The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

EDUCATIONAL.—We are pleased to inform OHr readers that Miss Mary S. Davies has been se- lected out of numerous applicants for the office of mistress of the infants' department of the New- port Board Schools, pro tern. The children and mistress presented Miss Davies with a very hand- somely inlaid walnut work-box, furnished with every requisite, as a slight token of the respect felt towards her during the time of her apprentice- ship and assistantship in the Girls' Department. SCHOOL BOARD.-At a private meeting of this board, held on Monday, Miss Elizabeth Vaughan, from the Swansea Training College, was appointed mistress of the girls' department. There were 25 candidates. BURIAL BOARD.-On Tuesday last, at a meet- ing of this board, Messrs. Asa & Ivor Evans, the clerks of the board, sent in their resignation, but the acceptance of the same was deferred. The clerks announced that the time had arrived for 3 members to retire, and that the election would take place in the vestry on Thursday. Mr. Wood- wkard brought forward the desirability of lowering the fees for interment, as they were beyond the reach of the working class. He was in favour of levying a small rate, so as to reduce the fees. It transpired that J661 had to be paid annually as part payment of loan and interest, and further sums as considerations for the clerks and keeper. The sum of 7s. per week had been allowed Mr. W right as keeper, and a cheque for balance due was drawn in favour of his widow. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—At a meeting of this board, held on Wednesday, Inspector Roberts was, by consent of the Chief Constable, appointed as- sistant relieving officer for Cardigan, at a salary of fA per annum, his duty being to issue tickets for lodgings to vagrants. The Workhouse having been assessed at JE120 to the borough rate, it was considered too high, and the Clerk was requested to see the authorities on the matter. HIGHER EDUCATION IN WALES.—At a private meeting, convened by invitation from the Mayor, on Tuesday evecing last, Messrs. T. Davies (Bank House), Asa J. Evans, D. M. Palmer, B.A., and Lewis Evans (Mayor), were elected a deputation to give evidence before the Commissioners at Haver- fordwest on the following day. It would be inter- esting to know did these gentlemen, when apply- ing for more funds, state before the Commission- ers how the present "foundation" scholarships in the Grammar School were administered, as it is well known that they have not been granted to the deserving poor, but to those who had wielded the most influence upon the Council. RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY.-At the month- ly meeting of this Anthority, at the Shire-hall, on Saturday, under the presidency of Mr. J. T. W. James, the Inspector of Nuisances reported several cases of typhoid and measles within his district- in the parishes of Newport, Whitechurch, Meline, Nevern, and Manordivy, and one case of measles at St. Dogmells.-Dr. Havard, medical officer of health for No. 3 district of the Cardigan Union, who was present at the meeting, said that typhoid and scarlet fever were very prevalent within his district, the former mostly running in the same family. He experienced great difficulty in getting persons to nurse the patients. In the parishes of Nevern, Whitechurch, and Meline measles was very prevalent, so much so that it had visited nearly every house, and the patients ranged from 40 years of age downwards. Disinfectants were freely used, and all precautions taken. Dr. Havard said that the well near his house at Newport needed repairs, and he was willing that a pump should be placed there for the convenience of the public but some neighbours objected. The Inspector having reported that a corpse had been brought from Cwmavoii for interment ats Blaenwaun, and that the cause of death was typhoid fever, he was requested to investigate the matter. TOWN COUNCIL.—At a meeting held on Thurs- day, the Town Clerk reported that Mr. John Griffiths was prepared to complete his contract for extending the water supply. The question of the reservoir site to be considered at the next meet- ing. The surveyor was requested to see to the highway at Greenfield-row, without delay. The notice of the surveyor was directed to the changes made in the boundaries made in the Glanpwll- afon and Cardigan bridges, and was requested to see that they were fixed 300 yards from the centre of the bridges. Mr. Woodward promised to sup- ply the plants for planting the triangular piece of ground at the entrance to the NetpooL VESTRY.