The North Wales Times

QUARTERLY MEETING AT DENBIGH. The quarterly meeting of the Denbigh shire Police Committee was held at the County Hall, Denbigh, on Friday. There were present Captain Griffith-Boseawen (in the chair), Sir Robert Egerton, Mr. J W. Lumley, Captain Cole, Col. Mesham, Mr. Gomer Roberts, Mr. John Roberts, Pias Heaton Farm; Mr. Christmas Jones, Mr. Walter Pendf-ani3, Cut Heaton, Sir Wil- liam Gfenville Williams, Mr. W. G- Dodd, Mr. J. Duncan Miller, Mr. F H. Barker, Mr. W. D. W Griffith, Mr. A. O. Evans, Mr. William Griffith, and Mr. James Darlington, with the clerk (Mr. W. R. Evans), the de- pnty clerk (Mr. John Roberts); and other, officials. Apologies were received from Mr- Hooson and Mr. Isgoed Jones. NEW MEMBER. A copy of the order of Quarter Sessions was read, appointing Mr. F. H. Barker, of Wrexham, to fill the vacancy on the com- mittee, occasioned by the resignation of Mr. J. R. Barton, and Mr. Barker took his seat for the first time. COLWYN BAY POLICE BUILDINGS. A discussion took place as to the condi- tion of the Colwyn Bay Public Buildings, and it was decide-i that the clerk be in- structed to write to the chairman of the Colwyn Bay Urban Council, requesting that body to do their portion of the work according to the agreement. THE APPOINTMENT OF CARETAKERS FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS. The sub committee of the Colwyn Bay district recommended that a sum of 4s. per week be granted to the police for acting as caretakers of the county buildings at Colwyn Bay, but on the motion of Mr. Lumlf the matter was referred back to the committee for reconsideration, with the view of appointing a civilian to do the work, the Chief Constable (Major Lead, better) being of opinion that it was not desirable to have police officers as care- takers of buildings where there were no cells. RUTHIN COUNTY HALL. The f ib committee of the Ruthin district submit, d their report with regard to the footpath in front of Ruthin County Hall, and th q resolution passed by the Ruthin Town Council on the question was also read. The report recommended that the committee should agree to the work pro- posed to be done there by the Town Coun- cil, subject to the approval of the county surveyor. This was agreed to. ROSSETT AND CEFN POLICE STATION. The Chief Constable reported that he had not yet convened a meeting of the commit- tee appointed to deal with the question of erecting a new police station at Rassett, because he had a site in view, which would not be available until spring. The matter of providing a new police station at Cefn was deferred. POLICE CLOTHING. The tender of Messrs. Pearson and Hug gins, Bristol, for police clothing was accep ted, the amount being X210 10s. 9d. ACCOMMODATION FOR PRISONERS IN RUTHIN COUNTY HALL. COMPLAINT BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE GAOL. The Chairman stated that after the last Quarter Sessions, the Governor of Ruthin Gaol (Mr. E. Parry Jones), complained to him that there was no heating apparatus in the cells below the court, where priso- ners awaiting their trial, after their removal from gaol, had to be placed. He (the chair- man) was surprised to hear that statement. The Governor stated that the priso ners suffered considerably from cold, and that; unless something was done, he would have to report the matter to the Home Secretary. Mr. Jones did not wish to do this, as it would cause a great deal of trouble. He (the chairman), suggested to the Governor that he should call the attention of the Standing Joint Committee to the matter in a letter. „ The Clerk then read a letter which he had received from the Governor. In the course of this letter, it was stated that there was only one room under the hall for both sexes, and that the prisoners at the last Quarter Sessions had suffered a great deal from cold whilst confined there. Mr. W. D. W. Griffith said that when the new police station was erected in Ruthin, it hid been stated that the prisoners awaitiog their trial at the court, would be detained there. He thought if that were done, that it would be unnecessary to have a beating apparatus under the hall, as the station was in close pioximity to the county buildings. The Chairman said he had no practical objection to the prisoners being kept tem- porarily in the police station. After further discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Pendennis, to refer the matter back to the Ruthin sub committee, with directions to consult with the governor of the gaol. LLANGOLLEN COUflT HOUSE. On the motion of Mr. W. G. Dodd, secon- ded by Mr. Lumley, the tender of Messrs. Evans and Morris, contractors, Llangollen, for alterations at, and additions to, the new court house at Llangolien, was accepted, the amount of the tender being S510 18s. 6d. The other tender was from Mr. T. A Jones, builder, Llangollen, for the sum of £515. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The Chief Constable submitted his quar- terly report which was as follows:- Crime and offences as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, show a decrease of 17 in indictable offences, an in- crease of 20 in non-indictable offences, and a decrease of X775 lis. 8d. in the value of property stolen. 153 indictable offences were reported during the year, being a decrease of 41 as compared with last year, 148 persons were proceeded against, 40 of whom were dis charged, 77 summarily convicted, and 31 committed for trial for the following off ces" Murder, 1; manslaughter, 2; indecent assaults on females, 3 malicious wounding, 2 housebreaking, 2; arson, l forgery, 1 perjury, 2, larcency in dwelling house, 4; larcency simple, 6; obtaining goods, &c., by false pretences, 4; attempted suicide, 2; neglect of children, 1 total, 31. 2,435 persona were proceeded against for non-indictable offences, 1,851 of whom were fined; 7 delivered to the army; 10 to in dustrial schools; 21 bound in recognizan ces; 46 other punishments; 154 committed to gaol, and 342 discharged. 26 publicans and beerhouse keepers were I proceeded against for breaches of the Sun- day Closing Act, permitting drunkenness, selling without license, &c., 8 of whom were, discharged, and 18 convicted; 1 license j being endorsed, as against 25 last year; I I discharged, 14 convicted, and 1 license en- dorsed. 958 persons were charged witu drunken- ness, 132 persons were for being drunk on Sundays, as against 983land 80 last year. INEBRIATES ACT, 1898. Sec. 2. Out of the 958 persons proceeded against for drunkenness during the year; 2 males and 4 females were convicted 4 times, 2 males and 3 females 5 times, total 11. 15 men have left the force during the year, of whom 2 died, I was superannuated, and 4 have been called up with the reserves to rejoin their regiments, and are now out on active service in the Tracavaal. ESTIMATE OF POLICE PAY. The County Accountant reported the es- timate of Police pay for the current quarter to be £ 1,932 IDs. against XI,052 10s. for the cor- responding quarter last year, but the present estimate included a fortnight's pay more than last'year. APPLICATION FOR A PENSION. A letter was read from Ex-constable Me Laren stating that he had served 19 years in the Denbighshire Police Force. Owing to an accident to his right arm, which he met with, in arresting a prisoner, at Wrexham, he was now unable to follow any employment, and having a family to keep, he begged the Com- mittee to grant him a pension. The Chief Constable having explained the circumstances, under which the applicant had been dismissed from the force, The Chairman stated that the Committee had no power to grant him a pension, and the Clerk was instructed to write to him to that effect. THE CERR1GYDRUIDION JAM CASE. The Committee then proceeded to consider an application from Mr. J. R. Jordan, solicitor, of Corwen, for payment of £ 3 costs awarded by the Cerrigydruidion Justices against Supt. Jarvis in the matter of information laid by him, against Mr. E. T. Roberts, Ysbytty, under the Food and Drugs Act, and which had been discussed by the Committee at the last meeting and adjourned. During the discussion that ensued, Supt. Jarvis stated that the charge had been with- drawn by himself, on the suggestion made to him, by the clerk of the justices (Mr. J. Parry Jones). Mr. Griffiths said that the case had never been heard by the justices, who had simply consented to its withdrawal on the application of the Superintendent. They had therefore, no power to make an order as to costs. The Chairman thought they had no jurisdic- tion at all over the action of the justices in the matter. The question for them now was, whether they would pay the costs asked for, on behalf of the police. Mr. Lumley proposed that that should not be done. If the Supt. were sued for the amount, the Committee would no doubt favourably consider his application for the re-payment of the amount. Atrpresent, however, he thought, that the Committee should not pay the money. The motion having been seconded. Mr. Dodd proposed that the amount be paid. Mr. James Darlington seconded. On being put to the meeting, six voted in favour of the amendment, and ten against. The amendment was therefore declared lost. Mr. Lamley's motion was then carried by nine to two. COUNTY ANALYST'S REPORT. The following report was read from Mr. W. F. Lowe, the County Analyst. During the quarter, 46 samples were received, four of which were found to be adulterated, or a pro- portion of 81 per cent. The adulterated sam. ples were all samples of jam containing a small proportion of preservative salicylic acid. The prosecution was instituted in one case as a test, but failed, as it