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GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. ] WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH. I Present: Mr S. T. Baugh, chairman; Ald. Y. Strachan, Aid. E. Smith, Aid. J. Oswell Bury, Aid. I J. Williams Councillors, W. E. Samuel, G. Bradley, Walter Jones, B. Owen, W. Pierce, J. Beale. J. Prichard, J. M. Jones,; Mr Thomas Bury, town clerk Dr. R. W. J. Evans, medical officer; Mr J. W. M. Smith, borough surveyor; Mr D. Higgins, sanitary inspector. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. I Dr. R. W. J. Evans, medical officer, reported that the borough still remained very free from diseases of an infectious nature. During the month, one case of rather a serious nature had occurred in the east end of the town which had received prompt attention and by means of extra precautions it was the means of pre- venting its spread and the case was now going on satisfactorily. The death rate for the month was I much higher than any month during the year but the large per centage of deaths had happened to children under one year of age. The number of births regis- tered was 25 males and 13 females; number of deaths, 24, making the death rate 22 per 1,000. He should have the pleasure at the next meeting to present a full report of all that had transpired during his year of office. The Mayor remarked that 23 was the average death rate of some of the largest towns in the kingdom. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES REPORT. I Mr JJ, Higgins reported that one case only of an infectious nature had come to his knowledge since his last report, viz., in the East Ward, which he had visited from time to time, saw that it was isolated, juid had used and supplied disinfectants, and other- wise carried out the instructions of the medical officer, an,l from information received from the medical gentk man attending the case, he was pleased to state that it was now progressing favourably. Since his last report only one house had been supplied with water closet accommodation. Many others were in C'lUrse of construction, but the present weather was very much against works. It having been aqked by the Fever Hospital Committee the approximate num- ber of water clot-ets in the borough, he begged to state that to the best of his knowledge the number was 1492 houses supplied with such accommodation out of 2113 houses in the borough; or above two-third of the houses in the borough. The Inspector also intimated that it was his intention to make a house-to-house visitation, when he should be able to make a more accurate return. BOROUGH SURVEYOR S REPORT. I Mr J. W. M. Smith, Borough Surveyor, presented I the following report:— The Chairman and Members of the Wrexham General I Purpoxcs Committee. GEXTLKMEK,—I have to report that according to instruc- tions I have prepared an estimate of the cost of re-Cxin? a urinal in Uivulet-road on the &ite arranged, viz., that situated between the Cias Company's property and the late Mr Walker's. In order tr, carry out this w. rk a short length of wall is required to be built on each side of the brook to support a etone platform. This, together with the ie-fixing of a elate urinal now in stock, I estimate will cost about X7 10s 011, I beg to call attention to the unsati-factory condition of the lower portion of Hill-street roadway, which, owing to its never having been metalled and a considerable traffic tak ng place thereon, has become much cut up and is being destroyed. I would suggest that such portion of the street as tnlY not be required for railway extension purposes be repaired and finished with proper inetal. I have inspected the deposited plans of this proposed alteration, and beg to point, out the necessity for having ample means of lighting and surface drainage provided for this part of the roadway, it being proposed to make it where below the railway in a hollow. I have received an application for an extension of foot- path in front of two houses lately built in Shrewsbury- road. This, if carried out, will be not only an improvement to the property but will benefit the road itself, and I believe can be done at a cost of A;3 JOs Od, the kerbing required being already in stock. No building notices have been received since your laat ineo,.ing. -I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant; J. W. M. SMITH, Borough Surveyor. Guildhall, Wrexham, December 13th, 1882. The various items in the report were taken and dis- cutised seriatim. j RIVULET ROAD URINAL. AVlerman Smith asked what arrangements had been made with the Gas Company as to the fixing of the urinal in its proposed position ? The Borough Surveyor said permission had been given subject to its removal on due notice, which he should think would not be given for some years. In reply to the Chairman, the Surveyor said it was intended to place an iron joist—sufficient to bear t'ie stone work. In answer to Mr Beale, the Chairman said the urinal was to he placed over the brook. The Surveyor said a slate urinal would be cheaper than an iron structure, aar) after discussion, it was resolved on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Aid. Williams, that the matter be left in the hands of the Surveyor to carry out, it being agreed, on the motion of Mr Samuel, that tenders for doing the re- quired work be advertised