-An adjourned meeting was held at the Council Chamber on Thursday. Messrs. T. Davies, W. Woodward, and E. C. Evans, the re- tiring members of the Burial Board, were re- elected. The assistant overseer was requested to engage Mark Watkins to rectify the drainage of the recreation ground so as not to injure Mr. Parker's field. The Church friends having de- cided to have one of the bells recast, it was re- solved that the inscription on the old bell should be preserved, and that the names of the Mayor and the Vicar, with the date, should be inscribed upon the new bell. ALLEGED STEALING FROM THE PERSON.— At a special petty sessions, held in the Guild-hall, on Thursday afternoon, before the Mayor and Mr. Levi James-Thomas Philips, writer, Greenfield. square, was charged by Humphrey Roberts, master mariner, Portmadoc, with having, on Monday, the 6th inst., stolen two sovereigns from his pocket at the Crown Inn. Mr. W. W. Smith appeared to prosecute, and Mr. John A. G. Evans for the prisoner. After prosecutor's evidence had been taken, the case was adjoined to the following morning. Accused was brought up on Friday morning, and after hearing the evidence the Bench cansidered the charge proved. Prisoner elected to be summarily dealt with, and was sentenced to one month imprisonment, in the house of cor- rection. The Bench expressed a hope that this would prove a warning to him. THROAT IRRITATION.—Soreness and dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and affect- ing the voice. For these symptoms use Epps s Glycerine Jujubes. Glycerine, m these agreeable confections, being in proximity to the glands at the moment they are excited by the act of suck- ing, becomes actively healing. Sold only in boxes, 7id. and Is. ljd., labelled "JAMES EPPS & Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, London." A letter received: "Gentlemen,—It may, perhaps, interest you to know that, after an extended trial, I have found your Glycerine Jujubes of consider- able benefit (with or without medical treatment) in almost all forms of throat disease. They soften and clear the voice. In no case can they do any harm.-Yours faithfully, GORDON HOLMES, L.R. C.P.E., Senior Physician to the Municipal Throat and Ear Infirmary. CARDIGAN TOWN COUNCIL. MR. WOODWARD'S REPLY TO MR. R. D. JENKINS. Mr. Woodward said: Mr. Mayor and gentle- men, I now rise to reply to the remarks made by Alderman Jenkins in reference to what I had said at the public meeting of the 9th ult. I have written and told Mr. Jenkins that I should reply to-day, but I am sorry to find he is from home, and cannot conveniently be present. Alderman Evans I saw Mr. Jenkins and he told me that he was very sorry he could not at- tend here to-day, but he hoped Mr. Woodward would withhold his reply until the next meeting. Mr. Woodward: I have a great objection to delay my reply to Mr. Jenkins. He brought the question into this board without any notification to myself or to the Board, and I do not see why I should postpone the matter any longer. Seeing the delay that has occurred in calling us together, I prefer beating the iron while it is hot, and I shall therefore move the previous question and proceed. Mr. J. Lewis I asked Mr. Jenkins to withhold his remarks until the next meeting, so as to give Mr. Woodward an opportunity of replying at the same meeting, but he refused. I therefore move that Mr. Woodward proceed. Mr. Woodward I take the earliest opportunity of replying to the remarks made by Mr. Jenkins, at this Council. I maintained that Mr. Jenkins was out of order in replying to some remarks I made in public but it was at your hands he re- ceived the indulgence to speak at this Board, and you then agreed to extend to me a similar favour, and for that favour I now thank you. Mr. Jen- kins must remember that every man who holds a public office must expect to have his actions criti- cised-he represents the public and the public eye is upon him. I made certain remarks upon the expenditure of this Borough, and based my argu- ments as to the extravagant spending of the pub- lic money upon these Public Buildings, Water Works, and the Board School. I criticised those expenditures as extravagant, oppressive, and un. just, and I asserted that the people had been most heavily rated, and had to sell their birthright for what I believe to be huge buildings of folly. I made these criticisms for this reason, which I want you and the public to remember-When I blought forward my motion to induce the Council to move in the matter of making the river more navigable, I received the cold shoulder—if not direct opposi- tion. I am a. very heavy ratepayer in this Borough, and I certainly should not desire to see it more heavily rated than at present, or brought into any unnecessary expenditure. In the matter of the River Question, I did not propose any scheme. I supposed that the river could be made more navigable^r a certain sum. I judged from the average tonnage of the past three years, and the willingness of captains and: others to pay the slight dues to the, amounts I proposed. I believed and maintained, that Cardigan would not only be .