The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

Bile Beans and Indigestion. Mr John Meggatt, a miner of Drongan (Ayr), suffered from indigestion for eight years. Pain after every meal, sleeplessness, and gradually decreasing strength were the symptoms. His blood became impoverished, and when he sus- tained a cut or bruise in the course of his work, it festered and was bad for a long time. He underwent a course of Bile Beans and in a few weeks was not like the same man! Now, he says, he is in the best of health, can enjoy hearty meals. and is in fine condition." When he gets a cut or bruise-as miners so often do-it no longer festers, but heals rapidly and gives no trouble, showing clearly that his blood is now in the condition it should be. Bile Beans, purely vegetable in composition, are nature's remedy for all liver and digestive disorders. They don't merely alleviate they cure

NEW PATENTS. The following description is specially drawn for the Montgomeryshire Express' by Messrs. Hughes, Son and Thornton, patent agents, 38, Chancery-lane, London, of whom all information relating to patents, designs, and trade marks may be obtained free of charge. 22,362-D. J. Morgan, of Cardiff, for railway vehicles. Brakes, hand. Relates to eitherside brakes in which the brake levers are fitted with springs or buffers. One brake lever is connected to one end of the cross-shaft, to the other end of which is fixed a lever connected by suitable links and a bell crank to the hand lever at the diagonally- opposite corner of the wagon. In a modification a lever is mounted on a through brake shaft which is connected by short levers to the operating lever while in some cases the shaft, bell crank, and arms are formed in one piece. The brake levers rest on ledges to hold the brakes off" or are forced inwards against springs to engage the rack and keep the brakes on." The springs may be of various kinds, or the brake levers may be in two parts jointed together and controlled by springs.

Llansantffraid Churchyard. A meeting of the Pool Parish Council was held on Monday, the Chairman (Mr E H. Evans), presiding.—Mr J. Rees moved a resolution with regard to the sanitary state of the parish church- yard, and repeated statements he had made at a recent Parish Meeting.—Mr Perroct pointed out that there was no cause whatever for complaints; no case of sickness attributable to the churchyard amongst the residents immediately near had been known for the last fifty years, and the well water near had been tested and found perfectly pure. His aunt, the late Vicar's widow, occupied the Vicarage for about forty-five years, and no case of sickness had occurred there during that period, and the same might be said of the present residents of the Vicarage. The fact was that no case could be made out against the churchyard. With regard to the village, however, there were one or two nuisances which needed immediate and serious attention.—On the motion being put to the vote, it was declared lost.—Mr J. Davies, Dolwen, pointed out that Mr Rees and his seconder, Mr Gittins, contradicted each other; they objected to the ground added to the church- yard as being too near to dwelling houses, whereas they proposed that a piece nearer the Vicarage, and adjoining a school-room attended by 120 children, should be added to the church- yard.—The Chairman said he considered the churchyard perfectly sanitary, for the inhabitants who lived near it enjoyed as good, if not better, .health than those who lived at other places in the village.

HARD ON PHYSICIANS. Prophecy is an unsafe business—so unsafe, that he who predicts the most astounding events cannot be said to incur greater risk of failure than he who undertakes to tell us the sort of weather we shall have next week. The great Walpole, in 1751, had the hardihood to write:— "I have long been persuaded that the most increditable discoveries will be made; and that about the time, or a little after I die; the secret will be found out how to live for ever-and that secret, I believe, will not be discovered by a physician. This declaration by a man of Walpole's intelligence is very remarkable, and one scarce knows what to make of it. That during the last 150 years there have been numerous discoveries which would have been increditable to the people of 1751 we all know. But how to prolong our lives here for ever seems as much beyond our powers now as when Walpole died, more than a century ago. Why Walpole should have excepted physicians from the possible dis- coverers of the great secret of life is not clear, un- less in his day (as in ours) where physicians failed others frequently succeeded. That such is nowa- days the case was recently proved by Mr William Culmer, of Sunny Hill, Borden, near Sittingbourne* Kent. After montns or sufienng, writes Mr Culmer on 12th March, 1902, "from indigestion and gastric ulcer, Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup restored me to perfect health. Last August my illness became severe My appetite declined, and I had a constant feeling of weariness. When at last a pain settled under my heart, which caused me to pant on the slightest exertion, I obtained professional advice. The doctor's treat- ment relieved me for a short time, but I was soon as bad as ever again. My sleep was fitful and disturbed by dreams. Often I would get up more fagged than when I went to bed, going to work: with barely a mouthful of breakfast-for I had no relish for food. Whatever I ate occasioned fearful pain and a sinking at the stomach. My skin was sallow, eyes sunken, and cheeks hollow. The doctor failing to cure me, my wife and friends. thought my case hopeless; and such was my own opinion. But being induced to try Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup, after a few doses of that medicine I was considerably relieved. As I continued to take it, I found myself again able to digest food. I could sleep well; strength returned to my limbs and colour to my cheeks. In six weeks my cure WIa eomplete."