for in the lbul way. HILL-STREET, With regard to the condition of the lower part of I Hiil-street roadway, the Town Clerk said he had as- certained fr.,iti Mr Evan Morris that it was the in- tention to keep the portion of the road from Brook- I street up for 00 yards north as a permanent road. Alderman Smith then propped that the portion of I Hill-street sugsje rted by the Mayor be put in repair, which was agreed to. THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER CATHERALL'S LANE. I In reference to this matter the Town Clerk said he had received from the Great Western Railway Com- pany the usual notices, stating that they were going to apply for powers to widen this lane, and asking the Corporation to state whether th ;y assented or dis- eented to the proposed widening ? Mr Bradley asked if there was any provision for lighting underneath the covered way ? The C.iairmau iaid that was a po:nt Lhey hal been discussing at his end of the table. The Mayor begged to move that the Council do not offer any factious opposition to the proposed altera- tion, but that they should coment to it on condition that the Company put a lamp at each end of the road- way. Mr Bradley Would you not put it rather in this way—that in consideration of the Railway Company properly securing light and draining, we consent to the measure. Alderman Smith Yes, night and day, and to the satisfaction of the Surveyor. Mr Beale Yes, I think it ought to be done to the satisfaction of the Surveyor. The Town Clerk said all this would have to be pro- vided for by a clause in the Act. It was, therefore, premature to suggest anything on the subject at pre- sent. However favorable the Corporation might be to the Railway Company with regard to their improve- ments or extensions, the Council must take this atti- tude, and it would be better for them to hold their hands until they knew what the Company proposed to provide in the way of proper light and drainage. They would then know where they were. Otherwise, if the Railway Company obtain power simply to make the proposed alteration, the Council, as the Highway Authority, would be responsible for the lighting and drainage. It was ultimately resolved to recommend the Council to orfer no opposition to the Railway Com- pany on condition that the latter undertake to pro- vide proper light and drainage, and that the Town Clerk communicate with the Company on the subject. HIGHTOWN FOOTPATHS. I With reference to the application of Mr J. Hughes, Hightown, for an extension of the footpath opposite two lately erected houses in King's Mills Road, Alderman Bury said he strongly objected to any piecemeal work being done in this neighbourhood or any other part of the town. They had an increasing population in the Hightown district, and there was a great necessity for an extension of the footpath from Gatefield House up to Nile Cottages. He should, therefore, like the borough surveyor to supply an estimate of the cost of making a proper footpath all the way along, instead of just doing the work opposite any particular property. He moved this as a resolu- tion. Seconded by Alderman Williams. The Chairman thought it was very desirable that the footpath should be carried on from Gatefield House to the point referred to by the borough sur- veyor. Alderman Smith agreed as to the necessity of the work being done, but he thought they should consider the state of their finances and let the work stand over for, say, another half year, when they might be in a better position financially. The residents of High- town had already got a good footpath all the way upon one side, and he thought that might suffice for the present. After some few further remarks, it was resolved that the surveyor prepare an estimate and report as to the cost of continuing the footpath from the Traveller's Rest to Napier-street, it being also agreed to do that portion opposite Mr Hughes' new houses. THE OLD RAILWAY BRWGE NEAR THE BARRACKS. I The Borough Surveyor submitted a letter from I Messrs Davies Brothers in reference to this apparently i endless subject answering certain enquiries directed to be made at the last meeting. The Town Clerk said the minute of the Conncil on the subject was that the matter be referred to the General Purposes Committee, and that the sum of 4:20 be offered to Messrs Davies Brothers to carry out the work mentioned by the borough surveyor, assum- ing that the road be fenced by them, allowing Messrs Davies Brothers to have the iron girders. The letter from Messrs Davies Brothers stated that they agreed to do the work required, with some little alteration of the specification, and the letter having been read by the Borough Surveyor, Mr J. M. Jones said this would be getting rid of a very great difficulty, and he begged to propose that Messrs Davies' offer be accepted. Mr B. Owen seconded. Mr Samuel objected to the proposal to pay jE20, in- asmuch as it had been passed that the cutting should b,, filled up by the surveyor with rubbish or material as it could be obtained. Alderman Smith You have inspected the bridge ? Air Samuel I have, sir, and I consider it perfectly safe. Alderman Smith There is a big hole in the bridge, and you say that Messrs Davies Brothers would be xesnonsible in case of any accident ? Air Samuel Certainly they would. The Town Clerk caid the Surveyor wished him to make an