¡. benefitted in its port, but that a direct revenue would be handed to the Corporation. Of Mr. Jenkins' criticisms on this portion of what I said I will speak in the proper place, I now only wish to state the general grounds of my referring to the great expense the burgesses have been put to and to compare that with the conduct of a certain clique m the Council who only wish to oppose me in every possible way, whether I have the good of the ratepayers at heart or not. Mr. Jenkins has seen fit to call my remarks abusive and vituper- tive." I do not think a single expression of mine can be called "abusive or vituperative." Such language as that I will not use to Mr. Jenkins even in reply, although lie went from public to Frivate matters, which I could also have done had chosen, and I believe if I had descended to private matters I should have been "vituperative and abusive." Mr. Jenkins goes on to say that my abusive tirade was founded upon fiction." We shall see presently how for my statements were founded upon fact. I told you that the bur- gesses had to sell their birthright in order to pay off the debt incurred for these buildings, and Mr. Jenkins would not dare say that such has not been the case. The land was the property of the people, and they agreed to enclose ana hand ovor' their rights to the Council to pay off the debt in- curred. Mr. Jenkins then went on to say that he was glad to have the opportunity of giving an ac- count of the cost of these buildings. Is it now, after a lapse of 22 years that the public are to be told for what they have been paying rates? Did Mr. Jenkins, when Maypr, ever make any state- ment to the burgesses of this expenditure ? The Mayor of to-day, before leaving office, will have to read a balance sheet of the expenditure of the Borough during the year. But these are not the good old times. Did Mr. Jenkins ever read a balance sheet of the expenses of the Corporation, but rather, did not the Corporation accounts dur- ing his mayoralty get into such a hopelessly con- fused muddle that no proper balance could be struck ? And did not the auditors in signing that some-how-got-at balance insert but we have examined no vouchers?" That is how business was transacted in those days—a some-how-got-at balance and no vouchers. I am very glad indeed to have been the means of getting this account even after the lapse of 22 years. I stated that the expenditure in connection with these buildings was j68000 but Mr. Jenkins says No, it was not, but that including the slaughter house and architect's fee, it amounted in all to JE5440, or £ 2560 below what I stated. But do these figures ( £ 5440) represent the actual cost of the buildings to the ratepayers I say emphatically no, they do not. I will now lay before you a tabulated statement of what I believe to be, after a careful reference to the documents and books of the Cor- poration, the real position of affairs during the time Mr. Jenkins was Mayor, and this is what I believe to be a true statement of the cost of these public buildings to the ratepayers Original cost, as per statement £ 8. d. of account 5897 7 9i Cost of Market Act as per ac. 951 6 6 Town Clerk's expenses for Act 177 13 10 Interest upon capital before re- ceiving any returns and other payments 565 16 8i JE7592 4 10 I prove my statement correct from figures taken from the 10 years' abstract from 1856 to 1866. I find here— £ s. d. Cost of Public Buildings, &c. 5897 7 81 Act of Parliament, &c. 951 6 6 Town Clerk's expenses 177 13 10 Overdraft at Messrs, Wilkins' and Co., Bankers. 