The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

ABERYSTWYTH I TOWN COUNCIL, Tuesday, December 6th.-Present: Councillor T. J. Samuel, mavor, presiding; AldtM-r»en Feter Tones C "VI "Williams, E. P. \Y>nne, and X C- T1^be,rts; ^UVoiett Daniel Thomas., John Eva,ns, Roberts. Egbert Edwm 'Morris, Charles Llovd Jack Edwards, and Professor Edwards, Messrs A. J- Hughes, town clerk Rees Jones, borough surveyor; f^arles Massey. borough accountant; and Jamea Evans, sanitary inspector. THE hLLL J ivj.N. The Town Clerk reported that m the re- spmW, forty-eigbt by "tepayers .ot.ng for The Town Clerk read a letter trom. Mr. Harold More, Bedford-row, which said he £ SX^S"to be thrown open to j M: ^TlZrSlerl £ id thSf'were many StJrT Se^ndrng^ upon that• P^1- S?«Si WS3 reference to com- decided imammously not tojiake as th^e roads! and^o^n it would to""rent"'woSld'X' be very high. The ) other land the Corporation had taken waa ample for the purpose without incurring further responsibility. It was agreed no t to accept the offer. 'RESERVOIR WAGEb. orkmen engaged on the new reservoir, who amS°ing\d. P« W,pet.t,oneJ to be paid 5d. an hOllr, as owing to the weather and shortness of days they were unable to make a living wage. The petition was referred to the Works Committee. SEWERAGE. Messrs. Beesley, Son, and Nichol wrote that owing to death they had been unable to complete their report on sewerage for that Council meeting, but would send it by next Tuedsay. J ALTERATION. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr. Gibson, Terrace-road, saying he was now in a legal position to carry out alterations required bv the Corporation at 68, Terrace-road, but was not able to do what was necessary before summer came. As he understood the Council was not in favour of building work in summer, he l asked whether the alterations could be delayed until the beginning of next October? 7. i,j The Mayor said the application would appear on the next agenda. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from Mr. John Morgan with reference to complaints by members of the Town Council respecting paragraphs in a London paper about Aberystwyth was referred to the General Purposes Com- mittee. STATUTORY POWERS. The Committee appointed in the matter of application for further statutory powers reported having discussed several matters on October 31st and deferred the matter until November 2nd when they decided to again do nothing this year. Thev recommended that the consideration of proposed financial provision should be deferred until Mr. Graham King is next in Aberystwyth and that a committee consisting of Aldermen Wynne and Jones, Councillors Samuel, D. C. Roberts, and G. F. Roberts should submit to the Council a list of the statutory powers proposed to be applied for with the view to the promotion of a Bill in the autumn of next year. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. A committee of the whole Council, which met on November 3rd, recommended that Mr. Rogers, Oswestry, should be appointed inspector of hackney carriages, and Mr. H. 0. Jones, Liverpool, of pleasure boats. The consideration of the foreshore question was referred to the chairmen of Works and Finance Com- mittees, with the Town Clerk, with in- structions to report to the Council. A further meeting of the Committee was held on November 11th when it was agreed to accept the terms on which the owners of Cefnhendre property were pre- pared to allow the Corporation to quarry and remove stones from Cefnhendre quarry for the new reservoir. A letter was read from Mr David Jones, Bulidings Farm, stating that he was prepared to settle if the Council paid him £73 2s. 10d., the amount of Mr. D. L..Jones and Mr. R. Gardiner's award and allow him to remove either the straw or the small stack of corn on the farm or. in the alternative, pay him {;73 2s. 10d. The Committee recommended that the Council should adhere to the terms of the award. Ir. Daniel Thomas was appointed a member of the Golf Committee. A letter was read from Dr. Harries, dated November 8th, with reference to the construction of the new reservoir and stating that he and the other medical men of the town who had written to the Local Government Board on the subject and had no desire to prosecute the matter any further provided the Corporation wtould reconsider the whole question of water supply and engage an expert to investigate the various schemes that might be submitted to him. The Com- mittee recommended that pendiiig a reply from the Board on the subject, no further steps be taken in the matter. The Com- mittee instructed the Town Clerk to pre- pare and publish a notice that ample accommodation for stall-holders was pro- vided in the market halls in Market-street and Great Darkgate-street and a warning that proceedings would be taken against any person or persons erecting stalls in any of the streets of the town. A further meeting of the Committee was held on the 14th November when it was recommended that Mr. David Jones should be allowed to repurchase the corn and straw at Buildings Farm at £20, on con- dition that the purchase was completed and the corn and straw and all other effects of his removed from the farm in a fortnight. A letter was read from Mr. G. F. Roberts resigning his membership of the Golf Committee and intimating his decision not to become a lessee of the Brynymor Estate. It was resolved that Councillors Samuel and D. C. Roberts should interview Mr. Fossett /Roberts with a view to his reconsidering the matter. A further meeting of the Committee was held on November 18th when the Golf Committee reported that. accompanied by Mr. Gardiner and the Town Clerk, they had walked over the course and further considered arrangements for reletting the several tenements. The Committee recom- mended that the services of Mr Gardiner should be "retained and that he be in- structed to negociate with the tenants with the view of reletting, subject to the approval of the Council. Having regard to the necessity of proceeding with the laying out of the course without avoidable delaythe Committee recommended that the Council should authorise the Com- mittee to tako all necessary steps. The Golf Committee's report was adopted. A draft of the proposed joint letter to the Board of Education was read setting forth the arrangements provisionally agreed to between the Trustees, of the Ysgoldy and the Council, and asking the Board's con- sent and approval to the arrangement, and the draft letter was approved. Professor Edwards said the subject of Parliamentary powers was an important one and asked if there should not be some time