The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

WELSHPOOL. TOWN COUNCIL.—THURSDAY. W?ent the Mavor (Mr. W. Forrester Addie), EJ*mea c. E. Howell, G. D. Harrison, and W. A. I s'Councillors E. O. Jones, C. Galloway. C. T P J<)nes> D- -Tunes, T. S. Pryce, D. Richards, Jones, with Mr. E. Jones, town clerk, Dr. 0f&Ce °p' Medical officer, Messrs. A. Breeze, clerk's Snook borough survevor, and T. A. Bas- l> Elector. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION CLASSES. ^°UnWas read from the clerk to the County 48Um ^nt"'m;,ting that the authority had allocated ^tro^ £ S0 for travcl! ir g dairy schools in two O 0r aacl1 otller subjects as laid within the ^chn' -13 technical instruction acts and the c°t»8i jCa^ iiati-uction committee would be glad to C0Qn ar>y applications from district and parish tlljg 1 s within the district of Bangor College in ij, J°tnty before the 1st May. remarked that it was for the tioll c to, sav whether they desired to have a por- v'1151 referred to in the letter; all they bfjgf oe likely to get was about £ 10.—After a tlw f the letter was allowed to lie on ^ble. ifr THE EDUCATION BILL. COUti" Charles E. Baker, secretary to the non- ^oroa ;s Association, in a letter dated «fth 111 April, said he was direjted by the President C°,n ^fsociat.iou to forward copies of the Executive the f opinions m this subject, and to ask that (" Council should pass a resolution and send "^Ut *fc to t'ie Boroughs' Member in Parlia- Th and to the Right Hon. Sir John Gorst, M.P. the CG MA.YOR pointed out that under the Bill tion nuty boroughs were those which had a popu- I ll>e d-.P^ some 50,030 persons. Welshpool, under 'etter therefore, was non-county borough, and^the if Sa^°'estecl that they should take steps to II¡ th ossihle, the non-county boroughs included Ca^°aal'S'U of authorities to deal with matters Cdll- C nal. 4»U.DCil,0r E. O. JONES thought this an import- Of tjj atter; they ought to have the management theye.8^°(,ls under th?. new Act, anil therefore l^ld claim that right. It was very iinport- Sr0 G,shP°o! as a ^)0rt>uKl1i an'^> consequently, ,posd the following resolution °pi ^afc this Council, while not expressing any fiilj1'011 uPon the general merits of the Education t0 strongly urge that justice should be done 8ho U-County boroughs, and that such boroughs itath -ke constituted, by the Bill, the education the °r'^es for their respective areas, by placing A], °n a similar footing to county boroughs." p £ ttlan HOWELL having seconded, Councillor ^UnH rose 8uPPort °t the resolution on the »e 8u that the whole of Wales, practically, would —except Cardiff.—The resolution was to the meeting and carricd unanimously. IT,, LIGHTING THE CROSS LAMPS. C Owen, secretary to the Welshpool Be kitte ItIpany, wrote to the effect that if the Com- °^Ua ro(l it the company could supply new D l'y street lamps according to approved size 'ights, • ern > but as they required incandescent Woul^ be better if the Incandescent Company—through their local agents— Mtjjj 0 8°pply the lamps complete and include the8e ^eir estimate the cost of labour in erecting pa atr'Ps. The Gas Company would be willing ^lir ^ie burners, and as the Corporation ecl them to clUgtered this would come tothe0n*iderab,eitem in the total cost. The coet Would be (a) lanterns, and (b) labour in 'ight RaTne- The present lanterns obscured the much from the fact that there was too .Aid raine'work about them, and too little glass, tio^ erit,an HARRISON intimated that the ques- It¡tntne before the last meeting of the Lighting vi,), lttee, and it was thought that as the summer fOr PProachin(* they could well defer the matter C0h0rt tim e. Vef8ar llor T- s- said iie had had a con" ^sa'rt With Mr Robert Owen on the subject, and the t that the three burners wero 110t necessary. tbree P burner only lighted the sky and two or V, 0 bedrooms which he named (laughter). It 4110erstood that the matter would again come ore the committee. TO THE YEOMANRY TRAINING. ^illj to Mayor on May 13th, Sir Watkin \tatns Wynn said he had just been informed ^HCe arrangements had been made with refer- Hic. 0 a driU ground for the M.Y.C. this year, he could only attribnte to au oversight to a change in the adjutancy. As time was tiort he thought he had better write direct, would bo much obliged if arrangements could ■&>r the Yeomanry to have the use of the they had last year, i.e. the old drill ha ^*e next one to it. Ho also asked if it ju Managed that the same road to the field ^eat0b6Hsed as last year, if so, it would be a yhich^enience He thought this was a matter I- *a8 town of Welshpool should undertake, as JoUe iaat year. To the best of his mforma- "ery rejriment of Yeomanry had a drill i^ich ^tovided by the town at which it assembled, light ns'dering the large amount of money *to the town, could not be looked upon as said the Council would remember ^ear' nnder the genial presidency of