The Merthyr Express

MERTHYR POLICE COURT. FRIDAY.—Before Sir T. Marchant Williams (Stipendiary) and the Mayer (Aid. Wilson). MUST LIVE. Annie Hanford was charg-ed with stealing a shawl, the property of Mary Davies, living at Dowlais.—Defendant admitted her nruilt, and said she pawned the shawl to set half a-crown for the necessities of life. "You would do many thin;23 yourself if you were situ- ated as I was," said Mrs. Harifcrrl to the Sti- pendiary.—Sir Marchant let her off with a fine of 5s. A DEAR SHKLTER.—John Oarretty was sum- moned for being drunk in the streets at Mer- thyr on Thursday, and aho for smashing six panes of glass. value os., in ihe police cells the same night.—P.O. Rees said he was obliged to lock the defendant Lip, as he was so drunk.— Inspector Arthur Phillips said he heard a row in the cell, and upon going there found the defendant had smashed the windows with his boot.—Defendant said he was caught in the heavy rain on Thursday, and went into a pub- He-house. On leaving the house he was rather stupid, and he was run in.—For in drunk. he was fined 10s. and costs; and also 10s. and costs and 3-. damage for smashing the windows, or 28 days' imprisonment. MAN WITH A REVOLVER.—John Robinson and James White were charged with breaking into the marine stores of Alfred Hammond at Pond- side, and stealing therefrom a quaintity of brass, a pair of leggings, and other articles.— Robinson was well known to the polics.—P.C. W. Rees :a 'd lie had reason to suspect defend- ands, and going tc their lodgings he found Robinson wearing the stolen leggings. The man was arrested, and later on White was taken into custody, and it was proved that they committed the robbery.—Rob'nson was sent to prison for 6 months, and White was eent-enced to a week's imprisonment. A revolver was found in Robinson's pocket. NOT IN AMERICA.—Archibald Taylor, col- lier, Troedyrhiw, was summoned for de- serting his wife, who applied for a mainten- ance order —Mr. W. R. Edmunds was for com- plainant, and defendant did not appear. Sirs. Taylor said she was married twelve months ago. After the honeymoon they went to live at the hou-se of tha defendant's parents. Thsy did not get on well together, and her husband went away. She received a letter from America purporting to be from him, and making her believe that he had fled the country. It stated that ho did not intend living with her again. But she ascertained that he was working in Wolverhampton, and that he sent the letter to a friend in America. who posted it for him (laughter).—Mr. Ed- munds said the defendant was earning £ 7 6s. 4d. a month at the Plymouth Pit.—The Bench made an order of 12s. 6d. a week. SENT FOE TRIAL. James Thomas Tre- harne, of Yew-street, .Merthyr, was a-ga;n brought up charged with stealing two pairs of boots, two pairs of socks, and a pair of rubber heels, value £1 17s. 7d., from the shop of Thomas Finucane, boot dealer, Merthyr, and also with breaking and entering the lock- up shop of John M. Edwards, draper, Union- street, Dowlais, and stealing two suits of clothes, an overcoat and several other articles of wearing apparel, value JE6 4s.-Defendant was- arrested a week previously, and a search warrant was issued, with the result that a quantity of goods alleged tohave been stolen were found in his house (as previously re- ported). Defendant said he took the cloth- ing because he wanted decent clothes to go to work in. He was committed for trial. FRRE LODGINGS.—Mary Grecnev, the princi- pal witness aagint Joseph Foy in the Ynys- fach murder trial; Emily Wet. another well- known unfortunate; and Patrick Kelly were char ed with sleeping in an empty house on the old tramroad the previous rilllht.-Kelly was sent to prison for 7 days; the women were discharged. TTTKaDAV.—Before Sir T. Marchant Williams (Stipendiary). Mr. M. Truran, Mr. Rhys Da- vies, Mr. W. R. Thomas, and Mr. Thomas Jones. AFTER Two YEARS.—Thomas Phillips, of Tre- harris, was summoned for de-serting his wife, Annie Phillip-, who said they had been married two years. There was one child.—Defendant was told to pay 10s. a week and costs. FIGHTING.—Nicholas Welsh was charged with fighting in the old road, Gellifaelog. The other man ran away, but Welsh was caught. a.nd had to pay 40s. and costs. Jas. Blackwe-11 and Edward Thomas, for fighting in High- Street, CaeTiarris, were mulcted in a similar penalty. John Colman, for fighting, was also fined .406. and costs, or a month's imprison- ment. GIVEN A CHANCE.—Nellie Christopher was summoned for using bad language in Pictcn- street, and was cautioned. George Down, summoned for a. similar offence, was bound over to keep the peace. To OWNERS OF DOGS.—Several people were summoned for not providing collars, containing their names, for their dogs, and were fined 5s. and costs.—In some cases it was stated that the person-3 summoned had collars, but that the dogs slipped out of the houses, and the defendants were told to pay costs oniv.ignor- ance of the law was pleaded in some instances, but the Chief Constable said the Act had been published in the papers.—The Stipendiary: Perhaps they don't read the papers, like me.— In a case from Troedyrhiw, the offence was for allowing the dog to be out after sunset. The animal was found in the street at midnight, and was locked up. A FOOLISH WOMAN.