Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
FARMERS' UNION.
FARMERS' UNION. JOINT MEETING OF ABERGAVENNY AND PANDY BRANCHES, FEARS OF FAMINE IN BEEF AND IVULK. DEMAND FOR WEIGHING MACHINE AT ABERGAVENNY. An important joint meeting of the Aberga- At, iiii r otant. ,oint t;onal vennv and' Panely brandies of the Rational Farmers' Union was held at the Angel Hotel on Tuesday. Mr. John Roger > presiding. The questions of meat prices, milk production and ploughing up of additional land were the prin- cipal mat ters discussed, and some strong opinions were uiven expression to. Of particular interest to the ueneral consumer was the forecast that miles- there is some alteration in the conditions there may be a serious shortage 1:1 beef and milk Price of Meat Markets Glutted. Mr. Homfrav Davies (county secretarN-), 111 introducing the question oi meat prices, said that he had called a meeting of all the branches to consider the matter. There was considerable dissatisfaction all over the country at the price of beef rixed for January next. At the meeting of the National Executive in London in August they were told that a strong deputation of farmers had been received by Lord Rhondda, who held out verv little hope of an increased price. The National Executive were unanimous of opinion that the beasts they would sell in January next at the price iixed would be sold at a loss of £ro to tIS per head. The National Executive. however, had failed to move Lord Rhondda, and the Chamber of Agriculture had also failed. They therefore thought that it would be helpful if every branch of the Farmers Union throughout the country forwarded a resolution to T ord Rhondda on the matter. At Newport tliev passed a resolution that the price should be 75s. per cwt.. unless the price of feeding stuffs was immediately reduced by 50 per cent. The Chairman said that what was happening was that there was an unreasonable amount of beef being rushed into the market, and that was the case at Abergavenny that day, because the prices would drop at the end of the month. The market was overdone, and the beef was, con- sequently, sold at less than the proper price. Mr. Philip Williams The present price is 74s. per cwt. The Chairman If you can get it. Mr. Homfrav Davies said it was obvious that if they had to sell at 60s. per cwt. in January there would be a meat famine next year. Then there was the question of the shortage of manure owing to the reduction of cattle. The Chairman The crowd are pressing Lord Rhondda for lower prices Mr. Homfrav Davies What the Farmers' Union have begged Lord Rhondda to do is to fix the price to the consumer and let the farmer deal with his stuff as he likes. If the price to the consumer is fixed the butcher will not pay a higher price than will enable him to sell profit- ably. Farmers have the name of holding the stock up, whereas at Gloucester last week there were fields full of animals which had been bought but could not be slaughtered because there was no demand for them. Farmers Not Holding Up Stock. Mr. Joseph GrifEth-l; It is proof that the farmers are not holding up the stuff, or the markets would not be glutted like they are. Mr. F. J Marsh said that the markets were undoubtedly glutted with stuff which was not suitable for slaughtering. The Chairman said that a common-sense man would sell his stock as early as lie could in order to get the best price. Mr. Warren Davies What will be a very great drawback and will have a very serious effect on corn production is that there will be no farmyard manure made. Mr. Philip Williams Can Lord Rhondda do any good between now and Christmas to limit the price of feeding stuffs ? Mr. Homfray Davies It will be impossible ??Ir. Hoti,.fray L)a-, -ies. to do much. because most of it comes from abroad. The Chairman Lord Rhondda has very little control over feeding stuffs. Mr. Philip Williams suggested that they should pass a resolution that before enforcing the order fixing the price of meat the price of artificial food should be fixed in like proportion. The Chairman thought that if the price of beef was raised from the 1st of January to the 1st of March to 70s. per cwt. it would meet the case. Mr. A. P. Rogers said that the reason the markets were glutted was that people were sending in cattle from grass without the expense of feeding stuffs, and they would continue to do so as fast as they could, and from the end of the month till J annary especially there would be no one feeding. -No one was going to buy feeding stuffs at £ 20 per ton and bring beef out at 6os. per cwt. Consequently production would be killed. and that was why the markets were glutted to-day..Everything that went