the ,r (Mr Charles Howell) a committee was stjpjj 0 °xtend the drill ground. No application Sir Ztension was ma^e unt'l last year. All Jatkin now asked for was the old drill one adjoining it. What had been a tee t to.m was the appointment of a com- v"isit the spot and to carry out any Al(j eat8that they might cousi ler necessary. ^rQ^rn(^Jari HOWELL said that formerly the last Was made by the Yeomanry themselves, k ? hjj,^ear a different state of things arose, and P °r TO IOQC8 a-?ai'n reverted to the state of things ^1'erl u a"d he did not think they could be f 1113any alterations beyond what °l they11 y done. Rethought it was a matter ii Cou(jc-p°nianry themselves. lhey T JONES agreed with the Mayor 4^Se<^ that-8- appoint a committee, and he pro- j> ertr\en Cor>sist of the following: the Mayor, '^OCPS. "°well and Harrison, and Councillor R. COl1t1 .:¡ ^.lVP()'ll0r PRYCE seconded, and it was al,v",ys co^■P0:nttJf1' ont that the Yeomanry rjsidereil the old field not large enough. T]!q g SANITARY. t^etrnflgnirary Committee met on the 12th inst., ^rotn OWe" presiding. A circular was then a ^ri'ionf V'e f-ocal Government Board calling a'id 't Wa, 0t Infectious Diseases Notification Act, tho\a"!eed to recommend the Council to jltep j (;t. They directed the Surveyor to use. a 'iUetr-1 Cross 1'rnn (j for watering the streets. {*oii«fi°V nuisances at Castlo Caereinion e'd having been considered, the Corn- t 't,hp(ri0niJrien^e<' the Borough Surveyor to t^PrePave.Llntv .S irvevor, and report theron; also, n° 0sti'T>atO with details. With regard te^einj->anc«8 from the Rectory House, Castle „ °rr^n p{"'f.ar,d tl1"3 Uhapel House in the area of the n District Council, and was reported as > °^imittt»^ 5111 'n3uri°'is to the water supply, the rtT!i['t 'nstructed the Clerk to write to the c0l"th.,Vj^ 01'LV asking them to abate the nuisance a°ftlrriitteo e borough surveyor reporled to this J?^in Caj; as follows :—" I consider it my duty to 0Je'law^ ^onr attention to deviations from the r, Wo fr)tff,K" P'ans deposited for the erection ,J'lis o, j a"esS in the 'lanyard by Mr. Councillor arrip coiirUeS' ^"s stated in a former report, no iti Tas 1,a!d one wall represented ::s 9 j-2'n partjt-'U:K,f''s°n!y 4,3, inches thick; vvl ero ^ecl. 1(>ns were shown siaiply boarded ones are ns no ventilation in the back bedrooms lv-c.'s t bye-^wa and r.o ventilation to ,rk Was 'l0 scwerage and the whole of the ^lven in' completed witl.out any notice beinrr v.°r|< as n,.16.-Iilving of the sewerage and other a*te 0f °Vl<!ed for by the bye-laws. A large ttlld Its "I'ter is taking- place throughout the town, 1 Shrtl1 I r appears every prospect, of a scarcity lri'ilaterl -^ou v' allow handbills to be ''lie r"!1'*l'Out, the town cautioninsr the Al«le^;ln^/V:;f"l waste." s5St ^'Potrjin > faid that in regard to the ■l y that sjn n' '°n the committee, he misrht i e°" ^otrie (i; e .Col:n,"ittee ia-it inot there had ?ct, wh"er_ l!I,ion in other towns upon the sub- nnf u U,'ls strongly advised that the Act "e'sfp a,'l,Pte<l. Therefore, before tin; coro- .(wljiirmo,fi he thev fUR,u to |p'nimtindation was confirmed he felt they rorn the Mori-11 f ''rtle more coi:cerning the Act ()fficer of Health. He might first whieh !Lat:°n from the Local Government ^nicatio^'f '^e ^oar<^ 'iad received numerous fv?'nK that thDS ^oeal authorities and others j/ pt.'fiCJitiv*' P,ov'sions of the Infectious Diseases e wholo sbould be made applicable r^Qtned that- and Wales. The Board a e shpool To 8,rCt not been adopted by the r.°°Py of anvWn ,u.nc'l, as they had not received t. Qtlcil. ^solution of adoption by the Town A e. Coancii fr.VtuS t^ere^oro to call the attention of ^ad alrenri Hubject, and to point out that the ^nd 5R7 en, voluntarily adopted in 823 alof the 8vafrura^ districts in England and Wales, forced v,em compulsory notification was ronghout London, under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and in 49 towns, under provisions in local Acts. The population of the districts in which notification wasat present known to be compulsory was upwards of 27,000,000, out of a total population in England, and was accord- ing to the last census, of 29,002,525. Having re- gard to the great assistance which local authorities and their officers derived from the operation of the system of compu Isory notification in dealing with outbreaks of infectious disease, and generally in the performance of their duties in protecting the public health, the Board directed him to urge on the District Council that they should take into con- sideration at an early date the question of adopting the Act in respect of their district. The MEDICAL OFFICER stated that at present he was dependent upon the medical gentlemen in the district to inform him of outbreaks of infectious disease; but he did not hear of all the cases that occurred. It would be of great benefit to him and to the town at large if the Act was put into force in the borough. Aldern an HOWELL remarked that under those circumstances he had great pleasure in moving that the recommendation of the committee be adopted. Councillor RICHARDS seconded, and it was resolved.