MONTGOMERYSHIRE 1^1 LLAOfi SCHOOLS. Their Future Management. [BY "IMARcir ON. Now that the fierce contreversies engendered by the passing of the Education Act have almost, died out, and everywhere are to be seen manifestations of a genuine desire to make the best of this means of reform, I should like to see the columns of ffte Express filled with hints and suggestions from educational experts, which may put new Affe into our too long neglected country schools. Since 1870 the larger town school boards have done excellent work, but the dead hand of the "clergy in the one case, and the crass ignorance of the small school board in the other," have kept the village school from making but little advance. Let the County Council look well after the rural schools, the urban will look well after themselves. Half the children of Wales are in the country schools and demand inatant attention so as to be placed on a level with the town scholars. Thanks to the progressive broad-minded views of Our Excellent County Member, brighter days are in store for the village boys and. girls. Mr Humphreys-Owen's preliminary scheme is looked upon as a model one beyond the confines of our own eounty. May the majority of ¿he Education Committee consist of persons of sirailar calibre, endued with ripe experience and treal education zeal! Great things have been accomplished for intermediate schools, but unfor- tunately the foundation has been neglected, and Consequently neither elementary nor secondary schools have prospered as they ought to have dane. Many points will require alteration in the Act before a complete and satisfactory system is arrived at. All distinction between elementary schools must be blotted out, and instead of Church Schools, Wesleyan Schools, provided schools, and non-provided schools, let us have primary schools and intermediate only. The 4oixild is only a child-not a theologian—therefore denominational matters must be left for other outside agencies, supplementary to and indepen- dent of the day school. By all means get teachers wlw are members of a Christian church, insist on oligious teaching after the syllabus of the London iSohool Board for example, and then let each denomination be left to impart its distinctive dogma in the Sunday school, etc. LTntil this is done we shall stillj have to put up with a dual system of schools and. teachers. The clergy and ministers are paid to look after the young in religious matters, then let them do their work and cot shirk it by shifting their responsibilities IOU. to the shoulders of the hard worked, badly paid day-achool teachers. It is very probable 4hat amongst the members of the new committees will be found several ,Tory fossils and Radical autedeluvians who still affirm that scarcity of labourers and servants is due to education. If landowners and farmers would only allow com- petent workmen to occupy small holdings sufficient to keep a cow, pigs, and poultry, scores ..r men would be glad to return to the land instead of crowding into towns. But so long as wretched cottages, scanty gardens, and poor -education remain, so long will our county's rapid depopulation continue. Now for a few remarks as to the present state of the schools:— 1. The Buildings, etc.—I am delighted to find that the County Committee intend shortly to wtait each school and report on the same. Some fierI Startling Discoveries dm,v be looked for, and if the Council simply do -their duty (and they will), masons and painters wm-have a busy time of it this coming summer. at may be asked, where is the money to come <rom ? The foundation managers must find the ash. cost what it may. If they are not prepared 6)r this they can retire and hand the school over ta. county control entirely. They will find that .4ha days of the dummy manager are gone, and -the career of the one man ruler is ended,— .quite time, too! I am afraid that with a few Aright exceptions the Council will find dirty schoolrooms, dirty closets and yards, insufficient erao water supply, apparatus and furniture out «r date, small inconvenient school houses, and worst of all, only one teacher working single- handed where there ought to be three. If the Intermediate Schools have only 16 scholars to ch teacher, what results can be expected from the primary schools where there is but one "aber only, who attempts the impossible in trying to muddle along somehow with fifty or sixty children split up into six or seven classes ? 2. Aftendance.-Complaints are made by Mr Gegard, his Majesty's chief inspector for Wales, and also by Mr Darlington (H.M. inspector for this county) as to the appalling low averages and wretched attendances in all parishes. If the County Council will follow the example of some of our colonies and make use of Ths Village Policeman for attendance officer, with an extra 2s Gd weekly additional pay, this bad attendance would rapidly vanish. At least, let the plan be tried for twelve months. Magistrates want looking up quite as much as ncglsctful parents. 3. School Gardens and Fields for Spo)-ts.-The former are advised by the Board of Education, and have formed useful additions to many rural schools. The gardens are planted and managed by the older scholars, and much valuable wisdom can bo gathered about vegetables, flowers, and fruits. Then as to fields for games. Is it not strange that with plenty of ground near the schools space cannot be had for football, cricket and othar necessary pastimes. A five pound note should cover all expenses for rent, and country children could then have their teachers amongst them at work and play. A zealous teacher can do immense good by mixing with his scholars at play. The County Schools must have a field, then I claim the same advantage for the village child. 4. Teachers' Qualifications. Let as many teachers as possible qualify themselves with a university degree, and let there be promotion of the best elementary teachers to the intermediate schools and the inspectorate irrespective of age. Above all l"t the Council attend at once to the many wants of the village school, and let the schools of Montgomeryshire become the very best in WTales.