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lonmoutMtie County Council. QUARTERLY MEETING AT NEWPORT. The usual quarterly meeting of the Monmouth- shire County Council was held at the Town Hall, Newport, on Wednesday, when Alderman E. Grove (chairman) presided, and amongst those present were:-Alderman Lord Tredegar (vice-chairmau), Sir Henry Mather-Jackson, G. R. Harris, G. Jones, J. W, Mulligan, H. Bowen, N. Phillips, J. Daniel, W. Hushes, D. Jones, B. Phillips, W. H. Powell, E, A. Taylor, Councillors G. H. Nurse, J. O. Marsh, T. Parry, W. E. C. Curre, S. C. Bosanquet, W. B. Gething. Dr Paton, Dr T. H. Redwood.. W. B. Witchell, W. P. James. D. Jones, S. N., Jonas, W. Thomas, J. D. Java-pe, W. Edwards, T. Ftwtbero, A. A. Williams, J. Straker, M. Laughton, M J; Richards, T. Dutfield, W. J. Allan, J. Monks; I. Butler, J. Jenkins. G. G. Lewis, P. Eckersley, J. Woodward, J. R. Jacob, T. J. Price, D. Hughes, T. Lewis, D. Aggex, B. Ashton, &e. I VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. I On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, a vote of condol-nee with Mrs McKinley and the American nation in the loss sustained by the assassination of President McKinley was passed in the usual manner. I AN APPEAL. The Clerk (Mr H. S. Gustard) reported that he had received notice of appeal in a 3iontuouth assessment case, and asked for instructions. It was resolved that he take the necessary steps to defend the Council's interests. I A UEHBBR RESIGNS. I The Clerk reported the receipt of a communica- tion from Mrs Sr.urt, stating that her husband, Colonel Napier George Sturt, was still too ill to attend to public work, although the worst symptoms had abated. He did not, therefore, fial it to be right that he should hold an appointment, the duties of which he could no longer fulfil, so, with great regret he resigued his seat as the representative on the Council of the Llanvihangel Cruoorney Division, and enclosed cheque value il, the usual fine. The Chairman remarked tnat the Council he was sure would receive the announcement with very great regret, for, during the short time Colonel Sturt was with them ha was very much respected aud esteemed. Councillor S. N. Jones asked if the fine could not be remitted as the resignation was in consequence of illness. The Chairman said that would be against the law and thoir own rules. The resignation was then accepted with regret, and the office of County Councillor for that Division declared vacant. I TLICB OF ELRCTING CHAIRMAN. The Chairman explained that a short Act entitled II The County Council (Elections) Amendment Act, 1900," had been passed in order to enable Oouucils to elect their Chairman at a general meeting in March, April, or May, instead of calling a special meeting in February as heretofore. Alderman D. Jones moved that in future, except after an election, the Chairman be elected at the usual quarterly meeting in May. Mr A. A. Williams seconded. Mr S. N. Jones proposed as an amendment that no alteration ba made, and this wait duly seconded. Mr .I. R. Jacob said it seemed superfluous to have a special meeting in May for the election of Chairman, and he supported the proposition. It would have the further advantage of prolonging the reign of their present Chairman two months. Mr T. Parry said the Act was brought in by Sir John Dorrinston, at the unanimous request of the County Councils Association. Alderman Harris suggested that the hour of meeting should be earlier on the occasion, and then there would be no difficulty. (" No, no.") Well, if the function of opening their new Council Chamber as well as the election of their Chairman was to be held on the same day, what was to become of the praneral business of the County? Sir Henry Mather-Jackson thought Alderman Harris was looking too far ahead. Whilst it was hoped the new buildings would be ready by May he should not like to promise that they would be. They would be able to arrange for the opening without I regard to the Council meeting. Mr S. N. Jones ultimately withdrew his amend- ment, and the proposition was agreed to. VACANCIES FILLED. Mr T. Lewis, Sirhowy, was appointed to fill a vacanoy on the Finance Committee, and Alderman Hughes, Monmouth, another on the Local Govern- ment Committee. Mr J. Richards, of Abercarn, was appointed a school manager for the Pontywauu County School District, in the place of Alderman Raffan, who has resigned, and it was decided to temporarily appoint Alderman Raffan as a manager for the Monmouth Grammar School, in the hope that he would continue in office. Alderman William Williams and Dr Steel were re-elected for the Abergaveuuy district. BABNTBY INEBRIATES' HOMES. The Clerk read correspondence re the Brentry Homes, near Bristol, in which it wis shown that a crisis Willi looming as to the financial aspect of the undertaking and suggesting the closing of the male Wards, or, as an alternative, to pay 6d per day for unoccupied beds on the male side. There were 155 females and 33 males in the homes. Sir Ily. Mather-Jackson said a resolution to close the male side had been passed by the management, but with a proviso that if they could avoid it they would