explanation in reference to this matter. It was quite correct that in Hightown South there were certain regulations for setting bs-ck to the line of building, and that would admit of t footway a3 far as the cutting, but there all obligation as to the footpath cease 1. Messrs. Davies Bros, did iwt buy under ob- ligations at all in this matter. Upon that side of the road they were approaching the Barracks, which paid a large contribution in lieu of rates, and they would be entitled to ask for a footway upon th&t side of the road. In filling up the cutting it would be absolutely necessary, in making the slope, to go upon Messrs. Davies Bros.' land, but the Urban Sanitary Authority bad no power to go upon their land. Mr Samuel said if the bridge belonged to them they had a perfect right to go upon the property and re- pair it, The Town Clerk But you can't fill it up. 1 Mr -Samuel It would be filled up by us in the same way as Messrs. Davies Bros. are going to do it. The Town Clerk said he thought by filling up one side only it would be of no advantage to the Corpora- tion. Then if Messrs. Davies Bros. withdrew their permission for the Corporation to fill up the other l side, in what position would the Urban Authority be ? Aid. Bury That's the point. The Town Clerk (continuing) said Messrs. Davies Bros. proposed to give up an area altogether of 120 square yards to the Urban Authority. Mr Samuel said, if they built, they would be reauired to set back to the building line rn n Mr Samuel: No, I didn't say they would do so, but no doubt they would. The Town Clerk: But subject to compensation. Compensation has been made, and no doubt Messrs. Davies Bros. would require some. The Chairman said he had kept silent at the last meeting, and had listened to all the pros and cons re- specting the question, and the conclusion he had come to was that it would be an advantage to offer Messrs. Davies Bros. 220 to do this work. He saw that they would not give the Corporation the privilege of going on to their land and taking from them eight yards to make a parapet without compensation, and no doubt they would ask a large amount. Looking, therefore, at the matter in all its bearings, he believed it would be to the advantage of the Council to accept Messrs. Davies' terms to carry out the work. Aid. Williams said the question had been adjourned in ordei to ascertain what Messrs. Davies Bros, were prepared to do. The Surveyor said the specification distinctly stated that Messrs. Davies Bros. were to fill up to the forma- tion level. They were not to make the road, and that had been stated to the Board before. The Corpora- tion would do all the metalling and kerbing. Mr Samuel And they take the girders and all the bricks. There are thousands of bricks there The Surveyor They take the bricks down to the level of the road. Ald. Bury said he thought it was desirable to have this cutting filled up because, although he believed firmly what Mr Samuel had said, viz., that the bridge was perfectly safe, Mr Samuel, nevertheless, was not a borough official and their own official told them the bridge was not safe. He therefore, in voting that Messrs Davies Brothers should do the wowk, voted against his conscience in the matter. The motion that Messrs Davies Brothers' tender be accepted was eventually egreed to. FROM TEMPLE-ROW TO MOUNT-STREET. I Aid. Bury called attention to the defective condition of the flight of steps leading down from Temple-row into Mount-street, and moved that the surveyor report as to the cost of replacing the same with steps- of the same quality as those leading from Temple-row to Tuttle-street. Mr Walter Jones seconded the proposition observ- ing that the steps referred to were in a very dangerous condition, especially in this kind of weather. Carried. I GROVE PARK ROAD. The Surveyor presented a report to the effect that the road through Grove Park required metalling, kerbing, channelling, &c., and recommended that notices to do the required work be served upon the respective owners of property. The Town Clerk said he had received the following letter from Mr Jno. Jones, solicitor :— Wrexham, December 4th, 1882. DEAR SIR,-I understand the Borough Surveyor has on hand a prop >sal that the owners shall construct this r ,ad with :t view to its ultimate acceptance by the Borough. I should like it to be known that I can only fall in with this arrangement upon the condition that the road is drained otherwise my house can never be drained and the want of damage is the only thing the road suffers from.—Yours truly, jxo. JONES. Thomas Bury, Esq., Town Clerk, Wrexham. The Town Clerk said the borough surveyor had informed him that Mr Jne. Jones' house could not be drained by a sewer in Grove Park, as the level would not admit of it and if it was drained at all it would have to be by means of the extension of the sewer along Chester-road. The Chairman thought that if sewers were neces- sary, and the property could be sewered, it was their duty to give notice to the respective owners to carry out the work. The road was a private and not a public one. The Mayor said he should like to hear the opinion of Mr Councillor Bradley, as an owner of property in that district, upon the subject. Mr Bradley said he felt rather a delicacy at in- truding into this discussion, because he fully approved of the report which the