502 9 9 JE7528 17 91 I again prove my statement from Statement of Account set forth in memorial sent up to the Lords in the year 1869— £ s. d. To amount of First Loan 6000 0 0 „ „ Second do. 900 0 0 „ Third do, 1000 0 0 „ Improvement rates reed. to Sep., 1869 1562 0 8 „ Tofls received up to September, 1869 2742 0 0 Amt. overdrawn at Bank, Sept. 1869, as per account H16 3 2 913320810 Ad. By amount of cost of public buildings as per Mr. Jenkins' statement 5440 0 0 Total cost of water works, per statement 1341 15 7 Amt. of loans paid off up to Sept. 1869 1500 0 0 Amt. of interest paid on loans up to this date 2880 19 7 11162 15 2 Balance 2157 8 8 £13820 3 10 Mr. Jenkins stated that the cost of these build- ings was JE5440, and I made a rough estimate of JE8000. Now I have shown that there is JE2157 paid into the funds of the Corporation that has not been accounted for, and I think I am entitled, in all fairness, to place that amount to the cost of these buildings. Let us add then this JE2157 to Mr. Jenkins' acknowledged cost, f5440, and we have the result— £ 7597. Now, I ask, who is the nearer in giving the correct account to the good people of Cardigan ? Mr. Jenkins is out at least £ 2157—a very large sum indeed, which the good people of Cardigan have had to pay in some form or other, by the sale of their birthright, and by heavy and burdensome rates extending over 22 years. I made my statement on the current opinion floating about. 1 had never had the hap- piness to see that wonderful balance, prepared with so much care, in which liabilities and re- ceipts play about on each side of the abstract like a clown in a pantomime. It is the popular belief that these buildings cost JE8000, and who can won- der at a little exaggeration, as the Mayor had not given a statement of that account for 22 years, and then it is found out, not to their credit, that there was no balance and no vouchers. What I now ask Mr. Jenkins to explain to me is this-If the £ 2157 has not been spent upon these public buildings, upon what has it been expended? I will now refer to the rating question. Mr. Jen- kins stated that individually he had taken no active part in the question, but that he was on a committee to propose a basis, and they suggested an Improvement Rate one-third upon lands, which would be easy in management and simple in cash accounts. Now this Rating Question has brought two hitherto opposing parties to join hands. Now I maintain that any gentlemen who employ a bar- rister to plead their cause, agree to the course which that barrister takes, and Mr. Bowen Row- lands pleaded before the Commissioner these three propositions :—" 1st. That the Hamlets of Bridge- End and Abbey be taken out of the Urban and Port Sanitary District. 2nd. That those Hamlets be divided from the rest of the Urban Sanitary District, and their expenses (except Establish- ment expenses) be paid out of a General District Rate, separately levied therein. The Establish- ment expenses to be paid proportionately accord- ing to the rateable value. 3rd. That Sanitary, Highway and Lighting expenses for the whole Borough be paid for out of one General District Rate, levied on property throughout the whole Borough." Now, sir, none of these three propo- sitions the Commissioner would, for a moment, entertain, but my lamented friend Dr. Thomas, with myself and a few others, sided with the op- position, and instead of having an Act of Parlia- ment to perpetuate an injustice, we obtain a Pro- visional Order, at a 90th of the cost, and fixed the rates on a more just basis. It was sad for me. to read over the correspondence which certain gen- tlemen had with different consulting barristers, in order,, if possible, to wring from them an admis- sion that land and houses should not be assessed at full for School Board purposes, and that the School Board Rates should not be paid out of the Borough Fund. I know we had no Borough Fund proper, but when a Borough Fund was to be formed what did Mr. Asa, Evans and his party try to do, but to take all the market tolls and put them into the Borough Fund, instead of fairly sharing what the ratepayers had been paying for between the District Rate and the Borough Fund. It is alL very well for Mr. Jenkins to talk about one simple account," but if one simple account is not just, I say, rather let us have a hundred in- tricate accounts if they are just. Mr. Jenkins then gave us a history of how St. Dogmells and Bridge-End became part of the Borough, but I failed to see that it had anything to do with the late attempt toawer them froq^^i^Hjui they not reaped the privilege of th& u|||^dpX^digan, to which they paid comparatively a small pereentAge; and scarcely in proportion to the benefits they re- ceived. It did seem to nte something to be won- dered at that the very patties who had received the greatest benefit from their connection with the Borough, should quietly turn round and go in for a little Act of Parliament to release then! from any further liability. I did not refer to