The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

NEWTOWN AND LOCAL BOARD. An adjourned meeting of the Board wis held at the Boardroom on Thursday evening, when tneve wer,, present Captain E. Pryce-Jones, chairman.; Messrs 0. Morgan, Richard Lioyti, A. S. Cooke, Ibomas Jones, John Hughes, David Owen, Edward Jones, Evan Ashton, David Lewia, W. H. Lew s, Inornas Owen, with Molars William Cooke, clerk, R. YV. Davies, surveyor, and John Pryce, inspector. GOVERNOR FOR NORTH WALKS COLLSGE. On the motion of Mr C. Morgan seconded by Mr A S. Cooke, Mr Ellison wAs re-appointed to this office. THS CLIFTON TEHP.ACE NUISANCES. Mr Pryce, nuisance iuspretor, reported thit the occupiers had made tin necessary d",¡j,:c ot rub- bish, but the owners had not yet complied with tiie notices. The Chairman Will you explain, Mr Pryce, what course you suggest s..ould be done with reference to the nuisances, where your liotic13dha.Vd not been complied with ? Mr Richard Lloyd thought the matter had already been dealt with. The Chairmau We will ask Mr Pryce why it was not carried out. What are you waiting lor, Mr Pryce ? Mr Pryce: There was no time to get summons ont before the last meeting of th3 magistrates. The Clerk read the iniuute of tha last meeting with reference to the question which stated that the report was adopted, and the Inspector was instructed to take further proceedings if necessary to eniorce the order being complied with. The Chairman said that there was more than one way in which they could carry out the resolution. It was possible that there was more than one person interested in the property, and no one took the initiative, because they were waiting for someone else to do so. Under the Public Works Improvement Act he thought that they could take steps to ascer- tain the cost of putting the place in good repair. Then if the owners refused to carry out the work the Board could do so and recover the cost. It was for the Board to consider whether they should tike the course of summoning first, or whether they should take the matter into consideration. Mr Richard Lloyd: It would simplify matters very much if the Inspector carried out Lue instructions of the Board. Mr Pryce: I want to know if I am to ask for a special meeting of the magistrates to deal with the case, or leave it until the next petty sessions? Mr Richard Lloyd: If the matter is urgent, of course you can do so. The Clerk called attention to a letter written by his 80n respecting the nuisances on the Short Bridge. He thought if the Doctor. Mr Pryce, and the Sur- veyor went there, that they would iind something with which they were not acquainted It was decided to let the question be dealt with in the usual way. THE WATER SUPPLY-APPROACHING THE END. The Clerk read the report of the committee upon this question, which was to the following etIect :-11) accordance with your instructions the committee met on the 8th milt. to consider the claims of the New. town Waterworka Company. The Company have agreed to accept the proposals of the Local Board to supply water by meter for flushing the sewers and watering the streets, the payment to be tl5 10s per annum for the rent of the hydrants; < £ 1 3s Od for the cemetery house, and ..£1 2a Od for the Local Board offices. It remained for the committee to consider and report upon the following points of dispute. (I.) Payment to be made by the Local Board for tne repair or replacement of hydrants; (2) payment by meter for water used in flushing tne urinals; (3) payment of the increased sum of .£23 10a per annum since the expiration of the notice dated December 4th, 1891. (1.) They recommend the Board to accept the following condition. The Company to repair the hydrants and keep the same ingood condi- tion, in proper working order, and to replace them when necessary from any other caaaes than when they were broken or injured from the negligence or carelessness of the Local Board or their servants or workman, then in such case .the cost of repair or replacement shall be paid by the Board. (2.) They recommend that the water used for flushing the urinals be paid for by meter, provided the Company agreed to a test meter being placed at only one of the urinals, the quantity of water used, as indicated by that meter, to be regarded as the average use at each urinal, and charged for accordingly. (3.) The com- mittee do not recommend the Board to pay the Com- pany the additional charge of je23 10s per annum made for water used since 4th July, 1892. Mr Richard Lloyd asked that the last paragraph should be read ovar again, which was accordingly done. The Chairman: As chairman of this committee I do not propose to-night to enter into any argument with regara to this question. I think that probably this report will be received favourably, I think almost unanimously by the Board. Therefore I shall make a mistake, if I enlarge upon this matter when it has now reached a state when it will shortly be finally closed. Lthink I ought to explain for the benefit of those members not upon the committee what our proposals are. There are three points on which the; Board and Company differ, and the proposals of the committee on these points are as follows.: — The: Chairman then went over the different proposals in their turn. He said that the reason they only wanted one meter at the urinals was because they considered three or more as so much mcney wasted. Referring to paragraph 3, he said he thought that the Company would scarcely think that they had a good claim for any increase. The water had been used tor some time, and it would be a matter of considerable debate to artive at any fair price. Mr Edward Jones asked would it mot be better to leave that point until they ascertained the difference., They might prove that they had been over-paying, the Company, or perhaps it would be that the Board, were not paying the Company enough. He thought: that it would be better to leave the matter over until' they arrived at the difference in the quantity. He, did not think that the Company were to blame in! ,that matter, as they had done all they could, and had been most patient with the Board, and treated them with the greatest indulgence. Everything that they had asked for the Company had given them. Mr C. Morgan: Do I understand that you are will- ing to leave that.in abeyance for twelvemonths. Mr Edward Jones: No, but to wait until it is de- eided. The Chairman:- May I take it from that that.if we used leas water ithan was contracted for that the cempany will refund the difference in the amount -(laughter) Mr Jones: No, air. You have been naimg it