limit within which the Committee should present a report? The Mayor said that could be an in- struction to the Committee. There were several subjects to be included in the Bill, and it was thought advisable to settle one question at a time. Mr. King would be at Aberystwyth in January, and it was intended to settle the financial question first. Professor Edwards proposed that the report of the Committee should be pre- sented within three months, and the pro- position was agreed to. A conversation occurred respecting admission to the Sanatorium when it was stated that tickets had been handed over to an applicant, at the request of the Guardians, for a week, but there was no vacant bed in the institution. The Town Clerk said it was a Board of Guardians case. and there had not been a day's delay on the part of the Council. It was stated that there was a petition respecting the removal of stalls from the streets; but the Council adopted the re- port of the Committee giving directions lor removal without comment. In reply to Professor Edwards, the Town Clerk said he was going to. present a report on the golf links scheme in com- mittee at the close of the Council. In reply to the Mayor, the Surveyor said that Ir. Jones had gone out of Buildings Farm. Mr. Charles Lloyd—Deeply regretted. Mr. Jack Edwards asked if anything could be done to expedite matters relative to the provision of the golf course ? The Town Clerk replied that the only way to expedite matters was to carry out the recommendation of the Committee and give the Committee power to act in arranging with the tenants. Mr Gardiner had accepted the appointment. Mr. D C. Roberts suggested that Prof. Edwards," who had given great assistance last year, should be put on the Committee now he was a member of the Council, and Professor Edwards was appointed a mem- ber. Mr. Fossett Roberts asked as the matter of the Ysgoldy was settled, was there any reason why a statement should not be made for the information of the public? Alderman Jones said it was a provi- sional arrangement subject tfc the sanc- tion of the Local Government Board. When it was sanctioned, the arrangement could be placed on the agenda. The report generally was then adopted. The Mayor said it had been suggested that Sir Edward Prvse should be asked to appoint a meet of his pack of foxhounds at the Town Clock on the 26th. He thought it would be greatly appreciated by the inhabitants. Alderman Williams said the meet was greatly appreciated last year; and the Town Clerk was asked to communicate the suggestion to Sir Edward. PLANS. On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was agreed to approve of plans of a shed at the rear of 41, North- parade, for Mrs. Oulliford, two dwelling houses in High-street for Mrs. Michael Evans, and two villas in Brynymor-road for Mr. T. W. Powell. LIGHTS AND FIRE The Public Lights and Fire Brigade I Committee recommended the payment of £ 295 for gas and electricity for the past quarter. Mr. E. Williams, captain of the Fire Brigade, reported the resignation of Fireman D. J. Da vies, and the appoint- ment of Mr. Hugh Pugh to the vacancy. He recommended that a representative should attend the general annual meeting of the South Wales Fire Brigade Union at Cardiff and that £2 should be allowed for expenses. The Committee recom- mended that the Captain should attend. The Committee also recommended that in future the lighting of the town should commence and end a quarter of an hour earlier each evening than hitherto. Mr. Daniel Thomas read a further re- port recommending an additional lamp for Little Darkgate-street, and. the Standing Orders having been suspended, the recom- mendation was adopted. Mr. Thomas stated that he had seen Mr. Perkins rela- tive to electric lighting, who said that the cause of complaints was inevitable because of the weather. On one occasion the attendant could not go up the ladder because of the wind. Mr. Perkins was willing to allow the lamp in Trefechan to become the property of the Corporation in consequence of what had occurred. Alderman Jones suggested that the earlier lighting and extinguishing of public lights should not be put into operation for the next fortnight. Referring to the election results, he thought he Iheard the voice of several members of the Council in the streets after twelve on the previous niht. The report was adopted, and it was agreed to defer the earlier lighting to the 1st of January. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works Committee recommended that the amended plan showing the portion of the Ysgoldy premises to be added to St. Michael's-place and Sea View-place should be approved, as well as a plan subjjiitted by Mr. Bertram Jones of a laundry in Mill-street. The Com- mittee arranged to visit and inspect the Militia Barracks, at an early date and report on the advisability of purchasing the property for conversion into work- men's dwellings. A letter was read from the Local Government IBoard of the 22nd November with reference to the allega- tions by Dr. Harries and other medical men in regard to the new service reservoir and the medical officer was instructed to prepare a report on the matter, with the assistance of the Surveyor and the Town Clerk, as requested by the Board Alderman Jones said the Surveyor would have his report on the Barracks ready by Friday evening and the Committee could fix on a date to visit the premises. The report was adopted. EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS. The Town Clerk having stated that the letter and report of the Medical Officer respecting the new reservoir would be read in committee at the end of the Council, Mr. Fossett Roberts said the letter had been much talked about in the town and proposed that the report and letter should be read in open Council. Mr. Charles Lloyd seconded the pro- position. and it was agreed to. The Town Clerk then read the following letter to the Local Government Board which was signed by Dr. Harries, Dr. Bonsall, Dr. J Morgan, Dr. Ellis, and Dr. Rowland:- Aberystwyth, Sept. 21st, 1910. Sir,—We, the undersigned, medical men practising in Aberystwyth, learn with re- gret that your Board has sanctioned the loan of £7-,300 for the construction of an open or uncovered reservoir to supply our town with water. We consider that your Board is sanctioning a veritable death- trap which we resent to the bitter end, and will have no hesitation in making public, through the medical journals and the press generally, our convictions, which can be substantiated as to every detail. The site which has been sanctioned for the reservoir by your Board (and which, we presume, was visited and inspected by your inspector, Dr Brightmore) is situated within an unusually dangerous zone. It is surrounded hy three farm houses and farm yards, the manure from which is used for manuring and top dressing the fields adjoining the site of the reservoir, which alone should be sufficient to condemn the site. But un- fortunately tfhere are far more serious conditions existing by the way of two slaughter houses, the stench arising from the offal which is periodically deposited on the adjoining fields as a top dressing, renders the atmosphere absolutely pestil- ential over a wide area. Mr. Charles Lloyd—That is rot. Alderman D. C. Roberts—It is signed by a member of the Council. Mr. Charles Lloyd—It is rot all the same. The Town Clerk (continuing to read the Jetter)-And particularly in the vicinity of the site chosen for the reservoir, which it situated to the east of the sources of danger, the poisoned air from which will be driven direct to the reservoir by the south-west and north-west winds which prevail for nine months in the year. In addition to the above-stated dangers, flocks of sea gulls—{laughter)—visit the slaughter houses to carry away the offal off which they feast on the hill near the reservoir, and after having their fill they retire to the nearest sheet of water to rest and wash off the filth from the offal. We might also mention the myriads of flies which are attracted by the decomposing offal, and blown all over the district, and we venture to ask, is your 'Board going to uphold their decision to sanction the loan to construct a reservoir for the supply of our town with water which will be sub- jected to poisoned air and all the poison- ous filth which the birds of the air would carry to it? Our death-rate is at present considerably beyond what it should be. and if the proposed open reservoir is con- structed, Aberystwyth will be no longer a health resort. Had your Board sanctioned a further enquiry into the matter as asked for by the medical men of the town, as well as by a number of influential rate- payers, the exposure which will inevitably follow their action (which we consider an ontrage on all sanitary laws) would have been avoided. In conclusion, We ask the courtesy of your Board to furnish us with a copy of any answer the Town Council might endeavour to furnish in refutation of our indictment. The Mayor thought, in fairness to Dr. Bonsall, it should be said that he admitted in committee that he never read the letter before he signed it, and he (the Mayor) heard it stated that other medical men signed in the same way. Alderman Williams said it was scarcely a compliment to the medical men to sug- gest that they put their names to a thing they had not read. Alderman Jones said it was a serious re- flection to say that they attached their names to a letter without knowing what they were signing. The Town Clerk continued by reading a report on the matter by Dr. Abraham Thomas, medical officer of health for the borough, who said that the suggestion that the present reservoir should be an open one was approved by Major Tullocli, R.E., thirty years ago, and since its construc- tion, as far as he was aware, there had never been the slightest suspicion enter- tained that its waters have ever been polluted. This is corroborated by the absence of diseases due to impure water such as epidemics of diphtheria, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fevers. The zymotic death-r^te for the past ten years was one per 1,000, a much lower rate than that for England and Wales for that period, while during 1909 it waa only .25 per 1,000, as compared with 1.12, the rate for England and Wales. It is a curious fact that at the enquiry held by Mr Bright- more in April, uno. into the new reservoir to be constructed in the same field and adjoining the present reservoir not a single objection was made on the score of its being an open reservoir, or that the vvater in the existing reservoir had ever been contaminated. But as soon as the sanction of the Local Government Board was obtained, it was found that the medical practitioners who objected to the Corporation scheme at the enquiry on totally other grounds, with their confrereo, had foitwarded a letter to the Board con- taining gross allegations of insanitary surroundings and sources of pollution which, if true, would apply equally well, if not with greater force, to the existing open reservoir. The reservoirs are not for the storage of surface waters from their immediate neighbourhood, but for the collection and distribution of the fine Plynlimon water obtained from Llyn Llygad Rheidol. To allay any uneasiness which may arise in some quarters from the communication published by the medical men, it was advisable for the Corporation to have a very complete bacterioscopic examination, as well as chemical analysis, made of the water from the present reservoir. The Town Clerk added that the Local Government Board were asked by the Council if they would issue instructions as to taking the sample and to nominate some fully-qualified person to make the analysis. The Board replied that they would leave those matters to the Council. The Medical Officer therefore suggested that the Chemical Research Scciety should be asked to undertake the analyses. There was a further letter from the Board pointing out that inspection of the reservoir and its surroundings were of more importance than analysis of the water, as. a negative result of analy&is on a single or even on more than one occasion would not necessarily disprove the existence of such risks as were alleged. The Board therefore requested the Medical Officer to report specifically on the state- ments in the letter signed by Dr. Harries and others (1) that there are three farm houses in the neighbourhood of the existing and proposed reservoirs and that the rarm yard manure is spread upon the fields adjoining the site of the reservoris; (2) that there are also two slaughter houses, the offal from which is periodically deposited on the adjoining fields; and (3) that the reservoir is liable to be polluted by flocks of gulls which frequent it. The Medical Officer of Health therefore prepared the following report: Gentlemen,—Referring to your letter of the Local Government Board to the Town Clerk, dated 22nd November, I beg tio sub- mit the following report upon the specific statements contained in the letter to the Board dated 21st September last signed by Dr Harries and others:—1. The Ord- nance Map produced at the inquiry ion the 27th of April last shows two of the three farm-houses in the neighborhood