do so. He had retrularly attended the meetings of the Governing Body at Bristol, and a very difficult task they had had to perform. The institution was a young one, as they knew, and he did not think it had been managed in such an admirable manner as they could have desired. (Hear, bear.) Still the work was going on. It was too early to admit failure, and the number of ininateii showed that the institution met a certain want and was a necessary corollary to the Act passed to enable the magistrates to send a certain class of people to such homes. At the last meeting he referred to the difficulties they had had with the men, who were unruly, and who were removed to the more suitable, sterner, and, possibly, more congenial atmosphere of Cardiff Gaol. (Laughter). They had been able to reduce the number of tnale warders, and were economising in other directions. He would ask the Council to approve that day of the suggestion that they should contribute 6d per bed per day, whether their beds were occupied or not. He was personally in favour of it as a temporary measure. He propose] that. The Chairman, in seconding, said he supported the suggestion very strongly. A large estate with a country mansion had been bought. Big altera- tions had been effected, and there were practiraily two villages, half a mile apart from each other- one for the men and one for the women. It was clear that if they did not support the institutions they would lose the £ 1,000 the Council had already put into the Homes, or at any rate it would bo jeopardised. Then again they must look at the matter from a broad stand-point since inebriety wit- a national question. Newport occupied all their beds and it might possibly happen that they might apply to the Monmouthshire County Council for some of theirs. They had as yet occupied none. Going into the financial aspect of the matter the Chairman remarked that their seven beds would necesitate an expenditure of £1 4i 61 a week, 963 14s a year, if they adopted the proposition, and he did not think that would kill the County financially. Alderman Harris objected to the extra expendi- ture, on behalf of the urban districts of the county, say in ir they knew the Government looked after their friends in the rural districts. Sir Henry's interests as a landed proprietor wera always opposed to those of the towns. Sir Henry Mather Jackson I rise to a point of order. I have been to the trouble and incon- venience of representing the Council on the Board at these Homes, at Bristol, and have paid them four or five visits. The personal question as to where I derive my income from is altogether outside the question. The Chairman asked Alderman Harris to withdraw his personal remark as to Sir Henry getting his income from lauded property, which Alderman Harris subsequently did. He poiated out that the County had paid £1,000 already, and they had no one -1 enjoying the institution." Mr J. R. Jacob asked several questions, which Sir Henry Mather-Jackon replied to, to the effect that after the first charge upon the property came the interest invested by the various Counties. A great many improvements had been carried out which ought to make it more valuable. Mr Jacob said they were losing the interest on 21,000, and which at 4 per cent. would amount to X40 a year, and now they were asked to subscribe an amount which, in round figures, would briug it up to Y,100, and as a county they were deriving no benefit from it. The institution must have been grossly mismanaged to have become landed in such difficulties as were represented. Sir Henry replied that as the Homes belonged to so many authorities in a large number of counties it was very difficult to keep in as active touch with the management as would ha liked. Dr Paton asked if the male patients were uotex- convicts rather than inebriates. Sir Henry pointed out that that must be the magistrate's fault, since the Homes could not refuse to admit on the magistrate's warrant. Mr P. Eckersley asked if by any record informa- tion could be given as to the effect of the treatment in the Homes upon the inmates in after life. The Chairman said the most careful records would be kept. Mr Jacob suggested that the grant should be for one year only. Mr T. Parry supported. Sir Henry and the Chairman urged that that would be a discouraging course to take, and after further conversation the proposition was agreed to, that 6d. per bed per, day should be paid until the Council otherwise orders." THE SEAL. The seal of the Council was affixed to mortgages for £10,000 (County buildiugs), and £ 1,900 (balance for the Asylum Farm). FINANCE. On the proposition of Alderman Powell, the accounts of the County Treasurer for the past quarter were passed and orders were made as follow paymems amounting to—(aj Out of County Fund, C14143 9s 6d (b) out of the Exchequer Contribution Account, £ 76 9s 4d a rate of 3J-d 2 in the £ for the ensuing six months a rate of one half-penny in the £ for Technical Instruction and a rate of one half-penny in the £ for IutermediateJEducation. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. I The usual motion was agreed to, empowering the Parliamentary Committee to take the necessary steps to oppose Bills in Parliament which, may affect the interests of the County. I THE PONTYPOOL BENCH. Sir Henry Mather-Jackson having brought up the minutes of the Standing Joiut Committee for reception. Air. A. A. Williams raised exception to a paragraph dealing with the Llanhilieth Police Court question, the report stating that the Pontypool magistrates had not acted within their rights in arranging a magisterial meeting there. He pointed out that the district was a large one, aud the Court would be a great convenience. The magistrates had been advised that they were acting perfectly within their rights in doing as they had done. He protested against the paragraph in the report therefore. The Chairman I suppose you will bring the matter before the Committee Mr. A. A. Williams Yes. The subject theu dropped. SUNDAY TRADING AND GAMBLING. Alderman D. Jones drew the attention of the Chief Coustable to the large amount of unnecessary and illegal Sunday trading going on in the County. Mr. Jacob further stated that there was also a vast amount of gambling going on in the Western Valleys. On Sunday groups of 20 and 30 young men were to be seen who played pitch and toss and cards. The police should watch for this as well as watch public-houses. Mr. Witchell said in the Pontypool district gambling cases had been before the magistrates. He hoped the police would do all they could to prevent the breaking of the law with reference to the sanctity of the Lord's Day. Sir Henry Mather-Jackson said no doubt the Chief Constable, who was present, would consider these matters. SUCCESSES OF SCHOLARS. Mr. S. N. Jones, in bringing up the Technical Instruction Committee's reports, dealt at some length with the brilliant successes of some of the County students. I ABERGAVENNY ASYLUM. Mr. T. Parry, in briugiug up the report of this Committee, said there was nothing of special remark in it but the unfortunate fact that the Asylum was overcrowded. He trusted they would soon be reliev6d of the Brecon and Radnor patients, and then they would be able to accom- modate the 30 patients Monmouthshire now had boarded out at Carmarthen. Thelatteratiotis to the Asylum were proceeding satisfactorily, and it was hoped the work would be completed in the time named. The report was adopted. SANITATION OP THE COUNTY. Dr. Redwood brought up the Sanitary Com- mitttee'a report, which dealt with the question of the drainage of the Western Valleys. The Abertillery Urban Council was the only authority which dissented from the decision of the representatives of the District Councils of the valleys held on the 14th August, and asked for time. The committee decided, if the final decision of the Abertillery Council was not forthcoming, that the whole matter be brought before the February meeting of the Couuty Council, as a preliminary to the Local Government Board being approached. Mr. T. Parry asked what was being done for the sanitation of the Eastern Valleys, and regretted, in regard to the Western Valleys, that Abertillery seemed to block the way. Mr. Jacob said the Eastern Valleys had cut themselves adrift from the scheme, and seemed to think they could do better without aid. Mr. S. N. Jones thought the county generally needed sanitary cleansing, and asked that the Eastern Valleys and the Rhymney Valley should be included, and not that the Western Valleys alone should be punished. Mr. Jacob said there was no question of punish- ing anv district. Alderman N. Philllips said that in the Rhymuey district the sanitary works were well advanced, The Gellygaer District Council, on the other side of the river, were also actively prosecuting works for sanitary reform. (Hear, hear.) He wished districts nearer Risca would talk less and do more. (Laughter). CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. The Council having resolved themselves into an Executive Committee under the Diseases of Animals' Act, Lord Tredcgar took the chair, and said the report of the Chief Inspector was of the most ►ati-factory'character. He never remembered the County being free from sheep scab before. Alderman E. Grove read correspondence be had received relative to the granting of licences by the Cattle Inspector at Cross Ash. Tne Clerk to the Parish Council of Grosmont bad written stating that it was a long way from Grosmont to Cross Ash, and asking whether some modified arrange- ment which would meet the people of the district might not be made. It was decided to point out to the Parish Council that it was not necessary for personal aDplieation to be made for the licences, but that they might be obtained by the post. In reply to Mr. S. N. Jones, the Chief Constable said the County was practically free from swine fever. Air. Jones then moved that the restrictions respecting swine should be abrogated. Alderman Grove pointed out that outside influence had to be considered. Mr. W. Thomas expressed the hope that the police would give the farmers, buthers, and dealers every facility in getting licences if the regulations were continued. There were many complaints with regard to the matter.

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