-Elizabeth Nicholas, for beiing drunk at the Mason's Arms, Troedyrhiw, was, on the evidence of P.S. Lewis, fined 103. a.nd costs.—The evidence wa., that the landlord could not induce the woman to leave the house, lice. so he sent for the police.—Defendant's husband appeared, and paid the fine. WOMEN'S QUARREIS. Sarah Solomon was summoned for assaulting Sarah Ann Thcnias.- The case was dismissed. -Nellie Barnes was summoned for assaulting Louisa Williams, and the Stipendiary told them to go and make friends. "Go to a coffee tavern together, aid have a cup of tea, or something like that," said Su. -Marchant. -Mary Lee was summoned for assaulting Mary Smith, and was fined 5s. and costs. AFFILIATION.—Edmund John Thomas, collier, of Aberfan, was summoned by Louisa Prioe, aged 17, also of Aberfan, to show came, etc.— Mr. F. S. Simons waa for complainant, and Mr. F. P. Charles for defenclant.Severil witnesses were called, and an order was made for 3s. 6d. a week and costs. THEATRICAL PROPRIETOR SUMMONED. Frederick Boulton, a theatrical, whose com- pany recently played at the Public Hall, Tre- harris, was summoned for an offence under the Lottery Act at Treharris on the 14th April.— Mr. F. P. Charles appeared for the defendant, who, he sa.id, was now at Castleford, and could not attend court. He did not think there would be any dispute as to the facts, but perhaps the case would turn on a point of law.—P.S. Dove said that on the 14th April he saw on the printed bills of the defendant's company that from d. to 210 would be given away to all pur- chasers of shilling tickets. He visited the Pub- lie Hall, and saw a man giving out small en- velopes in exchange for tickets for the perform- 8.Aí. aod e4c.i1 eqyelope eoataiaed a fie j saw several envelopes opened, and they con- tained only a. halfpenny. He saw the defend- ant, who said be did not know he was doing wrong, that he was very sorry, and that he had done this in many places and had never been interfered with.—Mr. Charles quoted the case of Martin and Benjamin, and said it was quite clear that it must be shown that a place was habitually used for the purpose of a lottery.-— The Chief Constable produced the case of Tay- lor and Smith, and after perusing it, the Sti- pendiary at first said it was entirely against Mr. Charles's contention. — In reply to Mr. Charles, P.S. Dove said he did not caution the defendant when he first saw the bills. The en- velopes were not handed to the people when they paid the money, but in exchange for their tickets. As far as he saw. every envelope con- tained a coin. He agreed that the hall did not belong to the defendant.—Mr. Charles pointed out that in London and eleewhere, theatre pro- prietors gave away souvenirs to their patrons, which in after years proved of interest and value. Mr, Charks again quoted the case of Martin and Benjamin, and contended that there must be an habitual user of a place.—The Sti- pendiary looked at the case, and said that if the hall had been used in this way for more than one night, there must be a conviction. Rut these envelopes were given only on one night, and the case would be dismissed. SCENE IN HIGH-STREET. PENYDARPJ £ N. POLICEMEN ATTACKED WITH A KNIFE. Edward Grant, of Penvdarren. was charged with being drunk and disorderly at High-street. Penydarren, ou Monday night. and also with assaulting P.S. Jones and P.C. Knight.—Hie sergeant said he saw the defendant in the street with his coat off, and in his hand he held a knife, with which he threatened to rip anyone's heart out. When witness approached, the de- fendant tried to r,tab him. Witness closed with the mail, and tried to get the knife from him, when Grant kicked him on the legs. On the way to the police-station, defendant caught hold of P.C. Knight's arm, and tried to bite him. Witness took hold of his head, when the defendant caught one of his fingers in his mouth and bit it nearly to the bon<\ Both officers had the greatest trouble in taking defendant to the station.—The Stipendiary: Anything to say?— Defendant: No.—Stipendiary Ten shillings and costs for being drunk, and for the a-ssault two months. J — I

Merthyr and Cardiff Water Bill. ¡ PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE. ALD. D. W. JONES GIVES EVIDENCE. The Cardiff Corporation's Water Bill came before the House or Commons' Committee last week-end. Mr. Hill Kelly appeared for the Merthyr Corporation, who desired to hav<- clauses inserted in the Bill making it compul- sory on the part of Cardiff to supply water to Merthyr in case of necessity. On Friday, Aid. D. W. Jones was celled as a witness. He ex- plained that he was Mayer of Merthyr last, year, and then went on to say that in 1884 when Cardiff got power for water supply the population of Merthyr was only about 50,000, but during the last few years it had increased at the rate of about ono thousand a year. Pre- vious to 1884 the population had been station- ary for about 30 years. In 1884 the Local Board of Health of Merthyr opposed the Cardiff Dill, but that opposition was withdrawn because it was stated there would be sufficient comper.