morgan: I am sorry that Mr David Owen, with his great experience, should ridicule the poor of the parish by suggesting that the posts should be taken up for firewood. I believe the place is a dangerous one, as a man did tall into the river and was drowned. He might have been drunk or he might have been sober, but it is our duty to protect drunken as well as sober men. I think that this lotter gives us full power to deal with it. So far as know the place hat ft ways been complained of M a nuisance, and certainly as a nuisance dangerous to health. T ie Board have taken steps to prevent poor people throwing their slops on to the streets, and the same course ought to be taken with regard to the river b anh. Mr Hag'hfiS I do not quite understand my friend Mr Morgan. We are not now discussing the quea. tion of nuisances, we are discussing the question of posts. Mr Morgan I say we are discussing the letter. Mr Hugnes I say that deposits can be emptied by the King's Bridge even if the posts are allowed to remain where they are. There is nothing to stop them being taken down by the gas-works. Mr Morgan Yes, there is. Mr Hughes But it has not been done. Some gentlemen may go a long way further ahead than any other members of the Board, and it has been said in the past that there were a caucus upon the Board, and I say there is a caucus upon the Board at present. I beg to move that the posts be taken up. The Chairman You are out of order, Mr Hughes, as I pointed out 10 Mr David Owen. M ffitt Mr Owen Mr Morgan id up by the King's Bridge, and wa are down by the Short Bridge (laughter). That is what we are discussing. My little suggestion is that we should allow thousands of loads of refuse to be placed there to fill the banks of the river up, and then we can make something attractive for the town. Mr Jones: But you would have gypsies there (laughter). Mr Owen The poor gypsies must live. I should not like to throw them into the river. Their life is a very hard one, and I am sure not one member ot this Board would like to exchange their position for the gypsies, position, to sleep out in the cold ii; those caravans. I think we ought to come to some arraignments about these posts. Mr Allison I think, Mr Chairman, that you ruled just now that this question was out of order. If Wt. are to rescind the previous minute, notice must be given* —IKW i — Mr Lloyd I hope the Committee will see the error of their ways, and give notice at the next Board meeting to rescind the resolution. Mr Ellison I think it is for those who object, to take the necessary steps. Tue discussion then ceased. APPOINTMENT OF A SOLICITOR. The Chairman suggested that this question shouló be aajaurned.—Mr J. Hughes propvsed, and Mr C. Morgan seconded, that the matter ba adjourned in,ietiaitely.-The motion was carried.—Mr Lloyd saia that he would move that no committee be autnorieed to consult a solicitor without theem ent of he Board.—The Chairman: That is quite unneces- sary because they never do. THE PRICE OF GAS. A letter was read fcom the Secretary of the Gas Company stating that in consequence of the price of coal being so high the discount would not be allowed on the current quarter's or the next quarter's accounts. SUPPLY OF WATER AT MILFORD. Mr ll. hi. Jones wrote saying that he had given instructions for tne repair of tne pump at the Milford Cottages. SHALLOW WILLS. A letter was read from the Local Government Board respecting the shallow weils in the district and adverting to the last paragraph, they said tlw the part of a well requiring cleansing shows that it i* necessary not only to remove the foul matter which had got into it, but also to prevent the furthdi entrance ot such matter, as by removing the sources of contamination from its neighbourhood, and bj making the upper part of the well watertight, so a, tu exclude surface impurities and soil water. It thosf steps couid be effectually taken the wet should be closed, and a supply trom a wholesome source substituted. BA.NGOB COLLEGE. A letter was read respecting the appointment of a governor on the Bangor College, and as the present office terminated on 31st December, it was requested that the Board appoint another governor at its next meeting. It was ordered to be put upon the agenda for the next meeting of the Board. SHORT BIUBGE NUISANCES. = Mr F. W. Cooke wrote complaining of the intoler- able stenches that arose from the mouth of the Green Brook on the Short Bridge. It was so bad that they were almost driven out of the house. Mr Henry Roberts: It is a scandal to the town. The Clerk thought that the sewers werej not connected. Mr Jones said they were all connected. -= L The Clerk said that Mr Pryce was his authority. Mr W. H. Lewis: I think proceedings should be taken to prevent the nuisance, and I propose that the committee be empowered to take proceedings to put a stop to the nuisance.