Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

Llangollen Urban District Council. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, 1907. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Local Government Board have made the following Order, which will come into force in the Urban District of Llangollen on the date mentioned therein:— (COPY ORDER.) To the Urban District Council of Llangollen, cmcl to all others ivhom it may concern. WHEREAS the Urban District Council of Llangollen (herein-after referred to as "the Local Authority") have in pursuance of Section 3 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907 (herein-after referred to as "the Act of 1907"j, applied to Us, the Local Government Board, to declare certain Parts and Sections of the Act of 1907 to be in force in the Urban District of Llangollen (herein-after referred to as the District "). And whereas proof has been given to our satis- faction of the advertisement required by sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Act of 1907, and at least one month has elapsed after the date of that advertise- ment. Now THEREFORE, in the exercise of our powers in that behalf, WE, by this Order, Declare, Specify and Direct as follows, that is to say:- ARTICLE I.—(1) On and after the day on which this Order comes into operation-Part II.; Sections 34 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 com- prised in Part III.; Sections 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 68 comprised in Part IV.; Part V., Part VI. and Part X. of the Act of 1907 shall be in force in the District. (2) Where a section to which reference is made in the first Column of the Schedule to this Order is a Section comprised in Part II. or Part V., or is one of the Sections by sub-division (11 of this Article described as comprised in Part III. or Part IV., and declared to be in force, the section shall be in force in the District, subject to the following conditions and adaptations, that is to say:— Unless and until We, by a further Order, made on such application and after compliance with such requirements as are described and set forth in Section 3 of the Act of 1907, otherwise Declare, Specify and Direct the said Section, in its appli- cation to the District and in relation to the exercise of the powers and to the discharge of the duties of the Local Authority under that Section, shall have effect as if the words and figures set forth in the second column of the said Schedule opposite to the reference to that Section in the first column of that Schedule were, added to and formed part of the Section. ARTICLE II.—WitjhinYtho period of three weeks immediately following the date of this Order, or, where in our opinion the circumstances so require, within such later period as We by Order prescribe, the Local Authority shall cause this Order to be pub- lished by advertising the same once at least in one or more of the newspapers circulating in the District, and shall also cause a statement of the effect of this Order to be published in the London Gazette. ARTICLE III.-This Order shall come into operation on the Twenty-third day of August, One Thousand nine hundred and nine. SCHEDULE. Parts and Sections. Conditions and Adaptations. 1. 2. Part II. Section twenty-five, The power of making or en- forcing bye-laws under Section One hundred and fifty-seven of the Public Health Act, 1875, as extended by section twenty- three of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1890, with respect to the paving of yards and open spaces in con- nexion with dwelling houses, shall cease to be exercisable." Section twenty-seven. "(7) Nothing in this ssction shall apply to any temporary building erected or set up for use by the Territorial Force." Part III. Section thirty-five. "This section, so far as it relates to the deposit of mater- ial, shall have effect subject to the first proviso to section ninety- one of the Public Health Act, 1875." Bye-laws made in pursu- ance of section sixteen of the Local Government Act, 1883, for the prevention and sup pression of nuisances shall not, in relation to any subject- matter of this section, be of any force or effect within the district," Section thirty-eight. Nothing in this section shall prejudicially affect any power or right exercisable by or attaching to an owner or oc- cupier of premisee by virtue of section twenty-two of the Public Health Act, 1875, or of section eighteen of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1890." Part IV. Section fifty-nine, "(6) Nothing in this section shall apply to a public or cir- culating library which is not within the District." Part V. Section seventy-five. (3) The date of the Order of the Local Government Board by which this Part is declared to be in force shall be the beginning of the period within which the local authority shall give notice for the purposes of sub-section (1) of this section," Given under the Seal of Office of the Local Govern: ment Board, this fifth day of July, in the year One thousand nine hundred and nine, JOHN BURNS, €\ JOHN BURNS, jl President, ■JF JOHN LITHIBY, Assistant Secretary, Dated this 14th day of July, 1909, E. FOULKES-JONES, Clerk to the Council. Council Offices, Llangollen,