- sation water for the riparian and mill owners. Merthyr was the nearest town to the source of this water supply. He explained the water- works owned by Merthyr, and said that the districts which Merthyr was supplying were all districts which had a natural geological claim upon the water which Merthyr had im- pounded. In a few years, apart from the obli- gation to supply other places, Merthyr's own requirements would exceed her present supply. The Chairman: That is admitted. They prepared a scheme, but the ratepayers ob jected to it. Witness went on to speak of the negotia- tions which Merthyr entered into with Cardiff, and referred to the Pontsticill scheme. Cardiff, he said, did not see its way to form a joint partnership chiefly owing to the difficulty in constructing a very large main to* carry the water down to Cardiff. Merthyr already sup- ply Cefn, but had to refuse to supply Blaina. If Merthyr was enabled to take a supply from Cardiff Merthyr would be able to supply Blaina, which was within the area of the pro- posed reservoir. Mr. Pollock (who appeared for Cardiff Cor- poration) There is no petition from Blaina, and the Brecon County Council is supporting the Bill. The Chairman: This evidence ia to the ef- fect that Merthyr not only want a supply for herself, but requires it to supply a district which at present she has no power to supply Mr. Kelly: Merthyr has the power. The Chairman: But never exercised it. Witness: Only to a limited extent. He went on to say that what Merthyr wanted was a clause in the Bill to provide for a supply for Merthyr after ample provision had been made for Cardiff. Merthyr were prepared to pay the cost of taking the water and maintaining the metres. Cross-examined by Mr. Pollock, witness said that Merthyr had spent £30,000 to £40,000 in trying- to repair a leakage in their reservoir, but had failed to stop it. That was one of the reasons they promoted the Bill of 1907, for the Council felt. that the only remedy was to build a new reservoir. But for this leakage they would have water available either for sale or for their own use, but they could not store it. Counsel: Not all of it, but you could store a certain quantity. Aid. Jones was questioned as to 'Merthyr wishing to supply Gellygaer, Caerphilly, Rhym- ney, and Aber, which are outside districts. He said that they were at Merthyr under an obligation to supply these outside places. Mr. Pollock: You have no Parliamentary right. It is only a voluntary agreement on your part. You want our water to make friendly agreement with people. The Chairman (to witness): What would be the position of your town supposing you de- feated this Bill? Witness replied that if Merthyr did not get this supply from Cardiff they would have to build a reservoir themselves, which would be too big a burden for the borough, or they would have to cut off the supply to all the other districts, and then they would have to make some further provision in their own dis- trict. The leakage of Merthyr reservoir was getting worse every year. It had been going on for 20 years. They had spent money from time to time upon it, and had succeeded in re- ducing the leakage from time to time, but the matter was certainly in a serious stare just now. The Chairman: And it is getting worse. Witness said that if they stopped the leak- age it would make very little difference, be- cause the capacity of the reservoir was limited and Merthyr was a.ble to take the whole of the supply. On the Committee being about. to adjourn for luncheon, the Chairman remarked that if after the construction of this reservoir Cardiff had for sorne years a large quantity of water which it did not require for its own purposes, a clause might perhaps be inserted in the Bill giving- the Cardiff Corporation power—if they had that extra. quantity of water—to enter vol- untary into an agreement t<y'supplv Merthyr. Mr. Pollock: I think yre have that power already, and we are willing to insert such a clause—a permissive clause. Mr. Kelly said that his clients would be will- ing to agree to a clause giving them a supply. and providing for the approval of the iLocai Government Board in the matter. Mr. Pollock said that what his friend wanted was a right to demand due water, although the reservoir could not be completed for six years. The Chairman: Perhaps net for ten. Mr. Pollock: And by that time Merthyr will have to go themselves for some further water supply. Mr. Kelly: We only want some from your surplus. The Chairman: I do not think Merthyr is in a position to wait for ten years. It is high time they took steps to provide for themselves. Mr. Kelly: This scheme to take water from Cardiff would obviate the necessity of Merthyr coming to Parliament for many years""to come. The Chairman I cannot say any more. Take your own course.

BUILT BY THE KING'S CYCLE MAKERS There is something about the sound of this which will appeal to all cyclists; the idea of riding a cycle identical with that supplied to His Majesty or the Prince or Princess of Wales, must appeal to many of King Edward's loyal subjects. Messrs. Humber, Ltd., have issued a hand- some illustrated catalogue of their new 1909 models, and it is a booklet which should be in the possession of every cyclist who is to-dav ac- tually riding a bicycle. It illustrates many of the special features which have made the Hum- ber unique, but, of course, many of the items in the Humber are confined exclusively to this famous machine, and it ia this point which places Humbers always in a class quite by them- selves. A copy of this booklet will be sent to any of our readers who will forward their ad- dress to Humber, Ltd.. Coventry, or call at any time at the Humber depots or agents.