was very strongly defen- ded by the manufacturers, Dr. Bond, of the Westminster Hospital being called for the de- fence. It was pointed out that in France the use of this acid had been prohibited. That it was largely used, was evidenced by the fact, that iO per cent of the samples of jam examined contained it. After consulting the Chief Constable, the Committee decided not to take any proceedings at present. THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR CARS, ETC. On the motion of Mr. John Roberts, it was decided to support a petition to the Local Government Board in favour of amending the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1899, with the view of compelling motor cars, &c., to be regis- tered and carry numbers. JUSTICES CLERK'S FEES. A letter was read from the Home Secretary expressing a hope that the Committee would re-consider their decision, and see their way to submit to him for approval, a table of justices clerks fees, corresponding as far as possible with the model sent down from the Home Office, and also with reference to the effect that their salaries are based on the fees received, drawing the attention of the Committee to the Home Office circular of the 10th of October, 1881, from which it would be seen that other con- siderations should receive due weight in fixing such salaries. On the motion of Mr. Lumley, seconded by Sir R. E. Egerton, the letter was referred to a Special Committee. THE REMOVAL OF A CONSTABLE. A resolution was submitted from the Llan. gollen Rural Parish Council, protesting,ifor the reasons therein mentioned, against the practice of transferring the rural parish police consta- ble, into the Urban District of Llangollen, on holidays, and at other times. On the motion of Mr. Darlington, seconded by Mr. Gomer Roberts, it was decided to -refer the Parish Council to the Chief Constable. COUNTY RECORDS. It was decided to write to the Record Office, London, submitting a list of the county docu. ments now in the custody of the Clerk of the Peace, seeking advice as to the preservation of certain of them.

Vienna policemen are required to understand telegfaphy, and to be able to swim and row a boat. I believe all the honestimen are dead.' 'That's good. I hate to think of them as starving to death.' The goat he ate a comic page, And soon began to pun. I can't help it,' he softly said, You see, I'm full of fun.' You say you know why Johnstone went to the war? Why, man, you never saw him in your life "But I've seen his wife Romance and chivalry are not, alas! what they were. Once, the hero, having rescued the maiden from the tower, paused in his flight to exclaim: Hark the hoof-beats of pursuers But now: Smell the odour of thy father's motor-car.' -0- Conscription is a word which can never be made to sound sweetly in British ears, and recent events have made it tolerably clear that the introduction of compulsory enlistment is unnecessary in this country. Something like half the whole body of volunteers have offered themselves for service abroad, and if the neces- sity should arise, there are a large number of busy men who will be ready to join the volun- teer force at considerable inconvenience to themselves. In any event, something might be done to make these men proficient in the use of the rifle. The main difficulty, and it is a very serious one at present, is the lack of ranges within a reasonable distance of the centres of population. If that want were supplied, there are thousands of men who cannot, in ordinary circumstances, spare time to serve in a volun- teer regiment, but who would undertake to at- tain a certain standard of proficiency in shoot- ing, and would be available for active service in the event of invasion. j

DENBIGH. TOWN COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday, when there were present, the Mayor (Mr. A. Lloyd Jones) in the chair, Aldermen R. Humphreys Roberts, W. D. W. Griffith, and Wm. Keepfer, Council- lors Roger Pryce, Boaz Jones, John Davies, W. H. Evans, R. Henry Roberts, W. Mel- lard, Howel Gee, A. O. Evans, with the Town Clerk (Mr. J. Parry Jones), the Deputy Clerk (Mr. Ed. Parry), the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Griffith W. Roberts), and the Accountant (Mr. Ellis Williams). ABSENT MEMBERS. Apologiosr-ere read from Alderman R. Owen, and i < luncillors J. Simon Roberts and Dr. D. Lioyd. HEALTH OF THE BOROUGH. The Medical Officer reported as follows :— Eight deaths have been registered for the past month, and of these eight, three of the deceased had reached the advanced age of 70, 72 and 78 respectively. Six births were registered for the same period. Twelve deaths were reported to me as having occurred at the Asylum during the month. The above numbers give as the annual birth and death rate per thousand 11.22 and 14.97 respectively. I received