Llangollen Urban District Council. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, 1907, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Secretary of State, Home Department, has made the following Order, which will come into force in the Urban District of Llangollen on the date mentioned therein:— [COPY ORDER.] In pursuance of the power conferred on me by Section 3 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, I Hereby Declare section 79 (Dangerous Riding and Driving) and Section 81 (Extending definition of public place and street for certain purposes) of Part VII., Part VIII. (Fire Brigade) and Part IX. (Sky Signs of the said Act to be in force in the Urban District of Llangollen. And I direct that the Urban District Council shall within three weeks from this date, cause a copy of this Order to be published in one or more newspapers circulating in the district. H. J. GLADSTONE, One of His Majesty's Principal Whitehall, Secretaries of State. 13th July, 1909. Dated this 15th day of July, 1909, E. FOULTCES-JONES, Clerk to the Council. Council Offices, Llangollen. VALE OF LLANGOLLEN

SHEEP-DOG SOCIETY. Under the patronage of HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. President—GODFREY FITZ-HUGH, Esq,, Plas Power, Wrexham. Vice-president—Mr. D. JONES, Ty-ceryg. The Trials will be held At PLAS-YN- VIVOD, On FRIDAY, AUGUST 6tli, 1909. Judges for the Trials:- Mr. J. HINDSON, Beech Grove Dairy, Blackburn Grove, Liverpool. Mr. R. N. JONES, Brynmelyn, Corwen. CAMBRIAN STAKES-(OPEN) :-Prizes- £ '12, 17, £4, and X2. Entrance Fee, 10s. GRAND CHALLENGE CUP, given by GEORGE H. ROBERTSON, Esq. SPECIAL PRIZES of X4 and X2 for Working Two Dogs at the same time. DISTRICT STAKES for Dogs& Bitches:— Prizes— £ 2 and £ 1 10s. in each class. Entrance Fee, 5s, THE HON. J. C. BEST MEMORIAL CHALLENGE CUP, presented by J. DARLINGTON, Esq. (President 1907). J Entries to be made, and Fees paid, on or before noon on Tuesday, July 27th, to- (19518) JOSEPH NANSON, Secretary,

THE GORDIAN KNOT. THOSE Members of the Urban Council who ex- press the opinion that ratepayers generally have had more than enough of discussion and recrimination regarding outstanding Loans of the Authority that it is proposed to redeem appear adequately to voice the views of the majority of ratepayers on the matter. The real issue would appear to have been obscured by such a mass of irrelevancies that it is not easy for the casual reader to grasp what either side is driving at and it may, therefore, not be out of season to set forth, as concisely as may be, the out-standing features of the controversy. Upwards of twelve months ago, the newly formed Llangollen Traders' Association received permission from the Urban Council to extract, from time to time, certain statistical information from the Ledgers of the Urban Council and, in the process of investigations made by an assistant in the offices of the Clerk to the authority, it was discovered that the terms upon which certain of the loans, the repayment of which are ap- proaching completion, had been negotiated, were capable of more than one construction. To say the least of it, it was somewhat late in the day, after payments had been made under certain con- ditions for approaching half-a-century, to find out that there is not quite that clearness of conception as to methods of payment that one would expect when public funds are in question and that, what has since proved a somewhat meaty bone of contention, should have been discovered in a more or less hap-hazard manner. However, that it is possible to interpret the bonds upon which money was advanced to the Urban Authority in times of emergency, when taken in conjunction with "the schedules there- unto annexed," to mean what those responsible for drafting them miy or may not have intended them to mean, is scarcely open to question. In the letter, however, the documents do not differ in this respect from nine out of every ten legal documents, however and by whoever drafted for just as it is held to be possible to drive a coach and four through the letter of any Act of Parliament so no deed, however astute or far seeing its framer may be is, so far as the letter goes, impervious to the efforts of those who desire to pick holes in it. But, in all matters of this kind we must consider the spirit as well as the letter of the deed and, unquestionably, when we find that, for upwards of forty years, payments have been made according to certain stated principles that, during all these years, Auditor after Auditor has certified payments on the generally accepted lines as having been legally made that there has been no word of disagreement during all this period as between borrower and lender; now that we have arrived, as it were, at the fag end of the period over whieh the repayments have been extended, surely it is somewhat late in the day to question the spirit of the interpretation. The precedent, established during half-a-century cannot be lightly set on one side and although it is urged that it is only when repayment of accounts of this kind is about