to make beef was gone up. The Chairman said that cake which cost £ 6 per ton previously was now £ 19. Mr. Jossph Griffitns asked what farmers could feed their stock on. They dare not use oatmeal or barley meal. Hay was dear for feeding, and swedes were £ 14 per ton. No man could use them for feeding stuffs at that price. Would Mean Ruination. Mr. Warren Davies said that it had been worked out very carefully by some of their most eminent agriculturists that under present con- ■ ditions and at the price suggested they would be losing 610 to £ 12 per head 'on their'-cattle. It stood to reason that the farmer was not going to lose'tliat amount in open daylight. It would simply mean ruination. Mr.' A. P. Rogers There will be no beef produced. Mr. Warren Davies It is not a phantom. It is a solid fact. Mr. Evan Griffiths quoted figures showing that the number of young stock in the country from one to two years old was 20,000 less than last year, and the number under one year was 28 000 less, so that if these conditions continued no one would rear and there would be a serious shortage in the future. Mr. Philip Williams said that the total number of cattle in the country was higher than last year. Mr. Joseph Griffiths What prospect is there at the price of calves to-day ? Mr. Evan Griffiths People are not going to rear at a loss. I think Mr. Homfray Davies's figures are a little bit high. From 6os. to 75s. is a big jump. Mr. Homfray Davies The National Execu- tive and other branches have asked for 75s. Mr. Warren Davies: There is a (serious shortage now in pigs. Mr. A. P. Rogers said that exactly the same thing was going to happen with beef as it had happened with milk. People said they must have cheap milk, and the consequence of fixing prices was that dairy cows were fed off and there was now a serious shortage of milk. The Chairman I have heard that milk- was to become a luxury and that nobody but in- valids and babies were to have it. (Laughter). Mr. Warren Davies proposed the resolution suggested by Mr. Homfray Davies that the price of beef be 75s., unless the price of feeding stuffs be immediately reduced by 50 per cent. He thought it was the only resolution which would meet the case Mr. Watkins seconded. The Chairman We can sympathise with the Food Controller because we are the few, and it is the numbers who are crying out for cheap meat and cheap bread, and I am afraid it is the numbers who rule. Mr. Warren Davies Even at that price the farmer cannot gain anything. The Chairman At present the farmer has not enough "stuff that he is allowed to use to feed- even his own pigs with. The resolution was carried. Demand for Weighing Machine at Abergavenny. 1 Mr. Philip Williams brought up the question of the provision of a weighing machine at the Abergavenny market. The question had been raised several tim s before, and they had had experienced gentlemen down from the Board of Agriculture and from London to look round and to advise them. but it never came to anything. Many farmers had for many years been in the habit of weighing their cattle, and the Govern- ment regulations made it more necessary than ever. He urged that the local authority be urged to provide a workable and serviceable weighing machine in a convenient position in the Abergavenny market. The Chairman said he was quite in sympathy, because he had that day tried to weigh four cattle on the machine in Lion-street, but he blocked up the street ,and failed to weigh the cattle. There was supposed to be a Government price of 74s. per cwt., but the farmers had no facilities for weighing the animals, and they did not know where they were. < Mr. Philip Williams said that he had weighed his cattle for years, and it was only by tjie favour of the G.W.R. Co. that he was able to do s o. Mr. F. J. Marsh said it was very awkward to weigh cattle there. Mr. Philip Williams It is very awkward. It takes four men to weigh two cattle. The Chairman said. he did not know of any other town which was not provided with a proper machine. Mr. A. P. Rogers Farmers ought to protest against the machine we have. It is put there to evade the law, iiot»comply with it. Farmers ought to refuse to pay toll until we have a proper machine. t The Chairman I believe Newport, Hereford, Monmouth and Leominster have proper machines. Mr. Warren Davies And Abergavenny is an important market. The Chairman And it injures it by not having a proper machine. )Ir. Joseph Griffiths seconded the resolution, and thought they ought to place the matter before the County War Executive Committee and the Board of Agriculture. The resolution was carried. importance of Milk Production. I Dealing with the question of milk