upon the old basis, and it is a question whether you been using too maoh or too little. The Chairman: Jf the Board have used more water then they are to pay more money, but if they have used less that the company will give back the surplus (laughter). Mr Richard Lloyd suggested that the third point should be referred to arbitration. The Chairman proposed the adoption of the report. Mr W. H. Lewis said that the Board and the ompany had now acme to a settlement on all excepting that one point, and he should like to suggest that that matter should be settled also. He ,Aid not think that all the Company were ratepayers, -of that district, and he did not think that they wanted to-screw them down to those few pounds* He would suggest, or move, if it met with the approval of the Board, that they offer the Company X5 to settle that matter. He waa of opinion that the Company would expeet; a small sum, and then iihey should have the mattwjuuehed. Mr John Hughes seconded. On being put to the I vote, only the mover and seconder voted for the amendment, against six. As no one oCered to second the Chairman's pro- position, he called upon some one of the members te do do. Mr A. oS. Cooke said that he kerned that they would be unanimous in the matter. Jle was of opinion that the latter part could be dUoirad to stand over for twelve months, so that the meter system would junre fair trial. Mr David Oww.: I have no obseotion at all in seconding the adoption of the report, but I failed to agree along with tkam at the last meeting at which we drew up the Deport. I was JDy mayself, and I suppose that it is .something to "dare to be & Daniel," and to staa £ .alone. My little scheme wae for the judnals to be hashed by our cart (laughter).; I am atillvery much against the metar aysWm. and' I believe the town would save money by the other mode. At present the coiiials are not cleaned out. The Chairman I am afraid you are digressing a little, you know. Have yiou seconded the report. Mr Owen ? Mr David Owen: Well; f don't know whether it is safe or net {laughter). The Clerk >• I have it down that you have seconded the adoption of the report. Is it eorrect or not? Mr D. Owen Very welf, let it go with my proteet against the ayatem (loud laughter). The report was then put to the vote, and adopte4. eight voting for it. The Chairman then asked the indulgence of the Board to read to them an extract from the Act of the Newtown Waterworks Company, which was found in Clause 22, and was as rollows No person shall be disqualified es a director by being a comsujmoner or a trustee nnder the Act o/ Parlia- ment, or member of any Local Board for aojr public purpose within the limits of this Act, or mortgagee #* rate*, o* justice of tb# peace for ib# &ri*ion v, ■.vilhin which th. water works may bo situate, and not si.arotun-ier oi ilia Ouiupuu.v siia.il be disqualified as J suca commissioner, trustee, or uieutbec by reason of any eoutract between the Company and the commis- sioners, trustees or Local Board, provided always ttiac n■> commissioner, trustee, or member who is a director or .-siiareaolder or holder of debenture stock skill act or vote at auy meeting of suca commis- sioner-, trustees, or Board, or at any committe ap- pointed by such commissioners, trustees, or Board, on auy question or with reference to any matter in which tuch director or shareholder has direct or in- direct interest as a shareholder." He stated that sone weeks a^o. Then ha went on general Acts, but he found in looking at the Act of the Newtown Waterworks Company that in addition to these Acts they had b^en most particular in the matter. Me^ sim'ply wished to poiut one to the members of the Board that he did not venture to correct any gentle- man without a knowledge of the subject. Mr Richard Lloyd asked that the names of those who did tiOt vote should be taken down. FIRE BRIGADE. Important letters were received from Mr W. F. Thomas respecting the supply of water at some recent and the letters were ordered to be placed on :h" agenda for the next meeting. DJSPU 1"11: BKTWKEJ) THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. The Clerk said that the committee appointed by the Board, had met a committee appointed by the County Council, and they had gone into the matter thoroughly, comparing toe claims of the Board with the expenditure as shown in the ledgers, and also gouig into the correspondence which had taken place. Up to 1893 they were under the old system, and tha full amount was paid except XS 14s 9d for stone remaining upou the side of the road; or rather it was twicd that amount, but the Council were only res- pou-ible for cne halt. With this sum and another amount in dispute, the total was brought up to J:33 18, 8d, which the Council had now paid to them. Mr C. Morgan: Has nothing been done with refer- ence) to the town ooundaries ? The Clerk said that a letter was sent sometime ago; but nothing further had been done. It was decided to instruct the Surveyor to write a letter at the dictation of the Street Committee to the Council. THE CHRISTMAS MARKET. Mr Thomas Jones called the attention of the Board to the ttleu that it was time to arrange the Christmas markets. In the past the matter had always been decayed tuo long, and the farmers had complained of it. Mr A. S. Cooke proposed that they be held as foilowa: fat stock and live poultry on December 12th, and the dead meat market on December 19th. Objection nas takea to this by several members, on the ground that it was too early, and it was agreed to leave it in the hands of a committee to ascertain wnich were the best days to hold the markets. THE POWERS OF THE GAS COMPANY. The Clerk said he had been instructed to write and enquire under what Act or provisional order the Newtown Gas and Coke Company were carrying un their business, and he received the following reply trom tne ecre¡;a.ry Uctober 9th. My directors request me to inform you tnat tiley are proceeding at present as they and their predecessors always nave done (loud laughter.) He received instructions from the Committee to write to the Board of Trade, and enquire if the Newtown Gas and Coke Company had obtained an Act or provisional order, and if so he would be obliged for a copy. The following reply was received: "In reply to your letter ofthelltn inst., I am directed by the Board ot Trade to say that so far as they are aware the Newtown Gas and Coke Company never obtained an Act of Parliament or provisional order in respect of their undertaking (laughter.) The Chairman said that the committee appointed recommended that the Board forward a copy of the