—Carried. THE WATER QUESTION. HEATED JiHSCUSSIOY. A letter was read from the Waterworks Company, to the following purport: They were in receipt of the Board's letter of the 26th ult., and referred them to their letter of August 2nd last, iu which they agreed to accept their proposal of ti.5 IUs. yearly for rent of hydrants, j61 3s. for Cemetery Lodge, and XI 2s. for Local Board Offices. With regard to repairs, the Local Board shall pay the cost of replacing or repairing of any of the said hydrants, pipes, or mains belonging to the Company which may be broken or injured by the Looai Board, or their servants, or their workmen. They cannot accept the Board's offer of 26 15s. for water for urinals, nor can they give way as to the charge of the water .supply since the expiration of their notice. They also agree to sopply the water by measure for. Hushing of sewers and watering streets and flushing of urinals, in accordance with their letter of August and. They have instructed theirsolicitor to delay proceedings until the 4th inst., so as to enable tHe Board to reply, and they trusted thereby to save the necessity of further li.gal proceedings. r The Chairman: As Chairman of the oommitten nn I doubt you expect me to say something. It is now something like one and twenty months since tiii, question was brought up first. It is very gratifying to find that the Waterworks Company are not to take legal proceedings until the fourth ofnex" mouth- The Clerk: The fourth of the present month. The Chairman Yes, until to-morrow (laughter We ought to feel very happy (renewed laughter.) With regard to kydrants. I think it is unreasonable to expect us to pay what I oonBider a very hi^h rent, and also to pay for the repaira. I think I must object to that. Mr Lloyd: I understood the clause to read that the. hydrants or mains when broken by the officials of the: Board were to be repaired by the Board. The Chairman If broken carelessly. Mr Edward Jones:: Tha fire brigade have access to the hydrants, and they do not understand tlnm, and through their inefficiency they maf be broken. The Chairman Really, y»u cannot be in earnest Mr Jones. According to this letter, if they are broken we have to replace them. Mr John Hughes: I understand in the agreement that = £ 15 a year, including everything. Mr Jones; Yes, ordinary wear and tear. One was broken iu High-Street by yottr own men. The Chairman (to Mr Hughtsj: Are you speaking upon behalf of the Board, or wii st? Mr Hughes Upon behalf of 6uo Board. I should ¡ like to know why you asked that question ? I should like to ask you if you are speakiug upon behalf of the Board ? JJ;' The Chairman May I ask where you got your in. formation of those things ? Mr Hughes: I shall not teli you where I got it from. I do not care for you or your anger. Mr Ellison If this is the way we are going to carry oa the business of the ratepayers I tbiDi we had better adjourn. Mr Hughes I represent the ratepayers. I was returned at a contest, not as some member sof the Bo&rd. The Chairman: I must call you to order, Mr Hughes. I caunot allow you to attack a member of the Board, who has the respect of all classes. You were posessed of information that no member of the Board knew anything about. You are sitting next to Mr Lloyd, and it is not very creditable to you or Mr Lloyd that you should be speaking to each other in such a manner (uoroar). Mr W. H. Lewis: I rise to point of order. I think we should proceed with the other business, and not lose time in discussing the subject. Mr C. Morgan I think that any damage done by our men or the fire brigade ought to be paid by the Board. I appeal to Mr Lloyd and Mr Joaes as re- presentatives of the Company Mr Lloyd: I do not represent the Company here. I appear here same as you and the Chairman. Mr Morgan { You eannot serve two masters (langh- ter). Mr Lloyd You are copying the chairman. Mr Morgan: I have never copied the chairman. Mf Lloyd: What do you suggest? You must apeak to Mr Edward Jones and myself as members of the Board. Mr Morgan: We bad better adjourn this queation to the Company. Mr Lloyd I do not understand you. I am here as a member of the Local Board, and you must appeal to me as such, and address me as such. Mr C. Morgan: It is useless continuing discussing. Mr W. H. Lewis suggested that the letter should be referred to the same committee for them to reply to the oompany. Mr Henry Roberts asked that the letter should be read over again. The Chairman read the first portion of the letter, and said that if he stood there alone that night he should vote against accepting the terms. He had said that X15 10s was a very high rent