NASAL CATARRH & ASTHMA THEIR COMPLETE HOME CURE. POST FfeEE TO SUFFERERS WHO APPLY AT ONCE. Just published, the second edition of a 48 page hook fu!1.v describing .Nasal Catarrh, Asthma, and Chronic Bronchitis, and how these dangerous dis- eases may be completely cured at home. The most practical work ever issued, and should be in the hands of sufferers who desire to speedily enre them- selves. This offer stands open for 30 days from this date. A post-card giving your name and ad- dress will bring yon the book by return post. Address, Department C 110. Dr. Cassell's Co. Ltd., King-street West, Manchester.

Mr. Joseph Chamberlain has written a letter from Cannes in support of the candidature of Mr. PhiU$Foster at Str&tforsJ^a" .h.

SANITARY CONDITION OF ) MERTHYR. j DR. DUNCAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. HOUSING AND OTHER QUESTIONS. Last week we made extracts from the annual report of Dr. Duncaa, the Medical Officer of Health for Merthyr. The following further excerpts are taken from the report, and, doubt- lese, they will be read with interest:— There are 37 slaughter houses in the Borough, and 35 are in constant During the year, 1,060 visits were made by the Inspectors, and 14 notices under the bye-lawr, were served to abate nuisances. Xot muh progress has been made in the scheme for building a. public abattoir, but a committee has been recently formed to push on with the/matter. The committee are endeavouring obtain a site at; Rhydycar, where raiHvay *&>armunicati<?n is easy; and if this cannot be obtained, instructions have been given to select another site at onoa. The reason why the site on the Mardy Estate. mentioned in last year's report as being available, was abandoned was the difficulty in getting a rail- way siding on the Plymouth line; otherwise the site was an excellent one. Power has been taken in the Merthyr Corporation Bill of last year to close the registered slaughter houses on paying suitable compensation after the erection of a public a.battoir. The slaughter house in Wheat Sheaf-lan.0 has been rebuilt, and the present building is a gTeat improvement on the old one. An agreement with the Council was made to the effect thd no compensation for the new building would be paid should a public abattoir be built and the Council desire to close private slaughter houses. In September last a bsginning was made with a system of meat inspection. This was rendered possible by In- spectors Thomas and Jenkin-s qualifying as meat inspectors and being appointed as Inspectors of Food under Section 131 of the Towns Im- provement Clauses Act, 1847. Inspector Tho- mas deals with the slaughter houses in the town proper, including the two largest in the P>orough, and since h<3 started in September the following has been condemned as unfit for human food — Beef, 1,793lbs.; veal, 307!bs.; pork, 273!bs.: brawn, 81bs. mutton, 131 hs. pickled beef, 6lbs. rabbits, 1071bs. fish, 93lbs. sausage, 20ilbs. lungs, 469!bs.; livers, 866lbs. Included in the above summary is the following amount of tuberculous meat: — Bef: 1 fore- quarter, 1071bs. 1 hindquarfrer, 1071bs. 1 portion head, fcOlbs. 1 hindquarter, 1241bs.; 1 carcase, 3601bs. 1 hindquarter, 981bs. 1 hind- quarter. 971bs. Lungs and liver: 4171b>. Pork; 1 pig, 1251bs. 1 pig, 1401bs. Inspector Jenkins deals with Dowlais slaughter houses, and start- ed this work on the 19th of October Meat con- demned: Beef, 2081hs. mutton, 361bs. pork, 142Jb. beef livers, 261bs. sheep livers, 1461bs.: pigs' livers, 881bs. Tuberculous: Beef, 1861bs. pork. 1421bs. Fish 1421bs. So far, the slaugh- ter houses in the lower district are not regular- ly inspected, though Inspector Thomas visit; them at intervals. I hope, however, that In- spector Davies will soon be qualified as a meat inspector, when tho work can be carried out ■systematically. Power was taken in the Mer- thyr Tydfil Corporation Act, 1907. to prohibit the blowing of meat, and also to prohibit the sale of blown meat. A circular was issued to all the butchers in the Borough warning them that the Corporation intended to rigorously en- force the provisions 0' the Section, a-i in a num- ber of slaughter houses it was the custom to blow by the mouth—a filthy and disgusting practice. It was also objectionable in the case of immature calves unfit for human food, as it gave the meat a false appearance cf plumpness and deceived the unwary purchaser. It has now been practically stopped since the issue of the circular referred to above, and this with the approval cf the Butchers' Association of the town. WATER SUPPLY. Last year I reported that five of the Candy filters were completed, and now a 11 seven, with a theoretical filtering capacity cf three million gallons per day are in operation. The water is screened before entering the filters, as it. was Found that otherwise they got choked up too quickly. Now that the filters have been in action for some time, it has been found that they require washing oftener than was at first anticipated, possibly owing to the head of water not being great enough. If the filters had baen placed lower down on the main, a greater pres- sure would have been obtained, and much less filtered water required to wash each of them. The object of placing them in their present position, however, was to allow the washings to run into the Lower Neuadd reservoir, and so save the water, as it