letters to the Gas and Coke Company, informing them that they had no power to break up the streets of the town without the authority of the Local Board, aud that they muat obtain the sanction of the Board in future before they do so. He begged to propose the adoption of the report. He could not see that the committee had any other course to recommend for protecting the interests of the town. Of course they did not yet know whether the Company had got an Act or not, but they had refused to let the Board know and had declined to give a proper answer to their letter. Therefore they were compelled to write to head quarters, and the reply was to the effect that so far as they were aware the Company had no private Act or provisional order. When the correspondence was sent to the Company, they should also inform them that in future they must obtain the permission of the Board before they break up the streets. Mr Edward Jones: Have not the Gas Company always asked permission to cut up the streets ? The Chairman: They have alwa)s given-notice. Mr Edward Jones: But they ask permission when they give notice, do they not? The Chairman They merely give notice, and then they go and do the work. It is not exactly the same as if they had to keep the atreetli in repair. I am not aware that they have an Act. Mr Richard Lloyd: I cannot tell you, as I am a director; but Mr C. Morgan can tell you. Mr Morgan Your father was a director. Mr Richard Lloyd He is dead. Mr C. Morgan: Yes, bat their acts will follow them. Mr W. H. Lewis seconded the proposition of the Chairman. Mr Edward Jones I do not see that we have any grievance. If the Gas Company had been doing serious damage to our streets then we might have a case. As it is we have no reason to complain, at the same time it is very well for us to know our position The Chairman We are taking a proper course. We are now exeroiaing very important rights, and unless we hear sometning very different we shall gain these rights. The streets belong to the town, and no company without having an Act of Parlia- ment behind them can break up those streets, and we shall hear that Newtown still has a right to have other gas companies if she thinks proper. The proposition was then put and carried. THE TOWN IMPROVEMENTS. The Chairman said that he had no desire to press his offer of .£10 towards improving the appearance of the town; but he hoped that those who opposed the matter upon the ground of procedure a few meetings ago, if they thought that the amount might be beneficially spent, that they would place a notice on the agenda, so that the question could be dealt with as early as possible. Mr Richard Lloyd You talk about keeping up law and order, and in the same breath your next subject is to break up law and order by giving your JBIO to do an illegal act. Mr Thomas Jones: I have heard a lot about the steam roller, and at last this steam roller has come. The Chairman: This is not upon the agenda. Mr Thomas Jones I was only just going to ask a plain question. The Chairman: We must be in order. Air W. H. Lewis: I should like to ask whether the question of improving the banks of the Severn has been dropped altogether, or whether you intend pro- seeding any further with it. The Chairman Mr Lewis has asked a very import-: ant question. I consider that during the whole time I have been upon the Board there has never been such A death blow against the town an that of seeking lawyers' advice upon the river bank question. To think that the Board should have gone to the: expense of consulting a solicitor and so giving the owners the position of affairs free of charge I do not think that the owners for one moment would have attempted to enclose the land, which ever I!ince I I can remember,—and in the memory of persons maoh older,—has been free and open to the public. My idea was to plant trees and evergreens there, so to hide the deposits and rubbish that were laid upon the bank. I feal- Mr Rd. L oyd I am sorry to tell you that it cannot be maintained that we are in order at all. Mr. Lewis merely asked what steps the Committee had taken, or were going to take. Bat you are going into the whole matter. If it is intended to disouss the question, all well and good, but let notice be given so that we may be prepared. Mr W. Lewis: I do not wish to say anything upon the legal advice that we have obtained. There has been a great deal too mueh said about it publicly. The Chairman: Hear, hear. Mr Lewis: I should like if the Board would take up the matter again, And disouss the question in committee. The Chairman May I saggest that a special .meeting be called to discusss the whole thing. Mr Lewis: I do not think that it is desirable, it is £ little bit inconvenient to .have so many special: meetings. We can diseuss it ia committee at any meeting of the Board. The Chairman We shall be delaying the planting if We put, it off too long. Mr Rd. Lloyd: if there is any desire for a thorough discussion of the matter, it is quite competent for the committee to say that they have a report to make at the next meeting, Mr C. Morgan was proceeding to make remarks upon the question, when Mr Richard Lloyd said he had to object again. Mr Morgan was discussing the whole qneation. Mr J. Morgan: I am moving a resolution. Mr Richard Lloyd Pardon me; it is— The Chairman: Mr Morgan is speaking to Mr Lewis's motion, Mr Morgan said that the state of the banks were a disgrace to the town, and be exceedingly regretted the action of the Board taken in the matter. He would propose that the same committee again report to the wzO meeting of the Board. Mr David Owen: Better try a new committee (laughter). The Chairman We shall not be in order. Mr Lewis seconded Mr Morgan's proposition, and it was carried. It was decided to add to the motion that the Committee bo asked to take into considera- tion the off"r of the Chairman, and advise upon the beat way of spending the .£10. Mr Richard Lloyd: I consider this question out of order, and enter my protest as a member of this Beard. You obtained legal advice upon the ques- tion, and now you are acting in direct opposition— The Chairman: No. Mr Lloyd: Pardon me; you are acting in direct opposition. If you are wishful of discussing the question, let notice be given. I was due at another place at 7-30, and I cannot stop here to discuss the question now. Mr Lewis I think that we have a perfect right to discuss the solicitor's letter, and offer an opinion upon it. If we have a different opinion to our soli- citor, we have a right to mention that opinion. The matter was referred to the Clifton Terrace Committee.

