Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

Rural District Council. i monthly meeting of this Council was held MoMLy morning, at the Council Room, LTnionjj| when there were present:—Mr Johnj|l MaJ&n, Pontervvyd (chairman), presiding: Mr E. J.fE' Ewms,Llangwyryfon (vice-chairman): Rev J Eavies$|F an^Mr Edward Jones, Ceulanymaesmawr; Messrs^' JAh Morgan ;.vnd Lewis Richards. wjliam Morris. Cyfoeihybrenin: J. B. Cf^idlmawr; Richard James, Ilenllys: Richard9< J JKSj.n nbadarn Upper; James Jones. L!anv adarnM' David Morgan and Thos. Powell, Idanfi-SSt JjttflPTuppur Evan Richards, LlanSbangel Lcwer jJjt í Daniel David Edwards, Llanilar; and ■Chas Davie*, Llanychaiarn; with Hugh Hughes.0 '(clerk) E. Llewellyn (assistant clerk), and JamesH Hughes (sanitary inspector). ■ AN UNSATISFACTORY ROAD. 1 A report was presented by the road surveyor upon the condition of the road leading from Bryn- amlwg to Glanllyn, near Frongoch mines. He stated that in several places it was in a dangerous condition,' and for some lengths was not of the required width. x } As the Parish Council had requested this Council to take over the road, it was decided to reply stating that unless the road was put in proper conditions of repair and widened its whole length to twelve feet, that the request could not be acceded to. BORTH DRAINAGE COSTS. The Clerk read a letter from the Local Govern- ment Board with reference to the claim made by him for legal services rendered in connection with the Berth" drainage case. The communication stated the clerk having been appointed prior to the Act of 1566 he was not entitled to be paid any remuneration beyond his salary. It was, however, open to the District Council to award him some extra remuneration over and above his salary in consideration of any extra work which might I'evolve upon him. The Clerk said he bad had his bills of costs taxed i tbe time so as to arrive at what was a reasonable mount to charge. The bill amouuted to £ 55 10s 4d, hieh with the exception of about £ 7 was for out E pocket expenses. As that amount, therefore ould not be allowed by the auditor, he asked the ouncil to add the £ 7 to his next quarter's salary 3 the Local Government Board recommended. The Clerk's suggestion was unanimously agreed IMPORTED FROM SOUTH WALES. Dr John James, medical officer, reported that a Else of scarlet lever had occurred at Pendre ottages, Llanbalarn. It was imported from Council to add the £7 to bis next quarter's salary as the Local Government Board recommended. The Clerk's suggestion was unanimously agreed roo IMPORTED FROM SOUTH WALES. Dr John James, medical officer, reported that a Else of scarlet lever had occurred at Pendre ottages, Llanbalarn. It was imported from ISouth Wales. He had visited the place. I ROAD MAlKTBKAJfCB. P A letter was read from Mr J. James, clerk to the tfTrefeirig Parish Council, stating that the new road at Cwmerfin had been completed as requested by I the District Council about a year-and-a-half ago, | and they now desired to transfer the same to the I authority of the District Council. | It was decided that tbe matter be placed on tbe i agenda of the next meeting for consideration. I DATE OF ELECTION. B The date of the next election was considered, the two dates mentioned being Saturday, March 20tb and the following Wednesday. After some discuss- ion the forfner date was carried. M FOOTBIDG^ ESQUIRED. H The Clerk of the Cwmrheidol Parish Counci' Bwrote stating that his Council at a meetidg held on Pjthe 20th Dec. last passed a resolution appealing to ||the Rural Council to construct a footbridge ovei ffithot Rheidol River by Ty Cwm in place of tb« Upresent one, which was impassable and in a danger HgBons state. |H This communication gave rise to a discussion as iSto whether the Council were liable to construct such a bridge, inasmuch as the roads lfeading t< ffljthe present one were not parish roads, and the jabridge had not been maintained by the Council. H Mr Daniel Morris said a new arrangement was iinecessary in regard to these bridges. Every bridge ||which crossed a river was generally in two parishes Hand in his opinioh such two parishes should be made irresponsible for any cost incurred, or that the} Hsecure from the parishes their consent to pay a Sleast two-thirds of the costs before they moved ir tbe matter. |j| The Chairman said some of the parishes in th< HCwmrheidol district had had to bear all the wjexpense themselves. M Mr Evan Richards said it was absolutely Hnecessary that the bridge should be made, a: Hthere was considerable traffic over the presen ffibridge He was in favour of an arrangement a Hsuggested by Mr Morris. ffi Mr J. B. Morgan also agreed with MrMorri- Bbelieving that each parish should pay the c'wts o its own improvements. jw Mr E. J. Evans stated that the Council was no Hliable for the bridge now under discussion, as ther jjwas no parish road leading to it. It was the dut] Siof the Parish Council to maintain the bridge, an( they should ascertain first of all what the in Bhabitants of the district were willing to do. B The Chairman, in reply to the previous speaker flBsaid they were not compelled to construct thi IwLJangwyryfon anc\ Dolau bridges. The rive gKheiclol was very wide, and the expense of inakin; jja bridge considerable, and he was of opinion tha Hthe inhabitants of the district were quite justifiec in asking the Council for a contribution toward Bthe cost of the bridge. 