to pay for those hydrants. They could lay down absolutely new ones, and save a considerable amount of money. He would advise them to come to arbitration, which would be simply going to two independent magis- trates of the town, the cost of which would not amount to much. Mr H. Roberts: Has the Company repaired all the damages in the past ? The Surveyor In oases of accident they have repaired them, and we have paid for it. Mr John Hughes: That is the question I asked Uit now. Mr Lloyd; Let me speak now as a member of the ocal Board. I speak to you with regard to the igreement entered into between you aud the Com- jany, which was in existence up to the tune the Com- pany gave notice, and we are using water up to the oreseut time as in the past. There is a clause iu the agreement between us and the Company exactly the ume as read over in that. letter, but where the vreckajje is dOLe by the servants or officers of the Board the Board paid the same. That was an ¡,{reeml.nt signed by the Board, and which is in existence up tu the present time. iitir Henry Roberts: Why should the clause be opeated in the hitter to-nignt ? Mr Jon. s It is a new agreement. Air iiemj Rubeits: It is a repetition of an olu agreement. Mr \V. H. Lewis: Do these hydrants wear out b.) wear and tear P Mr Ed. Jones They got slacker. Mr W. H. Lewis said he really thought that the Board ought to reduce their charge for hydrants. He ;id not know how they couid discuss the letter. He sonsidei ed that it was waste of time, and he sug- gested that the letter be referred to theCooamitue .vho drew up the whole thing between the Board and he Company. The offer made by the Board he con -idered very reasonable, and that the Company ought to agree with them. He repeatsd hi, recommendation that the letter should be referred to the Committee. Mr Edward Jones, referring to the damage the hydrants were subject to, said one was btoken in he C. oss on the occasion of a fire, and it cost £ 2 tl epair it. Would it be reasonable to expect the ompany to do that tor them? He was sorry ti hea. the Chairman say that the bydrauts could b, urm ased for half the money. It was not such ai easy thing to replace the hydrants, and he should like to know where they could be obtained so cheaply. tit3 feared t.lat they had gjue into the question ver,) lightly, and Mr itwid especially tceated the mattei .ightly. Mr Lewis (rising): I did not spaak lightly of the question. Mr Jones You said the Board were liberal. Mr Lewis: I wanted the matter deferred simply because I did not understand where the difference was between the Board and the Company, and there- fore not prepared to vote upon the matter. I think that the Board are fair and reasonable. Mr Edward Jones As far as you know. Mr Lewis: I am not speaking on details. I may speak upon details after I have heard a full dis- cussion, and therefore I moved the adjournment of the question. Mr Jones: There are so many members of the Board that have got such a sore prejudice against the Company. They are one-sided. It ia a matter of opposition and prejudice entirely since this matter has been brought forward. Mc Lewis I shou.d be sorry to be a party to injure the Company. I never hinted at such a thimg. 1 hope to sea the Company tairly dealt with. Mr Jones There was only t5 difference between the Board and the Company at the commencement of the question Mr Lewis The only question that struck me was the imperfect flushing. Mi J ones: That was your own fault. I Mr Lewis 1 moved that the letter be referred back to the Waterworks Committee of this Buard. Mr Hughes I beg leave to second it, and that MI Cooke write to the Company and ask them to extend their time. The Chairman I think that we could leave that part out, Mr Hughes. Mr Ellison: The Committee have alreadr given their report. What do you want the Committee still to do ? Mr Lewis: You have got another letter from the Company stating that they do not agree with the Beard's proposition. As they do notagree, the proper course would be to refer it back to the Committee. The Chairman said that they had gone on with tht question for 21 months, and he now spoke upon behalf or the Board and the town, and it was time it was nettled. They had been practically unanimous upo; tho course to follow, and here was one member of the Board suggesting that the Company should be asked to delay egat procaedings. Mr Hughes There is nothing in the letter about legal proceedings. The Chairman: You mentioned delay, and that meant de.ay of legal proceedings. Mr Hughes. I never mentioned legal proceedings. The Chairman: Here it is in the letter "legal proceedings," and you a member of the Board ask the Company to delay legal proceedings. Mr Le*is:I think that the Committee brought forward au excellent claim, but I consider that it will be unwise for the Board to come to arbitration. 