THE RECTOR OF NEWTOWN AND SACRAMENTAL WINE. To the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times. Sir,—In this week's issue of the Montgomeryshire Express I notice a somewhat lengthy report of an interview with the Rector of Newtown on the subject of the use of wine at the Holy Communion. Of the reverend gentleman's views on this par. ticular matter I do not now wish to speak. J wish, however, to call attention to one observation of the Rector's. It is this:—"Here I am speaking as a Bible Christian and not as a Churchman, my authority being taken from the Bible." I would ask first: Are Churchmen and Bible Christians different persons; and, if so, how? Secondly: Has the Church-and should it have— any authority" not taken from the Bible? Being a Churchman, I should like to know on what ground I stand.—Yours obediently. AN ANXIOUS ENQUIRER. To the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times. Sir,—The public have reason to thank you that a clear statement uf tne attitude of the Rdv E. A. Fishbourne towards the Britidh Women's Temper- auce Afisoci t r, on has been laid before them. It is efiJeuily a case of "tithing the mint and anise while ignoring the weightier matters of the law." Tae literal translation, even where the trans- lation is uuc irtaiii, must be adopted against the whole spirit of Bible teaching Is not our Rector well acquainted with the fact that different words are given in the original lan- guage to express the word translated for us as wine, and that the conclusion seems to be irresistible to any impa-tial reader of tho sacred Scripture, that it is an inn eent unintoxicating wine which the Spirit of God in His word commends, white it is an inebriating wine He condemns ? As to the particular passage referred to by the Rector, viz., 1 Cor. xi 20-3i, the great majority of expositors join in ascribing to the apostle's words a charge of selfish repletion, but not of intoxication. In no passage where God's blessing is connected with wine, does the oontext, shew it to be intoxicating. Dr Lightfoot is of opinion that by him that was drunken is meant the Jew that ate the Patchul Supper-, and by him that was hungry, the Gentile who was so, not out of poverty and necessity, but because he refused and avoided eating of the ante supper as savouring of Judaism." This supper was not the Lord's Supper. Dean Stanley says, Thb use of this word in John xi, 10, shows that it need not be always taken for intoxication." Archbishop Newcombe says "the word methuei does not neces- sarily import drunkenness." I would also refer the Rector to another passage of scripture, Romans xiv, 13, Let us not, theretor judge one another any more; but judge ye this rather that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling." As to the juice of the grape not being called wine. our Reobor evidently speaks without knowledge. Thomas Aquinas, the greatest of the logicians of the 13th century, says (discoursing of the proper sub- stance to be used in the Eucharist), G.-spe juice (Mustum) h*8 the specific quality of wine." S. Lee, D.D., Reg. Prof, of Hebrew, says, New wine is the juice of toe grtpe." Baron Liebig. in his letters ou chemistry, wrote, If a flask be filled with grape- juice, and made air light, and then kept for a few hours in builing water—The wine does not now ferment." It was with great surprise I heard such a puerile denunciation of a great movement, and such apparent fear that women of the Church of England are less capable than othbr women of testing truth and error. It will be as Dean Stanley states, Each age of the Jhurch has as it were turned over a new leaf in the Bible, and found a response to its own wants. We have a leaf still to turn—a leaf not less new, because it is so simple." I mast now conclude by thanking you for per- mitting one, who so seldom writes you, to occupy so muoh of your valuable space. A PBOTESTANT.

THE TEMPERANCE SUNDAY. To the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times. Sir.-The North Wales Temperance Association de- 8irea to eall the attention of all the Congregations of North Wales to the lemperanoe Sunday, viz., the last Sunday is November, and begs that special notice be given to Temperance at every place on that day. In his excellent address at Wrexham, the Venerable Archdeaoon Howell laid a great emphasis on that temperance should be elevated to a more religions sphere, and remarked that it was prayeis of Wales that succeeded in getting Sunday Closing for Wales. The present juncture is most important, when Parliament is about to take up the matter in earnest- It is essentially necessary that an earnest prayer to God should asoend from all our congregations, for guidance to our legislators, and success for the cause. Let this be done. Our resolution passed at Wrexham, was as follows That the prevalance of drinking habits among the population of our towns and villages calls for vigoroQ8 oruade by every possible means, on the part of all the friends of sobriety, to save those who are periahing." This resolution is short but full of importance, and ought to obtain serious attention. It has been suggested that a visitation of the Sunday schools of every denomination be made, to give a temperanoe address, and take the names of persons willing to sign the pledge. In some places much good has been done in this way. An effort to instruct the children and young people in the principles of sobriety is suggested, and that the ministry of the gospel should teach and warn in an nonest and earnest manner, and that no preaching meeting, or association, should pass without one speoial sermon for the purpose. And if the power is given to the people, as we trust it will be soon, it will be of immense importance that all the people should be thoroughly enlightened, so that they may, and will, make the proper use of that power. There- fore, an awakening with the cause is a necessity. Let .the. collection also be remembered, a large collection is not asked for—only a penny from each 1? y~f K congregation only do this faithfully, and send it to the County Associa- tion, a good harvest may be expected as a result. • x J. EIDDON JONES, Sttfttery N. W. Tvmperaooe Amaistign.

