The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

BARMOUTH COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Friday afternoon. Present :-Mpssrs. J. Pryce Jones, J.P. (chairman),fWilliam Owen, Rbys Jones, Henry Freeman, and Edward Williams: with Messrs. R. Llewelyn Owen (deputy clerk),T. R.. Pirry (surveyor), John Roberts (rate collector), and Watkin Owen (boating inspector) CONDOLENCE. On the proposition of the Chairman, a vote of condolence was passed with Mr R. Llewelyn Owen (deputy clerk)and other relatives in their recent bereave- ment. STARVING BELGIANS. On the proposition of Mr William Owen, seconded by Mr Henry Freeman, it was decided that the proceeds of the concert held recentiy in aid of the starving Belgians in Belgium should be sent to Mr Ellis, Penmount, Blaenau Festiniog. THE MUSSEL INDUSTRY. Mr Rhys Jones drew attention to the necessity of taking steps to bring pressure with regards to the mussel industry. He understood that mussel beds were to be placed at Barmouth,and the Surveyor had been asked to prepare plans, etc. This question was very important for Barmouth, as such a large number of fishermen were having a living from the industry during the winter months. Mr William Owen said he thought that the matter was in the hands of the Fishery Board, and that they were moving in the matter. The Chairman said be understood that the matter was having the urgent attention of the Fishery Board. The Surveyor said he was given to understand that the Fishery Board were waiting for the sanction of the Board of Trade as to the construction of mussel beds. On the proposition of Mr Henry Freeman, it was decided that a letter should be sent to the Fishery Board stating that the Council were glad to understand that they were moving in the matter, and trusting that the industry would be again started. ABOUT THE HOUSE REFUSE. Mr Henry Freeman enquired whether the Surveyor could give more light on the matter which was discussed at the last meeting, and which bad reference to house refuse, which had been carted from outside the urban district by the Council's carters. The Surveyor said he had nothing more to add, only thai the house refuse was carted six times in all, and the sum of 2/- was paid for carting same away. Mr Henry Freeman asked was the payment made by one party or different parties. The Surveyor-Only from one party The Chairman-Of course they under- stood that they should not do it again without the Council's permission. The Surveyor-Oh Yes CEILWART RESERVOIR.. I Mr W. W. Greener, Plas Llwyd, I wrote on the subject of the quantity of water which was allowed to run to his turbine, and which, he urged, was inadequate. The Works Committee bad decided to reply that this was due to the dry weather, and that the supply would, no doubt, in the near future materially improve. Mr Edward Williams said that by the old agreement the Council were not liable to supply water from Ceilwart for I any machinery but only for agricultural I purposes. I Mr Rbys Jones said the Committee were well aware of the fact. I j BOY SCOUTS. A letter having been read from Mr J. Jones, The Library, on the subject of the formation of a Boy Scout movement in the town, the Council were pleased to observe that Mr Jones bad taken the initiative in this matter and wished the movement every success. I NATIONAL REGISTRATION. Communications were read from the Lord Lieutenant of the County on the subject of canvassing the men entered on the Pink Registration Forms which men were of military age. Irrespective of anything which may have appeared in the Press as to the suspension of the proposed visitation of men it was asked whether the Council would take im. mediate steps to undertake the work as the War Office was desirous that all arrangements in that direction should be ready in case, if the plan was adopted, no time should be lost. The Works Committee were of opinion that the work of visitation should be under- taken by the Recruiting Officer for the district (Ex-Sergeant Rowlands). I WORKS COMMITEE REPORT. The Secretary of the English Congre- gational Church wrote calling attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road- way facing the entrance to that church and in particular to the road being flooded on wet nights. H was decided that the Surveyor should approach the Camb'rian Railways Company with a view to devising and effecting an im- provement to relieve the road of any accumulation of water. RATE COLLECTOR'S REPORT. The Rate Collector reported that since the last meeting he bad collected the sum of £1,040 14s 6d, and the total amount of rates collected up-to-date was £3,305 2s lOd. Mr Rbys Jones said that the rate- payers had responded well in paying the rates, and it was very gratifying to learn that the Council was better off now than at the corresponding period of last year. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Surveyor, in his monthly report, reported that about 600 yards of the road between Plas Llwyd and Ty'rgraig still remained to be taisprayed. Three of the Council's workmen had been working at Bodlyn. FINANCE COMMITTEE ROEPRT. The Boating Inspector produced his books and the value of the licences issued during last summer season was found to amount to £7 3s. Od. The Deputy Clerk reported a balance in favour of the Council at the Bank amounting to Rl,279 14s. 4d., as com- .pared with CI,190 this time last year. A letter was read from the Lessees' Solicitors of Bank Buildings stating that the Lessees now approved of the alterations effected to Bank Buildings J and that they hopetf to remit the zC44 promised towards the expenditure shortly. A letter was read from the Yorkshire Penny Bank noting the Council's de- cision to pay an increased rate of 4i per cent interest on advances made by the Bank as and from September 1st last. A letter was received from the Trea- sury calling attention to the importance of strengthening the gold re- serves of the country, of substituting notes for gold for the purpose of paying wages and for cash disbursements generally. THE TENNIS AND BOWLING I CLUBS. A letter was read from Mrs M. E. Price, 6, St. Ann's Square, stating that the Committee of the Barmouth Tennis Club would be pleased to learn at an early date whether the Council would grant them the renewel of the tendency of the Tennis Ground as heretofore as from April 1st next. The Committee I were desirious to take immediate steps I to improve the tennis lawn for next season. j A letter was read from Mr F. How, I hon. sec. to the Barman th and District Bowling Club, stating that at a meeting of the Club held recently it was decided that the Council should make it a condition when reletting the Tennis Grounds that the plot allocated to the Bowling Club by the Tennis Club in previous years (for which a rental was charged) should be reserved for ths use of the Bowling Club. In reply to a question, it was reported that the Tennis Club paid an annual rental of C2 to the Council for the ground. The Chairman suggested that both Committees should meet together and discuss the matter. Mr William Owen s-id the Council could renew the application of the Tennis Clufcand to request them to allo- cate the plot which the Bowling Club required. Mr Rhys Jones said the Tennis Club bad worked bard for many years, and was, no doubt, an asset to the town. If the town bad a good site, no doubt, that would be an asset to the town. In reply to a question, it was reported that the Bowling Club paid the sum of -22 annually to the Tennis Club for the plot of land allocated to them. Mr Ed.cWilliams said that both Clubs were an asset to the town, only that the Tennis Club bad been well estab- lished for some years, whilst the Bowling Club was only just starting He thought that the best thing to do was for the Chairman and the Surveyor to interview both Committees with a view of coming to an amicable arrange- ment. Mr Henry Freeman suggested that a deputation from:each Committee should meet the Council. Mr William Owen said it should not be forgotten that the Tennis Club was improving the ground each year, and were doing their best to cater for visitors when they came here. The Tennis Courts were a great asset to the town, and hundreds of visitors play on the courts every summer. He firmly believed that the Tennis Club was an asset to the town. Mr Henry Freeman—There is no doubt but that it is an asset to the town. Mr William Owen said be was sure that the Council would only be too glad to give the Bowling Club a piece of ground for a bowing pitch. After some further discussion, Mr Rhys Jones proposed'tbat the Chairman, Messrs. Edward Williams and William Owen, with the Surveyor and Deputy Cleek, should meet a deputation of both Committees, and dicuss the matter. Mr Henry Freeman seconded, which was agreed to. RESIGNATION. A letter was read from Mr Owen Williams, 1, Aelydon, resinging his seat on the Council. It was decided that the matter should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. NEW MEMRER. I In the absence of Mr D. E. Davie&,Mr Rbys Jones moved that Mr Rees Jones, Moss Bank, should be elected a-member of the Council to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr John Morgan. Mr Henry Freeman seconded, which was carried unanimously. NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS. The minutes of the last Conncil meeting contained a protest by Dr. Pugh Jones against the action of the Council in procuring certain forms in the month of August to deal with the New Notification of Births, which came compulsorily into force on the 1st of September.. The Deputy Clerk read a letter from Dr. R. T. Edwards, county medical officer stating that c' he (the county medical officer) was of opinion that the Council were certainly justified in taking the steps that they did in making the necessary preparations to carry out the I Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915. It was only on the 2nd day of September that the Merioneth County Council decided to convene the confer- ence referred to, so that even now it was impossible to know what would be the outcome of the consultation between the County and District Sanitary Authorities. Shquld the conference decide in favour of the County Council continuing to be responsible for the working of the Act, be was personally sure that the County Council would be prepared to take over from the Barmouth Council any stationary, etc., specially purchased for the purposes of the Act. Mr Edward Williams said that the letter justified the action taken by the Deputy Clerk and the Medical Officer in procuring what forms were necessary to cope with the Act, which came into force before the County Council meeting held in September. The Chairman—Certainly. Mr William Owen—Well! we must protect our officials when they have done the right thing. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. J. O. Williams) was appointed as the Council's representative to attend a conference which was being convened by the County Council to discuss the provisions of the Extension Act recently passed. ON HOLIDAY. The Chairman and Dr. J. Pugh Jones were appointed to supervise the Coun- cil's work whilst the Surveyor was on bis holidays. The Council sat for an hour and a half.