notification of a case of enteric fever at Plas Clough. I be- lieve it to be one of those cases which are called ambulatory. The patient returned home from a visit suffering in the incubation stage, and there is no doubt in my opinion that it was contracted abroad. On the 29th of last month, in company with the Sanitary Inspector, I visited the premises where noxious trades are carried on in the town. I hoped to present you with my annual re- port at thu meeting, but was not able to complete it in time for printing. It will be, however, in your hands in the course of a few days. The report was adopted. PANDY BRIDGES. The Highway Committee reported that having considered the Surveyor's new plans, of the proposed new bridges over the above streams, which had been amended in accord- ance with 4he County Surveyor's sugges- tions, and on the understanding that the County Council would contribute the sum of X200 towards the^expense, they recom- mended: That the St. Asaph (Denbigh) Rural Dis- trict Council be asked to contribute £ 100 and that they be informed that the Den- bigh Town Council are prepared to proceed with the erection of the Bridges on that condition, but that this offer is made with out prejudice, and if not accepted, all re- sponsibility in the matter will rest with the St. Asaph (Denbigh) Rural District Council.' The recommendation was adopted without discussion. SURFACE WATER ON COPPY ROAD. It was recommended by the Highway Committee, and adopted by the Council: 'That a grid be fixed at the top of the'Hill and 6 inch field pipes laid under the foot- path to convey the surface water into the channel at the bottom of the Hill and that the matter be left in the hands of the Sur- veyor to carry out.' PLAS CHAMBERS ROAD. The proposal to exchange Plas Chambers Main Road for other highways in the Borough was considered by the Highway Committee, who now recommended: That the Town Clerk be asked to draw up a formal requisition to the Main Roads Com- mittee of the County Council as to the proposed exchange, and that the same be submitted to the next Council Meeting for approval.' The recommendation was agreed to. A PROPOSAL TO ERECT WORK MEN'S DWELLINGS. THE QUESTION AGAIN DEFERRED. The Highway Committee reported having inspected the Panton Hall land from which the trees have recently been cleared, and submitted the following recommendation 'Tlh three houses for the working classes be built upon the land, facing the Henilan Place houses, and that in building,, a por- tion of the land be taken into the read so as to make it of equal width along its whole length.' The Mayor moved, and Mr. Boiz Jones seconded the adoption of the report. Mr. Roger Pryce moved as an amendment that the recommendation be not accepted. He did not believe that this was a fit and proper place to build workmen's dwellings upon. If the Corporation were pressed for land, the whole aspect of the question would have been changed, but there was no scarcity of desirable sites. They all knew that the property in question adjoined the works of the Mayor, and should workmen's dwellings be erected thereon, the backyards of the houses could easily be seen from the works in question. Another thing, should the Corporation make an application for powers to borrow money to ereet the houses, no inspector oi line jjocai uovernment iioara would sanction the expenditure of public money for the erection of houses on such a site. His (Mr. Pryce's) suggestion was that the place should be cleared and held until the open space of the houses at Panton Hall would become the property of the Corpora- tion. He would therefore propose that the recommendation of the committee be not adopted. Mr. John Davies said that this matter was brought before the Committee and adopted. Mr. Roger Pryce was present. Mr. Pryce: Yes, but I was against it all the same. Mr. John Davies: No, you did not say a word against it. The Committee met on the spot, and I think it is only right that we should agree to their proposal. Mr. R. Heury Roberts having emphasised the necessity of widening the roads in this part of the town, went on to say that if no houses were built on this plot of ground, it would simply become waste, where eventu- ally children would go to play football, &c., as they did at present in Lenton Pool. Mr. Boaz Jones explained that he was the member who moved the recommendation arrived at by the committee. The High- ways' Committee met on the spot, and that in his opinion made a great deal of differ- ence as to their decision in the matter. Every one in the committee seemed to agree that it was just the spot to start the scheme, of erecting workmen's dwellings. At one time the aristocracy of the town used to live in Panton Hall, and he was certainly of opinion that the Corporation could do nothing better than erect three