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL. Annual Meeting at Newtown. The annual meeting of the Montgomery County Council was held at the Police Court, Newtown, on Tuesday. Mr A. C. Humphreys-Owen, M.P., presided, and there were also present:—Captain Myttoa (vice-chairman), Col. E. Pryce-Jones, M.P., Messrs F. M. Campbell, Samuel Ellis, Richard Rees, Richard Lloyd, W. F. Addie, David William, W. Scott Owen, A. W. Williams-Wynn, Charles E. Howell, M. Davies, H. R. Harrison, C. Gittins, M. E. Francis, E. R. James, Daniel Howell, David Hamer, Evan Lewis, W. Ashton, J. Thompson Williams, C. J. Newell, W. Edwards, Geo. Kempster, Edward Bowen, E. R. Owen, F. V. Ashton, R. Richards, Evan Chapman, C. E. Humphreys, C. Shuker, T. Buckley Jones, W. Davies, R O. Perrott, Robert Thomson, and Richard Jones; with the Clerk (Mr G. D. Harrison) and the other officials. Election of Chairman. The first business was the election of Chairman, and Mr Humphreys-Owen having vacated the chair, Dr HUMPHREYS said he had great pleasure in proposing the re-appointment of Mr A. C. Humphreys-Owen, M.P. In doing so, he was willing to admit that in the ordinary course of things it was quite proper that the honours of the chair should go round, but there were excep- tional circumstances in their case. He felt that the present juncture, when the Education Act would be coming into force, and they knew the difficulties that would arise under the new circumstances, they, as a Council, ought to feel proud that they should have the services of Mr Humphreys-Owen for another year. He thought it would be a credit to the Council, and certainly an advantage, if they could prevail upon him to accept the duties of the chair for the coming year. Mr DAVID HAMER seconded. The CLERK put the resolution, and it was carried without a single dissentient. The CHAIRMAN thanked the Council for their renewed mark of confidence. He said he should be glad to place his services at their disposal for the carrying out of the Education Act, which, he hoped, they would be able to do to the satisfaction of the whole county. The next business was to elect a duly qualified person as Vice-Chairman. A Faithful Servant. Mr r. B. JONES said he had great pleasure in proposing that Capt. Mytton be elected Vice- Chairman. Although politically he could not admire Capt. Mytton, he was a man who dis- charged his duties well, and was one of the most faithful members of the Council (hear, hear). Like many gentlemen in the county, he could give his time to pleasure, but he ungrudgingly devoted himself to the public service, and he (the speaker) could not but admire him on that account. Mr C. J. NEWELL seconded, and said the county should be greatly indebted to him for the attention he gave to public work. The resolution was carried unanimously. Capt. MYTTON said he thanked them for the honour they had done him, and he would assist the Chairman as much as ever he could in the duties they had to perform, and no doubt they would get on very well (hear, hear). Election of a County Alderman. The election of an alderman to succeed the late Mr Thomas Watkins, Llanfair, took place by ballot, with the result that Mr C. W. Humphreys, Ty Issa, Llanfair, farmer, received 17 votes, and was unanimously elected, no other name being mentioned. An Acknowledgement. The CLERK read a letter from Mrs Watkin and family, Llanfair, acknowledging with feelings of deep gratitude the kind message of sympathy received from the Montgomery County Council in their bereavement. The Machynlleth Rifle Range. A communication was read from the War Office stating that the question of the proposed road diversion at Machynlleth had been carefully con- sidered, and it was regretted that no contribution towards the expense could be made from army funds. Mr F. M. CAMPBELL said that before the next meeting of the Council arrangements might be come to which would lead to a settlement of this vexed question, and with the consent of the Council he moved the adjournment of the discus- sion of the letter. Col. E. PRYCE-JONES, M.P., seconded, and this course was agreed to. Excessive Railway Rates. A communication was read from the Clerk to the Cardigan County Council enclosing a copy of the following resolution passed by them :—" That the Councils of neighbouring Welsh counties be invited to co-operate with this Council in endeavouring to secure for farmers and others more favourable terms from the local railway companies, and to this end that a joint committee be formed, consisting of three representatives of each Council, to examine the question of railway rates and negotiate with the companies." He added that he was authorised by Mr Vaughan Davies, M.P., to state that in the event of a con- ference of the representatives of the Welsh County Councils being arranged as proposed, Mr Hanbury had promised to attend to it. Mr F M. CAMPBELL suggested that they ask for further information as to what was proposed to be done. He said there was not the slightest doubts that railway rates for timber alone pre- vented a considerable trade from coming to the county. Col. PRYCE-JONES suggested that Mr Camp- bell should move that the Council comply with the resolution of the Cardigan Council. Mr CAMPBELL moved that the Council appoint three representatives. Col. PRYCE-JONES seconded, and this was carried. The following were appointed :—Messrs Camp- bell, Richard Rees, and W. F. Addie. The Rating of Machinery. A long letter was read requesting the Council to appoint representatives to a conference of local authorities to be held in London on the following day (March 18th) with the view of opposing the Rating of Machinery Bill, 1903, which favours exemption of machinery from rating. The CHAIRMAN asked if anyone would volunteer to go, and no one doing so, the letter was laid on the table. The Chairman added that he did not think the Bill would go further than the second reading this session. Vaccination. A letter was read from the Royal Institute of Public Health forwarding a copy of a communica- tion addressed to the President of the Local Government Board with reference tc the renewal and amendment of the Vaccination Act of 1898. ( It was stated that in view of the fact that the President of the Local Government Board in his raply to a deputation on the 14th January, 1903, definitely stated that it was impossible for the Government to undertake to supply lymph generally throughout the United Kingdom, the Council were of opinion that probably the best solution of this important part of the question would be found in the transfer cf the National Vaccine Establishment from the control of the Government by the establishment in the provinces of laboratories by the various County Councils. The CHAIRMAN said this was very important, but in a small county like their's they could not possibly establish a laboratory of their own, but they might circularise the adjoining counties asking if they were willing to consider the question in a joint connection. Dr HUMPHREYS said he did net think there had been any difficulty experienced by public vaccinators in obtaining lymph in their county. Col E. PRYCE-JONES, M.P., suggested that the letter be referred to the Sanitary Committee, which would be appointed that day. The CHAIRMAN: Then we had better adjourn the question to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.—Agreed. Newtown Evening Schools. A letter was read from the Clerk of the New- town School Board stating that the Head Master of the New Church-street Evening School intended teaching geography in place of botany, and asking the Council's sanction of the alteration.—Granted. The Operation of the Education Act. A circular letter was read from the Board of Education with regard to the date when the Education Act would be brought into operation by the Council.