production, Mr. Evan Griffiths (Raglan) said he considered that milk producers had been rather hard hit all through the war. When the war started they had already made their contracts, and although the cost of feeding stuffs was con- tinually advancing they did not get any in- creased price for their produce. That went on from Augrist till the following March, when their contracts terminated. They made contracts for the following year at an advanced price, but few farmers had the foresight to see the great ad vance in the cost of feeding' stuffs, and all through the year they produced milk at a very little profit or at a loss. At the end of last year they made another attempt to raise the price of milk, and they asked the modest increase of 50 per cent. At that time beef producers, hay producers and wheat producers were getting, and had been getting for some time, an increase of 100 per cent. As they were aware, they were almost boycotted by the consumer. They. objected very strongly to an advance of 50 per cent. in Cardiff. A commission was appointed to make inquiries, and they at once said that the increase was not only reasonable and fair, but nothing like what other produce of the farms was making in the market. They continued last winter to produce milk at a very low price, and when the Government fixed a maximum at the end of the winter they admitted that it was too low a price. As a measure of compensation they were allowed to continue the winter prices all through the summer, and they had a further promise of is. 8d. for the coming winter. The commission which sat on the matter made a very strong report, in the coarse of which they stated Having regard to the extreme urgency of providing an adequate supply of milk and the enormous labour difficulties with which farmers are faced, steps should be at once taken to prevent the calling up of any more ex- perienced milkmen, except such A men as it is pcssible to substitute with suitable milkers secondly, it is desirable, in the interests of securing an adequate future supply cf milk, that immediate steps be taken to preserve for breed- ing purposes all heifers and crws of the best dairy type; thirdly, that care should be taken to give dair^cows preference over all other kinds of stock in the distribution of concentrated food, the prices of which it is hoped may be controlled within reasonable limits." He must touch upon the ploughing up of old pastures, because if our old pastures were going to be ploughed up the milk supply was bound to be seriously jeopardised. I Unfair to Milk Producers. As an Englishman, he was prepared to do his share infcthe interests of the country, but his complaint was that being a milk producer he should not be expected to produce the corn, because by so doing he was doing a double share. He'calculated that he was producing milk for 1,000 people daily. He produced close on 50 gallons daily, or 400 pints, and if they reckoned a pint to every three persons it was equivalent to supplying 1,200 people. It was unfair to expect him to produce such a quantity of an important article like milk as well as to produce an equal proportion of corn on the same holding. So far as the local Agricultural War Executive Committee was concerned not the slightest allowance was made for his milk production, and he was expected to plough up exactly the same proportion as the man who did not produce any milk at all, which was unjust. In reply to a deputation Mr. Prothero said, I agree with yoitlas to the absolute necessity of keeping up the milk supply of the country. There is no doubt about it that if the milk supply fails nothing would be more likely to provoke popular disorder indignation and discönterif. We all know the reason. It would attack the child life of the nation. I am entirely with you on that point, and we must at all hazards keep up the milk supply of the country." He did not think that anything could be stronger than the language of Mr. Prothero. Having been ex- horted to do everything they could to keep up the supply of milk, they had made. preparations for doing so. It took years to get together a good herd of dairy cows, and he was ordered er expected to plough up something like 60 acres. He found that pasture, with a reasonable amount of root cultivation, was the best method of milk production, and he had gone on for years 011 those lines. If he was to plough up the whole of his hay ground he woulq. be left with 60 to 80 tons of straw on his hands. It was ridiculous to expect him to produce milk at the present price of artificial foods and to feed his cattle on straw. He thought that some consideration should be shown to those farmers who