or four workmen's houses there now as an experi- ment. Some were of opinion that even four houses should be erected there, but eventu- ally the committee agreed to recommend the erection of three only. The narrow lane leading from the bottom of Henllan Street by the tannery could easily be widened if one of the present houses were taken down. If the lane was simply left as it was at present, it would be used as a receptacle for every kind of rubbish which would be car- ried there at all times of the night. Mr. Humphreys Roberts said he wished to know whether the committee were autho- rised in bringing in that report of theirs at all. In the first place, it did not appear to him to be part and parcel of their duty to make any such recommendations. He wished to know secondly whether the com- mittee had considered the fact that the main drain passed through the middle of this plot of land, and if so, was it their intention to build houses over the drainjin question. He quite agreed with Mr. Roger Pryce that to build houses on this spot for the working classes would be a great mis- take. One reason in addition to that he had already mentioned was, that the frontage of the houses would be from the sun. More- over he did not think it was a choice place to build houses by a public authority, es- pecially so when that public authority was also the sanitary authority. In his opinion it would be far better to defer the question in any case, or that they should have a simple tracing from the Surveyor showing the exact size of the houses proposed to be built, with the width of the road between them and the tannery, which he thought should be thoroughly widened, and also plans to show in what direction the drain went, so that the houses would not be built over it, in case the majority decided to try the experiment. Mr. Howel Gee said be agreed with Mr. Humphreys Roberts, for the reason that the main drain went through the land. That was not a drain that could be hermstically sealed. It was not a properly constructed drain, and was simply a water course, covered over. That would militate, in his opinion, against any idea of building houses there. Some also seemed to think that the locality was not the sweetest that could be had, but upon that point he would not enter. However, taking the locality into considera- tion, and the fact that there was a large culvert running across the land, and the northern aspect that the houses would have to take, he did not think it was a fit place for the purpose. If they were going to give the Workmen's Dwellings Act a chance, they ought to give it a good start. He thought they should try for a better position if they were going to make an initiatory experiment in the matter. Mr. Roger Pryce said he was on the com- mittee that considered this matter, aud there he advocated that the place should be only cleared at present, and kept in proper order, until the property finally came into the possession of the Corporation. Of course he gladly accepted any suggestion that came from Mr. Boaz Jones, Mr. R. Henry Roberts or Mr. Wynne Edwards,who were now converts to the necessity of erec- ting workmen's dwellings. On being put to the meeting, six voted for Mr. Roger Pryce's amendment, and three in favour of adopting the report. a The amendment was therefore declared carried. THE BEACON'S HILL DRAINAGE DISPUTE. MR. ELIAS JONES AND THE INSPECTOR. At a meeting of the Sanitary Committee (Dr. Lloyd in the chair), the Inspector reported that he had visited Mr. Elias Jones' premises (47, Beacon's Hill) for the purpose of opening ou to the drain for the Committee's inspection but that he was refused admittance, and he read his report upon the previous opening and testing, and asked for official notice to be served upon Mr. Elias Jones, to reconstruct certain por- tioas of the drain and to increase the height of the ventilating shaft, &c., and after giving the matter consideration, the committee re solved, and now recommended to the Council that the Chairman and Inspector wait upon Mr. Elias Jones and explain to him as to the deepening of the new portion of the drain in his yard and also as to the increased height of the ventilating shaft. The Mayor moved and Mr. Keepfer seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried. SMITHF1ELD RECEIPTS ON THE DECLINE. The Borough Accountant stated that the amount of tolls received at the Smithfield last fair day was £ 6 13a. 6d., being a decrease of about £2 on the corresponding fair day last year. FIRE BRIGADE. The Borough Accountant also submitted a report from the Joint Committee of the Fire Brigade. This report Was to the effect that the following members of the Brigade had been elected on the Joint Committee: Capt. R. W. Lloyd, Lieut. J. Morris Davies, Second-Lieut. W. G. Helsby, Firemen Myddleton, D. Lloyd