1 It was decided that the application of the Cwm ■rheidol Parish Council be adjourned pending ■similar application from the adjoining Parisl Council. M RESIGNATION OF DR. HUGHES. S The Clerk read a letter from Dr Hughea SLlanilar, resigning his post as medical officer 01 iaccount of ill-health. The resignation wa accepted. and it was decided that candidates fo Hthe vacant office, as well as for a similar office sunder the Board of Guardians, be advertised fo ■jointly. | BORTH DRAINAGE. i The Clerk stated he had secured the postpone Hment of the visit of the Local Government Boare Hlnspector to examine the Borth drainage, whicl had been fixed for January 1st. He was now ex Especting a further communication fixing a new dab and it was necessary, in the meantime, to prepare ^report, upon the present and proposed systems to bi Hsubmitted to tbe inspector when he came down. IS Mr E. J. Evans proposed, anel Mr David Morgai Hseconded, that the inspector be asked to prepan tue necessary report, and this was agreed to. H LI. A NBA DARN WATER RATE. a Tht Clerk asked the Council to approve of Swater rate of Is in th« £ for the half-year fo ■Llanbadarn. The estimate of the cos got the new works had been exceeded by abou !g £ 100, and the farmers were clamouring a gains Shaving to pay this rate because they did not use Bthe water. The shilling rate would, however, be levied on the consumers only. g Mr James Jones proposed the adoption of the jfc-ate, and the Rev. John Davies. having seconded this was agreed to. G INSPECTOR'S REPORT. S The Sanitary Inspector reported that he was ^notified by Dr Hughes, medical officer, of several Meases of measles at Llanilar. He visited the place Sand found the school closed, All the cases were Sof a mild type, and were improving. A case oi ||scarlet fever having occurred at the Ffrwd Ddu she gave orders for isolation, and had the premise5 ■disinfected- The house was in a poor state, and the stable, which adjoined, was a source of ■ni: isuance, i On the motion of Mr J. B. Morgan, the Inspector was directed to serve a notice directing the owner to carry out any repairs which were required, and Surtless the notice was complied with, that he report to the next meeting. i Regarding a house Cruglas, where a fatal lease of typhoid had occurred, and which was re- Iported upon by the Inspector, he was directed to Sagain visit the premises, and thoroughly disinfect be place, and to destroy all articles which might i'oe the means of spreading the disease. The ^Inspector also reported that an outbreak of scarlet Sfever had eccurreel at Abermaide, Llanilar, but the ■patients were now making satisfactory progress. I Mr Richards wished the Council to throw out the suggestion that in all cases where epidemic of this kind broke outfthat wylnosau should be dis- pensed with. He knew of a minister who refused ro conduct a "wvlnl)," and because he did so the man said lie should never come to his house again. t t The Chairman Well, it is more to his shame. < j Mr Charles Davies: Are the reporters taking notice of that? t The Chairman Yes, and I can-assure you the reporters do their share in these sanitary matters, and a little more sometimes. ) BORTH CULVERT AGAIN. t The Inspector reported that he visited the Borthl culvert on the previous Friday, accompanied by Messrs Mowis and Jenkins, two members of theg Council. He examined the troughing which led| from tba culvert to the sea, and found it defective in some places. He gave instructions for the renewal of those parts which were broken. g Mr Daniel Morris said there was now no ob-8 struction in the troughing, and the repairs ordereda would be complejed shoitly. § Mr J. B. Morgan: Are there many papers running [through it now ? | Mr Morris: I don't know. | THE NEW INSPECTOR. | This being the first meeting of the new inspector! (Mr James Hughes) to attend, the Chairman! ventured to ask whether it would be too much tow ask Mr Hughes, for his own sake and for theirs, asW a Council to make every effort to fully qualify him-S self for the position he now occupied. P Rev John Davies said their inspector was a young man. and it should be practically an easy matte for him to secure his A.S.I. That would be an ldvantage to them and to himself, in face of the lttacks made upon them by outside people in regard o sanitary matters. Dr James complained some nonths ago that after he had reported on sanitary lefects nothing would be clone in the matter, andjj ae hael to go over tbe same ground again. suggested that a sanitary register should be kept 5y the inspector which would be useful for i eferjjgj mce. ga I RIVER POLLUTION. Hjt Mr James Jones drew the Inspector's attention to the pollution of the river Ystwytb, caused by tht-Hr discharge of slime into it from the lead mines. Should a flood now occur it would result in thousands of pounds' damage to the landowner labutting on the river. He suggested that the inspector should visit that district. H1 The Inspector reported he was at Frongoch the previous week and examined the slime pits, which were not satisfactory at the time. lie gave in- structions to clean the pits, and the work was com- menced while he was there. Additional pits wer now in course of construction. H Eventually it was agreed that the inspectorserv a written aotice on the mine owners directing them not to cause any further pollution of the river. I

I I! Cardiganshire I [Standing Joint Committee.! I The quarterly meeting of the Cardiganshire I ■Standing Joint Committee was held on Thursday | ■last, Jan. 17th, at the Town Hall, Lampeter, when g ■there were present Mr W. Inglis-Jones, Derry g SOrmcnd, chairman, presiding; Alderman C. M. | ■ Williams, Aberystwyth, Alderman John Powell, jg HBlaenvvern Alderman Morgan Evans, Oakford; H ■Alderman James James, Ffynonhowel; Alderman | ■1. M. Howell, Aberayron Councillors Edward 9 ■Jones, Talybont; D. J. Williams, Tregaron; DavidH HDavies, Llanddewi Brefi Rev. J. M. Griffiths, Aber-H Hayron J. Stewart, Alltyrodyn; and E. W. D. Evans,™ ■Camnant; with Mr T. F. Roberts, deputy clerk ;H Hand Mr Howel Evans, chief constable. ■ B POLICE EFFICIENCY R B The Clerk read a letter from the Home Office™ Benclosing certificate to the effect that the police oifi Bthe county of Cardigan had been maintained in afl Estate of efficiency in point of numbers and discipline Lpr the year ending 29th Nov. 1900. LAMPETER AND NEW QUAY STATIONS. HBlaenvvern Alderman Morgan Evans, Oakford; H ■Alderman James James, Ffynonhowel; Alderman | ■1. M. Howell, Aberayron Councillors Edward 9 Jones, Talybont; D. J. Williams, Tregaron; David HDavies, Llanddewi Brefi Rev. J. M. Griffiths, Aber- ayron J. Stewart, Alltyrodyn; and E. W. D. Evans Camnant; with Mr T. F. Roberts, deputy clerk; and Mr Howel Evans, chief constable. ■ B POLICE EFFICIEXCY. R B The Clerk read a letter from the Home Offio enclosing certificate to the effect that the police o Bthe county of Cardigan had been maintained in afl Estate of efficiency in point