of the existing and proposed reservoirs, viz Buildings Farm, the property of and now occupied by the Corporation, and Cefn- llan Farm, now occupied by Mr Enoch Hughes. i he third farm is Brynamlwg Sarin, of which Mr Hughes is the ten- ant. It is distant about 350 yards from the reservoirs and is situate on a higher altitude than the reservoirs and the nat- ural drainage of it is away from the re- servoirs. The Buildings and Cefnllan1 arms are both at a lower altitude than the said reservoirs. The three farms are practically dairy or grazing farms and each is very lightly manured, and the fields actually adjoining the said reser-, voirs are regularly grazed and no manure is spread tlhereon. The supply of water to the existing reservoir and to the new reservoir is by means of pipes direct f.rom Llyn Llygad Rheidol within 700 feet of the summit of Plynlimon Mountain, and there will be no possibility of surface water finding its way into either resecrvoir. The two slaughter-houses axe private slaughter-houses. One is situate in the field called "Cae Pistyll," marked on the ordnance map. It is used exclusively by Mr H. P. Edwards. A copy of Mr Ed- ward's statement with reference to the uses of the premises and disposal of offal, etc., is annexed. The other slaughter- house is also a private one and owned by Messrs Jones Brothers. A copy of a sim- ilar statement tb that of Mr Edwards which I have obtained from Mr James Jones, one of the firm, is also annexed. The statement that offal from the slaughter-houses is periodically deposited on the fields adjoining the reservoir has, I believe, no foundation in fact. 3. It is a well known fact that gulls at certain seasons are seen on fields within the radius of many miles from the town of Aberystwyth, and among other fields, upon those of the three farms abfove named in common with other fields. Mr Rees Jones (the borough surveyor) (has visited the existing reservoir on an aver- age twice a week during the past thirty years, and Mr David Edwards (the water inspector) has paid a daily visit (Sundays excepted) during the past seventeen years. Both state that they have never seen any gulls either on or within the area of the existing reservoir. Their testimony is corroborated by Mr. Entch Hughes", of Cefnllan, who is the nearest resident 'liv- ing in the vicinity of the reservoir. The present reservoir and the site of the new service reservoir are distant within a mile and a half from the sea, James Jlones. butcher, North-parade, Aberyst- yth, in his statement says-I am in part- nership with my brothers Edward Jones and William David Jones as butchers in -iberys.twyth. We rent five fields on the Penglaise Estate, within half a- mile of the site of the new service reservoir. Upon one of the fields, namely, the one marked number 222 on the ordnance sheet, a pri- vate slaughter-house was erected by my firm about fifteen years ago and it has been used by us for our business only during that period. The slaughter-house is one of the two mentioned bv Dr Harries and others in their letter to the Lb-al Government Board of the 21st September. 7 he whole of the offal produced at the slaughter house is boiled for use of the pigs kept by us. The boiling is done legularly and daily. No offal is spread on any of the fields or used for any other purpose than that stated. The manure produced by our cattle on the said fields during the year is only sufficient to manure one of the fields each year and one held only in each year, taking them in rotation, is manured. Our slaughter- house is distant, I believe 600 to 700 yards from the site of the new service reservoir. Seagulls are occasionally seen on our fields and sometimes in considerable numbers, but this is the case throughput the dis- trict within a radius of many miles from Aberystwyth and the new service reser- voir. There is nothing exceptional with regard to our fields to attract gulls to them in preference to other fields. No manure is spread over the fields in which the said slaughter-house is situate. The field is used for grazing only. Mr H. P. Edwards in his statement says—I am the owner of the field, marked 65 on the ordnance sheet called Cae Pis- tyll, which adjoins a portion of "Build- ings Farm," on which the Aberystwyth Town Council is constructing a new service reservoir. I erected a small slaugther- house on the lower part of the said field many years ago. The site of the erection is marked on the ordnance sheet. The slaughter-house referred to is a private slaughter-house and is and always has been used for slaughtering in connection with my own and no other business. All offal at the slaughter-house is sent away every evening from the slaughter-house to a farm occupied by me, distant of about three miles away. No offal of any des- cription has during the past ten years ever been deposited on the field referred tG. My slaughter-house is one of the two slaughter-houses mentioned and referred to in the letter of Dr Harries and other medical men to the Local Government Board dated 21st September. I further say that during the past ten years no manure has been deposited on the said field. It has been grazed during the whole of that period and it has only been necessary to apply lime from time to time. There is absolutely nothing special in or upon that field to attract seagulls to it. Seagulls at certain seasons of the year are seen inland and very possibly some may be seen occasionally on the said field, but although 1 pass the field very frequently all the year round, I never recollect seeing any seagulls on it. There is certainly nothing to distinguish the field from other fields in the district. Dr. Bonsall asked if he might explain. He said in Committee that he did not recollect reading the whole of the letter, but some of the statements 11l the letter he thoroughly believed to be correct, and that was why he signed it. The Mayor said if he recollected rightly what Dr. Bonsall said in Com- mittee was that he had not read the letter and that he was much amazed at some of the statements made therein. Mr. Chas. Lloyd asked if any of the medical men made any objections at the inquiry 1" The Mayor—Not on those points. Mr. Chas. Lloyd asked if Dr. Bonsall should not have mentioned his objections to the Council ot which he is a member and not to have joined in making them to the Local Government Board? 