The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

BARMGUTH MMN SPECIAL MEETING. Resignation of the Fire Brigade. Proposed Artillery Camp at Barmouth. No Reduction in the Rates. A Midnight Sitting. A special meeting of the above Council was held on Friday night. Present Messrs Rbys Jones, chairman J. Pryce Jones, vice-chairman; R. G. Moore, D. 0. Hughes, Uenry Freeman, Owen Williams, and Dr. Pugh Jones, with Messrs R. Llewelyn Owen,deputy clerk; T. R. Parry, surveyor; and John Roberts, rate collector. PORKINGTON HILL. The Chairman drew attention to the advisability of engaging the steam roller to repair the Porkington Hill. Now was the time to do the work as the curbings for the new parapet hod been laid and also as the roller was on the spot. In reply to Mr D. 0. Hughes, the Sur- veyor said that dfnly an acknowledge- ment had been received from the Cam- brian Railways Company with reference to the Council's request that some part of the rock should be blasted. Dr. J. Pugh Jones enquired whethei the Council had decided to lay macadam on Porkington Hill. Mr Owen Williams said the Council bad decided some time ago to repair the Hill. The Surveyor said that his estimate of the work included the laying of* macadam on the Hill, and the Council had approved of it. Mr Owen Williams said the Hill badly needed doing. Mr J. Pryce Jones proposed that the Surveyor should engage the roller to do the necessary work. Mr Owen Williams seconded, which was agreed to. Dr. J. Pugh Jones proposed that the Surveyor should buy the macadam from those who had been working at Graig- f acb. Mr Owen Williams seconded, which was carried unanimously. RESIGNATION OF THE FIRE BRIGADE. The Deputy Clerk reported that a letter bad been sent to the Fire Brigade stating that the Council had appointed a committee of the whole Council as Fire Brigade Committee and hoping that the firemen would act as members of the Brigade until the new Committee bad met to discuss the matter. In reply to that communication, a letter was read from Mr William Morris, secretary of the Fire Brigade, stating that the members of the Brigade had been called together to deal with the Council's letter, and they bad de- cided that in the present circumstances they could not accede to the request of Council ftljd therefore they tendered their resignation. In reply to a question, it was reported that no keys of the Fire Station had been sent to the Council. Mr D. 0. Hughes said that he under- stood that Mr John Lewis, Mount Plea- sant, bad a key and was looking after the place. Mr Owen Williams said that io was very good of Mr Lewis to do that. Dr. J. Pugh Jones proposed, as the members of the Fire Brigade bad sent in their resignation, that the. Surveyor should take charge of the Fire Station and the Appliances, until the Committee bad met to make further arrangements. Mr D. O. Hughes said he believed that the Council should have someone in I charge of the place. He seconded Dr. j Jones' proposition? j The Chairman said he agreed that sotiic-one should be in charge of the jj place as the fire engine h:i,d cost so much to the town. Mr J. Pryce Jones said th ;t Mr John Lewis was not responsible to the Coun- cil in any way. The Chairman-Quite so. Mr Owen Williams said tbnt according to the reply from the Fire Brigade no one was responsible to the Council for looking after the place. The Chairman—No, only that Mr J. Lewis has very kindly done so. After some further discussion the proposition of Dr. Pugh Jones was car- ried unanimously. In reply to the Chairman, the Surveyor said that no key had been sent to bim and he understood that the key and lock belonged to the Fire Brigade. Mr Henry Freeman thought the best plan would be to send a communication to the Secretary of the Brigade. Per- haps that would be the means of pre- venting any friction. Mr Owen Williams said he hoped that the matter would be settled without any friction, Mr R. G. Moore proposed that a letter should be sent to Mr William Morris asking him to be good enough to hand over the key to the Surveyor pending further arrangements. Mr D. C. Hughes seconded, which was agreed to. ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE. The Deputy Clerk reported that Capt. H. A. Webber, of the 4th North Midland Howitza Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, bad during the week visited several sites in the town with reference to the pro- posed camp of fifteen officers, 800 men, 200 horses and eight guns to be located at Barmouth during the coming summer. Since his visit, the following letter bad been received from Capt. Webber :— The 4th North Midland Howitza Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, is desi- rous of carrying out part of its annual training at Barmouth this year, viz., July 18th to July 23rd, and wishes to camp on the ground adjoining and on the south side of the Recreation Ground- I should be greatly obliged if you would" put the matter before the next meeting of the Council, and obtain the necessary sanction. I would point out that there is no other ground at all suitable for the required camp, and I therefore hope sincerely that the Council will see its way to granting its sanction to this re- quest. If sanction is granted it is pro- posed to hire, if possible, the ground be- longing to Mr Morris on the west side of the railway line. I shall be obliged to you it you will inform me of the Council's decision at an early date. The Brigade would require approximately 2,000 gallons of water daily." Mr Owen William's asked whether any shooting would be carried on at all. The Deputy Clerk said he was given to understand that no shooting would take place, and after the expiration of the five days at Barmouth the Btigade would march from Barmoutb to Traws- fynydd, where the remainder of the training would be completed. In reply to a question, the Surveyor stated that Mr Thomas Morris bad in- formed him that be would