of numbers and discipline Ior the year ending 29th Nov. 1900. M LAMPETER AND NEW QUAY STATIONS. ra A letter was read from the Local Government Board enclosing their sanction to the borrowing 0 @ £ 200 for additions to tbe Police Station -at ■Lampeter. Regarding the proposed Police Station Sat New Quay, the Board was not satisfied that the foundations would afford sufficient stability for the Hbuilding, and requested the County Council to tak the proper professional advice as to the expediency of the foundations being carried down to the solid rock. 9 'The Deputy Clerk said Mr Fryer had commun- Sicated with Alderman Morgan Evans as to Mr ■ David Davies, Penrhiwllan, would be a proper ■person to draw out plans and specifications, and | that gentleman had replied in the affirmative. J It was decided, on the motion of the Rev. J. M. Griffiths, that Mr Fryer be authorised to engag Ilr Davies to arrange the necessary preliminaries to be submitted to the Local Government Board. "I FINANCE COMMITTEE. J The report of this committee was presented by AId C. M. Williams, which showed that the expendi- ■ture in the Aberystwyth or Northern Division for ,rathe past quarter amounted to £ 55 lis 3d, and in '■the Cardigan or Southern Division £ 26 5s 3d, a Jstotal of £ 81 16s 6d. The committee reported ejhat jBthe sum of £ 800 would be required for police expenses during the quarter, and recommendeel ■fiathat a requisition be made upon the County Council ^Hfor that amount. This was agreed to. TS THE RIOT AT LAMPETER. '3| The Finance Committee reported that a claim ;Hmade by Sarah Evans, of Dale View, Lampeter, for compensation to the extent of P,7 lls IOci for damage to her'property by rioters on the 10th Dec.. 900, was considered, and the matter was referred to the Chief Constable in order that he might ascertain how far the claim was reasonable and tgproper. ? ■ The Chief Constable reported with regard to this Ifjmatter that he had proceeded to Dale View and s3m:i l '• a careful examination of the house and gapremises on the 10th inst., and made a valuation ot tgthe articles stated to have been destroyed, which he ■placed at £ 2 19s. Commenting on the cause of the ^disturbance, the Chief Constable said that John ^gConnor—referred to in his report of the 31st ult.— absconded after he had committed an assault upon a woman who lodged at Dale View, and was after- warcis apprehended at Brecon under a warrant of commitment and taken to Carmarthen gaol. When BMthis was made known at Lampeter Mrs Elizabeth nflRiiasell, sister to Mrs Sarah Evans, of Dale View,— paid the fine and costs, which amounted to '6 lis 3d, and the prisoner was liberated. The ■release of Connor from gaol evidently caused jHs°me disappointment at Lampeter, and on the evening of the 7th December last a crowd oongregated at the Railway Station, and when he arrived was hooted and yelled at. The anger of the crowd was then extended to Mrs Evans, and they marcbed.up after Connor to the Common, and halted in front of her house and indulged them- elves in singing and hooting. This was too much for a hasty-tempered person to bear, and without smore ado, Mrs Evans rushed out, and in addition rHto pelting them with stones expressed her elis- rjHapproval of their conduct in strong terms. This, rHunfortunately, irritated the crowd, and they at once ■retaliated. The police, however, soon suc- Hceeded in persuading the woman to V, Hgo to the house, and the crowd the -jSHacted on the aelvice given them, and at once dis- ^Bjpersed. There were six or seven panes of glass broken on the night of the 10th ult., and were iicluded in Mrs Evans' claim as having been broken Jflfon the night of the 10th. It was generally believed fJBthat fbe crowd had no intention of doing anything ttier than singing and hooting before they were attacked by Mrs Evans, and that her conduct was really the outcome of the subsequent attack which was made on the house. The Chief Constable con- Bjcludeel by stating that having regard to the amount ■claimed and the uncertainty of the decision that ,Wmight be arrived at by a County JCourt judge,, he JHhardly thought it wise to go to litigation over such small matter, and he, therefore, ventured to sug- est that the sum of £3 be offered her in settlement of the claim. Alderman Morgan Evans said this was the first jScase of the kind that had ever been before them, jlfand he moved that the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee to make further enquiries ffland report to the next meeting. m The Hev J. :1. Griffiths seconded, aud said they ■should be very loath to admit this liability until t,lieir position was made quite clear. in The resolution was unanimously agreed to. >■ POLICE STATION FOR TALYBONT. M In the Finance Committee's report it was stated that the Chairman (Alderman C. M. Williams) and »Mr Edward Jones had reported theresultof enquiries ■made with regard to land as a site for a Police ■Station-at Talybont, and the latter presented a ■letter received by him from an owner willing to el1 a site in every way suitable for the purpose. The Committee, therefore, recommended that steps be taken to erect at Talybont a policeman's house, ■with petty session's *room anei two cells attached, ■and that Mr Edward Jones be requested to obtain ■furt her particulars and the price asked for a plot of land somewhat larger than the area offered. ■ Alderman Williams explained that since the Mcommiteee meeting the gentleman referred to (Mr. D. J. Lewis, London,) had been communicated with Basking his price for an additional eight yardsJ making the total depth of the land taken 38 yards. It was now recommended that the additional be taken at the price offered. I Mr Edward Jones seconded the adoption of thel Committee's report with the addition. I B Alderman Williams explained that a new Polic Station was badly needed at Talybont, the Petty Sessions having formerly been held at the sebool and now in a temporary wooden shed. He believed the authorities of the reading room would be only too pleased to come forward and offer a rent of iLC or £8 for the use of the room as a reading roo when not required for holding petty sessions* With that £ 7 and the £ 4 already paid for rent,B together with the rent wh,ich would be receiveeiB from the constable's house, the county would not beB asksd to spend a large sum without securing a fairB return on the outlay. Talybont was becoming anB important. centre. A large number of fairg were u being held there, and various roads Irom various districts converged there. The division had an area of 45,000 acres, and a population of nearly 4,500. Rev J. M. Griffiths having endorsed the remarks of Aid Williams, the Committee's recommendations were agreed to unanimously. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The Chief Constable, in his report, stated that the number of persons proceeded against during-the year was 1.201, showing an increase of 28 -as com pared with the corresponding year of 1899. Thirty- three cases of larceny and other indictable offencesB were committed during the year and 37 persons de tec ted .md prosecuted for committing the same. There were 63 informations sent to the CoronerS during the year and 34 inqnests held. On the 15th October he fined P.C. David Davies, 16,10s for com- municating with the Press without permission P.C. William Joseph, 12, having been allowed a re- tiring allowance of Z45 12s. 6d. per annum, ceasetifi were committed during the year and 37 persons de-« tec ted and prosecuted for committing the same.H There were 63 informations sent to the CoronerS during the year and 34 inqnests held. On the 15thg October he fined P.C. David Davies, 16,10s for com-H municating with the Press without P.C. William Joseph, 12, having been allowed a re-S tiring allowance of £ 45 12s. 6d. per annum, ceasetifi to be on tbe strength of this Force on the 20tht.H On the same (lay be removed P.C. Edward Thomas. 22, from Aberystwyth to Talybont, vice P.C. NV. Joseph superannuated. Hitherto the constable appointed for this district was stationed at Taliesin,ag but as Talybont is a larger village and by far a|| more important one, on account of its being the|| location of Fairs, Petty Sessions, and a naturalf! centre for a large district, he had now, subject tos| itheir approval, stationed the constable at that jOn Wednesday evening, the 14th November, hej| I ■eceived a telegram from the Managing Director oils he Frongoch Lead Mines, stating that the WelsbjS niners hael gone out on strike, and being afraidB bat they would endeavour to prevent the Italian niners working, applied to him for the necessary xilice protection, so as to enable them to follow ,heir occupation without being molested. He im- nediately drafted a number of constables to t&cH nines, who remained there day and night until tte-B niMmelerstanding had been brought to a close iuperintendant Phillips and himself also proceedeelH ,o the place and found that some 250 -vere out on strike. The dispute arose over th salary of some of the Welshmen, who had been working on the surface and recently removed an appointed trammers .underground, when their salar was reduced from 3s to 2s.l0d per day each without it was alleged, giving any previous intimation offij the fact. Objections were also made against tbela Italian miners .being allowed to work on afternoons and on Mondays following the month1 pay-day. Meetings of the Welsh miners were | subsequently held, and delegates were duly ap | pointed to confer with Mr Levy, the managing | director of the Company, and with the Manager o the Mines. The delegates had several conferences with the Managers and on Monday evening, the 19th, they came to an amicable understanding and then withdrew the constables from the place. On the first day of the strike some hooting was in dulge(I in by some of the younger miners, but beyond that the Welshmen behaved them- selves admirably, and, consequently, the polic were not in any way called upon to interfere with them. The extra police, drafted to the mines has incurred an expenditure o 2 11s 7!d. He visited all the Police Stations during the quarter, and found everything in order. Eleven occasional licences and seven extensions o time were granted during the quarter. He had received a memorial from the sergeants and constables of this Force praying for an increase o pay, and in the number of officers. Among othe matters, their application was based upon the following grounds :—1 That their present scale o pay was below that of any other Police Force ing Wales. 2 That the pay of other Police Forces audi artisans had been greatly increased during the last few years. 3 That the price of fuel arid othe necessaries of life have also been advanced consider-l ably during the same period. 4 That the percentage of inspectors and sergeants is far below that of any County in Wales, and that promotion to higher ranks was thereby retarded." The Chief Constable added that owing to the advantages )ffered by the neighbouring counties he had lately experienced considerable difficulty in securing the services of suitable young men for the Force, andj be might further say that some good men ftad been! induced to leave on account of better pay peingl offered elsewhere. Personally, he thought the Force would compare favourably with any Police Force in the Principality in point of efficiency, but before that could be maintained, their pay and other allowances must also be on equal grounds. As the scale of pay was revised so recently as fou the subject forward again, but as the aggregate pay years a-o, he felt somewhat reluctant in bringing of the Force was then made less than it was under] the scale of pay adopted in 1876, and things having recently undergone so much alteration, he believed rhat the matter was a deserving one, and therefore hoped they would give it their kind and favourable conideration. 1 -1 reply to the Rev J. M. Griffiths, the Chief Constable said the memorial was signed by every • Member of the Force. Aid C. M. Williams proposed that they take the usual course of referring the matter to a committee In 1897 the question of revising the scale of pay was fully considered, and he thought certain increases were then recommei-ide I. The Rev J. M. Griffiths seconded, stating he did not believe it was to the advantage of the county that their officers should be underpaid. The resolution was agreed to, and in reply to Alft C. M. Williams, the Chief Constable stated that those constables who had left the force bad not joined, another force, but bad gone to work in South Wales. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. The Chief Constable also included in his report an interesting" retrospective view of the events which had taken place during the nineteenth century, particularly in connection with the state of crime and police administration in the county, The review stated that from the beginning of thE century, and for some time after the establishment of the police force, there were in existence a number of parish constables, who very often were of little use, and some of them could not by any possibility be worse than they were. The hard- working, industrious labourer most earnestln shunned the office of constable, and it was invariabh taken by the indolent and lazy, who preferred earning a shilling or two by executing a warrant OJ erving a summons than by attending to their owr work. Sometimes constables were appointed without their knowledge or consent, and decidedly against their own will. Of those many of them were quite unfit by nature, to discharge the duties connected with the office, and as the appointments were to character and qualification, it was no wondet that was great dereliction of duty shown or their part. Crime of all description bad thus that there was great dereliction of duty shown or become very prevalent in the county, and no les: than four persons were executed between the years lfiOO and 1822, and one since that time. The number of highway men and other wrong-eloers bad also grown to such an extent that commercia travellers and others were deterred from travelling the county at night; still, an offender was seldon: taken up, but when an arrest was effected it was invariably made by a private individual ane; fterwards handed over to the officer. The Chiel Constable gave the following instances of neglect of duty on the part of the constables at that time:— On the 10th September, 1814, a duel was fought at Adpar when one of the combatants was killed, but the parish constable could not be found, and the murderer was allowed to escape. He, however, afterwards surrendered to the gaoler at Cardigan, and was subsequently tried and acquitted. In the I month of August, 1817, a Methodist Association was held at Llangeitho, where a vast crowd assembled. During the time those good people were attending the Association a man took advantagc- of the opportunity and scrutinized his neighbours houses. In one house he found fourteen guineas, in another £ 8 4s, and in the third house over £ 100 in golel and notes, and all these sums were taken was held at Llangeitho, where a vast crowd assembled. During the time those good people were attending the Association a man took advantagc- of the opportunity and scrutinized his neighbours houses. In one house he found fourteen guineas, in another a 4s, and in the third house over £100 in gold and notes, and all these sums were taken and converted to the thief's own use. Enquiries were subsequently made in the neighbourhood, but as it did not produce any good result an application was made to a conjurer to set a mark on the evil- doer with a view of his being detected and the stolen property restituted. About the end of October following a servant boy in the neighbour- hood, named David Jones. disappeared and was traced to Llandovery, where it was found he had been changing several notes He was afterwards arrested on suspicion, and upon being searched the I sum of sixty guineas was found upon him. A con- stable was sent for him and was brought before the magistrates at Tregaron and remanded to Cardigan gaol for further examination. He was committed to the custody of the parish constables for his conveyance to gaol and on the way made a full confession of his guilt and by connivance of his custodians made good his escape In 1826 a serious riot took place at Mynyddbach, when owing to the inability of the local authorities to preserve the peace, the military were drafted into the district; but on account of the high feel- ing that existed against the enclosure of Crown and, which had just taken place, considerable trouble was experienced before the agitators could be put down. Coming down to the years 1835 and 1836, when the Poor Law Act and the Tithe Com- mutation Act were introduced, he found that they were not given the reception anticipated by the legislators, and the Acts soon became very unpopular among the class for whose benefit they were intcneled. Those who "had previously been the recipients of indiscriminate out-door relief cried put strongly against the new regulations brought about by the former Act, whilst the farmers on the the- han(1 protested against the latter. The pay- ment of Church rate also became very unpopular in the southern part of the county, and in several instances cattle were removed for refusing to pay them. Early in 1843 Rebecca" and her daughters visited the county, and their presence soon created 1\ feeling of terror among many of the inhabitants. During the early part of the century the county was frequented by gangs of desperate thieves, who under various and specious disguises and appear inces committed a number of serious crimes, anda their conduct caused the well-disposed subjects ofH His Majesty to be in great terror, because the! authorities were totally unable to cope with the emergency During the first part of the century^ the Bon nigh of Aberystwyth was under the con-' trol of the Mayor and Burgesses, who transacted their business at a Court Leet. which was held twice a year. The Mayorwas appointed at the Michael-I as Court and so also were the police, who con-l pisted of six constables, who acted under [direction of the county magistrates. With ones [exception, the constables were persons who wereS [actively engageel in other pursuits, and devoieelS but little of their time or attention to the (Ii liar--e of their duties as constables. One ofl phem, however, was paid by the parish officers, an el a pt was said that he was active in the discharge ofs| his duty. The others had no salary or emoluments^ p.nd the police force