—The following resolution on the question stood 01 the agenda in the name of the Chairman: "That application be made to the Board of Education to postpone the appointed day for bringing the Act into operation in this county until the 30th September, or such later day as may on the application of the Council be sanctioned by the Board of Education." The CHAIRMAN, in moving his resolution, said it was desirable that they should take full ti:ne for consideration in bringing the Act into force. A very great change would be made by it, it raised many contentious question:?, and would require a great deal of administrative detail to be gone into very carefully before they could get the matter in real satisfactory working order. He may mention, although it was within the know- ledge of everyone present, that there was a move- ment on foot which would very greatly alleviate the strain which might otherwise take place in the administration of the Act. Every County Council in North Wales had almost unanimously passed a resolution in favour of a conference being held between representatives of County Councils and the Managers of Voluntary Schools with the view of, if possible, coming to an amicable arrangement with the points at issue between the Voluntary Schools and the Councils by the passing of the Act. On the other hand, lie thought it was unnecessary to make a very long delay. Suggestions had been made that the Council should ask for the whole period of 18 months from the 26th of March, but it did not appear to him as far as he could see that any object would be served by such a long postpone- ment as that. There was a general feeling that they may get through all their arrangements by the end of September. At all events they might safely ask the Board of Education to fix 30th September provisionally, reserving to the Council tha right to make further application in case it was found impossible by that time to set the whole work into operation. The Council were aware that the draft scheme had been printed and circulated. Whether it had been circulated quite widely enough he did not know. It may perhaps be well to send copies to the different public bodies-parish and district Councils, so as to give them full opportunity of officially considering the proposals they had to make. Mr RICHARD REES seconded, and suggested to the Chairman that certain other words be added to the resolution to make the position of the Council perfectly safe. He said the work to be done was great They had so many schools in the county which must be surveyed. There were endowments to be seen to, and a good many other things, and if they were not ready by 30th September they might have some difficulty in getting the scheme through. There was a feeling in the upper part of the county that the County Council were moving too fast in this matter. Personally he did not think so, and he had had to protect the Council against that. There was that feeling in the upper end of the county, and to meet that he thought they could give them plenty of time to discuss the matter. The CHAIRMAN said he thought the addition suggested by Mr Rees was practically covered by his wording of the resolution. Mr DAVID HAMER said that with regard to the important conference held at Llandrindod, and at which he was the only representative of the county with the exception of the Chairman, the Council might like to hear something about it from it. The tone of the meeting was everything that could be desired. Conciliation was the cry of the day, and if the proposals made there could be carried out he thought it was the duty of the Council to give every facility for the carrying out of the proposals which would lighten the labours of the Council in future. It would remove all that hard feeling which had existed during the last 30 years between the two classes of schools. Education had been a great bone of contention, but in future he thought all feeling should be banished. Col. E. PRYCE-JONES, M.P., said he was sorry that the day stated was 30th of September. He was sorry to find that the harmonious way in which they were going along had been somewhat checked. He thought the County Council was capable of doing justice to the Act without wait- ing for any hints from other county councils in Wales. He could not help feeling that they were really stultifying themselves. It was arranged at a meeting of the committee to call a meeting of the Council to consider the scheme. It went through the Press that this meeting of the County Council would be held on a certain date, but to his great surprise and inconvenience he found that for some reason or other the meeting never came off. A committee had been appointed to deal with these matters, but there was no report before the Council, and they were not taking the com- mittee's advice now. The reason given for the resolution of the Chairman was that in the mean- time certain compromises might be arrived at. His view was that it was an unfortunate attitude for the County Council to take when they consid- ered that the majority on the Council were Liberals, and they saw that day that they had appointed a chairman who had been chairman for 11 years, and they (the Conservatives) had assented to it, it seemed to him rather unkind and ungenerous of the County Council, having a majority politically opposed to the minority, to hold over in a threatening way (for that was the position), the operation of the Education Act. He certainly thought that in Montgomeryshire they could have settled this matter satisfactorily to those interested in Voluntary schools and Board schools, and those interested in the county generally, and he was inclined to think that the compromise which was so much wanted could be better carried out by each County Council. He only hoped that common sense and justice would rule, and that the action of the majority of the I whole of the Councils of Wales would not land the Pn'nrinalitv in a condition which would not be a credit to that part of the United Kingdom. He was extremely sorry that their Chairman appeared to be scarcely, in bis opinion, leading in this matter as he should like to see him. He hoped the best would happen, but having made these remarks he would say no more. The VICE-CHAIRMAN said he saw no reason why the Act should not have been put into force at once, as had been done in England. The post- ponement of the matter meant several months of waiting, but he hoped that if they decided upon 30th September steps would be taken at once so as not to have matters rushed during the last few weeks. Referring to the Llandrindod conference, he said he failed to see how one mouthpiece could bind the constitution of the different classes of schools throughout the county, and as it seemed to him to be perfectly impracticable the sooner the better it was dropped, and the sooner they took into consideration the working of the Act the better they would get on. Mr W. ASHTON said it was worth making an effort to try to get all the schools of Wales to work on a sound and equitable basis. Whatever would be the result of the effort, perhaps he was not very hopeful that it would come to anything, I it was worth an effort. He had always felt that with regard to intermediate education, if there had been one scheme fcr the whole of Wales, or for North Wales, instead of for each county, it would have been more satisfactory. He hoped this co-operation between different sections in Wales would bring a general system of education throughout