THE COUNTY RATE BASIS. FAIR PLAY FOR THE TOWNS. To the Eidtor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times. Sir,-The attitude of the rural representatives towards the urban districts is becoming more acute day by day, two striking instances having occurred on Tuesday last, the 14th inst., one at the County Council meeting and the other at a meeting of the Rating Committee of the Council. So important are the interests involved and far reaching the consequences that I think nothing will be lost and possibly something gained by ventilating, even outside the Council, the qnestions now at issue between the town and country districts, thereby giving the ratepayers and the reading public fuller information on these subjects. The possible results may be overlooked by many at the present time, but rest assured that if allowed to pass, and when perhaps it would be too late, the towns will find themselves heavily handicapped in their powers and probably burdened with increased rates. The space in your columns is too valuable for me to give instances where public bodies and towns are suffering permanent injury through their neglect in having allowed their powers to be taken from them. PARISH COUNCILS BILL. On the 15th of September certain resolutions deal- ing with this Bill were printed in full on the agenda of the Montgomeryshire County Council. These resolu- tions were sent from the County Councils' Associa- tion for the consideration of our County Council, and the latter appointed a committee to consider them and to report to a meeting of the Council to be held within a month from that date. The Council, how- ever, did not meet until last Tuesday, the 14th inst., to receive the report. This Committee did not confine themselves to these resolutions, but made recommendations outside them which in fact comprehended the entire details of the measure. One recommendation was as follows:— Power should be given to the County Council in these cases to transfer any part of a parish which is within an urban district to the rural parish in cases where they are satisfied that such part at the passing of the Act included in an urban district is of a purely rural character. By clause 1, sub-section 3, power is given to the County Council to make separate parishes of any parishes that may be partly within aud partly w.th. out the rur-ii sanitary district. The reasonableness of the clause as it stands is clear, but to propose to make such an addition as the Council wouid wish would be to add something to the olause that has nothing whatever to do with urban districts. Tne effect of the addition, if the Bill be altered to meet the wishes of tue Moutgomeryehire County Council, will be that a portion of the rural part of tho Newtown and LlanLwchaiarn uiatrict may be di- vorced from the u. ban, at tho pleasure of the County Council, without auy appeal to tue Local Govcrment board by those who may feel themselves aggrieved. The power to make such a transfer is already given to the County Council by tltction 57 of the L. G. Acv 1888, but is wisely made subjecc to a provision giving the Local Government Board authority to interfeie if the alterations failed to meet with the approval of any of those who may be affected by it. in my humoie opinion tin Council failed to act with its accustomed discretion when it entertained any ot the recommendations which aie foreign to the resolu- Lions transmitted by the County Councils' Associa- tion, and my reasons are these :— 1. That, in the minute which appointed them the Committee were not instructed to report generally upon the merits of the Bill. 2. Because the members of the Council had not received copies of the Bill, and therefore c )al(t hardly be expected to folio w amendments whichareatti-a oirts to a Bill which covers 42 foolscap pages. It is to be regretted, I think, that representatives of constituen- cies which are distinctly urban did not take a greater amount of interest in tnis question. Possibly it jaay be attributed to the belief on their part that the Bill would not be affected by any suggested improve. ment of the Council, but may be salely left in the hands of Parliament. COUNTY RATE COMMITTBB. The County Council and its Committees having had this matter in hand for a considerable time, 1 will now ask how does it stand at present as regards the Newtown and Llanidloes Uniou ? This Union is rated to the poor at X112,953, but its ratepayers are paying ou X124,014, wnich is the same amount as that on which they were paying in the year 1883. That is to say, they now pay to the extent of £ 11,061 over and above the present rateable value of the Uuicn. The country mansions, railway, canal, water, gas and other companies are still paying on old valua- tions, whilst the Liverpool waterworks, which have now been constructed for a considerable tim*, and are valued at R8,000 per annum, contribute nothing towards our county rate. Under the Local Government Act of 1888, section 3, sub-section 1, power is given to the County Couucil for the preparation and revision of the bads or standard of the county rate," but the Council has not yet availed themselves of this power, preferring for the present to accept the different Union assess- ments, and to make recommendations to the c.aS:5 of property to which reference has just been made. Proceeding, I may say that the Rating Committee are serionsly considering the propriety of increasing by 5 per cent. the deductions allowed off the gross esti- mated rentals of farm houses and land. I shall endea- vour to prove by figures that the result of this will be that it will relieve one class of the community at the expense of the whole, and particularly affect ad- versely the householders and working ciasses of the towns and villages. I will take as an example a fairly large area of farms and land, and that chosen is the only one in which, so far as I am aware, houses are rated separately from land. I have the figures before me of that district of Newtown and Llanllwch- aiarn, which it was proposed should be taken out of the Newtown district. The rateable value is £ 7,481. It is divided as follows:— £ Representing houses and buildings. 898 Do. land 6,583 J67,481 To make the case clear, I give the deductions as worked out on the proposed new basis :— x 15 per [cent. off t7,481 land and buildings 1,122 7i.. J36,583 land separately 493 .