1 think the Company and the Board can agree now upon this small matter after the question has been u cer brought to so successful an issue. The Chairman: The Committee has made a report and there is very little between us. We cannot do more, it is for the Company to agree to our terms, we have practically agreed to theirs, and there ia now but very iittie between us. Mr Ellison said thnt the first difference between the Company and the Board was the question of the water for tno urinals. Mr Henry Roberts What is the difference? Mr Kilison said that the Committee were of opinion that it would cause aiotof unnecessary trouble to place meters at tha end of the urinals. He was so:ry that the matter had assumed a heated discussion, and thought itb. tter to isettle those things in an amic- able spirit and as coul &s they could. He was sorry that member* of the Board attempted to sa-y unkind things of other members. He never had done so. He was of opinion that the question could be settled much easier between themselves and the Company. Mr Ellison's remarks led to couciliatory ao .ion, and Mr Lloyd rose and suggested that the Board should go into committee and talk the matter over This they accordingly did, and ior some time there was a keen discussion, and the whoie subject was reviewed from end to end. Eventually Mr Lewis's motion to refer the letter to the committee was carried. KEDiCAL OFFICER'S REPORT. Dr. Palmer (medical officer) reported as follows: There are no fresh cases of diphtheria or typhoid to report, and I am pleased to say that the existing cases are doirg well, and that every precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of the diseases. I am sorry to say that four cases of scarlet lever have been reported. 1 have endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to traee the otirce of the infection. The usual pre- h. .1. T.1. -4.L .L- j ins:ructio s of your Sanitary Commitiee, 1 have/ examined iha Qaeen'e Head yard aud Garden-lane, I And find Mat the nuisance arising from the pigstyes baiungiiig to Mr Poweli is injurious to health This nui-anco 1.; constantiy recurring, and I btrongly reoomoiend the B^ard to take such steps as wdl j altogether prevent the keeping of pigs in the places ] is'jove in,jj., ,I ed. I have reported frequently about t r. and I aU'. confident that iu t^e iaLerests of the health of the community it is necessary to make e-,o,y effort to prohibit the keeping of pigs in this I y >r< A uisanoo arises from the pigstye in Park- lane. Hid the owner ahould be noticed to compjy with the bye-laws.P.S. I have omitted from my report that I have again examined the premises behind Clifton-terrace and still consider them a nuisance injurious to health, and advise e Board to insist upon the carrying out of the previous recommenda- tions. The Inspector said that steps had already been taken to clean the pigstyes in the neighbourhood referred to. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Inspector reported nuisances in various parts of the town, and Mr Lloyd proposed that notice be given to the parties concerned, and if the nuisance was not abated within nine days that proceedings be taken against them.—Mr D. Owen seconded, and it was carried. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. Mr R. W. Davies, surveyor, reported that the ordinary sanitary duties of his department had been attended to regularly. He hoped to complete the Green Brook diversion in a week. Three new man- holes had been erected on the Sewage Farm, and preparations were being made for erecting ventilating shafts on the sewer system. The metalling of the streets was being pushed forward. He wished to learn the instructions of the Board respecting the repairing of the main roads and streets in question between the Local Board and the County Council, whether they wished him to wait until the boundaries of the main roads were defined. He also wished to learn if the Board would permit him to use the setts which were taken up in the Cross to construct crossings in various places in the town where required. A new house ha3 been built at the back of the salt ware- house in High-street, and although asked for the plans the owners had not presented them as they ought to have done.—On the motion of Mr Lloyd it was decided to allow tho Surveyor to use the setts for the purposes mentioned by him.—It was also decided that the owner of the now house in High-street should be written to asking for plaus. REPORT BY GAS COMMITTEE. An important report was presented upon the gas by the committee, and as there were only five mem- bers now present it was agreed to adjourn for a fortnight.