—The other recommendations in the report were confirmed. I The BOROUGH SURVEYOR reported that the Cross pump was found to be out of repair on Wed- nesday, but it was being put right that morning, No meeting had yet taken place between himself and the County Surveyor. FINANCIAL. The finance committee met on the 8th inst, Alderman Rogers presiding. A letter was then read from Quartermaster Tigar agreeing to the sum of £ 5 to be paid for the supply of water to the camp during the militia training.. A list of bills was gone through by the committee amounting to £ 56 2s 5d on the borough fund account and to :C2. 2s 9d on the urban sanitary account and the com- mittee recommended their payment. A statement was read shewing a balance of X4 10s lid due from the Surveyor and his estimate for ensuing month of zC33, reducing the amount required to £ 28 9s Id. It was recommended that cheques be drawn in two instalments of 114 9s Id and £14. The Collector furnished a statement of unpaid rates, and he was requested to carry out the instructions of the Council as to their recovery. His statement of rates collected was as follows:— Collected. Out-standing. £ s. d. £ s. d. -C General District Rate. 7 3 1 6 4 6 Inner District Ratet.. 6 6 10 7 9 9 Water Rate. 26 13 111 8 7 6,4 2 Borough Fund Acount 6 4 0 0 0 0 £ 46 7 10* £ 22 1 lOl The committee went through a list of irrecoverable rates as follows :-Inner district rate, zCl5 3s lOd; general district rate, £ 11 5s 4d, and water rate, £ 22 7s lOd total, £ 48 17s. Having considered Mr Basnett's application for an increase of salary the committee were of opinion that instead of increas- ing the commission on the rates that he should be paid an extra X10 as school attendance c)fficer.-The report was ordered to be received and adopted. The MAYOR, referring to the collector's state- ment, said that the small amount of rates outstand- ing was a very creditable state of things, and credit for that was due to the Collector.—It was pointed out that the amount of irrecoverable rates was duo from water eonnected with empty houses. Councillor PRYCE thought these must be houses not fit for occupation, because ho found they had been empty for more than a twelve-mouth.—The matter dropped. Councillor T. S. PRYCE said that while the council were considering the report of the finance committee he did not think he would be out of place in asking the Council to instruct the surveyor to casually employ an extra man to fill the water carts during the hot weather. As Mr Jones once said, they did not want to keep men to look at, but still ho did not like to see the scavenging left until late in the day, as on Tuesday. Councillor D. Jones having seconded, Councillor E. O. JONES said he would be sorry to object to anything that was reasonable. But they had curtailed the work very much of late years, and if the water could be pumped during last year when the season was so excessively hot, he did not see why they could not do it again. He objected to favour from personal objects anything that might appear as plausible for certain parties and purposes. He said the ratepayers had to be considered, and he moved an amendment that the present staff carry out the necessary work. No doubt the latter would be glad to have an extra half-dozen men to do the work, and for them to sit down meanwhile (laughter), Councillor R. P. JONES seconded the amend- ment. The MEDICAL OFFICER reported that when he was in Monnt street between three and four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon he found the street on both sides had a lot of refuse, together with a great deal of decaying vegetable matter. He had reported on the scavenging on several occasions, and he was lately given to understand that the horse and cart was being employed to water the streets in the morning. He considered it a disgrace to the town to see a quantity of refuse and decaying vegetable matter about the streets in the afternoon. Alderman ROGERS saw no reason for employing an extra man. The alteration of the scavenging arrangements he did not know who to attribute to. But he must say that rhe cown on Tuesday was in an abominable state; tin; dust was living about in all directions, and especially into the business establishments in the town and ho never saw the streets in such a state as on Tuesday. It was very certain that they must have their streets attended to a little better. If they again began employing j extra men it would lead to something like the Smithfield job. Councillor PUGII could not see that an extr1. man would be of assistance; an extra horse would be more like it, and at the next meeting he would bring it forward. Councillor PRYCE said he hoped that he had a higher aud purer motive in view than that of gaining poDuIarity by his act that morning. He was alvvays ready to accept the better judgment of the people at all times. His only reason for bring- ing forward his suggestion was that they could then better manage their town. lIe conhl stand the refuse in the street as well as any other person. He had only recently shifted his quarters from Brook street to Mount street, but he did not feel he was any better off. He wanted to save the town water by getting it from th jump; and the expense he thus proposed was vi.