£629 a i neretore tne difference of X629 remains for repairs on the houses, which is 70 per cent.; or, if 2i per cent. be considered sufficient off the land, 107 per cent., whereas the allowance to householders in the towns and villages is only 15 per cent. if the rent is over £ 6, and if below 20 per cent. Why our agricultural friends should be dissatisfied with their present liberal deductions is a point into which I will not enter. In these figures I have taken the net rateable value for the sake of convenience, and, whilst touching on this portion of the Newtown district, I may point out that although the part referred to is rated at > £ < ,481, for Local Board pur- poses it is only assessed at about £ 2,550. I am fully aware that the rural portion of the Newtown distriot is scarcely a fair comparison for the whole county, but even by assuming that the rent of houses as compared with land to be as one in four instead of nearly one in eight, as in the case given, the allowance for repairs of buildings is alto- gether out of proportion to the actual cost. Let me, however, take the county as a whole. Upon a eareful estimate I reckon in round figures that the portion of the county, which would be re- lieved to the extent of 5 per cent, is rated at J6300,000, i.e. the county will be minus X15,000 upon which to levy rates, consequently the rates must be increased to meet this deficiency, and the house- holders of towns and villages, while reaping them- selves no advantage, will have an extra burden placed upon them. Further than this, all the local rates will be levied upon this now basis, i.e., the rural part will be relieved and the towns and villages must submit to a further burden. I suggested to the Rating Committee that farm houses should be rated separately from the land with which they are occupied, but this was deemed im- practicable, although it is done for the purposes of Local Boards, and why it should be inapplicable in other cases, I am at a loss to conoeive. I hope the Rating Committee will recommend the Council to postpone, until after the Parish Councils Bill shall have become law, the consideration of the question of the deductions to be made from the gross rateable) value, except only in those cases in which there may be entire unanimity amongst the members of the committee. This would mean nothing more than the delay of a few months, with the compen- sating gain that thereby more information may be obtained and opportunity afforded for the further discussion of this important matter, and perhaps in the meantime those descriptions of property which are now assessed on too low a basis will have been re-valued. With respect to repairs, is not the question mis- understood ? If the deduction made 10 years ago to cover landlords' repairs were considered reasonable, what has happened in the meantime to justify an in- creased allowance ? The depression under which the agricultural interest is labouring, and which we all greatly deplore, furnishes no reason for interference. If it did, our manufacturing concerns would have a claim to be dealt with in a similar fashion. Finally, I may express the hope that County Conn- cils will carry out their powers and obligations in a just and broad-minded spirit, not overlooking the in- terests of less important bodies, otherwise I fear the effect will be that Parliament will be reluctant to en- trust the Councils with extended powers, which would be a subject of universal regret.—I am, your obedient servant, EDWARD PBYCE JONES. Ktwfcown Hall, ftmafav lmliam

THE MONTGOMERY BOROUGHS. To the Eailor oj the Montgomeryshire Express ami Radnor Times. Sir, When is our member going to give an account of his stewardship to his constituents ? He baa beeo elected since twelve months last July, but beyond speeches at Tory meetings on per&onal matters I haY. looked in vain for an exposition of his ideas on IeJII. lation-present and future. I suppose he claims to represent all classes in the Boroughs. I want to know how he is going to vote on the Liquor Bill, A TEMPERANCE VOTWR, [This letter was accidentally omitted last wockj^r ED.]

STRAY THOUGHTS FROM LLANWYDDELAN. To the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times.. Sir,—Perhaps it would not be unwise, after the School Board eleotion, to make a few comments on the election and the circumstanoes connected with it, if you will be so kind as to consent to their pub- lication. Without doubt it is to be regretted that this matter cannot be more peacefully settled, without being compelled to squander the parishioners' money. Things ef this sort ought to be dealt with con. clusively by a general meeting of ratepayers, and authority given to the said ratepayers to check the challenging the district, and demanding that the district should be thrown into the turmoil of an election. It so happened, with regard to the above- named School Board eleotion, which came off last Friday. Selection by Vestry was first of all acceded to, but it proved of no avail, for reasons already stated. In the late Board the policy advocated was thrift and proper care of the rates, yet in two or three months afterwards a considerable sum of money was practically thrown away, as far as the inhabitants of the district were concerned. No wonder then that the general feeling on this point was struck on a high key-note, and still keeps its pitch. It is char. acteristio of the inhabitants that they are patient, and lack in foresight, but when a thing becomes known, though perhaps too late to stop or mend, their revenge is thorough. The moat objectionable and unbearable fact in connection with elections held here is the intimacy which exists between some beings and Sir John Barleyoorn." It is disgraceful to the neighbour- hood, and on every account ought to be made public. To see men under the influence of drink in a place two miles from the nearest public-house is not a thing to be overlooked. A person should be ashamed of himself, if hd has a spark of manhood in him, if he cannot trust to win an election by personal attributes, and not by a glass of beer. A School Bo-ird is not the situation for all sorts of characters. It bhould be looked up to as composed of a steady, persevering, energetic class of men—men with sound judgments of their own, and who "fear uo foe" in the pursuit of the riyht. It if) to be feared that in these days personality goes before principle; no regard is taken of principle if the personality ill. pleasing, right or wrong. Parents who are desirous of rearing their childron in the way of righteousness and soberness should first of all look for the desired principle in School Board members, and all other effects will follow for the good of the children tho relief of tbe parishioners, and the elevating of humanity. Other comments are contemplated. Hoping that I do not trespass upon your valaableapace.-I remain yours truly, EAOI.E'S EYE."