1 ne Mayor asked what statements Bonsall referred to in the letter as being correct, but Alderman Jones thought the Council could not subject him to a cross- examination. It was a question for him in hiis own interest. The Town Clerk said the Council sub- mitted the whole facts to the Local Gov- ernment Board Inspector. He and the Surveyor accompanied the Inspector to the site of the reservoir where he saw the whole surroundings and the condition of things. It was also stated at the enquiry that if there was any better scheme the Council would consider it, but up to the present no better scheme had been put forward. It was also most unfortunate that the letter should have been communi- cated to the press and not to the Council, ly which the Council had no opportunity of replying to the allegations maae before the mischief of publication was done. Mr. Fossett Roberts thought the Local Gogerment Board should be informed that Buildings Farm was the property of the Council, and that it was now unoccupied and likely to remain unoccupied. Alderman Roberts proposed that the Council should approve of the reply. When they had completed the enquiry, it seemed to. him that they would have to take serious steps to deal with the letter. Mr. Fossett Roberts seconded the pro- position. Alderman Jones said he should like to supplement what had been stated by draw- ing attention to the fact that when Major Tulloch, who became chief inspector of the Board and who took keen interest in the Plynlimon scheme, held the original enquiry, be did a very exceptional thing and prevailed on the department to allow his detailed report to be presented to the Council. That showed that Major Tulloch looked upon the Plynlimon scheme as one of the best schemes into which he had ever enquired Two points were emphasised in that report. The water was naturally of so pure a quality that it needed no system of filtration. The other point was that the position of the service reservoir was such that it did not require to be covered in. It was not in an industrial centre where the air was vitiated or full of soot. That was the state of things thirty years ago. During that period, if their allega- tions were true, the medical men of the town had been asleep. Now for the first time they appeared to have discovered that the water was in danger of being con- taminated Some of then during that period had occupied public positions and ought to have done all they possibly could to protect public health; but they had been silent and had done nothing. He never heard a complaint as to the quality of the water supplied to the town; and at festive gatherings certain gentlemen were named as having been associated with the scheme, and loud were their praises sung in the small hours of the morning for the services rendered in connection with the water scheme, and those gentlemen had taken all those praises without making any reference to contaminated water (Laugh- ter.) He feared the statement made by some of the medical gentlemen had been somewhat hurriedly signed. The best proof that the allegations were unfounded was the fact that Aberystwyth was freer from diseases caused by impure water than almost any place in the kingdom; and the Town Clerk, in addition to giving the Board the history of the scheme and the purity of the water, could strengthen it by adding some of the statements made at festive gatherings. (Laughter.) The proposition adopting the report and reply was then agreed to. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee recommended the following payments :—General dis- trict fund, £302 9s. 6d. borough fund, £70 4s. 8d.; markets and slaughter house, £60 13s. 2d. harbour fund, £19 4s. 3d.; workmen's houses, £3 15s. water works, JE44 16s. 6d. water works loan, £382 3s. 8d. Burial Board, £7; and Public Library, 5s. total, J3890 lis. 9d. The Committee considered Lady Evans's application for a donation for the training of midwives and was of opinion that it should be dealt with by the County Coun- cil alone. The Town Clerk reported on an interview with Mr. Robert Gardiner as to fee for inspection and report on the golf course and arrangements for let- ting. The Committee recommended that the terms and conditions recently given to Mrs. J. J. James for renewal of the lease of 15, Portland-street, be rescinded and that the Accountant should work out fresh terms on the basis of renewal dating from November 12th, 1910. The Committee also recommended that a harbour annuity of 12s. 6d be purchased from Messrs Edwards and Bonsall at JB15 12s. 6d. The Accountant was directed to work out the price at which the Council are prepared to sell the free- hold reversion of the piece of land leased to Mrs. Jones, Graig-goch, on the basis of thirty-three and a half years' purchase. The Town Clerk reported that Mr. J. iR. James declined to vary the terms of the settlement arrived a.t in the action of Attorney General v James. The ques- tion of tenders for advertising and Mr. Bertram Jones's application for tenancy of a portion of premises occupied by him were deferred. The Committee recom- mended a general district rate of Is. 4d. in the pound and a water rate of 6d. The Committee recommended that a lease should be executed in favour of Mrs. Mary Edwards, of 44, North-parade, at a total annual payment of £4 5s. 5d., and an agreement for a lease to Mrs Mary Edwards of a small piece of land at the rear of 8, Vulcan-street, for sixty-two years at an annual ground rent of 2s. 6d. Alderman C. M. Williams in moving the adoption lof the rates, said it might be interesting if for a brief period he made a statement showing how the Corporation spent its revenue. He had summed them up as far aio possible from the abstract of accounts for the year ended March, 1910. Repayment of loans and provision of sink- king funds took £7,008 4s. lid. salaries of officials and heads of department, £1,784; roads, paving, and/ drainage, £1,532 lis. 2d.; public lighting, £1,090 14s 6d. scavenging, JB755 9s Id. National Library subscription, £715; Pier Pavilion, J3418 10s. 4d. advertising and band £617 14s. 5d. markets and slaughter house, £558 9s. water mains and service laying, £471 16s. Id.; new harbour bridge, jE411 16s Id. harbour expenditure, apart from lomsand interest, J3320 9s. 5d.; rent, rates, and taxes, J3356 15s. printing, stationery, and stamps, £286 Is. 4d.; Public Library, J3185 13g, 3d; workmen's houses, £120 5s. 3d. Mayor's salary, £100. National Agricultural Show subscription", £109; Burial Board, £115 16s. 3d: and various items of expenditure of £131 7s. Id. That made a total expenditure of £17,080 10s. Id. The redemption of loans, sinking funds, etc., was equal to a rate of 3s. 2d. in itself. All the accounts were in a healthy position, with the ex- ception of the harbour fund and the borough fund. It was difficult to know- how to reduce harbour expenditure. The total expenditure last year, including re- demption of loans, etc., was £4,035, and the total receipts amounted to £558 only, leaving a deficiency of £3,477, which had to be made good by transfers from the general district and the borough funds. To meet that deficiency in the harbour fund, £2,390 was transferred from the general district fund and £1,000 from the borough fund, which was equal to over Is. 6d. in the pound. Were it not for that transfer from the general district fund. the district rate last year would have been 23. 