the Principality, and also that by a little conciliation on every side they would arrive at a fair arrangement, and elementary education in Wales would work on the same lines. Mr CHARLES SHUKER said he thought the Council would ba very wrong if they postponed I the matter further than September. As to the bitter feelings mentioned by some of the speakers he had been connected with education and denominations all his life, but had never experienced that bitter feeling, and he thought there was too much made of the bitter feeling mentioned. Bitter feelings did not exist in reality, but they were made, for what purpose he would not say, but they were manufactured. The reason for postponing the matter was not that they might learn how to better carry out the Act but in order to discover means how not t "> carry out the Act. He was told that means were being taken, and conferences would be held to discover how to walk round the Act. That was a very serious matter. If they were going to post- pone it in order to learn how to carry out the Act that would be a very good reason. The Drafting Committee of the Council had held several meet- ings, and great interest had been taken in the matter by the members, but the working of that committee had been stopped all at once. He was sorry that they were not endeavouring to carry out the Act which had been passed in the best manner possible. A large number of counties were taking up the Act on April 1st, others on 30th June, and he suggested there was no need 119 for this long postponement. It might have a result which the Council did not anticipate, and rouse up such feelings as had been mentioned. Mr R. LLOYD suppcrted the resolution. Col. PRYCE-JONES suggested that the Council would be unanimous if the resolution made the application for September 30th without the other provision. The CHAIRMAN said it was only a provision for an exceptional emergency. He thought that by September 30th they could adjust all difficulties or agree to differ, and with Mr Rees's leave he would withdraw the latter part of the resolution. This was agreed to, and the resolution was carried unanimously. A Big Deficit Prophesied! Mr REES asked if it was necessary for them to impress upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer the necessity of rendering the County Council some financial aid in the matter. The CHAIRMAN replied that it was most im- portant. He might say, however, that the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer had been approached by a deputation from the County Councils Association on the subject of providing the County Councils with some working capital with which to start their business. Mr R. E. Jones, whom he generally found reliable in his estimates, informed him that so far as he could see they would be left with a deficit of X5,000 simply owing to the necessity of having to provide that amount of capital for the carrying on of the different schools. The County Councils Association and other influential bodies most certainly impressed this matter on the Government. The money must be found somehow, either by the ratepayers or by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the right course, in his opinion, was for it to be found by the Chancellor of the Exchequer granting short loans made repayable in four or five years. That would be a small matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and would be a great relief to the ratepayers of the different counties. He therefore hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be influenced to take that course. Replying to a question raised by Mr KEMP' STER, the CHAIRMAN said the School Boards and the Voluntary School managers would continue their present work until September 30, and would, therefore, be entitled to their propor- tionate share of the grants. Appointments. The Council then proceeded to the election of committees. The Executive Committee Diseases (Animals) Act was re-elected, with the addition of Col. E. Pryce-Jones, M.P. The members of the Local Government Com- mittee (Acts 1894 and 1896) were re-elected, Alderman Humphreys being substituted for Alderman Thomas Watkin (deceased). The death of the same gentleman caused a vacancy in the Standing Joint Committee, to which Mr Samuel Ellis was elected. The other members were re-appointed. The Standing Committee under Allotments Act, 1890, and Small Holdings Act, 1892, were also re-elected, with the substitution of Mr Daniel Howells for Mr Thomas Watkin. "Dead Letters." A member enquired what was the use of these committees. Col. PRYCE-JONES, M.P., said it was a fact that the following day in the House of Commons one of his colleagues was about to bring forward a motion asking for further extension of Local Government in Wales, and their friend wanted to know what those Acts were for. They had the Allotments Act and the Small Holdings Act, which were practically dead letters, and they would be asking for more powers when they had all these powers which they did not put into operation. The CHAIRMAN: I must rule Col. Pryce-Jones out of order (laughter). Committees Re-elected. The Technical Instruction Committee was re- elected, Dr Humphreys being appointed in room of Mr Thomas Watkin. The Audit Committee was re-elected, with the addition of Mr Richard Jones. Capt. Mytton, Col. Pryce-Jones, and Mr R. Lloyd were again appointed visitors to the Lunatic Asylum. The County Rate Basis Standing Committee was re-elected, Mr Charles Howell taking the place of the late Mr Thomas Watkin. The River Conservators were all re-appointed. Messrs W. Scott Owen, W. F. Addie, and Hugh Lewis were re-elected to represent the Council on the Agricultural Committee of the University College of Wales at Bangor. The representatives of the Council on the County Governing Body were re-elected, Dr Humphreys being substituted for Mr Thomas Watkin. Mr Richard Rees was re-appointed a Governor of the Machynlleth Intermediate Schools. Mr Humphreys-Owen, Capt. Mytton, and Col. Pryce-Jones were re-elected members of the County Councils Association. The Necessity of a Sanitary Committee. Dr HUMPHREYS, Llanfair, in moving the appointment of a Sanitary Committee, said he did not think it was necessarv for him to tiress tho appointment of that committee. They would agree that a sanitary committee was a necessity. Every other County Council in England and Wales had elected such a committee. At present the sanitary arrangements of the county were in the hands of the district medical officers of health, and they sent in reports to the Council. Those reports were rarely seen by any of them and never read, and it was very necessary that there should be a sanitary committee to look over these reports, so that they might be tabulated or condensed, so as to have a uniform report for the county. Besides the consideration of these reports many other questions would crop up. They had received an offer from a medical officer in Shrewsbury to tabulate these reports. There was a possibility of a medical officer of health being suggested for the county, or a con- sultative medical officer being retained to give them advice on sanitary