the dif- ference of the rateable value of Parkyprat and Tregibby, to blame anyone. I mentioned these two farms to show the injustice of the rateable value of them at the present time. Mr. Jenkins, in reply to that injustice, gives us the history of the connection of St. Dogmells with Cardigan. That is not the question. I called attention to a clear case of injustice, and am answered by an account of the Municipal and Parliamentary con- nection of St. Dogmells with Cardigan. It is clear to every man that the rateable values of those two farmes are unjust. Why then does Mr. Jen- kins avoid the question ? Why did not Mr. Jen- kins support those who wish only for justice. But instead of saying a single word that he is Sony that such an injustice exists, all he does is to give us a little history of St. Dogmells. I have no- thing to reply to Mr. Jenkins upon the Watet* Works. He has an extraordinary method of avoiding this question. Mr. Jenkins then touched upon the School Board. He said that the School had been built at the rate of f4 per head. I sup- pose he based this calculation on the first contrad of £ 1600; but he must know that that does not represent the total cost of those buildings. He must know that tho contractor failed to complete them at that price. I find this to be the cost of this undertaking, upon which the burgesses haw had to pay rates, viz. :— I. e. d. Cost of site -53000 Buildings 1588 0 0 Architect -6000 Other Expenses so 0 0 1.2200 OF 0 40& Children. Cost jMMO. M 10s. per head. And not U per head as stated by Mr. Jenkins. But the most extraordinary thing in connection with Mr. Jenkins' reply to my remarks on the School Board, is this -I find him—a Tory- acting champion for the doings of a RadiCaL These Christians do love one another now, but I wish, for the sake of the ratepayers they had loved each other a little earlier. I am very glad to see that reform even now. If those two could have pulled together as friendly six years ago as they do now, perhaps Mr. Asa Evans would have agreed with Mr. Miles and the National School Committee, to allow the Bible to be read in a gen- eral school for the town, and have built an ad- dition to the National School. And, if that had been done, I have no doubt but that all interested would have joined in the scheme, and then a great expense would have been saved. Birmingham is surely Liberal enough, and has not the Birming- ham School Board adopted the reading of the Bible ? And Cardigan is not more Liberal than Birmingham In reference to Mr. Jenkins' re- marks as to the River Tivy, I reply that I never* once brought forward in this Council a scheme of my own (as it is called) engineering skill." My first move in the matter was to show the Council that it was desirable, and secondly that it was practicable, as similar undert ikings had been car- ried out in other places with satisfactory results After receiving a memorial from those most inter- ested in the River Question, at the desire of the Council, and with a memorial from this Board also, I laid the matter before the Local Govern- ment Board. And when I saw those gentlemen, what did they say ? This-That we can only tell you, as we told Mr. Jenkins some years ago, that the Town Council must form themselves into a properly constituted body. Now Mr. Jenkins calls the course I took wild," when he himself had taken a similar course some few years before. I quite agreed with the Council as to getting a competent engineer to survey and report to them but what did a certain party on the Council do! After I had written to six or seven competent en- gineers, of considerable ability in river improve- ment, and had secured the service of one (Mr. Whitley) at the low figure of £25, some of the Council thought that this looked rather too much like business, and that something would be done, and they actually wanted me to write to Mr. Whitley and ask him would his plans be fit to place before the Local Government Board. Did they think that I was going to insult the engineer of the Padstow River Scheme by asking him if he would be ashamed to let his plans be seen by somebody else besides the certain members of the Cardigan Town Council ? Such petty opposition as that is thoroughly mean, and only snows me that certain parties for perhaps some personal spite will not allow any measure to be proceeded with for the benefit of the ratepayers. Mr. Jen- kins next referred to the Cemetery Question, and stated that I did not mention the expenditure of money in enclosing this ground with bricks. I should like to know whether, if this