to be completed that errors of calculation are discovered, surely this is a very illogical argument, and one that cannot possibly be squared with that sound financial axiom that the year's liabilities should be met by the year's income. It cannot reason- ably be urged that, according to figures set out in the schedule and the terms of the bond, there must be an over-payment, en bloc, in order to comply therewith and, at the same time, be contended that there has not been an over- payment every twelve months, for approaching half-a-century. Yet every year the Auditor has certified the accounts of the Authority as having been correctly kept. Therefore, to the unbiass- ed mind, the presumption must certainly be,in the absence of any other indication, that the original intention of both borrowers and lenders is that established, year by year, in forty odd precedents that cannot very readily be explained away. But to carry the matter a little farther and to come to the Loans regarding which there has been the most controversy. These Loans we find were transferred some fifteen years aoo. One for £596, another for JE1 600, both dating from 18G9, changed hands in 1894; the repay- ment of principal and interest had been made for considerably more than half of the life of the loans to the original lenders, according to the system and upon the terms that are now disputed. It follows, therefore, that if the statement as to over-payment be correct the original lender, for a quarter-of a-cfntury, was paid more than he was entitled to receive. Who was responsible for this ? The legality of the payments does not appear to have been questioned and the Auditor certified the accounts each year as being correct when, if there is anything at all in the conten- tions now advanced, they were not corrrect an 1 the parties responsible for signing the cheques could have been surcharged. Up to this time the members of the Authority evidently con- I sidered they were carrying out the original intention of the parties to the deeds; and that their view was the official view is made clear by the fact that, when the present holders of the mortgages took them over from the original lenders in the ordinary course of business they enquired at the offices of the Urban Council for a statement as to the amount of principal due on the bonds. The information was duly given, and the figures quoted indicate that, in the official mind, the practice of re-payment hitherto adopted was the correct practise. Information as to the amount of balances outstanding seems to have been given on more than one occision, and it appears to have been always calculated on the same basis furthermore, half-year after half-year, cheques were signed by members of the Council in accordance with this system and, year by year, the District Auditer certified that they had been legally paid away when, if the theory we are now asked to accept be the correct theory, the cheques were drawn for incorrect amounts. There is another point and it is this: To what extent can the Council support a claim to legal irresponsibility in the matter in view of the fact that the present holders acquired the bonds upon the strength of information supplied by their agents as to the amount of the balances supposed to be outstanding. The Council must assume responsibility for informa- tion that, we are now asked to be believe, enough given in good faith was misleading; and in these circumstances the position in which the bondholders stand to the authority may require denning. Apart, however, from these considerations, an outstanding point of interest so far as ratepayers are concerned is that the balance shall be held perfectly even in this matter which is purely one of business and one into which neither personal nor sentimental considerations can be allowed to intrude. It would be injurious to the highest and the best interests of the community were anything akin to repudiation of liabilities, solemly undertaken, to be contemplated. But there is no reason why discrepancies in account- ancy, which really involve no principle, should not be set right. This the District Auditor appears to have endeavoured to do. He has not attempted to juggle with the letter of the Bonds. but favours the interpretation supported by approaching balf-a-century of authoritative ac- ceptance,but which is plainly not in harmony with the latest reading of the documentary evidence. He has evidently been actuated by a desire to re- move once and for all what he regards as a discor- dant element from the Council Chamber. His long training enables him to express an expert opinion upon the matter but, whilst giving his decision, he tells the authority very plainly that if they are not inclined to accept it he will welcome an appeal to the Local Government Board or to the Courts for a legal definition as to the correct reading of the much discussed Bonds. Whilst a majority of Councillors are content with Mr. Griffith's conclusions, a minority have decided to exercise their prerogative as ratepayers to appeal to the Local Government Board. The result of the appeal will be awaited with considerable interest; although