and J. P. Joyce. The brigade desired that the joint committee should take into consideration the Bcale of charges for attending fires; also that a sum of 10s. be paid annually to the Norwich Union, on the understanding that the benefits would be increased accordingly. Also that the condition of the men's clothing after nine years wear, should be taken into consider- ation (laughter). On the motion of Mr. Roger Pryce, seconded by Mr. W. H. Evans, the report was referred to the Fire Brigade Joint Committee, with power to act. THE LIGHTING OF T HE TOWN. A PROPOSED SAVING OF 50 PER CENT. IN GAS BILLS. On behalf of the Borough Surveyor who was absent, owing to the serious illness of his father, the Town Clerk read his monthly report in which the Surveyor suggested that the Lighting Committee, should take into consider- ation the advisability of substituting tha pre- sent mode of lighting the town by a new system which would be the means of saving 50 per cent. in the gas bill. In addition to that, the proposed new burners would give nearly four timb as much light as the present gives, notwithstanding the reduction in the gas consumed. The Cross lamp could he fixed with the burners as a test. On the motion of Mr. Humphreys Roberts seconded by Mr. Keepfer, the suggestion was referred to the Lighting Committee with power to act. PLANS. Plans of a kW shop proposed to be erected by Mr. Robert Vaughan, coachbuilder, on the plot of land at present occapiel by Mr. David Williams, Monumental mason, iu Vale Street, were submitted and passed. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. W. Windsor read his monthly report, in which it was stated that a large number of nuisances in the town had been abated. He also referred to the alterations now being carried on in Chapman's Terrace, Fron. THE PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL AT HENLLAN. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. STRONG LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD. The following letter was read from Mr. R. Humphreys Roberts, acting in the capacity of Clerk of the the School Board HENLLAN SCHOOL Dear Sir, Your letter of the 29th Nov., in reply to mine of the 18th of the same month, was brought before the School Board on the 21sb ultimo, when I was directed to express regret, that the Council should, as a means of getting rid of its responsibilities, suggest that the Board would make provision for the disposal of the drainage of the proposed new Schools upon their own premises by means of a cesspool or otherwise. In reply, I am directed to say that the Board requires the Sanitary authority to provide a main drain within a 100 feet of the school premises to which the Boa.rd shall have the right to connect the drains of the several closets, urinals, and lavatories of the school, and to point out that a. cesspool for this pur- pose situated anywhere on the school premises would, however well maintained, be a source of nuisance and highly prejudicial to the health of the 120 or more children who would daily be in attendance at the schools The Board would regret exceedingly to have to lay the complaint before the Local Government Board, but unless some more satisfactory arrange- ment is forthcoming, that is the only course open for them. I would point out that the Council has already provided sewers, certainly all very primitive, and altogether inadequate for parts of the village, and it appeared t me that the time has arrived, that Henllan having paid such heavy rates for the maintenance of the sewers for the town of Denbigh, may fairly claim to be considered, and more especially when this is required in connection with a new elementary school for the district, and that the Council should at once take into consideration the provision of a main sewer for the village generally. Mr. Boaz Jones said he considered this a very serious matter indeed, and thought it was a case that the Council would have to look upon in the proper light. He would move that it be referred to the sanitary committee to consider and report. Mr. Rowel Gee seconded. He said he was rather surprised to receive a letter of that nature from the School Board Authorities. Of course the members of the School Board were elected just in the same way as the mem- bers of the Town Council, and were directly responsible to the ratepayers. No doubt the School Board were perfectly well aware that this meant that the Corporation should go to the expense of draining the village of Henllan, and they went so far as to say in their letter, practically, that they would force the Town Council to undertake the work. That was what the letter meant. Asa Town Councillor, he was sitting on the fence, as to whether they should drain Henllan or not. If they were forced to do it, of course they had no alternative, but having