10d., instead of 3s. 10d., T.hich would have been one of the lowest for the past thirty years. The harbour List year cost the ratepayers over Is. 6d. in the jonnd. With regard to the borough a great deal had been said about a uount of rentals and about what Corporation did with the money. There was > per- manent charge on the borough fund for the next thirty-five years of £1,000 a year to clear off the deficiency in the harbour fund. For the past four years JE715 a £ ear had been taken out of the borough fund for the National Library. There was in addition to that sinking funds, salaries of officials, and other expenditure amounting to considerably over £3,000. From 1906 up to last March, unfortunately, £2,600 had been spent in litigation. Those things accounted for total payments from the borough fund of £6,932. The adverse balance on the 29th September this year was £3,060, so that if extraordinary pay- ments had not been made there would have been a credit balance in the borough fund of £3,872. If litigation ceased, and when the last instalment was made to the National Library the borough fund would soon right itself. Coming to the estimate of rates, it was satisfactory to know that the Council would be able to make one of the lowest rates this half-year for the past thirty-two years and leave a substantial balance at the end of the half-year. The expenditure on general district rate fund was estimated, after considerable revision, at £5,000. The total receipts, including balance from previous half-year, were £1,609 16s. lid., so that there would be re- quired from the rates £3,381. The Works Committee went carefully through the estimates and thought that a 6d. water rate would suffice. That would enable the Council to transfer £1,000 from the water rate to the general district rate, which would reduce the amount to be provided by general district rate to £2,390. A Is. 4d. rate would produce £2,976, so that there would be a balance at the end of of the half-year on general district rate fund of £bö6. The estimated expenditure on water rate was £84.3. A 6d rate would produce with water by meter £1,246, so that after transferring £1,000 to the gen- eral district rate there would be a balance on water account of £246, in addition to the balance on the district rates of £586, or a total balance at the end of the half- year of £832. Then as to the harbour. Unfortunately,the harbour was the town's great white elephant. The estimated expenditure was £1,655, and receipts £384 12s. lOd. only, or a deficiency of £1,275 Is. 2d. To make up that deficiency there would have to be transferred for the half- year JB771 from the district fund and JC500 from the borough fund. With regard to the borough fund for the present half- year, if they left out the deficiency, which had been reduced from £3,650 to £3.060, it would be found that the expenditure would be £1,730. On the other side the receipts would be £2,320, showing that if the present half-year only was taken there would be a credit balance of J3590. The Corporation had paid £3,932 to the National Library, so that in year and a half they would 'have completed their subscription of £5,000. He moved the making of a district rate of Is. 4d. in the pound and a water ra.te of 6d. Mr. Fossett Roberts said the borough fund was the weak spot in Corporation finance. He could not agree with the Chairman of the Finance Committee that taken by itself the receipts for this half- year would exceed expenditure by JB600. Mr. Williams had included in the receipts debtors for Corporation rents for JE800. The receipts would be then £1,500, and instead of the expenditure being £1.730 it would be increased to £1900 by the addi- tion of £200 for advertising for the next six months. Therefore, instead of there being a credit balance there would be a debit balance of £430. Everybody seemed to think that the borough fund was unlimited and that it was only neces- sary to draw a cheque upon it. The time had come to put a stop to the expendi- ture and to have a careful estimate of receipts and expenditure for the half- year and to adhere to it. The adverse balance had been increasing since 1907 In 1907 it was £841; in 1908, £1,630: in 1909, £ 3-,002; and in 1910, £4,007. The adverse balance had been increasing at the rate of £1,000 a year, and it was no use blaming the National Library. The question waa whether expenditure could be curtailed ? To a certain extent, the rate- payers forced the Council's hands in re- quiring advertising, and advertising and those things cost money. The Council, however, should curtail expenditure and with that object in view the Accountant should prepare an estimate of receipts and expenditure for each half-year Professor Edwards said he was obliged Jo Mr- Williams for his lucid statement, but there were many things about the borough fund he could not understand. He rejoiced at the lower rate, but was it enough to meet the ordinary expenditure for the half-year ? Alderman Williams replied that the rates would meet the expenditure and leave a balance of £832. Replying tA Mr Fossett Roberts, he stated that the Com- mittee admitted there must be a reduction in expenditure. The outstanding J3800 rents had been included in the receipts, as was customary and as was done when Mr. Roberts was chairman of the Com- mittee, and the item for advertising to winch he referred would be paid out of next half's receipts, as was only right. Fossett Roberts. said the receipts of £2,320 were not in hard cash, and it was misleading to quote that figure. Alderman Williams said he had adopted exactly the same methods of accounts as were adopted when Mr. Roberts was chairman of the Finance Committee. During the periods he (Mr. Williams) had been chairman of the Committee, he had always left the largest balance on record. Mr. Fossett Roberts said the results would be seen at the end of the half-year. The Mayor said the arrears of rents were always included in the estimated re- ceipts of the borough fund. Alderman Jones said if the income was £3,000 and the Corporation spent £4,000 