\ y small. If they pitid a man to pump for about, four hours at 3d. an honr, it would only amount to a shilling, and that was not mnci1. Councillor E. (). JONES considered the remarks of Councillor very conclusive on tho point. The Council then voted on the amendment, seven being for it and two against, the proposition being declared lost. II Kill WAYS. The Paving. Lighting, and High ways Committee, met on the 8th inst, Alderman Harrison presiding. A letter was then read from W. S. Clarke, objecting to pay his portion of the expense in the improvement to Wellington Crescent, and on the motion of Councillor T. S. Pryce, it was resolvtd to recommend to the Council that proceedings be taken to recover the proportion payable by him, unless the amount due by him was paid within fourteen days. A letter was read from the Station- master complaining of the road to the station not being watered. It was resolved that the road and entrance to the station yard be watered as other roads, but in case the water got short this portion be diseontir.ued watering. The opinion as to the liability of the Canal Company to repair the to the Canal bridges was read. The Surveyor's report to the committee was a.s follows: 1 have inspected the road between the four crosses near Mr Jones, of Trehelig Farm and the Gro, the distance being about 1,100 yards, a little over one half the lenerth a gate crosses the road near a cottage, and at the end of the whole distance are two srnail holdings with dwellings there is at the present time no outlet into any other road for conveyances. I am informed it was repairea by the Board about fourteen years ago; there is plenty of material in the locality and the farmers would do the haulage. With regard to th" road to Bryn, Hope road. I find the Clerk of tbe Peace is not in possession of the ward map. A new stile is wanted near Coedvladeon the Corporation laud; the present one is rotted off. The men are employed in quarrying rock and other usnal work at this time of the year." As to the road from Trehebg to the Gro, it was resolved that the. matter stand over.- The report was ordered to be received and adopted. THE CANAL BRIDGES APPROACHES. Alderman HOWELL said it would be remembered that at a previous meeting the Town Clerk was instructed to takecounsel's opinion in regard to the above matter. The company declined to pay on twogrounds, the first beins.- that they were not liable nnder their Act, and secondly that they had never before been called upon to maintain the approaches to the bridges. On those two points they had now taken counsel's opinion, which was, first that under the Canal Act the liability of the oompany was clearly fixed, and secondly that the lapse of time hav- ing elapsed did not relieve the company from their liability. The old Act of Parliament was passed in 1794, and that Act had reference to the eastern portion of the canal, i.e.,as far as Garthmyl, which included a number of bridges in the borough and many in the county. As regarded that part of the canal the liability of the company was most clearly --tliit the company should maintain the bridges and approach roads. When they came to make the western section from Garthmyl to New-town in 1315 it evidently struck the company Ithat this liability was somewhat onerous and they therefore managed to get into their Act a. relief clause. But if they were not liable in regard to the eastern section what would be the good of a relief clause for the western branch ? The County Council was equally affected in regard to the eastern portion of the canal, and his resolution was that action be taken at once to enforce their rights in accordance with the opinion of counsel, and aiso that the position of the County Council on the matter being identical with the Town Council, that that authority be asked to join with the Corporation. Councillor E. O. JONES seconded with pleasure. He would like to know the amount involved each vear. The BOROUGH SURVEYOR replied that the sum was about CIO. Alderman ROGERS said it appeared to him that they were fighting the battle for the County Coun- cil in the way suggested by the resolution. He would like all authorities affected to join together in the matter, and he would first like to know whether those authorities were prepared to co-operate Although he most