it does not necessarily follow that it will prove the last word in the matter. Briefly summarised the facts show that for upwards of forty years there has been only one accepted inter- pretation of the spirit of the Bonds and it has been accepted not only by both borrowers and lenders but also by each succeeding Local Board and Urban Council, and confirmed by successive Auditors, whose first qualification for the responsible position is an adequate knowledge of accountancy. This is the interpretation which Mr. William Griffiths, the present Auditor, places upon the documents and this is the interpretation which a majority of the members of the Council accept as correct. There is, it is true, an alternative interpretation, and nothing is to be gained by denying that, partially argued and according to the somewhat pliable letter of the contracts, it is possible at anyrate to make out a case for appeal. The ratepayer naturally asks what has he to lose or what has he to gain in the matter. If the conclusions arrived at by a majority of the Council are upheld, the balances of a considerable number of old loans will be wiped off the Urban Slate uoon advantageous terms—in the case of one lender for £ 20 less than the Government Auditor states is legally due—and this is a desirable achievement. Then, beyond this, a stumbling block to progress will be removed so far as the business of the Council is concerned aud no one who has followed the debates during the past twelve months can conclude otherwise°than that the heat engendered by the discussion of these matters has interfered with the calm and dis- passionate treatment of public affairs that is essential to satisfactory progress. The rate- payers will unquestionably be gainers in these respects and what do they stand to lose under other conditions ? If the decision of the Local Government Board Auditor, who should know as much about the accounts as any living man and whose recent decision is supported by a record of forty years during which the principles he ap- proves bave been honoured in the observance and which meet with the approval of a majority of the. Council is not accepted as final, it is difficult to see how a contrary decision by the Local Government Board can be regarded as satisfac- tory. It will be too much to expect the majority after deciding that black is black to veer round and vote that black is white because the Central Authority states that it is. Friction will con- tinue and it may have disastrous developments -from which the ratepayers have nothing to gain and everything to lose—should the Local Government Board decide against the logic of facts. It is quite possible to cut the Gordian Knot but the task of dealing with the severed strands may be a costly one. » — LOCAL AND DISTRICT. Mr. R. S. Richards, Llangollen, the agent. received the rentis of the Plas Berwyn estate, at the Berwyn Arms, last week At the subsequent dinner, the toast of the health of the Plas Berwyn family was hououred, and Major and Mrs. Totten- ham responded. Miss Mary Jones, daughter of Mr. Edward Jones, Chester House, took her degre at the Univer- sity College of Wales, Aberystwyth, last week. She has just completed a three years' course there. Miss Junes passed with honours in history. The lock-up shop of Mr. Noah Haynea, fruit- erer and bootseller, High-street, Rhos, was broken into in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and several pairs of boots were taken, while articles of clothing, &o., were strewn about the place. Miss E. J. Pritchard, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm, Pritchard, Pant Hill, and Mr. R. D. Williams, Queen-street, Rhos, sailed in the Maaretania" for the United States of America, on Saturday. Miss E. Pritchard will stay in New York and Mr. Williams goes to Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwallis West were present at a dinner party given by the French Ambassador in London on Friday. A new play by Mrs. George Cornwallis West, His Borrowed Plumes, was produced in London last week. Mr. J. O. Evans, son of Mr. Evans, Hen- dreforfydd, Carrog, has taken hia degree at St* David's College, Lampater. Mrs. Lloyd George, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has promised to pay a visit to Glys Ceiriog, on August 6th, and open a two days* bazaar there. Mr. T. W. Jones, son of Mr. J. Trevor Jones,, assistant overseer, Rhos, had passed the examinatiov; for the degree of M.D. at Liverpool University", Mr. Jones is only 23. The Vron Gate Primitive Methodists held their camp meeting on Sunday, when Mr. HaleSj, Minsterley, conducted the services, assisted by Messrs. J. Evans, Brockton, and J. L. MasseyP Pontesbury. A lantern lecture, A tour through Wales 80 years ago, was given at Hill-street Cal vinieti a: Methodist Church, Rhos, on Monday evening by the Rev D. W. Morgan, of Everton Biow. The Raw R. Williams presided. The death took place, on Tuesday, of 1\1"r.. William Roberts, Maentwrog, a well-known and most popular preacher with the Welsh Weeleyans. Though never ordained, Mr. Roberts drew large congregations wherever he preached. The death is announced of the Rev. Richard