regard to the very heavy rates that were now paid in the borough, he thought him- self that it would be wise to defer this matter until some of the outstanding debts were paid off. When that was done, the rates, of course, would come down, and then in his opinion, would be the proper time to face the question of draining Henllan, and the re constructing of the outfall sewer in the town as well. If the work of draining Henllan were undertaken now, it would mean a serious addition to the rates. The members of the School Board were the direct representatives of the rate- payers as well as the Councillors: and if the School Board called upon them to do the work, then it was the School Boord that would have to account to the ratepayers when the proper time came. The Town Councillors were now blamed because the rates were so heavy, but it should be remembered that if the School Board issued their precept in regard to a matter of this nature, the Town Council would have no option but to pay it. If he was a member of the School Board, he would think a great deal before he took upon himself the responsibility of forcing anybody's hands in regard to a mat- ter of this nature. He had great pleasure in seconding the proposal to refer the (matter to the Sanitary Committee. The Mayor asked whether it would not be better to have it considered by a committee of the whole Council. Mr. Howel Gee said he would prefer having it dealt with in the first instance by the proper committee. Mr. John Davies said he wished to move an amendment. Knowing Henllan as well as he did, he could only assert that the work would be a very big job indeed, and would cost a very large sum of money. Of that there could be no doubt whatever. In dealing -with the letter of the School Board, they should not lose sight of another important work which they would have to undertake, viz.: the main drain, of the town. He was not against doing anything that could be done to meet the requiremAts of Henllan in the matter of drainage. But, at the Bame time, it appeared to him that to go in for a system of drainage for the ydiole village would be a most difficult thing. There were at pre- sent no available fields for irrigation purposes, and the sewage would ultimately have to find its way to the river. Would the Council allow that? He would propose, as an amendment that the matter be brought before a committee of the whole council. Mr. W. H. Evans seconded. Mr. Griffiths said he quite agreed with every word that Mr. John Davies had said. There could be no doubt that the draining of Henllan would be a very expensive matter indeed. The case would be out of boll proportion to the size of the village or to the number of houses far which the drain would provide. There was no healthier village in the whole country than Henllan. There had baen very few outbreaks of fever for many many years past, that could not be traced directly from outside. From his own knowledge, after many years of residence there, he thought he was justified in saying that Henllan was one of the healthiest villages in the whole country, but he doubted very much if it would remain so, if this new system of drainage were carried out. Moreover, there would be no necessity for this system of drain- age in the village, if the difficulty as regards the new school could be overcome. Of course the School Board had decided to erect a modern school on a new site, and they ought, as a Town Council, to sympathise with the School Board to some extent in their desire to have the school properly drained. As far as he could see there was no way out of the difficulty but to retain the school on the present site— Mr. Keepfer Hear, hear. Mr. Griffiths proceeding said it was a pity that the present site was to be abandoned, and the ratepayers saddled with the cost of a new site. He believed that there were no more children educated in Henllan now than there were 20 years ago, and he was not quite sure whether the number was not leas. What he thought should have been done was the adop- tion of the present buildings by the Board, and if there was any necessity for increased accom- modation, to utilise the master's house, and let him live elsewhere. However, if it was neces- sary, a new school could be built on the present site. He knew nothing of this matter, except what be had read in the papers, but he under- stood that there was some difficulty in getting the present site. He, however, believed that the School Board could manage to become possessed of it, if they tried. He should like a suggestion to be made by the Council, that the School Board should re-consider their decision, to build on the new site with a view of erecting a new school on the present site. If this were done, he thought the difficulty of the drainage could be gou over for a considerable time to