they would get into debt. Whether there would be a lesser liability on the part of the tenants at the end of the half-year remained to be seen. The Corporation must curtail its expenditure. The Report was then agreed to and the rates ordered to be made. PUBLIC LIBRARY. The Library Committee reported pay- ment of JE5 18s. 3d. bills, etc., that thanks were given to donors of portraits and books, and that Professor Stanley Roberts should use the Committee room for a class in history. The report was adopted. SHOP HOURS ACT. The Shop Hours Committee reported having considered a draft of a proposed closing order affecting the shops of (Trapers, outfitters, furnishers, ironmong- ers, jewellers, bootmakers, and booksellers, which order was submitted to the Council for confirmation The closing hours affecting the shops are—September 15th till June 15th, 7-0 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 1-0 Wednesdays; 9-0 Saturdays. June 15th to September 15th, 8-0 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fri- days; 5-0 Wednesdays; and 10-0 Satur- days. The Committee recommended that the portion of the borough on the south- eastern side of the Rheidol should be ex- empted from the order, and suggested that further proceedings should be delayed for fourteen days after the Council meet- ing to give an opportunity to any other trades to apply to be included in the order. The attention of the Committee was drawn to a suggestion that the observance of August bank holiday on the Tuesday fol- lowing the bank holiday was inconvenient and that by substituting another day for observance of that bank holiday it would be more convenient to the public and quite as satisfactory to tradesmen and their assistants. Mr. Charles Lloyd said the honourable profession to which he belonged was not included, when Mr. Fossett Roberts humorously suggested that it might come under ironmongery, and Alderman Roberts leather merchant. Alderman Jones said there was a con- siderable trade done in ice cream on Sun- days and suggested that it might be seen whether the Act would not apply to that state of things. The report was adopted REPORTING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Alderman Williams had on the agenda a motion to admit reporters to committee meetings. He said thev were admitted to committee meetings years ago and there was now a. Jeeling that they should be again admitted. Instead of moving the proposition at that meeting, he would defer it for a month in order that mem- bers might consider it. APPLICATION. An application by Mr. Randolph Fear for a piece of land at the old Ropewalk on which to erect glasshouses to grow flowers was referred to the Finance Com- mittee. MISCELLANEOUS. P.C. Thomas Davies was appointed in- spector of hackney carriages and pleasure boats at the same salary aa last year. It was agreed to vote the Mayor a salary of J3100 for the year. It was stated that last year Messrs. E. P. Wynne, Fossett Roberts, C. M. Wil- liams, Daniel Thomas, T. J Samuel, /ohn Evans. '.Rufus Williams, J. T. Davie > xnd Isaac Hopkins acted on the Enterta1 it ent I I I Committee, it was agreed to appoint the Committee for this year at an adjourned meeting on Friday. ISOLATION HOSPITAL. Dr. Bonsall proposed that the Council should consider a proposal by Mr. Roderick Richardes to sell a piece of land at the rear of the Infirmary for the erec- tion thereon of an isolation hospital At the beginnig of the meeting a letter was read from Dr. Jones-Poweli, vicar of St. Michael's, saying that a rumour had reached him that the Council contem- plated the erection of an isolation hospital in close proximity to the National School in North-road. Such a. scheme, he thought, would almost certainly be preju- dicial to the attendance at the school. If there was a case of smallpox removed into the hospital, it would probably cause most parents to withdraw their children from school, at least temporarily. Dr. Bonsall, in gpeaking to the subject towards the end of the metting, thought that all would agree that the site was very suitable for an hospital. Alderman Roberts—Do sea gulls go there ? Dr Bonsall thought that the majority of the Council approved the site when they visited it and the price, t350, for about two acres was reasonable. It was near enough to the Infirmary to be con- nected with it in working and the site gave ample space for the necessary wards and for a mortuary. The Vicar was mis- informed in thinking that smallpox cases would be taken to the hospital. It would only be used for diphtheria and scarlet fever cases. As regards the schools, it would be a greater disaster to allow a disease to. spread than to stop it by isola- tion, because if a disease ppread the schools might have' to be closed altogether. There would not be the slightest danger, as the hospital would be at least 500 feet from the schools. He did not know a better site, and he hoped the Council, ifter considering the matter for eighteen rears, would now be unanimous in select- ng the site and so settle that long-vexed luestion. He proposed that Mr Rich- lrdes's offer at L350 should be accepted Mr. Harry Davies seconded the pro- position and thought that now things had gone so far it would be wicked for anyone -J.Ll w' upseu tne arrangements. No matter what site was selected, there would be objections. An hospital on that site would be no danger, and if people would only take a reasonable view there would be no objection. Surely the school children ff-° the hospital and say rl.vT nn+m°rmn§ > th.e P^nts. There jv S6er? to bo objections to. present conations, for there might be infectious cases next door and people allowed the children to run in and out of the infected house and thought nothing of it Mr Fossttt Roberts admired the per- sistent way Dr. Bonsall stuck to the pro- vision of an isolation hospital- but the Council must not shut its eyes to the pos- sibility of opposition to the present scheme. The seeds of opposition seemed tve been already sown very effectually whether it was in the interests of the school or the occupiers of houses. He did not think they were so silly as not to. understand where it all came from. Before the Council agreed to purchase the land, at any rate, they ought to consult the ratepayers, either by referendum or by public meeting. It would not be wise to rush the thing. Mr. Charles. Lloyd said he would second a proposal for a public meeting. Alderma,n Jones thought that if the Council, with Dr. Jones Powell and others, met on the spot it would disoose of seme erroneous ideas. The provision of an isolation hospital was a matter the Coun- cil