Borough Surveyor had pre- sented in favor of serving the owners with notices. It was a public thoroughfare, and he presumed every inhabitant of the borough had a right to walk through it, and notice had been given to owners of property in Brynycabarnu Lane, because it was a thoroughfare which people had a rightto use, and which was in a very bad condition, and no road could possibly be in worse condition than Grove Park-road was at the present time. He had spoken to some of the owners to see if they could not come to some arrangement to put it iiito something like good condition, but there was such a difference of opinhn and division of interest that he did not think anything could be done without due notice from that Board. Had Mr Low been th re in his former position he would no do lbt have met the matter in a liberal public spirit—as would also Mr Pryce Jones—they being the largest owners of property in that locality. Unless, however, the wo:k was done by the owners it ivould not be d >ne at all, and he thought the owners would come to some arrangement to do the work if they were served witi the proper notices. He be-ged to move, therefore, that the usuil notices be served by the Borough Surveyor. With regard to the drainage question, if the Chester-road sewer were ex- t jnded along the whole length of the park, it would not assist Mr John Jones, unless he got an old-fashioned engineer to make water run ut) hill—(laughter)—and the only possible way to drain that particular part would be by the deepening of the Chester-road sewer. In reply to Ald. Smith, the Town Clerk, quoting from the Act of Parliament in reference to the word "street," which had a wide definition, said if any street was not made good to the satisfaction of the Urban Authority, notice might be given to owners or occupiers of the property abutting to do the required work. This meant simply that if the road was not repairable by the public, it had to be done by the owners and occupiers in any street; then came the question as to what constituted a street," and he thought the definition was sufficiently wide to include the thoroughfare in question. The Chairman: They might afterwards ask the Council to take over and adopt the road. Mr Bradley Oh, yes. Mr Beale asked if the notice included the sewer, because it would be very hard for the public to have to sewer the road after it had been dedicated. Mr Samuel endorsed Mr Beale's remarks and thought the work of sewering should be included in the notices given to owners of property on all private roads. Mr J. M. Jones said the whole question seemed to hinge on the point as to whether this was or was not a private road. The Mayor said the road in question was "a public road on sufferance," Mr Bradley remarking that he knew when Mr Butt's houses were being built, Mr Jno. Jones had stopped the cartage of bricks through Grove Park. It was ultimately resolved to serve the usual notices upon the owners of property abutting upon this road. RHOSDDU ROAD. I The Town Clerk read a memorial from certain in- fluential ratepayers in the neighbourhood of Rhosddu, calling attention to the very bad state of Rhosddu- road, from the junction of Grove-road and Grosvenor- road to Cunliffe-street, and asked that its condition might be improved. In reply to the Chairman, the Borough Surveyor said the state of the footpath at the part indicated was unquestionably very bad. There was no kerbing or channelling with the exception of a few small boulder stones. The footpath in some places barely reached a width of four feet, and there was no foot- p th on the other side the road. Mr B. Owen supported the memorial on the ground that there was a large number of inhabitants in this particular district and also some very valuable pro- party. He would suggest that the Surveyor report as to the cost of paving the foothpath with chequered tiles. and he might state, as one of the trustees to the Rhosddu Burial Ground, that he was authorized to say that the trustees would be willing to give up a portion of their ground if required for the widening of the footpath. (Hear, hear). The Chairman said he thought if this offer was made known, the Rev. Wm. Davies, Rhosddu, would no doubt be inclined to act in a similarly liberal spirit and meet the Corporation in carrying out a permanent im- provement. Mr Beale was asked to wait upon the Rev. Mr Davies respecting the subject. Mr Beale. however, declined. Ald. Williams remarked that the Council would get nothing from Mr Davies unless they paid for it, and after some further discussion the matter was left in the hands of the Surveyor to prepare the customary report and estimate. The Chairman suggested that the estimate should include the cost of good hard gravel as well as tiles, Mr Bradley, however, observing that, owing to the footpath being so exceedingly narrow, gravel got kicked aU to pieces before it consolidated. FEVER HOSPITAL. The Town Clerk said he had received a letter from the Clerk to the Rural Sanitary Authority stating that they declined to re-open the question of pro- viding a joint fever hospital between the Rural and Urban Authorities. THE NEXT COUXCIL MEETING. Owing to Bank Holiday falling on Tuesday (the ordinary Council day), it was decided to hold the next Council meeting on Wednesday, the 27th inst

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