certainly thought they ought to have their rights, still at the same time, as there were others more interested than they themselves, they should first obtain some information from them. He would therefore like the matter to be deferred for a while with that view. Alderman HOWELL said he attached much weight to the opinion of Aiderman Rogers, and he would be pleased to amend his resolution to the effect that all authorities affected in this matter be asked to co-operate with the Town Council. This was agreed to. BUILDINGS. The Markets, Lands and Buildings Committee reported having held a meeting at which the Borough Surveyor read the following report:— During a recent storm damage was done to the troughing and down-pipes of the Assembly Rooms. This requires attention or a good deal of damage will occur to the roof below. When there is a strong east wind the Council chamber is full of smoke and business has had to be adjourned to the Judge's room, a cowl or something of the kind is wanted different to the present one now on the chimney. Some repairs are required to the iron fencing and pens in the Smithlield. The spray of the urinal in Hall street is unadapted for the pur- pose required, and should be put right, at the pre- sent time we are unable to use it. There are four sets of plans for buildings presented for your approval if you will kindly go through them." Plans for alterations to existing premises were presented by Mr Cowan, Mr Bushell, and MrGittins. Pryce. Councillor E. 0. JONES pointed out that a shop situate above the Town Hall had been altered with- out any plans being submitted to the Council, and he asked why alterations in ISroad street were allowed to be carried out before the plans were approved of by the Council. If that state of things was allowed to exist there he said similar cases would arise. The MAYOR observed that the Borough Sur- veyor was not to blame with regard to the plans, because, he believed, they were only sent in on the day the committee last sat. He thought it should be generally understood that plans must be deposited with the Council at least fourteen days before the Council meeting, so as to give the Medical Officer and Borough Surveyor and others time to inspect the plans. Unless this was done, so long as he held the position of Mayor, he would certainly decline to sign the plans. Councillor E. O. JONES said that the Council had acted irregularly. The MAYOR said he ccitld not agree with the last speaker, that there was auvthing irregular. If there was, he would give him an opportunity of moving a resolution. Councillor JONES said he confirmed his opinion. He thought the work at Mr Cowan's shop was now nearly completed, and yet the plans had not been submitted until that day. He again confirmed his remark that they were proceeding in an irregular manner. Alderman ROGERS said he very much questioned whtther plans were necessary, so long as there was no encroachment. The MAYOR considered Mr Jones did not under- stand the position. No donbt it was irregular that the plans had not been sent in 14 days, as they ought to have been. But the work the Council was now doing was not irregular. Those who submitted the plans had acted irregularly and not the Council. Councillor JONES said he had no objection to passing the plans, but to do so when the work was nearly completed, he again said was irregular.—It was ultimately agreed that the plans should be sub- mitted to the Council. Councillor E. O. JONES then inquired if plant3 were submitted for the alterations done to certain premises situated above the Town Hall, and having received a negative reply from the borough surveyor he observed that it was unnecessary for him to say that that was irregular, If one case like that was allowed, others would be acting similarly. A builder who effected certain alterations to a build- ing without first submitting plans to the Council, rendered himself liable to a heavy fine according to the t) N e-laws. Alderman HOWELL remarked that he thought they ought, to have the bye-laws clear on the point first. Councillor JONES continuing, said that if a case like this occurred, he felt he was justified in moving a resolution to the effect that the officers be cen- sured on account of neglect of duties (laughter). Councillor PUGH in seconding, said be believed this was on a parallel with Mr Cowan's shop. The MAYOR: Do you second Mr Jones' censure? Councillor PUGH Ol.! I beg your pardon (loud laughter). Councillor JONES If the Board allows such laxity then it is for them to think of the further result (renewed laughter). I- PROPOSED LIGHT RAILWAY FOR LLANFA1R. Alderman ROGERS said he found other people were takiog great interest in the proposed light railway for Llanfair, whilst the inhabitants of LI iu- fair,and Meifod were taking joint action in the matter in order t o secure the railway to run through the Meifod vallev. As regarded