questions, such as isolation hospitals, which the small-pox outbreak had given prominence to. Col. PRYCE-JONES seconded, and asked that the report of the special committee which sat in February be read. This having been done, Col. PRYCE-JONES said he now wished to allude to the small-pox outbreak which they had had in this part of Wales, and he would very respectfully suggest to the Chairman that now before it was too late they, as a county, should take into consideration the desirability of having a systematic plan with regard to the erection of isolation hospitals. Enquiries had been held in various parts of England, especially Shropshire, where the urban authorities and district authorities had met together. The CHAIRMAN: This does not strictly arise out of the appointment of a committee. Col. PRYCE-JONES: I am speaking on the committee and on the report. The CHAIRMAN: I don't think what you were saying was quite in order. Col. PRYCE-JONES said that this year they had escaped, but, perhaps, next year they would have another epidemic. He thought it was very unfair that there should be no systematic plan. They might find next year that what they had had a taste of this year might be very much more severe, and he appealed to the Chairman of the County Council to get this committee to take that matter into consideration. He thought there was a good deal of work for a sanitary committee, and, therefore, had pleasure, in secondinc Dr TTnm- phreys' proposition. The motion wfts carried, and the Vice-Chairman (Capt. Mytton), Alderman Fairies-Humphreys, Councillors Addie, Campbell, Col. Pryce-Jones, R. E. Jones, Richard Lloyd, and Dr Humphreys were I appointed as the committee. Report on Main Roads, Etc. Mr RICHARD JONES moved that they receive the report of the Main Roads Committee. This was agreed to.- -The report was as follows Your Committee have examined the claims in respel t cf main roads and bridges, and submitted accounts approved to the Finance Committee to re- commend payment thereof. Your Committee recommend that XI,500 be paid to the Clerk on wages and bridges account. Your Committee considered Messrs Aveling's speci- fication of the repairs required to steam roller No. 1, at an estimated cost of X146, exclusive of freight, as now submitted by the County Surveyor, and approved thereof and recommend that such repairs be carried out. — .I- River Encroachment, Llandinam.—Your Committee approve the report of the County Surveyor, and recommend that the expenditure of a sum not exceed- ing £ 250, a.s proposed by him, be sanctioned to arrest further serious encroachments. 3tonebreaker, anteerrig Quarry.-Your Committee recommend that a stonebreaker he nnmhasAri and fixed at this quarry at a cost not exceeding a. total estimated cost of £ 200. Cross Culvert, Oakley Park.—Your Committee re- commend that the proposal of Mr Edmunds, the Rural District Council Surveyor, reported by the County Surveyor, be referred to a sub-committee, consisting of the Chairman of this Committee, and Councillors Edward Jones, Trewythen, and Evan Chapman, to confer with a committee of the District Council (if they will appoint one/, and to report to the next meeting of this committee. Llanfair and Llanllwchaiarn Roads, Newtown.— Your Committee referred the report of the County Surveyor to a sub.committee, consisting of the Chair- man of this committee, and Councillors R. E. Jones, Col. E. Pryce-Jones, M.P., C. J. Newell, and David Hamer, to confer with a sub-committee of the Urban District and agree upon a boundary of these roads and Commercial-street. Roadmen's Capes and Leggings.-Your Committee directed that the estimated cost of waterproof capes and leggings be placed in the estimates for ensuing year, but not to be purchased before next autumn. Pontyperchiil Letter Box.—Your Committee recom- mend that the Postmaster of Newtown be permitted to place a letter box on the finger post at the turning to Bettws near this place. Penstrowed Quarry.—Your Committee recommend that a new pair of bellows be obtained, as recom- mended by the County Surveyor, at t cost of .£10. Telegraph nd Telephone Poles.—Your Committee recommend the Council to sanction the strengthening and re-arranging of these poles by the Post Office Engineer as proposed by him. County Bridges.—Your Committee recommend the Council to sanction the following expenditure as pro- posed by the Surveyor Leighton Bridge, £ 40; Kilkewydd Bridge, £ 32; new culvert, Buttington, £ 28; Wynnstay Bridge, Llanbrynmair, .£25. Your Committee considered the Surveyor's estimates for the ensuing year, and recommend the Council to approve thereof. Your Committee recommend that the Surveyor be granted one month's leave of absence-14 days from 3rd June, and remainder when work permits. The Surveyor presented the following supple- mentary report:— Steam Roller No. 2 has a crack about 18 inches long in the off-driving wheel rim, five inches from the out- side edge. I propose to try and repair this at the Newtown Foundry, but in the event of repair being found impossible, I beg to ask your permission to expend 10s in the purchase of a new pair of wheels. Approved, and expenditure of not exceeding .£37 10s also approved. Leighton Bridge Approach.—Mr Naylor asks per- mission to enclose the piece of roadside land between the main road and the entrance gates near Leighton Bridge over the Severn. Old Police Station, Machynlleth.—Messrs Gillart have written to the Clerk upon this subject, referring to the finger post in the garden. A new finger post has now been erected upon the side of the main road, so perhaps that will be satisfactory. Cost of New Accounts.—I estimate the proposed new method of keeping the main roads accounts to cost about R26 per annum. Flood at Llandinam.-There was a very heavy flood again in the Severn the beginning of this week, the water rising over the main road near the new river encroachment at Llandinam. Fortunately, the quantity of large stone recently tipped into the deep water hole has prevented any further washing away of the main roadway. Engine Driver's Assistant.—Your Committee re- commend that the wages of this man be increased to 20s per week. Carno Railway Station Approach.