is from this reservoir that unfiltered water is supplied to Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Co. As matters stand at present, it is necessary to wash out the filters with unfil- tered water (an unsatisfactory procedure) or use the filtered water for seven or eight hours daily for this purpose, during which time unfiltered water mixes with the filtered in Pengarnddu reservoir and a mixture of filtered and unfilter- ed water is supplied to the Borough. The Bor- ough Surveyor, however, informs me that he shortly hopes to remedy this state of affairs by fixing a loaded valve on the mam to raise the pmssure sufficiently to wash out each filter in turn with filtered water and still supply a suffi- ciency of filtered water to Pengarnddu reservoir. The results of the chemical analyses of the Upper Neuadd water after filtration have been satisfactory on the whole. On one occasion an erosive but not a solvent action on lead was re- ported, and more particular attention will be devoted to this point in future analyses. The bacteriological analyses have not been so satis- factory, as the bacterium coli has been persis- tently found both before a.nd after filtration, though filtration has reduced it from being pre- sent in Ic.c. to b'>ing- present in 10c.e. The pollution indicated is probably from animal sources, Sl1ch as shoen or cattle, but It points to the necessity of taking stringent measures to prevent human pollution. The Borough Sur- veyor informs me that the daily supply 01 water averages 30 gallons per head of the popu- lation, but in two districts where he has intro- duced waste water mefAT3 he has been able to reduce the average to 22 gallons per head. and he advocates an extension of the system with a view of reducing waste. SEWAGE DISPOSAL. Beyond extension of various branch sewers for the purpose of draining new houses, no new works have been carried out. The village of Pengarnddu, to which attention was called last year, is still without drainage, though it has now a. water supply. Clwydyfagwr and Gelli- deg, also referred to last year a.re still undrain- ed. and in these districts there are also houses without sanitary conveniences. The soil in these districts is very clayey, and cesspools would be unsatisfactory. Thero is at present under consideration a scheme for making a new sewer from Troedyrhiw to Craigberthlwyd to take the place of the old main sewage conduit which the Borough Surveyor advises could then be used fAr surface water and sub- sidiarv purposes. There is a doubt of the neces- sity that exists for this improvement. TROEDYRHIW SEWAGE FARM. This farm is in excellent condition, and has worked efficiently during the year. The Farms Management Committee have complained1 of the amount of water delivered on the farm at times, and on investigation tha storm overflows from the sewers were found to be acting as in- lets to the river instead of outlets to the sowers. These defects have been remedied. The Troedyrhiw straining tanks were built two years ago for the purpose of dealing with the sewage from Troedyrhiw, as owmg to the diff- erences in level this could not be brought to the main straining tanks. As at present built, it is only possible to distribute the sewage over 17 acres of the farm land. and this for a popula- tion of 5,000 people has proved insufficient. The matter is at present receiving the attention of the Borough Surveyor. DAIRIES, COWSHEDS, AND MILKSHOPS. There were at the end of the year 120 dairies, cowsheds, and milkshops on the register, and during the year 395 visits of inspection were made, with the result that 83 notices were served under the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milk- shops Order. Year by year a gradual improve- ment is taking place in the condition of the cowsheds, though there is still considerable diffi- culty in educating small owners of one and two cows as to tho necessity of drainage, light, and ventilation in connection with their cowsheds. Tha statutory obligation of white-washing in the months of May and October was attended to in all cases. In four instances the owners preferred to give up cow-keeping in preference to complying with the notices, and as the sheds were in objectionable proximity to dwelling- houses, this was an advantage. The general condition of tho sheds in the winter has been fairly satisfactory, aDd some of the cow-keepers do pay attention to grooming the cows and cleansing the udders, though the custom is by no moans universal. More attention is now being paid by milkers to waehing- their hands before milking. The tuberculosis clauses of the Liverpool Corporation Act have been incorpor- ated in the Merthyr Tydfil Corporation Act of 1907, and the Corporation have resolved to ap- point a veterinary eurgeon to make a quarterly visit to all cowsheds in the Borough with the object of examining the cows for tuberculosis of the udder. COMMON LODGING HOUSES. There are 24 common lodging houses on the register, as compared with 23 last year. They are distributed as follow:—Town Ward, 11; Park Ward, 5; Cyfarthfa Ward, 2; Penydarren Ward, 5; and Dowlais Ward, 1. During the year 321 visits were made by the Sanitary In- spectors, and 25 notices were issued to abate nuisances. There was one prosecution for con- travention of the bye-laws in respect to over- crowding, and a fine of £1 Is. and costs was