were producers of such an important and necessary food for the nation. He was quite prepared to do his share, but he felt that it was hard lines to I expect some to do three or four times as much as others in the same industry. « Monmouthshire's Heavy Rainfall. Monmouthshire was in rather a unique position. The rainfall was the second largest of all the counties in the country, so that Mon- mouthshire was not adapted for corn growing. They had all had experiencethis year of what effect the weather had on a large cultivation of corn. They had rain there almost every day, while in Sussex and on the East-Coast they had had jDrilliant sunshine. From the national standpoint he thought it was very unwise to plough up so large a proportion of old pasture in Monmouthshire. If they compared Monmouth- shire with other counties, what was the position ? Devonshire ploughed 144,000 acres and were expected to plough up 30,000 more Derbyshire ploughed 80,000 and were expected to plough up 35,000 more; Berkshire and Huntingdon ploughed 122,000 acres and were expected to plough up only 25,000 more Monmouthshire only ploughed 32,000 acres, but they were ex- pected to plough up 25,000 more. Considering the rainfall, they were hard hit. and thev were expected to do more than their fair proportion. Not only that, but lie thought that the Aberga- venny district was allocated a heavy proportion of the total for the county, so that they in that reighbourhood were very hard hit. He knew that some people were very zealous and they thought they were doing a national duty by forcing the ploughing up of old pasture as much as they could, but he could not agree with them. These people were doing more harm than good. In looking over the returns they found that this year there were for hay 1,682,000 acres, and not for hay 817,000 acres, making a total of 2,499,000 acres there were bare fallows 355,000 acres, so that thev had, without breaking up any old pastures, the necessary three million acres under cultivation that they needed. He maintained that if they were to break up old pastures in- discriminately, as some committees advocated, they were doing, not a national b2nefit, but a great harm to the country in the matter of food production. He proposed, That considering the absolute importance of securing and main- taining a sufficient supply of milk, which stands out alone as the most important and economi- cally produced national food, special facilities should be afforded to producers in regard to the supply of feeding stuffs, and also that due con- sideration should be granted to them not to interfere unduly with existing conditions by ploughing up tlieir old pastures, thereby seriously diminishing the already short supply of milk produced." Protest Against Indiscriminate Ploughing. Mr. J usep. Griffiths said that Mr. Evan Griffiths had referred to the zeal of some com- mittees in callying out the instructions with regard to compulsory ploughing. He was afraid that it was not altogether zeal which had prompted them to ask for so much. Soma of them had on different occasions put forward the view that good' pasture land should not be ploughed up, but they had been called to order at once and told that they had their orders from Newport and they must be obedient servants. He should like to see such a resolution sent to headquarters, so that it would relieve the local committee from making these I compulsory orders. Thev agreed that it was wrong to plough up all this land, but they were faced with the I position that thev must resign office or obey orders. He thought that some such attitude on the part of the Farmers' Union would help them as a committee Mr. Homfray Davies said that he had the misfortune to be the secretary of the Newport War Executive Committee, and he assured them that they would not ailow the County Committee that t .l e i?-oti l d tio' l a l ?ov. to dictate to them on such a matter. They dealt with every farm on its merits They-had had a big fight over this. because it had been continually thrown at them that every com- mittee in the county should adopt the Abcrga- scheme. Xhej were not adopting the Abergavenny scheme, and they were not going to do it uulcr any circumstances whatever, They had got experienced men to go over every farm, and they discussed the matter with the farmer and came to an agreement. They took into consideration milk producing in particular. They would not allow the County Committee to overrule them, and he questioned whether they could do it. So far they had had very little trouble, but they did occasionally come across men who said that no one was going to make them plough. These men were noted and they