was looked upon as being in am ery in. fiicient state. As Aberystwyth was a walledi town, watchmen also were appointed there from nil, iearly dare, and continued to be so appointed fora many years daring the present century. Latterly,S their duty was to assist the constables at night, toll call otr the hours of the morning, and arrest evil- doers. The men employed for that work were invari-jffi c ably salected from the old and infirm and wpre really unfit for anything else. They were b-iillll paid, anel*gave considerably more attention to the|g bar3 of public houses than they did to their owni, ■bifics. Cardigan br.d also its Mayor and PurgcssesS and their mode of procedure in the appointment ofN Mayors, &c., wasalmost identical with that of Aber- ystwytb but the watch system, which had long been in existence, became defunct early in tln. century, and until 1844 the borough was almost de- void of any Police protection, except what littleH protection the inhabitants could get from the par- ish Constables. Smuggling was carried on exten-B sively, whilst many private houses were kept open for the sale of drink, and the result was that drunkenness became very prevalent. There was neither civil nor criminal court held there during fig the early part of the century, except the Great Sessions, the Quarter Sessions, and an occasional meeting of county Magistrates at one of the public houses, and so the inhabitants were practic-H ally allowed to manage their own affairs. In September, 1837. a police force was establisheelH for the Borough of Aberystwyth consisting of two men, and of those one held the office of head con- stable at a salary of 22s per week, whilst the other held the office of a constable at a salary of 14s a week. They were also, in addition to their salary. supplied with boots and uniform. There were also thirty-three petty constables appointed for the borough who received 2s each per day when on duty. When the county police force was first established the then were looked upon v^ith considerable amount of suspicion and were frequently treated with con- tempt. but with their irnproveel conduct and dis- cipline the public soon appreciated their services. and by to-day tbe police of this county are «'ellf| treated and highly respected. The uniform first.B work by the constables of this county, as well as by those for the Borough of Aberystwyth, consisted of beaver hats with [patent leather ]tops and strips of'same {material running down each side.H long-tailed coats and white trousers during the summer months. This old uniform was not a very ■ comfortable one, and the tall hat frequently snfferèrl badly in frays, &c. On the 30th of June, 1857 an agreement was made between the County of Canli- gan and the Borough of Aberystwyth wherein the police establishment of Aberystwyth was consolidi-S Bated with that of the county.—In the detection and suppression of crime marked improvement has been effected during the last thirty years, but as no record of the crime committed was formerly kept. ■I am not in a position to make a comparison.—Since She had beenappointed Chief Constable, instructions in first aid to the sick and injured has been iven to constables, and there are now no less than thirty-three members of the Force holding certificates of competence from St. John's Ambulance Association to render first aid When whipping was administerd the prisoner's hands were tied to the tail of a cart and stripped from the middle upwards, then drawn through the public streets of the town in which they were whipped, on market days, and whipped until their bodies were covered with blood. The last person whipped at SjLlanbadarn Fawr was John Jones, a rogue and vag- abond, who was on the 12th July, 1812, publicly whipped through the village of Llanbadarn for an ffence under the Vagrant Act. The last person whipped at Aberystwyth was John Jones, of the parish of Llanfibangel-y-Croyddyn, who was on the 17th July, 1822, committed to the House of Cor- rection at Aberystwyth for fourteen days' imprison- ment for petty larceny, aud on Monday, before the expiration of bis sentence, was publicly whipped, between the hours of twelve and two o'clock in the afternoon, from the Town Hall to the Bridge and back. The last person publicly whipped in thifc county was John Evans, of the parish of Llan- Bychaiarn. who was found guilty of petty larceny. and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment at jHLampeter Quarter Sessions on the I3th of January, and on the last market day at Cardigan— revious to the expiration of his sentence—was publicly whipped from the County Gaol to the Market Cross and back. The last person put in the stocks was John Frost, which took place at Adpar on the 19th of January, 1872, and he was detained from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. for drunkenness. There Bwas once a ducking stool at Cardigan, but cannot Bfind that it was ever used during the nineteenth century. From 1542 to 1839 the Assizes for the county were held at Cardigan, and the Court of Marches was held there previously. In 1888, a pet- ition in favour of removing the Assizes from ardigan to Lampeter was sent to the Lord Chancellor and Privy Council, and after giving the matter their best consideration, the application was eventually granted. There were two prisons in the county, and were situated at Aberystwyth and Cardigan. The gaol at Aberystwyth was at first a Hprivate house with thatched roof, and situated in Great Darkgate Street (near where the Misses Yard's shop now stands). On the 7th of October, 760, the house was taken by the county, and flat once converted into a house of correction. In 1794, a new gaol was erected on the spot where the ■Police Station now stands, and when that was com- Hpleted the governor, in accordance with the orders Hof the Court of Quarter Sessions, removed to it. This gaol, after undergoing several alterations, con- tinued to be used as a house of detention until 1857. when it was converted into a lock-up, and handed over to the county police. Up to that year a resident gaoler was kept, and the last one employed was a man named James Isaac, who was allowed a salary of £40 per annum. In 1882, the