imposed. These lodging houses are also under the supervision of the police, as the Chief Con- stable and police inspectors liive been appoint- ed inspectors of common lodging houses. The Council have adopted Pait V. of the Public I Health Amendment Act, 1907. which deals with common lodging houses, and one advantage that has so far accrued is that female deputies have been done away with. Formerly in several of tho lodging houses there were female depu- ties, who wero unable to exercise proper con- trol. During the year 22 houses let In lodgings were nlaced on the register. The principle adopted in choosing the houses for purposes of registra- tion was to take houses where there was a mini- mum 0^ f^JfldstaMu jwaicuiiedl were [ not paying more than 5s. a week if the lodgings were furnished, or 7s. 6d. if unfurnished. Such houses then came under the operation of the bye-laws in regard to the number of cubic feet of air space per individual (400 for adults and 200 for children), the separation of the sexes, etc., and were visited by the Inspectors. Cards indicating the number of lodgers that could be taken were distributed, ajid if in futuro visits violation of the bye-laws are observed, these will be reported to the Council. A number of I houses still remain to be registered, and the matter is receiving attention at present. REFUSE DISPOSAL. The various refuse tips are still in use, as no progress has been made in the matter £ )l pro vidlng a refuse destructor. The matter is, how ever, engaging the attention of the Council. and it is to be hoped that a definite scheme will bo evolved shortly.. For scavenging purposes, the Borough is sub-divided into nin-a districts, and for each of these there is a separate con- tract for the scavenging. The contracts specify that the contractor for each district must com- plete his work, which includes a daily removal of all refuse between the hour" of 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., but during the past year there have been a considerable numbsr of complaints that the work is not finished by 2 p.m. In future con- tracts adherence to a tinM-tabie. which will specify the time the scavenging carts must be in each street in the district, should be made a condition. There are only three offensive trades carried on in the Borough, namely, those of a knacker, a gut scraper, and a feJimonger, respectively. The knacker's yard is in an isolated position away from house:, and the buildings were erec- ted three years ago in accordance with plans submitted to the Council. The business is con- ducted without offenoe. The other two estab- lishments are in Georgetown, and the work is also carried on without offence. All three have been visited regularly during the year. MIDWIVES ACT. f Nurse Thompson was appointed inspector of mid'.vives shortly before we attained the status of a County Borough. At the end of the year, there were 58 midwives on the register, as com- pared with 64 -in -1907. Of these 58, 14 are trained and certified, while 44 are on the regis- ter in virtue of being in bona fide practice prev- ious to the Act coming into force. Of the lat. ter, the great majority can neither read nor write, and it is necessary to exercise a stringent supervision over them. Up till tho end of the year, 148 visits to the various midwives were made by the Inspector, who reported that in her early visits she found that the regulations of the Central Midwives Board were observed very indifferently, but that a great improve- ment was manifest by the end of the year. Puerperal Fever: Eight cases occurring in the practice of midwives were investigated. Three of them proved fatal, while five recovered. The midwives in these cases ceased attending the patients as soon as it was known that puerperal fever had developed, and the latter were then attended by tho Jubilee nurses of the district. Notifications of Requiring Medicad Help: One hundred and eighty-four notifications have been received. According to the of the Central Midwives Board the Local Authority has to be notified when medical assistance has been called In. but this rule was honoured more in the breach than in the observance till the Council supplied tho midwives with stamped envelopes. Deaths of Infants in Midwives' Practice: Three cases of deaths of infants before medical help could be obtained were notified. Two of the births were of premature children, and in the third case an inquest was held. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Six complaints were received that certain mid- wives were in tho habit of laying out dead bodies. On investigation, it was found that in one instance only was this correct. The mid- wife was warned, and has discontinued the work. HOUSING. There has been no change in the policy of ths Health Committee in dealing with houses unfit for human habitation. Part II. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act has been put in operation, whereby houses after being represented to the Council as unfit for human habitation must, either be put in proper repair and rendered fit for human habitation, or r. closing order is obtained, and the tenant is served with a notice to vacate the house with- in a specified time. As in previous years also, we have been faced with the difficulty of a dearth of houses, especially of houses with a rent sufficiently low to suit the circumstances of tenants who would have been displaced from slum areas. For this reason certain areas such, for instance, as Crystal Palace-court, have not been dealt with, as the rents of the houses in this court vary from eight to twelve shillings per and there are no empty houses any- where in tho vicinity with rents approximating these figures. Owing to this dearth of houses closing orders had often to be postponed to allow tenants to find houses elsewhere. One hundred and sixty three houses have been dealt with under the Act. Of these 88 have been rendered habitable, though in 17 cases this has been accomplished by merging two houses into one, so that where there wore for- merly 88 houses, there are now 71. Fifty-five houses have been closed; in the case of 15 others time has been given for the tenants to find houses, and in five instances closing orders have been sanctioned, but the time had not ex- pired. In addition to houses dealt with under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, a large amount of work has been carried out as the result of serving informal noticeSj and, failing compliance, with legal notices, under the Pub- lic Health Act. Thus. in Inspector Owen's district, 39 hou<ses were 86 dealt with; in In- spector Thomas's, 89 houses; in Inspector Jen- kins's, 93 houses; and Inspector Davies's, 64 houses. In the districts of the three first-men- tioned inspectors a. large amount of structural alterations and repairs were carried out, while in Inspector Davies's district, where the houses have been more recently built, the bulk of the work was in connection with drainage and gen- eral repairs. There still remains a. consider- able amount of insanitary property in the bor- ough, but year by year it is becoming less, and on examining the list of insanitary houses published in the 1906 report, it will be seen that already a decided impression has been made, and although the method of dealing with these houses under Part II. of the Hous- ing of the Working Classes Act has been char- acterised as slum patching, nevertheless, with existing legislation, it is the only practicable method, as the cost of putting in force Part I. of the Act, and acquiring unhealthy areas, has been proved in other towns to bd prohibitive. One matter deserving the attention of the Council is that we are unable at present to pre- vent the re building of condemned property in narrow streets provided tho bye-laws are ad- hered to; the result is that new houses are built in streets much less than 36 feet, which is the recofmised. width of new streets. The mat- ter will be brought before the Council at an early date. Council New Houses (Part III. of the Hous- ing of the Working Classes Act).—During the year the 50 houses at Twynyrodyn, referred to as building in last year's report, were com- pleted, and are now all occupied. Thirty-five of these houses have a kitchen and soullery on the ground floor, and two bedrooms upstairs, while 15 of them are larger, with an additional bed- room upstairs; all of them have a combination hot-water bath and range. The entire capi- tal expenditure on these houses was £8,545 17s. 5d., for which a loan for years was ob- tained. In addition there was an expenditure on revenue account. of £2 21s. 7d., making a total cost of £8,567 19s. The larger houses are let at 22s. and the smaller at 18s. per month. There was a very large demand for these houses, especially the smaller ones, and they each could have been let three or four times over. The following table, supplied to me b tho Building Inspector, shows the num- ber of houses built and completed by private enterprise during the year:—Dowlais, 21 dwel- ling-houses. 6 buildings other than dwelling- houses Penydarren, 11, 5; Park, 19, 3; Cy- farthfa, 8, 3; Town, 64. 18; Plymouth, 68, 5; Merthyr Vale, 83, 4: Treharris, 19. 3; totals, 293, 47. The Building Inspector is a whole- time official, whose duty is to see that all build- ings in the borough are erected in conformity with the plans that have been approved of by the Council, and in accordance with the bye- laws, which are bad on the model series of the Local Government Board. Many other points are dealt with in Dr. Dun- exhaustive report. ARMS PERFECTLY RAW. With Fearful Eczema—Skin Hung in Ribbons—Desperate with Terrible Irri- tation and Almost Crazed by Lack of Sleep—Cured Only After Matron of Hos- pital Recommended Cuticura. Four years ago eczema broke Out on my hands and arms and I became so bad that I was unable even to dress myself and I dared not put my hands in water. Two doctors failed 10 bring me any benefit. I was suffering terribly then. and I thought I should go out of my mind, as I could neither sleep nor rest, night or day. The skin was all hanging in ribbons, and the arms looked just like raw beefsteak, while the irritation was so terrible that I got desperate sometimes and felt I would like to scratch my arms to pieces. I went to three other doctors, and then I attended the —— Hospital but no one seemed to be able to con. quer the disease, and I was on the very brink of despair when I was, ad viae, d by the matron of another hospital to give Cuticura Remedies a. trial. I put some Cuticura Ointment on the sores, and then I had the best night's rest I bad had for many a long day. I continued the applications and also used Cuticura Soap and Cuticura Resolvent Pills. By the time two boxes of Cuticura Ointment had been used I was completely cured. Mrs. Jane Lee, Roma Villa, Blackpool, Eng., October 31,