not allow them to hire his land. Mr Owen Williams said he believed that the Council should pass not- to allow them to come and camp here at all. Personally, he was against their comimg. Mr R. G. Moore—What objections have you ? Mr Owen Williams said be believed they would be an annoyance to the people living in that part of the town, and also would be a source of nuisance to the visitors. Mr Henry Freeman said be believed that the town would be. better without them at all. Mr Owen Williams—I quite agree I with you, Mr Freeman. Dr J. Pugh Jones said be thought I that they would be of some benefit to the town at that time of tbe year. He (' ::I tl favoured granting them permission. The Chairman said that their pre- sence would do a lot of good to the tradespeople. They came at a slack time, and only staying for five days. Thousands of soldiers had visited Aber- ystwytb last summer and no complaints were made. Dr J. Pugh Jones said it would be educational and instructive to have them here. Mr Henry Freeman said that a good number of visitors would be here at that period, Visitors came here for quietness. They had plenty of soldiers in their own districts without having them again when on their holidays. Dr J. Pugh Jones proposed that the Council should grant, the request of the Brigad.e. The Chairman—What is the position of the Council as Mr Morris will not allowitbein to have his land ? Dr J. Pugh Jones—We have nothing to do with that. The Chairman said that the Council could decide later as to the water supply to be given them. Of course they would pay any expenses incurred. Mr J. Pryce Jones said he objected to them coming here from a sanitary point of view. Di, J. Pugb Jones said that the Bri- gade would have a medical man of their own, who would see into that matter. Mr Owen Williams said that the Council had last summer refused per- mission for some school to camp on the Recreation Ground, but now they were going to allow the soldiers to come here. The Chairman But the Council gran- ted permission for some boy scouts to camp here. Mr Henry Freeman—Let us vote on the matter, Mr R. G. Moore in seconding that the request should be granted, said that per- mission should be granted on condition that the ground should be placed in order to the satisfaction of the Sur- veyor. As an amendment, Mr Owen Williams proposed that the application should be refused. Mr Henry Freeman seconded, On a vote being taken, three voted for the amendment, viz., Messrs Owen Williams, Henry Freeman and J. Pryce Jones and four voted for the orinigal proposition, viz., the Chairman, Dr J. Pugh Jones, Messrs D. O. Hughes and R. G. Moore, which was declared carried. PROPOSED WIDENING OF ABER. AMFFRA ROAD. A letter was read from Mr T. Martin Williams, secretary of the Harbour Trust, stating that the Council's letter with reference to the above proposed im- provement had been submitted for con- sideration at a meeting of the Trust held last week, and he was requested to repeat what was communicated to the Council in November 1909, when the Harbour Trust applied to the Board of Trade for permission to give the neces- sary'land at Aberamffra for the widening of the main road, and the reply received was that any application for the Board's consent should bo accompanied by a 25 inch ordnance map, together with full plans and sections showing clearly 4he nature of the proposed improvement. The lines and levels of high and low water of ordinary spring tides should be shewn upon the plans and sections. When the Council would supply these particulars the Trust would forward such with their report to the Board of Trade. It was reported at the Trust meeting that your Surveyor had entered upon the land of the Harbour Trust to peg out the land applied for. The Trust would like to know upon what authority the Surveyor acted. Dr J. Pugh Jones thought that the Council could not move in the matter until the County Council bad also co- operated with them. The Chairman explained that the Harbour Trust bad moved in the matter 1909 before the Council had done any- thing. Mr Owen Williams said he believed that the Council should have the per- mission first of all from the Harbour Trust. That would strengthen Hie case of the Council. The Chairman said that the Harbour Trust knew what was required and were in full sympathy with the proposed im- provement. Dr J. Pugh Jones said the Council required a contribution towards the cost from the County Council, and afterwards to get the land from the Harbour Trust who were the final authority on the matter. The Chairman said the Harbour Trust were waiting for the Council to move in the matter first. In reply to Mr J. Pryce Jones the Surveyor said that no plans had yet been prepared by the Council to be pre- sented to the Main Roads Committee, but a committee had met on the spot. In reply to a question the Surveyor said that the Committee ha'd authorised him to peg out the proposed improve- ment. Mr R. G. Moore proposed that a plan, etc., should be presented to the Harbour Trust asking for permission for the Council's Surveyor to go on the Trust land to peg out same, and also apologise for going on their land without asking for permission. Mr D. 0. Hughes seconded, which was agreed to. DAMAGED WALL. Dr J. Pugh Jones asked who was re- sponsible for the damage done to the wall in front of Porkington Terrace. The Surveyor—The contractor is re- sponsible for the damage. The Chairman said it was important that the wall should be repaired as it was in front of the houses. Dr J. Pugh Jones proposed that the Surveyor should call the attention of the contractor to the matter. Mr Henry Freeman seconded, which was carried unanimously. I THE NEW ESTIMATE. The Council at some length discussed the new estimate for the ensuing year. It was decided to levy a general and district rate of 5/9 in the pound, and the water rate of 3d. in the pound. The Council sat until after midnight.