WHAT AN EARTHQUAKE CAN DO. ro the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times. „ Sir,-Haviiig seen by the newspapers that the Principality has recently been visited by a few mild shocks of earthquakes, the following startling notes will, I have no doubt, interest your readers and especially more so as the writer was present:- The sea was running mountains high" is a favourite expression, but the highest natural waves I ever and often encountered were off the Cape of Good Hope and the Pitch of Cape Horn. Here at times waves trom thirty to forty feet high sweep along in majestic masses. The greatest wave of historic times was caused by the succession of earthquakes experienced all dong the loot of the great Andean range of moun- tains on the Pacific Slope, which took place on A1a5,U8' 13th'1?88- ,Tlw city of Arequipa, situated at the foot of the volcano El Miste," was in a few seconds levelled to the ground, and thousands lay lead and dying amidst the debris. The towns of Tslay, Arica, Iquique, and many others were en- gulfed; a great cry went up to Heaven as the terrified survivors saw the sea retiring, and the shipping in the harbour earned irresistibly sea- wards. In a few minutes the ftea stopped, and th«n arose a mighty wave, folly fifty feet high, and came rolling to with a fearfnl rush, the whole of the shipping coming back, many bottom upwards, and cast ashore by the great billows over the prostrate towns, where quantities of their timbers remain bleaching to this day, over a mile from the seashore. But large as this southern branch of the wave was, its northern arm was Taster still. When first it started on its voyage across the Pacifie its length was estimated at five million feet, or, roughly speaking, a thousand miles, with a vary- ing height of from sixty to seventy feet. This incalculable mass sped along at a rate of about six hundred miles an hour. As it widened out this dimuuahed as its length grew greater. In Mid-Pacific it formed a semi-circular wall of water measuring from end to end about eight thousand miles. Let us follow the monster's course as far as intelligent reports will permit us. „ Soon midnight tbe shore of California, fully 5 000 miles from the seat of the disturbance, was shaken by a wave nearly seventy feet in height, which burst with a crash upon it. The huge billow bad traversed this expanse of water in less than eight hours. The Sandwich Islands were next visited. This gronp is situated 6,400 miles west and north from Arequipa, and the natives might fairly consider themselves safe from any danger. Yet shortly after midnight a terrible 0"7 went out into the night that the Islands-were sinking. The wave did not break here, and, by a natural optical illusion, the onlookers could not resist the impression that they were sinking rapidly into the sea. Islet after islet was submerged, and panic was universal, until the advancing tide paused and retired. But far beyond the wave coursed on. The next day Yokohama, in Japan, was visited by a billow thirty-five feet high. In something less than twenty-four hours this wave had travelled over two-fifths of the earth's surface—a distance of' 10,590 square miles. From the Samoa and Mar- i qnesas groups came detailed accounts of the same' phenomenon. But yet on and on it rushed. New Zealand received the wave, greatly diminished and broken, but still alarming. Still not exhausted, the giant wave was seen and heard of on the Australian coast, 12,000 mues from its starting point. Passing thence, its power was broken and lost in the vast i, Indian Ooean.—I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, CHARLES AP THOMAS. Plas Ynoa, Singlewell Road, Gravesend.

NEWTOWN AND LLANIDLOES UNIOX ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE. To the Editor of the Montgomeryshire Exprett and Radnor Times. Sir,—Allow me to call your attention, and also ft public generally, to the Newtown and Llanidloes Union Assessment Committee, and their method of dealing with the ratepayers of the Union. Wedoeo* day last was appointed by the above-named Com* mittee to hear appeals against the rate made, and, as a ratepayer, I appeared before the Committee is order to have my rate revised according to my grom rental value, a right which I and every other rate* payer are entitled to according to justice, without any objection from any assessment committee wbat. ever. But, Mr Editor, before I gave half my eri- deuce (and true evidence too) the Chairman ordered me out while they made their decision, and come in after to hear their decision. Now, do you, Mr Editor, and also the public generally, see it fair > turn a man out and not allow him to lay his eviden i clear before the Committee, and after turning h, e out to call him in, and then declare their decisions. Do you see any justice for men fro Ttsffrv lwys, Newtown, and Bettws, to fix rates on honf in the distant parishes, and those houses toey hat. never seen nor know the least of their value f I don't know how the other ratepayers who appeared before the honourable committee were treated. 1, should like to hear the result of their applications through your paper. It is quite time for the publio to look out for more suitable men to compoee the Assessment Committee in place of those who conepcaw it now. A RATBPATB*. ONE WHO SUFFERS.—We cannot insert your loiter unless your name be attached. E. J.-Next week.