THE ABOLITION OF THE HOUSE 01 LORDS. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT NEWTOWN. On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the Victoria Hall, for the purpose ot hearing the Rev H. H. Alford, of Birmingham, deliver a lecture on the above subject. There was a largo audience, preside, over by Mr Richard Lloyd, J .P. In opening the proceedings, the CHAIRMAN re- ferrad to the statements made by the Borough Mem- ber at Welshpool, and said if Sir Prjce-Jones had been well advised he would have refrained from men- lioning the subject of the election petition. Whatever he Eiight say tie could not efface rhe words of Mi Justice Wills those would live in the memory of ttoe people, and on the first occasion they would mark Lhel: entire disapproval of the Borough Member' conduct, by allowing him to take a very second rate position on the polls (loud cheers). The man who miart:presented the Boroughs in Parliament, on eve; y occasion that presented itself, opposed every measurt of reform, voted against the rights of the people ann progressive legislation. He was in favour, he gaid, of the advancement of the good of the people, but in truth he was bitterly opposed to democratic reform He was iu for the classes, and not for he masses. With reference to the coal strikes and th« difficulty of fait wages for the miners, the speaker baid the time woulu soon come when the matter would have to betaken up by Government (cheers). The minerals bad been placed by God in the ground not for thu benefit of om individual, but for the good of the whole community (toud applause). They belonged to the people, and it was for the nation to take th, m up as national property. Tne action of the owner" had been shame- tul throughout (cheers). Hundreds of thousands of tons of coal, which had been previously worthless aDd could not be given away, had been sold ut enormous prices, and the owners had made immense fortune, white thousands of men, women and children had beet; in a state of starvation and distress (cheers) It wa" a scandalous piece of business, and the Government should take up the matter aud recdfy this great wrong of the people. The people were wronged on the right and on the left, while the pocketa of the lords and other men who owned the pits were being filled to overflowing (cheers). These people prin- cipally belonged to the Tory patty, and they knew that that party went into Parliament for the very opposite of the good of the masses, und forgot the people, whether they existed or lived, and cared less whether they existed or lived (cheers). Rev H. D. ALFORD, who was cordially received, commenced his lecture by stating that they had com, to a crisis in their nation's history, and went on t(.. describe the methods adopted by the House of Lords in rejecting measures sent up by the House of Com- mons. When the measure of such importance aud of so far reaching effect as the Home Rule Bill was sent up their Lordships rejected it, but after it had been presented a second time they would think twice before throwing it out. That had been their prac- tice in the past. They said they would pass the Bill when the voice of the country was heard in its favour, but they would take care to use every endeavour to prevent the real voice of the country being heard. They would resort to all kinds of dodges, all kinds of mean tricks. In North Staffordshire they resorted io three things beer, bribery and batting. What did they want to do with the House of Lords ? They did not want to destroy peers. There always would be peers. The greatest peer in the country was Mr Gladstone (cheers). They wanted to take away from them the power of interfering with the legislation of the country, and let that work be vested in the nation's representatives (cheers). The more the people knew about the peers the more would they realise that they were only concerned for themselves, to protect their own privileges, power, influence and wealth, and not to promote the welfare of the people at large. Several blows had been struck by the country at the House of Lords, and they had got them to the place and time when they said they were going to die in the last ditch. They did not care if they did, and the coun- try would be only too pleased to facilitate the coming of their last hour. Tne last ditch rdeant their lust point of strength, and that was the plural vote (loud cheers). There were many lords who had scores of votes, by owning a few shillings' worth of property in the various constituencies, and by using all these votes they fondly hoped to carry the country with them. The system of plural votes was a system which should be abolished; they wanted to establish one man one vote (loud cheers). The speaker then went on to show that the Tudor peers, who formerly paid rent to the Crown for their estates, which they dishonestly wrested from the monasteries, had taken possession of them without paying any rent, and instead of the king receiving money from them they taxed the people's food. If these estates had been retained by the Crown they would have produced an annual income of tIOO,000,000, thus obviating the necessity of imperial taxation. There was a group of persons in the House of Lords that the country would be glad to gi-t rid of—the bishops (loud cheers). There were 21 of them, and they all voted against Home Rule. There they were in fiue linen and long sleeves (laughter). There was a Church Congress held at Birmingham a short time ago, and they talked about religious re-union, and Mr Gore laid down the principle that Dissenters must recognise the authority of the bishops-(laughter)—recognise their authority as having come from the apostles- (renewed laughter). Bishops by apostolic succession He was glad that Mr Guiness Rogers held said that he did not care a snap of his fingers for apostolic succession. He did not care a snap of his finger abl ut it, and he defied anybody to find apostolic succession taught in the New Testament, or even find there a bishop similar to an Anglican bishop in the Church of England (laughter). They might search, but they would not find