old gaol as taken down and the present Police Station; erected on the spot. As to Cardigan Gaol, which: was by far tbe most important institution, and tol which all prisoners sentenced to long terms of im- prisonment were committed but upon going back; Hto 1662, when it was first established, he found that Hit occupied a very ordinary building in High-street, ■and quite insecure for the purpose it was intendeei. ■From that time, however, considerable iinprovc- ments were effected both in the sanitary con- Bstruction of the buildings and in the treatment of ■prisoners therein confined. At the Court of Quarter ■Sessions held at Aberystwyth on the 17th of January,' 1744, a petition was received from the prisoners; etting forth that by reason of their confinement they were totally debarred from attending divine service at the Parish Church or anywhere else, andj as they were too poor to pay, they could not expect the Vicar of the Parish to attend at the gaol without some recompense, and on' that ground earnestly prayed that some allowance should be granted. The matter was then discussed, and although the magistrates had no legal power to appoint a chap- Blain they, however, atter some deliberation, Hgranted a quarterly allowance of 20s. to the Vicar for reading prayers and divine service weekly at the county gaol. On looking back over the last hundred years, it can be seen that great changes Shave been made in the law as it affects Justices of the Peace. Their Petty Sessions]have been entirely re-organised; a uniform and simple procedure for summary cases have been introduced every Conrt of Summary Jurisdiction has a trained lawyer for Sclerk. A distinction has been drawn between the quasi-civil and the quasi-criminal side of the Juris- liction and procedure, and as a result of these reforms the judical business of the justices has in- Screaseel considerably. Great" improvements have also been effected in the Criminal Law, the Poor Law, the Licensing Law, and the Municipal Law. and particularly in their administration. Since the police force has been established, highway robbery as been put down, the carrying of effigies (ceffylau pren) has disappeared, the selling of beer without Ba licence: is a thing of the past, ann the keeping of public houses open during all hour: of the night are no longer allowed, but are now strictly regulated by law and kept under police Bsupervison. Drunkenness has also diminished, whilst affrays and other unseemly conduct of young people attending fairs has entirely been eradicated 'rom the country. Many other facts could be re- ferred to, but sufficient has been said to prove that the police have justified their existence, and fceg was of opinion that they were the most potent Hfactors in the moral elevation of the community, Hand that the County of Cardigan could not have ttained its present high reputation without its police force. I Alderman Morgan Evans proposed that the thanks of the Committee be accorded the Chief Constable for his very interesting report, and for the trouble he had taken in gathering the information contained therein (hear, hear). B Rev J. M. Griffiths seconded, and said he was sure it had entailed much labour, and he was very interested in reading it" He suggested that it be printed in pamphlet form, and a copy sent to all the members of the County Council and the magistrates. B Alderman C. M. Williams .'agreed with theg previous speaker, stating he thought it was an! invaluable document, and, no doubt every magistrate in the county would be pleased to receive a copy, as it embraced such a wide field f information. He proposed that they authorise the Clerk to secure 300 extra copies of the report. I Alderman J. M. Howell said he also wished to join in the tribute of thanks to the Chief Constable. They knew he was professionally an able man, and now they saw his literary and historical traits equally in his professional character. B The resolution was agreed to unanimously andB the Chief Constable, in acknowledging said it hadB been a pleasure to him to collect these .few facts, 8 he took a good deal of interest in them. H OCCASIONAL LICENSES. B Alderman J. M. Howell, referring to an occasionaJ licenses granted by the Rev J. M. Griffiths out of Petty Session, said if there was an explanation they xboulel have it. as this had done the same with allH magistrates who had departed from the rules laid own by themselves for themselves. g|| Alderman C. M. Williams: We have always ap- pealed to the other benches in the county to follow the excellent example of the Aberayron bench. ffl Rev J. Mi Griffiths Having been exercising them duties of magistrate for many years in this countv g|f and this being the first time on which I have granted a license out of Petty Sessions, I think it||4 ought to satisfy all the magistrates and the mem-jjs hers of this committee that I must have bad valid la reasons sufficient to satisfy myself. No one responsible for that license except mysejf, and iflf think that is a sufficient answer. j§|j Alderman J. M. Howell; Of course, we did not know that this was the first occasion, but now we know it. ■ Alderman Williams remarked that they had always looked up to the Aberayron bench, and he trusted it would be as many years again before Mr Griffiths granted another license out of Petty Sessions. M Rev J. M. Griffiths: It depends entirely on th circumstances. I am very glad to think you canH still continue to look up to the Aberayron bench. H Alderman Williams: The majority of them are aH pattern to the county. H Mr D. J. Williams Excepting those of the Tre-H garon bench (laughter). H

All letters must be written on one side of the pape aNd accompanied by the name and address o the writer, not necessarily for publication, but asH a guarantee of good faith. H Correspondents are urgently requested to sendH their letters to the office as early as possible. H