were made to plough quicker than anyone. How to Increase Production. Mr. Evan Griffiths said he was prepared to plough three times as much as he did, but if he ploughed as much as he was asked to do it would be ruinous so far as his milk production was concerned. Mr. Warren Davies said that practically then, worked on the same lines at Abergavenny as they did at Newport. Last Friday they spent about 12 hours on the matter. They appointed men to walk the farms, and he believed every farm had been inspected. Some members said that no one had walked their farm.or inspected it, and one member said that although he had a small farm he had had had seven over it. (Laughter). Mr. Evan Griffiths They don't consider and balance things up at all, but they think that the more is ploughed the better for the nation. Mr. Homfray Davies said that if more atten- tion was paid to the present arable land, and farmers had manures at special rates so that they could get the greatest amount of pro- duction out of the land,'it would do more good than ploughing up some of the land they were asked to do. Mr. Evan Griffiths The point is not to plough up a greater amount of land, but to increase the production. Mr. Joseph Griffiths: The compulsory order says that there must be 25,000 additional acres of ploughed land in Monmouthshire. How are you going to reconcile your agrument with the Agricultural War Committee ? Mr. Evan Griffiths said that Mr. Prothero asked them to get as near to the 1872 position as they could in the 1918 harvest, and if they could not do so, to say why. He stated that it was not proposed to put a rigid acreage on them, but they were asked what they could do. Mr. John Lewis The committees in their wisdom do not take that point of view at all, but they say You have to plough so many acres." Mr. John Baynam seconded Mr. Evan Griffiths' resolution, which was carried. Threshing Machines. A discussion took place with regard to thresh- ing machines for the district, and it was stated that application had been made to the War Executive Committee to send five machines for the district. Mr. Homfray Davies said that they might perhaps get three. The Chairman said that the charge of 44s. per day would be detrimental to little owners, and he thought it was better to charge them by the hour. It was decided to call the attention of the War Agricultural Committee' to the shortage of threshing machines in the district. A Parliamentary Candidate. Mr. Homfray Davies said they would remem- bet that Mr. S. T. Griffin was asked sowe time ago to let his name go forward to the selection committee with a view to his standing for a con- stituency outside the county. Ujider the Re- distribution scheme that division would be re- constituted, so that it would include Pandy, Abergavenny, Usk, Chepstow, Monmouth, Pontypool rural, and the rural portion of St. Mellons district down to Rhymney. Whether the Union fought that division or not would be a question for the branches to consider.. Mr. Griffin said at the last Executive meeting that I although he had declined to contest a seat out- side the county he had not declined to contest a seat in the county itself. If anything was done at a later date over 1,200 of their members would be notified and asked to attend a meeting at the centre. They had no politics, but Mr. Griffin, or whoever stood, would have to vqte solid on all agricultural matters, and one of the first things to be pressed forward would be the Land Tenure Bill. providing for security of tenure to farmers. Mr. Warren Davies said that if ever there was a period in the hisotry of agriculture when they should have better representation in Parlia- ment it was the present. When the war was over, agriculturists would be faced with a very serious position, especially from a legislative point of view. As they all knew, agriculture had been one of the most neglected of our in- dustries. If they wanted to hold their own and have their interests looked after in the future it was absolutely necessary that they should appoint representatives from among their own number. The matter would be open for discussion later on, but if Mr. Griffin would consent to stand they would have a very strong candidate. The Executive Committee in Lon- don had a very high opinion of Mr. Griffin's abilities. There 'seemed a fair prospect of success now that they were cut away frcm the industrial part of thv, county, and they should take advantage of tHe favourable opportunity which presented itself. The meeting generally seemed to be strongly in favour of putting forward a candidate to contest the new constituency in the farmers' interests. ▲
M,———— BRYNMAWR POLICE COURT.