Edwards, of Llwyn, Ceminaes, Montgomeryshire Mr. Edwards was a well-known C alvinistic Method*- ist minister, and was widely respected throughout North Wales. The funeral took place on Sataideyr Sir Horatio Lloyd has resigned the office of Deputy Grand Mastar of the Masonic Province of Cheshire. Sir Horatio, who is 80, was admitted a- Mason in 1851, and he first held cffice in the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1856. He is succeeded^ as D.P.G.M. by Col. H. C. Legh of High Legh Ban" Knutsford. The Bishop of St. Asaph presided over a largely attended meeting of the St. Asaph Church Defence League, at Chester, on Saturday. It was' decided to hold meetings in every rural deanery; and to have mass meetings at Wrexham, Welthpoof and Rhyl. It was decided that the whole dioduBS should be organised to offer a strenuous resÎsteDce to the threatened disestablishment and disendow" ment of the Welsh Church. At the Llanrwst Urban Council, on Fridayp- evening, Mr. John Williams drew attention to the fact that the men in the employ of the Council;? after finishing their work, hired themselves to' farmers to work in the hay harvest, tbas taking" the bread out of the mouths of men who were out- of employment. It was decided that no man iss* the employ of the Council should engsge in trnf other work in future on pain of dismissal A meeting of the Denbighshire Territorial Association was held on Thurday, at Chester, The' secretary (Mr. T. M. Keen) reported that the1 Flintshire Territorial Association were willing to co-operate with Denbighshire in the movement tSF acquire a site for a shooting range on the Dt e marsh*" eg st Shotton. It was decided that a ceremoniaJ- parade of the 4th battalion Royal Welsh FusHierff should be held on the return from camp, date any- placa to be fixed later. The Rev. T. Nicholls Roberts, of Cefu Mawsv conducted the Welsh Wesleyan Young Men's Eisteddfod at Leeswoo i, oa Wednesday, when Miss Maggie Richards, Wrexham, won the prize for the' ChAtienze solo for soprano or contralto, and Mr. Price, Rhosddu, and Miss Gladys A. Belton, Bwlch- gwyn, won priz's for recitations. The New Broughton choir was baaten in the children's choir competition, and the Rhos choir in the chief c hoi&i'- competition. A proposal has been set on foot by the Kew Cadvau Oavies, of Oswestry, Dapucy Arohdruid of Wales, to erect a memorial to Haw Morris (" Oeiriog"), whose bi-ceateaary was celebrated this year. The memorial, which will take the form of a monument, will be erected at Llaaarmoo on a site given by Mr. D Jones, Pontytneibion, who takes a deep interest in the movement. We under- stand that Cadvan intends delivering a lecture at Tregeifiog this week, on "Wales and her poets," with the object of raising funds for the movemem t -—•— Mr. Ivor Davies, the new Flintshire chief constable, spant the early put of his career as an elementary school teacher, and in 1887 was em- played at the Bagillt aad Holywell B)ard Schools as assisfait master. He jjined the Flintshire police force in 1888, and has gradually progressed in rank until at the age of 43 he becomes the chief of-, the force. He is a native of Llanbryntnair, and his- brother, Iospector Richard Davies, is also in th$" Flintshire force and is stationed at Overton. An excellent rendering of the Cantata"Joseph," was given at Llwynmawr C.M. Chapel, on Monday" evening, before an appreciative audience, by the- Soar Chapel Choir, Glynceiriog, under the eon- ductorship of Mr. Elward Jones (Glyn Aiaw)., During the meeting solos were given by Mr. E. p" Jones, The chair was taken by Rev. T. E. Jone% and Mr. T. Ceiriog Jones acted as aoeompan ist, A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the choir who gave their services gratuitously, and a similar com- pliment was given the ladies of the Church who, had prepared supper for the choir. Messrs. Frank Lloyd and Sons are holding: their July sales in the North Wales Repository, Wrexham, on Tuesday and Wednesday next. The first day's sale comprises 250 high-class harness horses, hackneys, show horses, cobs and ponies, forming a very fiae selection and including entries from well-known exhibitors and breeders. On the second day, 40 powerful town horses, lurry and vanners will be sold these are nearly all direct from the breeders in Wales. Two day's trial i#1 allowed on all horses for work. Catalogues may be had from the Auctioneers. Mr. LI. Kenrick, the East Denbighshire Coroner, held an inquest at Summerhill, near Wrexham, on Thursday evening, upon the body of Charles Wigley, aged 62, formerly a collier, wise having had a leg broken two years ago haa; latterly been out of employment. On Saturday he went out for a walk, and later in the day he was foand at tho bottom of a quarry in Poolmou h Wood. He was taken home, and was attended t jr, Dr. Owen, but death ensued on Tuesday. Bef, to his death h3 said he was sitting at the edge of th a quarry and slipped down to the bottom. He « discovered by a boy who was playing in the word, and he told him that he had hurt his ohest. THt boy went for help and the man was conveyed home The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.