THE STEAM-ROLLER AT NEWTOWN* It is our pleasing duty to record the fact that the Montgomeryshire County Council have taken what we consider to be a step in tne advance of civilisat tion by the purchase of a Steam Road Roller. N one will deny the great advance which had bee made during the present ceneury through the st- ployment of steam. Steam has been utilised to drift our ships, to carry our merchandise, and as a means ot travel it is unsurpassed. Any laborious work to be done, steam has been the ready and willing servant ot man: whether it be the dri-7iiig of a mill, the threshing of corn, or the sawing of timber. BaG amid all this progress we repaired our roads just a# our forefathers did. It was generally considered that the old mechod of stonebreaking and road n- pairing would never be superseded. The greatest obstacle to reform, however, was the minute sub- divisions of the highway districts. In fact the dis- tricts were too circumscribed to afford an outlay in the purchase of machinery which has been in em- teno!! for the last quarter of a century. The passing1 of the Local Government Act placed all the principal roads of the county under one jurisdiction, namny the County Council. They have, we believe, about 400 miles of roads to repair. Early in the year 1802, their attention was called to the desirability (if ank. ploying steam in the repair of roads. A committee was appointed, of which Mr John Shuker was the Chairman. Now, JVJrSnuker resides just upon tho borders of Shropshire. About three yeara ago tho; Shropshire County Council purchased a steam roller which gave such great-, satisfaction that they have since purchased two more. Mr Stiuker, sveing the great improvement effected to tne roads by means- of the roller, did not caase to impress upon the Moot* gomery Council the desirability "f purchasing a rol' ler for the use of their roads. There is no man who can obtain the e-ir of the Council on any practical question more ro .dily ttian Mr Shuker. which weoou- sider te be alike creditable both to the Council ? we>l as to Mr Snuker. Our readers have no doubt, noticed that when a layer of metal i. placed upon the road, that tbe first vehicle that passed cut into it; like a small plough, and also crushing a proportion1 of stone, the srone also cutting the felloes of the car- riagewhopi. The second carriage aLo going as lieas" as possible in the same track, in a short time Use. whole layer becomes corrusrated; the roadmen then comes with a rake an i loosens the stone and levels the same, when the same procoe-s has to be goso through again. Should the stones havo been laid after Christmas, or the weather takes up dry, like the last summer, the probability is that they will have to be gathered up again or left roiline about all tho summer to the great annoyance of horses and aMO who have to travel along that road. The committee referred to above went into tlMt. question thoroughly, and recommended not only the Eurchase of a roller, but also of a stone reaker, the idea being that the roller might be used as such during the winter, and for breaking stones during the summer. That is., about 120 days a year rolling about 110 miles of road and 180 days breaking about 5,000 tons of stone. The roller wiil work as a traction engine, and convey thtP stonebreaker from one quarry to another. Then us to the question of cost the committee considered that the ratepayers would not object to an improve- ment providing there was no additional expanse. The cost of both implements would be about J&600, which if paid at once would be about three-eights of a penny in the pound The committee, however, made arrangements by which the payment should be in four annual instalments of about X150 each, this being considerable less than the one-eigth of a penny in the X, and this it is estimated will be saved* annually in the working, so that the ratepayers will not suffer in the least, and in four yearf they will be paid for. We may state that the Council were per- fectly unanimous as to the purchasing of the roller, but there was some difference of opinion with regard to the stonebreaker. Mr David Hamer contended that the stones were broken into chips instead of cubes, thus the stones being practically destroyed. Mr John Jones, the chairman of the Main Roads Committee, on the other hand, contended that immediate advantages were to be obtained from the use of this stonebreaker, and read the telti. mony ef several engineers to that effect. We may state that the stonebreaker will not be purchased until the spring, but the roller arrived at Newtown on Tuesday last for a fortnight, and will then be taken to Welshpool, where the roads are in much greater need of it. A capable correspondent writes us:— No Macadamised road is properly fit for traffic un- less it is condensed, consolidated, and reduced to » hard and regular surface by suitable appliances, and for this purpose the steam-roller was designed. A well-rolled covering contains at least from 70 to 80 per cent. of mass of stone, leaving only from 20 to 30 per cent. of intermediate space, which is filled by clean sand or chippings. In a cubic yard the spaces would amount to from 51 to 8 oubic feet, which proves that the spaces are reduced by rolling to nearly one-half cf the amount when the new metal is not rolled. It is scarcely necessary to insist on the increase of durability and the clear gain in economy of maintenance of roads by efficient rolling. Steam- rolling saves money as well as suffering, and the Legislature having recognised the importance of a- Sanitary Authority becoming the owners of a steam-- loller, they now permit money to be borrowed for the purchase of a roller as for a permanent work. Horse-rollers were first applied in 1830 in France and Germany, but it was not fully appreciated in England until 1843, when Sir John Burgoyne brought the system of rolling, as a measure of economy, in- his paper on Rolling of new-made roads," whi. was the first published recommendation in the Eng- lish language. In Calcutta bullock rollers were naèéJí in the year 1855, and it was the cruelty of this opera. tion that suggested the necessity for a steam-roller, the outcome of which was the well-known roller, as manufactured by Messrs Aveling & Porter of Rochester, and now so generally used througnont the world. The roller which the Montgomery County Council have now adopted was constructed by the* aforeinamed well-known steam-roller manufacturers, and patented by Roval letters. The weight is ten tons, which, no donbt, is the Blost suitable for this- county, taking into consideration the contour, con- struction, and the materials used in the county for road repairs. An Aveling & Porter ten-ton roller can consolidate from 900 to 1,200 super yards of roadway in a dllY of ten hours, much depending on the quality and quantity of the binding material used. We hail its coming to Newtown. as no doubt our streets and roads prove its necessity as well as any district in Wales. Printed and Published by JOHN PHILLIPS (Fros Terrace, Llanllwehaiarn), and WILLIAM Pve. PHILLIPS (19, Broad-street, Newtown), at Sir Mmy's Priatint Works, Old Charob-drook NWr lawn.