him there. These men called themselves "right reverend fathers in God (loud laughter). He wondered what that meant, and what HI bHc1 authority they had for the use of that term. They claimed to be God's representatives on earth, and found in their documents that they held that whatever they bound on earth should be bound in heaven, and whatever they loosed on earth should be loosed in heaven" (laughter). In God's nam they went to the Hou^e of Lords, and voted against the Home ltule Bill. These right reverend fathers in God called themselves Christians, whose calling was I to promote peace, but these men voted for the per- petuation of war. In the Church they found every- thing cut and dried. Their prayers were written out, they were told what to say, when to say it, when to stand, when to kneel down, and all the rest of it (laughter). They had a catechism which the children must learn, and taught to be obedient to their spiritual pastors and masters. How they could ca-li themselves such was beyond his comprehension and in direct opposition to the words of Christ, who said Cail no Master on earth. for one ia your Master, evon Curist." The men who boasted that they were ambassadors of Christ, instead of preaching His gospel, tho gospel of reconciliation, preached by their votes in the House of Lords the gospel of war and hostility. He could not understand how these 21 right reversnd fathers in G .d reconciled their professions with their aotions.—The speaker at the close of his address was loudly cheered, aod a resolution was passed condemning the action of the House of Lords in rejecting the Home Rule Bill, oa the motion of Mr in rejecting the Home Rule Bill, on the motion of Mr W. Cooke and Air C. HeweiL

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THOMAS JONES PASSES AWAY. The Amador Leiyer (published at Jackson, Cali- fornia) of October 13th, has the following: One of Jackson's oldest residents, Thomas Jones, departed this life at his home near Jackson upon Saturday last, and was interred in the Jackson cemetery upon Monday, the 9th inat., the funeral services taking place at the Methodist church, where many sorrowing friends assembled to pay honour to the deceased. The following obituary notice was read at the church by Rev Williams Thomas Joms was born in Newtown, Montgomery- shire, North Wales, on the first of January, 1817. He emigrated to America in 1843, and the same year, shortly after his arrival in New York, was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Owens, also a native of Newtown, who had preceded him to America several months. When the news of the discovery of gold in California reached the Eastern States, he was among the first to resolve to try his fortune in the new-found gold regions of the west. Leaving his wife and child in Philadelphia, in the early part of 1849, in company with a party of kindred adventurous spirits, he started for California by the Panama route. Arriving in Vera Cruz, Mexico, they crossed to Tehautepec, on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Here Mr Jones, with a party of twenty-six, purchased a schooner, with which they intended to make the trip to San Francisco, the nearest seaport to the gold fields. They had proceeded but a short distance on the voyage when disaster befell the vessel, compelling them to put into the nearest Mexican port for repairs. Here the party divided, one portion concluding to stay with the schooner the other, which included Mr Jones, decided to muke the remainder ot the journey entirely by land. This journey of over twelve hundred miles, through Mexico and desert country in Lower and Southern California, was full of peril and hardship in those days. Among the party was James McClatchy, afterwards proprietor and editor of the Sacramento Bee, and several other men who after- wards took a prominent part in the history of the State. After suffering greatly by the way, being once or tw<ce reduced to tho necessity of subsisting on horseflesh. Mr Jones reached the neighbourhood of Jackson in Juiy, lS49, and for a number of years thereafter devoted himself with considerable success to mining the rich placers so pLntiful hereabouts in early days. His family joined him m 1853. Sub- sequently he engaged in the hotel business in Jackson, which piopyrty was reduced to ashes in the great fire of 1862 leaving only the homestead on the confines of the town, and which has boon the scene of his I domestic joys aud sorrows for nearly forty years. J Deceased was a man fur above the average in mental j and moral character. Under all circumstances he I Sooadtaatiy lived up to his convictions of right, and ] during nis residence of nearly hair a century here commanded to the last the coafid^nce and esteem of all who knew him. He his filled several offices of pu'jlia trust. He was Justice of the Peace here, afterward deputy Internal Revenue Collector of this district for many years. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Amador county in 1856, and prior to 1876 was chairman of the county central committee for two or three successive terms. His last illness was brief. He first complained of feeling sick on September 30th. He was able to get around the house for several days thereafter. On Wednesday the symptomi were such as to demand medical assistance. The disease was pronounced to be an attack of pleurisy, .vhich rapidly developed to a fatal termination. He died at 1.30 p.m., October j 7th, a.ged 70 years, 9 months and 6 days. His mind wus unclouded almost to the last. In the few wandering moments that preceded dissolution, he was heard to murmur the name of his beloved wife, who over five years before him pas,ed through the valley of death, and by whose side ic becomes the fiad duty of the surviving members of his family to plac3 his mortal remains to-day. The deceased leaves two sons, T. R. Jones, of Sacramento, and H. W. Jones of Jackson, and one daughter, Mrs E. Webb of Jackson. —

MANAFON. The Rev. S. W. Davies vicar of Ecclusbam, Wrex- ham, has been offered and accepted the living of Manafon. The living is stated to be worth about RAO poir Atimm.