—The sub- committee made the following report, which was ayproved by this committee :— The Joint Committee, consisting of members of the County Coucil and the Newtown and Llanidloes Rural District Council, met at Carno on Friday, the 20th inst., when the following persons were present: Messrs Richard Jones and F. V. Ashton, on behalf of the County Council, and Messrs J. Thomas and Saml. Jones, on behalf of the Rural District Council. The County Surveyor and the Rural District Surveyor were in attendance. After making a careful inspection of the locality, the Committee measured the roads and found that the district road was 15 feet wide and the main road 24 feet only, whilst the full width of 30 feet in both cases would barely be sufficient to accommodate the timber and other traffic passing to the station yard. The committee recommend that the two authorities take joint steps to obtain the necessary land to carry out the improvement to the full width allowed by statute. The above improvement to be carried out from the end of the wall at the entrance to Captain Adams's outbuildings on the main road, and running down as far as the lower entrance to the Railway Company's goods yard on the Rural District road. The cost of the land and also the legal costs of acquiring the same to be divided between the two authorities. We suggest, however, that before any proceedings are taken the owner of the land be approached by both Councils with a view to arriving at a settlement. The Weights and Measures and Foods and Drugs Acts. The Local Government Committee recommended that the number of samples to be taken under the Food and Drugs Act should be largely increased, and that the number of samples, amounting to at least fifty-four, should be taken in the county annually; also that application be made to the Board of Trade for authority for Inspector Hamer to adjust weights and measures permanently. Mr R. JONES pointed out that with a, view to encouraging the farmers to draw samples under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act they decided last December to remit the usual charge of 3s, provided the samples were taken in ac- cordance with the regulations of the Board of Agriculture. As a result they had sixteen samples taken for analysis last year. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of them appeared to have been taken in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Agriculture; that was- the guarantee was not supplied to the analyst, while in six of the cases taken by the police no guarantee was supplied, yet the fees were remitted in all the cases. He thought a distinction should be made between those who took the samples correctly and those who did not. He therefore moved that the fees be remitted only to those persons who took samples for analysis through the various inspec- tors that in other cases the fee of 3s per sample be charged; and that the inspector be requested to confer with the analyst as to the best form of notice to be addressed to the public. Mr HAMER seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The Deputy Chief Constable's Salary. On the question of the payment of the expenses incurred by the Standing Joint Committee being brought forward, Col. PRYCE-JONES said it was to him a matter of very great regret indeed to find that now after they had only sat for about two hours that the majority of the councillors bad left. They had not yet gone into the estimates for the year, and he must say it was a very serious thing for the county. He questioned whether they were a quorum. On being informed that there was just a quorum, the COLONEL said his contention was that the county business through the County Council was not going on in that satisfactory way which it ought to do. The expenditure for the coming year would be found in most of the departments to be increased as compared with the past year, while last year's expenditure was greater than that of the previous year. In order to be perfectly in order, he desired to refer to the increase in the salary of the Superintendent of police, not because he did not think he was- deserving of the increase, or that he had the slightest fault to find with him, but simply on the ground that he considered that the increase had been arrived at in a way which, he considered, the ratepayers of the county, if they knew all the preliminaries and details and reasons for the increase, would never sanction. He was very sorry the Chairman was not at that meeting. The reasons for the increase were that the Superintendent had to come to Newtown to live and because in some of the other Welsh counties the superintendent got more salary. Capt. MYTTON appealed to Col. Pryce-Jones not to continue the discussion on the matter. The Standing Joint Committee expenditure had always been passed without any remarks. Col. PRYCE-JONES said he was very sorry he could not follow his leader in this matter, but really he could not do so. When they went into the estimates they found they would have a new education rate of 2d to 4d, and they also had an increase in other departments of between 1 ,1 and 3d. With regard to the committee he referred to, the increase of the expenditure since the previous year was from X200 to X400, and yet the popula- tion of the county was goiug dnvn, and to his mind it was lamentable to think that out of a committee of twenty-four, six members only should decide to increase the pay of one officer when the I question of pay of other officers was not taken into consideration at all. Those six gentlemen went diametrically against the Chairman of the com- mittee (Capt. Mytton). The increased salary bad been agreed to by the Standing Joint Committee without full evidence of other counties being considered. When other counties were compared with Montgomeryshire no question of the rent allowance was brought forward. The Superin- tendent had a rent allowance, and various other matters, such as travelling expenses, were not mentioned. He had studied the pay to superin- tendents in the counties of Brecon, Anglesey, Carnarvon, Radnor, Cardigan, Flint, Denbigh, and Merioneth, and he believed that in some respects they had been misled in this matter. One county gave the maximum amount allowed gnder the act, but did not allow for rent. In others no extra pay was given for acting as deputy chief constable. The matter was full of very grave points indeed, and he thought he would be neglecting his duty, although, of course, he knew it was an unpopular thing to do, if he had not brought before that meeting the reason why the rates were going up. 0 A Remarkable Statement. He did not wish to say anything against their Superintendent. He was, perhaps, a little too zealous. If he might be allowed, he would like to make a compliment to the Chairman. A gentle- man was had up before the magistrates for being drunk, and was fined X2. That man would leave the town because his character hid been damaged. The Chairman had a man before him at Berriew. It was his first offence, and he let him off. That was his idea of justice. He hoped Capt. Mytton would confirm him in the statements he had made. The main roads' cost was also up £1,400 to XI,500 more than ever before, and when the bills came in the increased expt: nditure would be put down to education (laughter). Mr DAVID HAMER remarked that their Superintendent did not suit Col. Pryce-Jones because he made no distinction between rich and poor. Mr RICHARD REES said he did not believe the Standing Joint Committee ever made a better appointment than when they appointed the Superintendent about two years ago. They went through this matter, and found that their officers were paid less than all the other inspectors and superintendents in Wales. Col. PRYCE-JONES That is not so. Mr RICHARD JONES said the position was this. In Merioneth, and also in Carnarvonshire, the superintendent attains his maximum pay after eight years' service, but in Montgomeryshire he did not receive the maximum till after ten years, so that that thoy found in eleven years that the superintendent in Montgomeryshire received X85 less than in