Cemetery had not been enclosed with bricks, they would not have had to enclose it with something else. I was a member of the Burial Board, but I was not the only member. ,If the Board preferred bricks, how can I be responsible for an expenditure which must have been made on some material or other. Before touching on the disastrous event which happened to the town, and which Mr. Jenkins was fearful of naming, and seemed to wish to hold as a black cloud over me, I must say a word on the non-retirement of Mr. Jenkins from the Al- dermanship. He propounded a new rule in con- nection with the Mayorlty, that if every Mayor held office for two years it would be 32 years be- fore each individual member would have a chance of filling the chair. I cannot help saying that Mr. Jenkins put me in mind of a finger post directing people to adopt a certain course, but he takes- pretty good care never to go that way himself. He has been Alderman since the year 1846, and adopting his own method of calculation, it will take about 600 years before the whole of the Cor- poration can receive that honour. And if the offices in the Council are to be kept more than one year when some important business is being carried on, I should like to know what important business Alderman Jenkins has been engaged upon for the last six years to especially give him that privilege. I hope to see him here with that ur- gent business this year, for I only saw him here a. very few times during the whole of last year. I certainly think that those who advocate reform is others should themselves set an example. But to adopt Mr. Jenkins own phrase, I think it is satisfactory" to find that there was one mem. ber of the Corporation who understood the un- selfish advice of Mr. Jenkins, and followed that advice that the honours pertaining to the body corporate should be more equally divided. I wffl now return to Mr. Jenkins references to that un- fortunate accident-the Capel pond. Here MR. Jenkins leaves public questions and comes to pri- vate transactions. In the first place I ask, id I build that pond to do work or to bring about a calamity ? Did I build that pond from my own plans, or was it constructed under the supervision of a practical engineer ? Did I build that pond to cause me agony of mind) or did I build it to further trade Did I build that pond to cause a Government enquiry, ar did I build it to give work and food to the people and their children ? Where then is the Christian charity of a church- warden of the old parish church of St. Mary's who seeks to cast a slur upon my public character, as if I were the wilful cause of a most sad acci- dent. This is my reply to Mr. Jenkins. I hope he will think well over it, and remember,. as a public man he must expect to be criticised, and that old age only brings honour to those whe fear- lessly side with justice and that it brings no hon- our to those who seek to trample down for years and years those whom they do not think have a right to live the same as themselves. Mr. Woodward I rise again to say I considered that to briug this matter before this Board was out of order. You consented that Mr. Jenkins should be heard, and agreed that I should also. have an opportunity of replying, which I have done. I shall therefore object to any more dis- cussion taking place at this Board upon this matter. I shall be glad to meet Alderman Jen- kins to explain how I arrived at my figures, or I am prepared to meet him upon the public plat- form, or in the public press, but I do and will ob- ject to any more of the time of the Council being taken up with this matter. There were also several matters of routine busi- ness transacted.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths. DEATHS. OWENs.-On the 28th ult., at Mwldan, Mary- Owens, formerly of Rhosisaf, aged 38 years.

Hollouray's Pills and Ointment. —Glad Tidings. -Some constitutions have a tendency to rheumat- ism, and are throughout the year borne down by its potracted tortures. Let such sufferers bathe the affected parts with warm brine, and afterwards rub in this soothing Ointment. They will find it the -best means Of lessening their agony, and, assisted by Holloway's Pills, the surest way of overcoming their disease. More need not be said than to request a few days' trial of this safe and soothing treatment, by which- the disease will ultimately be completely swept away. Pains that would make a giant shudder are assuaged without difficulty by fiolloways' easy and inexpensive remedies, which comfort by moderating tbw, throwing, vessels and calming,theexcite4nemfc- -••