Welsh pool he thought they ought to carefully watch the progress of the,idea, and he would rather like to see a small committee appointed to carry this out. His idea of a lailway through the Meifod Valley was that it would never pay expenses, and he could not see where the money was to frorii, ulllessit was out of the ratepayer's nockets Generally. He thought if Llanfair was to have a railway that the place should be connected with a district where the population would support it, and he could not see any sir:h population in the Meifod valley (hear, hear). If they would be unable to pay expenses, he did not see that it was right, to go to the ratepayers to find the money, lie was of opinion that Welshpool was the only outlet for Llanfair, Llanerfyl, &c. (hear, hear). They had at once a population that would support a line. These places were spoken of as a suitable district, for tourists; if they wanted to see this accomplished they must go to a populous district for as sistauce (hear, hear). By travelling through Castle Caereinion, visitors would be passing through ¡ a far richer district than the Meifod valley. In conclusion he had much pleasure in moving the appointment of a small committee to drav up reasons for and against the two routes, and also to communicate with railway and other companies likely to be interested in the proposed scheme. Alderman HOW ELL. in seconding, said that he had Ir d some experience of the different schcnies projected in former years, and he could not 11lp thinking that the inhabitants of the Llanfair district weretn the habit of playing off one route against another in the hope that the inhabitants of rhe Welshpool district would make the railway if the Llanfair people only favoured the scheme h3¡n;; carried through the Meifod valley' and that in the event of them favouring totite, that the inhabitants of the Meifod valley would mate it, and thus save them the cost of providing the funds themselves (iaugliter.) In regard to the support to be expected from other companies, he recolleCId one time calling upon rbe ecretarr to the Londori and North Western Company at Euston with the p'ans of a projected railway scheme ihrough Welslipool in lö;:> and the then secreta'v—Mr Stewar'—after expressing his thanks, consigned them to a pigeon h le, Knd he (the speaker) heard no more of them (Laughter.) The subscriptions to the scheme were immediately withdrawn upon the prospect of a con- tractors line being made for Llanymynoch through the Meifod valley, without calling upon the in- habitants of the Llanfair district to subscribe- That scheme, also, was abandoned, and some yars later the project was revived in the locality, but the sub- scription list did not iuclude any from the Meifod district. A sum of £ 12,500 was subscribed, includ- ing £ 4.000 from the late Earl of Powis, whilst other subscribers were the late- Mr Pryce, of Cyfronydd, Mr Hilton, Mr David Davies, Mr A. Howell, Mi- David Howell, Canon Williams, of Castle Caereinion, all deceased, and others, 't hat sum, £ 12.500, would be quite sufficient. under the present circumstances to ensure the making of a railway. But even this was opposed by persons in the Llanfair district upon the ground that it was tnerolv limited liability company, and therefore had no powers to acquire land compuisorily. Since then other schemes had been brought forward, enta'ling considerable loss and expense, without any satis- factory result. Circumstances, however, had now changed, and he understood that the present Bill now before Parliament contemplated the cost beinaf provided in four shares—one-fourth each by the Government, the County Council, the District Council, and private subscribers. However^ it was advisable to wait and see the exact terms of the Bill when it emerged from the Committee stage before taking any action beyond that proposed by Alder- man Rogers, and he therefore seconded the proposi- tion that a small committee be appointed to watch the interests of Welshpool. Councillor T. S. PRYCE sail he had been asked by a tradesman in the town to state that public meetings had been held in Llanfair and the people there to a large ex'ent were anxious to have the proposed light railway through the Meifod vallev. Their reason for that was that by going through that district they would thereby gain access to one of the best market towns in England, viz., Ogivestr *v, leading to Cheshire, Liverpool, and Manchester. Another argument vas that they would then be go- ing by the Limestone quarry. It was stated on the other hand that the distance to be covered altogether to Wei-hpoot was the same as the other route, viz., 23 miles, and that it had equal access to the other big railway companies. It had been suggested to him that it was desirable to hold a public meeting in the town on Monday next to give the Llanfair people an opportunity of hearing their opinions on the