M, ———— BRYNMAWR POLICE COURT. Monday.—Before Mr. J. Bloor (in the chair)) and Mr. D. Owen. A BAD MEMORY. Michael Sharadin, navvy, Ebbw .Vale, was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Brynmawr on Sunday. He admitted being drunk and said he had no memory of what had happened.—P.-C. Kidd said that at about 2.30 on the Sunday afternoon a complaint was made at his house. He went out and found the de- fendant running after children on thejr way to Sunday school. Defendant was drunk and using filthy language, and with the assistance of P.-C. Honeybun witness arrested him. De- fendant's language could be heard a long way off. Sharadin said he did not remember any- thing about it. Answering the Chairman, P.-C. Kidd said the defendant was very disorderly.— The Chairman said defendant had no right to come into the town and make himself such a nuisance. He would be fined 10s. A DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. i Thomas Moran, labourer, Ebbw Vale, was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Brynmawr the previous day. He admitted that he had had a drop of beer.—P.-C. Kidd said that he received a complaint from a licensee that defendant had entered his premises and refused to leave when requested. Witness ejected him, and as he was very disorderly took him to the police station.—Defendant was fined 10s. EVADED THE ESCORT. It Alfred Henry Edwards, labourer, Ynysgarth, Clydach, was brought up in custody, and P.-S. J ones stated that at the Court held on September 3 he was charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act, and the Court ordered him to be handed over to the military authority. This was done the same evening at about 5.30, but the defendant evaded the escort on the Brynmawr platform, and had been at large until the previous Saturday, when he was arrested at Llanelly by P.-S. Smith and P.-C. Kidd, and brought to the Police Station at midnight.— j Defendant said he wanted to go to Brecon to be examined. He added that he had sent his birth certificate to Brecon, butr had not heard any- thing about.it since.—The Chairman said they could not deal with that as the defendant had been handed over to the military authority. Defendant would be able 1¡0 mention, any com- plaint when he arrived at Brecon. He was remanded in custody to await a military escort. ik
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ICRfCKHOWELL. ..!
I CRfCKHOWELL. Ix HOSPITAT..—Corporal W. t. Ru msey, R.E's, who has been serving in Prance for many months, and came home 011 leave recently, is now in hospital at^Brecon. FROM FRAXCE.—Sergt. C. F. eonard, in a letter to his brother, Mr. J. H. Leonard, news- agent, writes that he is recovering steadily from the effects of his burial in a trench. HARVEST.—Splendid crops have been gathered in during the past 10 days, but there is a good quantity of grain still upstanding, and anxiety is felt regarding the weather, rains falling inter- mittently just now and imerfering with the harvest. < HORSE CHESTNUTS AS Mrxirroxs. "—it is sincerely hoped that school teachers will en- courage children to collect horse chestnuts, not for the mysterious game of conquerors," but to help in winning the war. It seems that horse chestnuts can be used by the Ministry of Muni- a tions as a substitute for grain in some important industrial processes. Every ton of chestnuts will save half a ton of grain for food, and there are, it is said, 200,000 tons of chestnuts to be picked up. The Director of Propellant Supplies at 32, Old Queen-st., S.W.i, is ready to receive the unfamiliar crop. In the Crickhowell district chestnuts are now falling from the trees and they can be found at Gwern Yale, the residence of Mr. E. Pirie-Gcrdon, and at Ltan Wysg, where Mr. Gwilym C. Jomes resides. There are other places, too, where the horse chestnut flourishes. The children's knowledge in these matters is usually comprehensive, and doubtless a good store g can be gathered. The only condition is that gsaherers shall not gather anything but C12 estnuts. ▲
......-PWLLDU. t