On Monday a. fine trout, which scaled 6*10" was hooked by Mr. Sandbach while fi$hing in the Ken^et at Newbury,

Lemco & Milk j is priceless | for Children I I Just a quarter tea- spoonful or Lemco to half-a-pint of warm milk-a delight for the stron-a perfect godsend to the weak. Fretful, backward' children—tired, run- down mothers over-wrought, nerve- strained men will find a daily glass of Lemco and Milk work wonders. Lemco and i'vi-li;z is readily digested and assimilated by those who cannot take milk in the ordinary way. In a Lemco Thermos Flask (offered FREE to those who save their Coupons) Lemco and milk keeps steaming hot for twenty-four hours. w I Lemco is a highly-concentrated form of fresh beef- Absolutely pare-no additions of any kind. Full particulars of Lemco's Great FREE offer of Guinea Lemco Thermos Flasks, also splendid 127-page Recipe Book, sent for a postcard. LEMCO BOXUS OFFICE. 4. Lloyd's Avenue. London. E.G. j | A Boon to Mothers. | I MOTHERS ARE WARKEP [ a against giving their babies medicines St | which weaken their systems and S S stultify their growth. But don't |8 « try to atop their U I jPaiEifual Cries | H by forcing them with food. Their | j 1 cries indicate ailments which can be 1 || rapidly relieved and cured by B j JONES' RED DROPS S THE IIF iLTHFOL REMJWY FOR i Wind, Gripes, Convulsions, g H and all kindred infantile complaints. m ra S3T One dose decides its unique value, S SI ensures healthful babies, and enables 81 B| Mothers to have quiet days and restful jE nights. 8a Keep a Bottle Handy. ilia per bottle. g ;E I III' ( To be had from the following Agents:— Merthyr, Mr. V. A. Wills, R.D.S., Chemist, 3301 Victoria Street. Dowlais Mr. Evaas, Chemist, Union street. Troedyrhiw Messrs. J. D. Jones & Son, Canton House. Beaufort Mr. Price. Post-office. Trehaxris Mr. Lloyd. Chemist. Bargoed Mr. Pritchard. Chemist. Caerau. Macsteg Mr Howells. Chemist. Pontypridd From all Chemist* Tcnypandy Mr. Emrys Richards. Chemist. Llwynypia Mr. J. W. Richards, Chemist. Pentro STstrad Mr. S. S. James. Royal Stores. Treorchy Mr. Prothero, Chemist. Treorchy Mr. Davies, Cheimistr Treherbert Mr. Evans, Chemist. Ferndale Mr. Burgess, Chemist. Ynyshir.Mr. Lewis, Chemist. Ty!orstown.Mr. W. R. Williams, Chemist. Abercynon.Mr. W. C. Williams. Chemist. Aberdare Mr. Harris Chemist. Aberaman Mr. 1. E. Thomas. Chemist. Mountain Ash.Mr. Williams. Chemist. Mountain Ash Mr. Jones, Chemist Penrhiwceiber Mr. A. M. Jones. Chemist From all Chemists Bargoed Mr. W. Parry-Williams, Chemist JONES & SONS, Manufacturing Chemists, Llanidloes DAVID ANTHONY Pharmacist, 110, QUEEN ST., CARDIFF, (Established 49 years) May be consulted at the above address every Thursday & Satur- day; and for the con. venience of those who are unable to travel t4 Cardiff, Mr. ANTIIONL may be consulted at 4, Glebeland Place, Merthyr Tydfil, Every FIRST MONDAY IN THE MONTH, beginning the 1st of March, 1909. Mr. Anthony is the well-known Specialist for DISEASED BONE, whose New Treatment absolutely cures without the use of the knife. Specialist for BAD LEGS, and all Skin Affections, including ECZEMA, ia its worst form, PSORIASIS, 1 LOSS OF HAIR, PHLEBITIS, VARICOSE VEINS, f WEN or GOITRE, CHRONIC RHEUMATISM, LUMBAGO and SCIATICA. Thousands of Hopeless Cases of Diseased Bone and Ulcerated Legs have been saved from Amputation by tha Anthony New Treatment. In minor cases of Ulcer ated Leg3 Lie Rot's Albanian Salve has cured many thousands. But in complicated cases the Anthony New Treatment is infallible. Le Roi's Albanian Salve is the most popular of all Ointments. It cures Eczema, Psoriasis, Piles and all Skin Affections. Le Roi's Albanian Saive is so very simple and harmless that mothers even use it with the greatest effect to the babies' eyes. For Cuts, or any* thing the matter with the Skin, Le Roi's Albanian Salve, prevents Festering and Blood Poisoning, which is due to its great Antiseptic properties hence the reason why its healing properties are so marvellous, and that so few mothers are without it, knowing it saves life and many. lon bills. Sold by all Chemists at Is. lid. and 2s. 9d, or direct, post free, from the Sole Proprietors— ANTHONY & Co., Pharmacists, 39, St. Mary St* and at 110, Queen Street, CARDIFF. N.B.—CONSULTATIONS FREE. Owing to want of space, we pen onlv the following Testi- monials 29 YEARS ON CRUTCHES. Mrs. Jones. 10, North-street, Penydarren, Merthyr, was 29 years on crutches had thirteen wounds on both legs; cured by the Anthony New Treatment in a few weeks 1 pain ceased in three days. A REMARKABLE CURE OF DISEASED BONB.—Mr. Lewia Kill, 31, New Hoad, Ynysybw), Glam., suffered for upwards of six years, was kept in bed practically the whole of the time. Pain at times was unbearable. Amputation re- commended a3 the only relief. Under the Anthony New Treatment pain ceased in three days and immediately re- turned to work, carrying on the treatment in the pit. Absolutely cured in four months. N.B.—Any number of testimonials on application. Telegraphic Address-Boulton, Merthyr Nat. Telephone, No. 122. Dead & Disabled Horses & Cattle PROMPTLY REMOVED, JL* J. Boulton Sonsi LICENSED Horse Slaughterer^ TBEBEBDAU JFAJBtk, MOUNTAIN HARE, MERTHYR. BRANCHES AT Sirhowy Inn Stables, Sirhowy, AND Castle Inn Stables, Aberaman.