THE SEAMY SIDE OF TEACHING. H SIR,—" Pro P. Teacher's letters have become so full of misrepresentation, coarseness and vulgarity that 1 shall not attempt to reply to them any further. If this budding Newton or Darwin or Shakespeare really is a pupil teacher, as he says be is, I would however remind him that these art not the qualities which should characterise anvoneB who aspired to the profession of a teacher. I am not surprised if he has bad to rough it." B ) Trefeirig Board School. WM. HAAIER. B J Jan. 19tb, 1901. B g LLANGEITHO EISTEDDFOD. I a SIR,—In your issue of the 10th inst., A Well- wisher" has attempted to answer myaccusation, or request," as he calls it. In this reply of his h has stated that a programme is put forward (at Llangeitho) which will benefit strangers as well as local inhabitants." Now,- would not a general! subject, say on agricultural methods or on any! tiaps), suit this purpose far better than the one aimself lias quoted I do not mean to say that en Gymeriadau enwog Llangeitho" should be cned, but I believe this subject would suit a il literary or Cymrodorion Society better than Eisteddfod of this kind (especially taking the jfect as defined by the essay adjudicator), ell-wisher'' has also said that an occasional ject of local interest gives some encouragement roung men. 1 do not see how Well-.visher" ves this—perhaps he will enlighten us. How L why does such a subject give them raoreB ouragement than other subjects of wider range ? He has asked in his letter also, Who besides Gwyrddfynydd would think of complaining that one item on the ^programme was restricted?" It to young men. I do not see enlighten us. How lie be a Welshman I should like to remind him of an old Welsh proverb, which a Well-wisher" of Eisteeldfod ought to know, viz., Nid da lie lir gwell." "Well-wisher" has also called the essay subject a mere item, but was it not by far the most important subject in its own section ? and [act all well-wishers of the eisteddfod, with one gle exception, look upon it as a very important >ject indexed. Furthermore, I feel very thankful ell-wisher for bis gratuitous sympathy, but s time it is not requireei. ^ter my unsuccess- interview with the Committ^" I never thought of competing, even if I thought previously. Yes, I found to my grief that the subject could not be altered even to gratify individual whims." 1 would never stoop so low as to write a letter to get Ia subject to please me,. but I can be named Llais y wlad in this matter. He hopes, naturally, the Llangeitho Committee will not take my advice Rumour avers that the Llangeitho Committee are presently advised by people who have very strong lividual whims, and this perhaps accounts for the fact that the one and same subject is always of a restricted character. However, Well-wisher has forgotten that I did not offer it to the Llan- ;tho Committee more than to any other Com- ttee who would deem it worthy of attention, whether I would be able to compete in their leistcddfodau or not. Remember the old Welsh saying, Derbyn berl o enau llyffant." M GWYRDDFYNYDD.

3 BRONANT. A COMPETITIVE MEETING was held at the school- room on Friday night week, being the second of a series of such meetings. The large room was filled to overflowing, a large number having come some miles distant. The chairman for the evening was Mr D. Morgan, Navyhall. The committee were very fortunate in securing the services of Mr Evans, fnbauadl, AS muaioal adjudicator, and Mr T. Evans, Penlan, as literary adjudicator. The accompanist was Mr 2. B. Evans, schoolmaster. The ladies of the district had specially interested themselves in this meeting, and one of the many ways that interest found vent, was in making beautiful rosettes to adorn the officials and the win ning competitors. The opening solo was rendered by Mr R. O. Williams, with his usual success. There was a satisfactory number of competitors in all the subjects, which was expected as all the items (with the exception of the quartette and double artette) were open to all comers. The standard of the competitions was very high, especially the recitations and singing for children, which gives a Dmising outlook for the future welfare of this district, from a musical point of view. The most interesting and novel event of the evening was a choir of sixteen, which consisted of children under ten, and led by Daniel Morgan, Navy Hall, a lad under six years of age. They received a vociferous encore,twhich was responded to, much to the delight of the audience. The Chairman as usual did his work aelmirably and gave general satisfaction. The following is the list of successful competitors. Solo for children under eight years of age, Annie O. Morgan, Navy Hall; recitation for children undei 5 years of age, Daniel O. Morgan, Navy all soprano solo (for tliose who had not competed before), Miss E. B. Williams, Caefron for the best sentence of twenty words, each word commencing ith the letter M, D. Morgan, Navy Hall, anil rilliam Davies, Penbryn solo for children under irelve years of age, Maggie Morgan, Navy Hall, second Ellen Williams, Caefron speech of three inutes, Punctuality in coming to Divine Service R W. Morgan, Gorsfawr; soprano and contralto duett, Miss E. Williams, Shop, and M. Jones, Ffosffu; solo (for those who had not competed before), John llones, Dole, John Williams, Rhydfydr debate, Ad- mtage or disadvantage of taking milk to ai creamery, It. W. Morgan, Gorsfawr, Jenkin Richards. aenresger first sight music test piece for uldren under twelve years of age, J. R. Williams, lydfydr quartette, Tom Jones, Ffosffu, and party; letter from a tenant asking for reduction in his nt, Ebenezer Lloyd, Cilgarn soprano solo "Mvfi 'n magu'r baban."Miss Mary Jones, Ffosffu due" tt r children, J. R. Morgan, aud Maggie Morgan, ivy Hall; solo for children under sixteen years of age, Maggie Morgan, Navy Hall; first sight reading, E. Lloyd, Cilgaru, and L. Jones, Cwmcrognant; solo Hen W lad fy Nhadau," Mr. R. Davies, Tanfron, and Daniel Evans, Briwnant; recitation, Mary Jones, tfexslTu; answering six questions on General Know- ledge," J. J. Williams, Caefron; ear test, J R Davies, lyngraig, T. R. Jones, Dole; double quartette, R. O. Williams and party. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chairman, and adj udicators. and accompanist, and The National Anthem having been sung, Mr R. Williams taking the solo, the audience separated in eager expectation of the next meeting. H

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