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

NORTH WALES COUNTIES LUNATIC ASYLUM. A quarterly meeting of the Committee of Visitors of the North Wales Counties Lunatic Asylum was held on Monday at the Castle Hotel, Conway. Mr. P. P. Pennant presided, there being also present Messrs. P. E. Story and R. E. Hughes, representing the subscribers; Messrs. J. Watkin Lumley, C. K. Benson, and J. T. Millwa.rd, representing Denbighshire Dr. William Easterby and Mr. W. Elwy Wil- liams, representing Flintshire Dr. E. P. Edwards, and Messrs. Harry Clegg, R. P. Wil- liams, and J. Moreton Prichard, representing Anglesea Dr. R. A. Prichard, Messrs. Edward Jones, J. T. Roberts, W. Jones Morris, and W. J. Parry, representing Carnarvonshire Dr. Roger Hughes and Dr. Robert Hughes, repre senting Merionethshire. THE LATE MR. T. GRIFFIES DIXON. Dr. William Easterby moved a sincere vote of condolence with the family of his late fellow citizen, Mr. T. Griffies Dixon, who was one of the oldest visitors to the Asylum, to which lie rendered very valuable services. He was the most active visitor on the Farm Committee, and was always courteous and gentlemanly in his demeanour and bearing. The motion was seconded, endorsed by the Chairman, and unanimously carried* ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT BY THE COMMITTEE. Mr. Moreton Priehard had given notice of a resolution to the effect that a verbatim short- hand note should be taken of the proceedings of all meetings of the Committee and Sub- Committees, and that duplicates of the tran- scripts be sent to all members of the Committee. In support of this proposition, he had sent a printed circular to the members, arguing that the affairs of the Committee had been allowed to get into confusion, owing to the irregular attendance of members, in consequence of the time and expense incurred in travelling to the meetings. If, therefore, the full account of all the proceedings were sent to every member, they would be able to understand exactly what was going on, and could attend the important mee tings. Mr. J. Watkin Lumley said that Mr. Moreton Pritchard had embodied his opinions in certain letters, of which a synopsis had been prepared by him. He objected to the Visiting Committee dealing with the matter, unless the actual letters were produced at the meeting. Mr. Moreton Prichard-If Mr. Lumley wants these letters, I will print them for him. Mr. Lumley-I call for the letters which are in the possession of the Clerk, so that it may be known what they contain. The Chairman-May I interrupt you. These letters were sent to me by Mr. Barker to peruse, and I regret to say that I have forgotten to put them in my pocket this morning. There is a synopsis Mr. Moreton Prichard-Is not that a fair synopsis, Mr. Chairman ? The Chairman-It is. Mr. Lumley intimated that he would accept the statement of the Chairman. They could not read the letters which were not at hand. But the synopsis was not an accurate one, as the letters contained personal charges, and it was unfair that the question should be consi. dered without these letters being read. Mr. Moreton Prichard denied that he had made any personal charges. Mr. Jones Morris moved that the matter be postponed, and Mr. Lumley seconded this. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Moret>n Prichard should have the right to speak on the proposition. Mr. Moreton Prichard-The substance of my letters was this Mr. Jones Morris-He should not go into the letters. Mr. Moreton Prichard said the point was that the members could not know when impor- tant matters were coming on, and he objected to the adjournment, as there would be three months, during which serious business would have to be done, before the question could be settled. Mr. Harry Clegg said he could quite under- stand the adjournment of the matter, for want of the letters, but he thought a special meeting should be held to consider it. Mr. Lumley-That is another matter. Mr. J. T. Roberts, Carnarvon, expressed the opinion that until a motion for an adjournment could be proposed, the matter would have to be brought before the meeting. How could they adjourn to the next meeting a matter which was not before them? The Chairman—It is possible at any moment to make an adjournment. I think it is quite right and in order that I should put this ques- tion at once (hear, hear). The motion for adjournment was carried by 14 votes to 3. Mr. W. J. Parry moved that a special meeting be called to consider the question. Mr. P. E. Story-I second that, and as there have been charges bandied about, I hope we will go into the whole matter. This motion was carried, and the Committee then discussed the question as to where the meeting should be held. One member proposed that it be at Bangor, and another capped the suggestion by nominating Valley. Colwyn Bay and Conway were also proposed but on a vote being taken, the Committee chose Ban- gor as the meeting place. Mr. Jones Morris suggested that the question of the approximate cost of carrying out the resolution of Mr. Moreton Prichard should be reported upon, and this was agreed to. It was recommended that the letters of Mr. Moreton Prichard should be printed and circu- lated among the members before the meeting. Mr. Moreton Prichard said he was quite will- ing that the letters should be produced and read, and that the gentlemen to whom he refer- red in them should bepresent, as he had said nothing derogatory to anybody. Still, he did not think there was any need to print the letters. Mr. W. J. Parry moved that the letters be printed and circulated. This was seconded by Mr. Harry Clegg.' Mr. Lumley-I think ib is most important that these letters should be printed, for this reason. This circular is asking for all infor- mation, and tor everything printed that is done by every committee. We want th\j members of this Committee to know what has been written. Mr. Moreton Prichard--By all means. The motion was then carried. 'THE ASYLUM ENLARGEMENT DIFFICULTY. DISPUTES WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND ARCHITECT. In the course of a very lengthy debate, part of which was held in camera, on the question of the Asylum enlargement, it appeared that the Committee had dispensed with the services of the architects, Messrs. C. O. Ellison and Son, and had engagad Messrs. T. M. Lockwood and Sons, of Chester, to superintend the completion of the contract, which has been let to Mr. Warburton, and with whom some dispute has arisen as to the manner in which the work has been carried out. Messrs. Ellison and Sons, the original architects, are in possession of the plans, specifications, and other documents, and these they decline to deliver up until the Com- mittee pay to them the balance of the amount due to them as remuneration for their services The Committee now decided that all questions pending between themselves and Messrs. Ellison, barring consequential damages, should be referred to arbitration, among the points of reference being what plans and documents be- long to the Committee, and what remuneration is due to the firm. The Committee are advised by Mr. Cutler, the consulting architect. An agreement with Messrs. Lockwood and S ins was approved. Mr. Warburton made a formal ap- plication to refer the matters of dispute between him and the Committee to arbitration, but on the motion of Mr. Lumley, it was decided to inform him that they failed to see where in the contract he was entitled to demand the appoint- ment of an arbitrator. \;V. WATER SUPPLY. i The Denbigh Town Council applied for a supply of water for the Castle district of that town. Mr. Jones Morris—I move that we do not entertain any applications from the Denbigh Town Council for the supply of water for their district from our mains. Send it to anywhere but Denbigh Mr. Harry Clegg called attention to the fact that they had already decided not to consider any application tor water till the water works were completed. Mr. Jones Morris—That will do for me. Mr. Lumley moved that the matter be refer- red to the House Committee, but the Coinnuttae decided, on the motion of Mr. Jones Mortis, seconded by Mr. Moreton Prichard, to inform the Denbigh Council that they were not in a position to consider any offer on the subject. DATE OF MEETINGS. Mr. J. T Roberts (Carnarvon) moved, for Mr. A. 0. Evans (Denbigh), that the meetings of the Committee be on the third Thursday in the month; but, after a long discussion, the original date was adhered to. VOTE OF THANKS. A letter from the manager of the North and South Wales Bank was read, in which certain terms for banking business were offered, and the Committee agreed to them, Mr. Moreton Prichard pointing out that they were very reasonable. On the motion of Mr. Lumley, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Prichard for taking the matter up, and securing such an advanta- geous reduction in the terms.