subject, and to show them that they would receive not only equal but greater advantages by having the railway through Welsh- pool. Having fulfilled his promise he would con- clude by observing that although he did not know whether it would bo wise for him to propose that a public meeting be convened yet he thought it would do no harm at all events. Councillor E. O.JONES remarked that there was no question that Welshpool was the most central place to connect with Llanfair. The proposition of going through the Meifod valley was the most absurd idea conceived by any crank. The people of Welshpool were heartily in favour of connecting the town with Llanfair by means of a light rail- way. Councillor DAVID JONES agreed with the pro- poser and seconder that they should watch the interests of Welshpool by appointing a small com- mittee. If the railway was to be a success it must certainly come to Welshpool; if to Llansantffraid or that district it would be greatly to the disadvan- tage of Llanfair. He had great pleasure in pro- posing that the following constitute the committee —The Mayoi, Aldermen Howell, Harrison, and Rogers and Councillor D. Richards. Councillor PUGH suggested that they should also get the assistance of the Berriew and Castle Caereinion Parish Councils. The MAYOR said the wisest course to pursue was first to appoint the committee, and then con- vene the public meeting if considered advisable. The committee would be careful to watch the best interests of Welshpool,-The resolution was then put to the meetiug and carried unanimously, and the committee as named appointed. THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. After some discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Alderman ROGERS, to recommend to the Local Government Body the advisability of asking the Earl of Powis to open the subscription list for the proposed new buildings. THE OFFICES FOR THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF WALES. Alderman ROGERS then brought forward the question of the offices for the University of Wales, and remarked that dw reason of his name being on the agenda in connection with this matter was because he was informed that there was to be a meeting of the University Court at Aherystwyth this month to decide where the offices of the Court should be located. He had since learned that the matter had been postponed. However, it occurred to him that they could offer the Court temporary offices in the Town Hall, provided they decided to come to Welshpool. He thought that would be a great inducement to the Court, especially consider- ing the matter in conjunction with the fact that the Court had been generously offered a site. Councillor E. O. JONES having seconded, the resolution was unanimously agreed to. PROPOSED BATTLE ROYAL. Councillor E. 0. JONES said that with regard to the notice he had put on the agenda paper, i e., to call attention to the excessive and unauthorised expenditure by the surveyor, he might at once say that this was not a pleasing duty neither was it done out of spite. But the increase in the expen- diture over the estimate had been so glaring for years past that the time had arrived, he thought, when some steps should be taken iu the matter. During his mayoralty the estimates for the high- ways were exceeded by XIOO, and since then they had been annually exceeded. The expenditure had been so excessive and the unauthorised expenditure so glaring that the matter now assumeu a very serious nature. This was very conspicuous at Waterloo, where -0290 was spent in relaying pipes. It was within the recollection of some of those pre- sent who at the time visited the place and authorised the Surveyor to lay pipes for a certain distance, that they had an estimate for a quantity of pipes to cover that distance from Mr Morris. But without any instructions or authority the Borough Surveyor opened the whole of the "mains in Cobden street and Gungreg lane and actually took up pipes near the Infants' School, which were only laid down seven years Previously; and they would see down there pipes equally as good as the new ones. Two hundred po>iurjs cf the €290 he orl ventured to say was unauthorised by the Corpora- tion. If that was allowed, he Would sav that any self-respecting public body would not "tolerate it for a moment. It was simply outrageous that an official of that Board should tuke the liberties with "public body that he would not tllij;k of doing with a private individual, for if lle BO) }je wou|d be sacked there and then. It Was V/'e!know!i that excessive expenditure had been going on, but this was the climax of all, and for Ih) reasonable purpose, except, reckless incapacity. lie therefore gave notice that he would hring forward at. the next meeting the question of the dismissal of the Borough Surveyor. He was not going to say any more until then. r This being all the business, the Council rose.