the other two counties. Col. PRYCE-JONES asked what about the house rent ? He was satisfied that a reduction in the number of officers and police was bound to take place, and they were now superannuating them. In ten years time their Superintendent could retire with a superannuation of < £ 12G a year. Mr RICHARD LLOYD remarked that the officers paid for their superannuation. He did not think Col. Pryce-Jones should have gone into the matter so indiscreetly and so randomly. He had found fault with the administration of justice, which, in his (Mr Lloyd's) opinion, was most indiscreet. It would be better if he, a magistrate, attended the Bench a little more often. Col. PRYCE-JONES: I must ask if Mr Lloyd is in order. I am not going to be lectured by a councillor. The CHAIRMAN: I suppose Mr Lloyd is a member of the Bench you remarked upon. Col. PRYCE-JONES: But, Mr Chairman, he went a little further than that. Mr LLOYD: I said you had a right, but you were very indiscreet, and made use of random statements. If the reference was to the Bench to which he himself belongs as to certain things which were done, I must tell him that no such thing took place. I was present. Col. PRYCE-JONES: I did not refer to any case. I did not refer to the Newtown Bench. Mr LLOYD I think it is very indiscreet for a justice to find fault witb, his brother justices. If he did not agree with them he might tell them so privately. Col. PRYCE-JONES: Is there not a First Offenders' Act, and if a man is brought up for the first time cannot he be let off ? You did it, Mr Chairman. The CHAIRMAN: Col. Pryce-Jones distinctly censured a certain sentence. Col. PRYCE-JONES I did not localise it. Mr LLOYD: Well, I say no more. This ques- tion was thoroughly discussed by the Police Committee, and Col. Pryce-Jones was found, as he often is, in the minority—(laughter)—notwith- standing that he fought hard and it was proved that he was in the wrong. The Chairman (Capt. 0' Mytton) was also in the same position. We very much respect the Chairman, but if we did not agree with him we stated our views and did not sell them to anyone else. If Colonel Pryce-Jones had been among the majority we should have heard nothing about it. We have not gone outside the proper limit in paying what we have to the Deputy Chief Constable. We discussed his merits and demerits in a private meeting for about an hour and a half, but I am not going to touch the discussion. If the Council had to vote on the matter I do not hesitate to say that they would agree to the expenditure.—The matter was then allowed to drop. Road Maintenance. A letter was read from the Newtown Urban Council respecting the roads through towns which connected the main roads and asking for increased subscription towards their upkeep. Mr LLOYD said it was a very important ques- tion which was raised with regard to the main roads generally which were connecting links and also the footpaths on the side of the main roads. It was really a question for a committee. Mr R. REES said this was a verv old -question. It seemed to be a question of liability and they were not quite clear on the matter. He suggested it would be a good plan to refer the matter to the County Councils Association. They subscribed X5 a year to it and got nothing in return. Col. PRYCE-JONES said he did not think the Association would interfere, and the matter was referred to the Main Roads Committee. An Increased Bate. The VICE-CHAIRMAN submitted the report of the Estimates Committee showing that the total estimated expenditure was X26,612 4s 3d, and the total estimated income, including a balance to be carried forward of X2.718. was X14,420 Is 8d, leaving £ 12,192 2s 7das the amount to be provided for by a county rate. This would absorb the balance of the previous year and leave no balance in hand unless they made some special provision. With a view, therefore, to securing a balance of something like X2,683 at the close of the year they recommended the Council to levy an education rate of 2d in the £ the usual in- termediate education rate of id in the X, and a general county rate of lOld, making a total rate of thirteen pence. The Vice-Chairman pointed out that the increase was chiefly due to the main roads, the maintenance of which had gone up by over X2,000, the rest of the spending departments being practically normal. Mr LLOYD said if it had not been for an addi- tion in the maintenance of the main roads they would have been in the same position as last year. He thought there was no reason to complain of the estimates. Col. PRYCE-JONES Do I understand the in- crease on the ordinary rate of the county this year to be threepence ? The CHAIRMAN: Yes. Colonel PRYCE-JONES said he was strongly of opinion' that a good deal of this money might I have been saved. He drew attention to the fact that they were discussing this important question [ of the estimates with only just a quorum of four- teen members present, and expressed regret that Captain Mytton, the leader of the opposition, was not more effective in drawing attention to these things. W hen they came to ask for more money for education the ratepayers would complain. Mr ADDIE agreed with Capt. Mytton that the whole of the increase was due to the main roads expenditure, which was increased by over £ 2,600, a which was equal to a 2d rate. V Mr CAMPBELL said vaccination fees amounted to X210 and police items to X300. Mr REES expressed the opinion that the various unions in the county should be urged to readjust their assessments. Col. PRYCE-JONES pointed out that they had allowed the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Rail- way Company to postpone payment of X298 9s 2d interest on borrowed capital, due some time this month, till the next financial year, when another < £ 298 would be dus. The VICE-C HAIRMAN said he understood the first X298 would bo paid very shortly, and that the interest, as it accumulated, would be paid regularly in the future. Col. PRYCE-JONES said they should take care to see that during the ensuing year they received thb two lots of interest, as according to the abstract of estimated receipts and expenditure they would only receive one. The CHAIRMAN; That is so, but we gave them time. Mr LLOYD thought there was a good deal of misapprehension on this question for the want of information. He thought it would be to their advantage if the Clerk would read out at their quarterly meetings what was the exact financial position of the county with regard to the Tanat Valley and Llanfair Light Railways. He moved that this be done. The motion was agreed to. The CHAIRMAN pointed out that he was, unfortunately, unable to be present alftbe meeting of the Estimates Committee. He had since gone into the estimates very carefully, and he agreed with what had been said by Capt. Mytton. He pointed out that they might reconsider the estimate at the end of the first half-year, when they knew rather more exactly than they did at present what the actual cost of carrying out the Education Act would be. After further discussion, the estimates were approved, and it was decided to levy a rate of 7d in the first half-year and 6d in the second.