had been playing hide and seek over lor many years. It was an important matter tor the town, and the Council ought to do all it possibly could to meet the difficulty. He suggested that the + iU17e7i°r /!hould stake out the site and tiiat the Council should visit it and ask the Vicar to accompany them. Mr. Robert Doughton—1The Vicar Knows Mr. Fossett Roberts—He has been well told. Captain Doughton asked where was the money to come from It could not be taken out of the borough fund, and if the Council applied for a loan the local Gov- ernment Board would require compliance with its conditions as to distance from roads and other things- ^■'deJraan Jones said the Corporation wouid have to provide the money as other towns had done. Mr. Robert Doughton said there would ?i6 7? oost of making an approach, rnd ie Council did not know the size and cost of the building. Not only Dr Jones- Powell, but the parents of children objected. Alderman Roberts asked how Mr. Doughton know that? He had not heard °1 ;?ny objection by parents. Mr. Jack Edwards supported Alderman Jones s suggestion to visit the site with the Vicar. The Vicar was evidently under a misapprehension as to hospital, as L he thought it wo.uld be used for smallpox cases. As to the cost, it ought to be made a first charge on public funds. If it cost £ 1,000, it would be better to be without a season band than to be without a hospital. It was a question that must be settled, and it was not to the credit of the town that the Council had delayed settlement so lbng. Mr. Charles Lloyd said if the town was without a band they would have to enlarge the asylum. Iz. Alderman Williams said that not only the Vicar, but three parents asked him where the Council was going in putting a hospital on the site proposed and said they would not send their children to tiie school. Hallo, exclaimed Alderman Wil- iiams, is Alderman Jones ill ? I pay deierence to him when he is speaking; but he puts down his head and groans. Alderman Jones-What is he discussing? Alderman Williams-Dig.cussing your conduct when I am speaking. Continu- ing, Alderman Williams said he met the Vicar at the bazaar, and like a straigh- forward man told him that the Council intended going to that site. When he (Alderman Williams) visited it,he thought it a suitable spot. One who was greatly interested in the school said it would ruin ihe school Having regard to that fact, they ought to meet Vicar and inform him of what was proposed. If there was a referendum, it should not be to the whole town, but to that particular district. • Harry Davies said he was in favour ot having a public meeting at once. Professor Edwards thought that in a place like Aberystwyth, which catered for na^nfV WuS a-lto,unding that there was no isolation hospital. He was pledged to no- side; but he thought that objections mentioned, by Mr. Williams migit^ T based on insufficient knowledge. Accord- !tr!LfufT al *estim°ny, there would be absolutely no danger to the National H 1,solatlori hospital were estab- He should lik* to Jowl thrift6 ■Coun(ll1 was trying to move on with that important matter, because should L lme'ntabk; thinS the town should ha\e no isolation hospital. The afmosty6en+- °i Abery«twyth depended and 1 ] J on revenue from visitors, ru?n ^r,ZlvePt1X° "(S,"kl ab,soU'te|y dpn*>nrW] „ y tt ? tlie ratepayers Councf' t/ £ • therefore urged "the tio^ hiXT. °° m Provldi"g iso'a- to Tnowh £ nleS +¥0yd said he sh0ll,d like about the P^sal.^HeVvf the ViSi'r SK da->-> and as he was a CWh- n t rnP^n sprprised that tihe Vicar had not^meffTToned the matter to him. (Laugh- advSleaff H?berts Sai3 wo»ld *>e very Z ST the Council could arrive at some definite result in view of the risk snok?nWnf Pr°feSSOr Ed-a'd« hid Xo an ill V'T11 a? a Wh0,e> b,lt it was also an individual matter. He had known thrnuih not '|hOS° 8eason had -been spoiled isolatoinffl Vin^ a ?^ace in which to isolate infected cases. He should like to Srucrive^r °f-+the, Conncil more con- W n It critical and unite in devis- +>,0 'I1G 0J! which they could consult the ratepayers in some form or other shoufd WilIiams, thought the Council 1 +u +? °°nsu^t the Infirmary Trustees whether they would crwperat* as Dr Bon- sall suggested. Dr Bonsall expressed surprise at the at- titude Alderman Williams now took up, because he had said he would help for- ward the scheme heart and soul. It seemed that he had been in conversation with the Vicar and he did not know how he had been influenced, but he did not see how Mr Williams was now helping for- ward the scheme. An isolation hospital on that site would be absolutely safe. He failed to see why Mr Williams should take an interest in the National School. He trusted Mr Williams, as a man of influ- ence, to assist him, but instead f assist- ing him he lent himself to the terror of the position. The greater terror should be not of a falling off in attendance, but of having the schools closed altogether if an epidemic broke out. It would of course be nicer to constfflt the Infirmary Trustees, Mr Williams being one; but the hospital, if necessary, could be worked in- dependently of the Infirmary. The whole thing would cost less than £ 1,000. It would be. cheap at the price, as it would give security to residents and visitors and wipe away all the troubles the Council had had for years in the matter. It was then agreed to visit tfhe site and if suitable to formualte a scheme with the view of submitting it to the ratepayers. BOATING BYELAWS. On the proposition of Captain Dough- ton, Alderman Roberts was appointed in the place of Mr Isaac Hopkins on the Committee to consider proposed amend- ments to the boating bvelaws. THE STRE'ETS AS SHOPS. The 29th subject on tlhe agenda was to consider a letter signed by T. Morgan, E. Peters, and others, stating that owing to the removal of stalls from the streets dur- ing November fairs the trade usually done had been diverted to the Smithfield to the detriment of ratepayers in the upper part of the town. While Smithfield was doing a roaring trade, the thoroughfares of the "town were practically deserted. The peti- tioners, therefore, suggested that the stallholders should be allowed to return to the streeta. The Mayor said the November fairs were over for this year, and Mr. Daniel Thomas proposed that the petition should be considered by the Markets Committee, there being plenty of time, and the pro- position was agreed to. Mr. Charles Llovd-Cannot you make that the subject of a referendum, too? IN COMMITTEE. The Town Clerk asked the Council to go into committee to consider matters connected with the foreshore and the golf course