PWLLDU. t HONOURING THE BRAVE.—At a smoking concert held at the Lamb Inn on Thursday in last week, L -corpl. S. J. Surrell, 3rd Mons., only sou of Mr. and Mrs. John Surrell, of Garnderrys, who has been home on leave after three years' active service, was presented with an illuminated wrist watch by the inhabitants of this essentially working-class community. Mr. F. Williams, Blaenavon, occupied the chair and congratulated' the recipient on his safe return. Councillor I Pendrey and Mr. A. Gwillym (who was wounded at Ypres) also addressed the meeting, and Cpl. Surrell, in responding, thanked the contributors for their handsome present. Songs were sung by Mrs. H. Gwillym, Mrs. A. Gwillym and Mrs. O. Miles, the evening terminating with the pinging of the National Anthem.—On Saturday evening a second smoker was held, for the purpose of presenting Pte. Tom Lewis, 3rd Mons., with a similar wrist watch. Mr. Arthur Gwillym was the chaiAnan on this occasion, and in his opening address apologised for the absence of Pte. Lewis, who, on account of family reasons, could not possibly be present. It was decided to hand over the gift on the following day. Pte. Lewis has seen three years' service. Songs by Messrs. A. Gwillym, J. Aubrey, H. Aubrey, H. Gwillym, F. Lewis, J. Harris, O. Miles, and others contributed to a most enjoyable evening. A PATRIOTIC INNOVATION.—At a meeting at the Lamb Inn on Saturday it was decided to give every boy, connected with this district, on leave from the front a tangible welcome home, and with this end in view a committee, consisting of Messrs. Councillor Pendry, H. Aubrey, T. Au- 1 brey, F. Lewis, J. Harris, W. Surridge, and W. Pritchard, with Mr. F. Williams as chairman and Mr. Harry Gwillym secretary, was appointed to formulate plans for the systematic reception of funds, &c.
. v———— 1 'Fruit Trees Destroyed…
v ———— 1 Fruit Trees Destroyed by Huns. As part of their programme for helping to restore the devastated countryside of our Allies, the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee (16, Bedford Square, London, W.C.i) con- template making a gift of fruit trees to the peasant proprietors of Northern France. In 54 communes in the Department of the Oise alone 30,000 fruit trees were destroyed by the Germans in the* territory recovered this year by British troops. English growers of fruit trees (apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, and apricots) are being asked to assist the Committee by donations of such trees in order that the gift may be representative of English sympathy-with the stricken peasants of our Ally. ▲
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PEEPS INTO THE PAST. I
PEEPS INTO THE PAST. I LOCAL RECORDS OF NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO. ARTICLE XL. I In the minutes of the 7th June, i860, we see I evidence of the existence of a rifle corps at Aber- gavenny. I%mission was given to the Com- mittee of the Rifle Corps to hold their meetings in the Town Hall whenever the hall was not required for the purpose of the Commissioners I or the magistrates. The New Improvement Act. I Some account is given in the minutes of the 20th June as to the expenses incurred by the j Commissioners in promoting their new Act of I Parliament. There is an item of £ 10 to Wm. Cotterell for taking account of the number of gas consumers and non-consumers in the town and for expenses of a journey to London and time engaged there giving evidence. On the 5th of July the Finance Committee reported payment of expenses and charges to witnesses who were summoned to London to give testimony j in relation to the new Improvement Act before the Committee of the House of Commons, and it is stated that the Commissioners who went to London on this account charged their actual expenses only (five at £8 each), "'they being present from the Wednesday till the following Tuesday. These, with the expenses of the Clerk and other persons amounted to ^85 os. id., and the committee recommended that the amount be paid out of the ,{5,000 borrowed money. The General Committee reported that they had resolved to invite Mr. Hair. of Pontypool, to meet them as early as convenient, in order to name on what terms he would undertake the superintendence of the proposed new water- works. The conference took place on June 28th, when Mr. Hair offered his services to the Com- missioners in relation to that part of the work which comprised the collection of the water from the springs at and near Llwyndu well, the form- ing of a covered tank or reservoir, the laying down of iron pipes and branches to convey the water to the town and through the several streets for the distribution of the water, the placing of hydrants or fire plugs at proper intervals along the streets and fixing the neces- sary stop-cocks and securing plugs, as well as placing ferules for service pipes opposite each house. All this work Mr. Hair was willing to I superintend as the engineer to the Commis- sioners, provided the same be completed in six months, for the sum of £ 60, the said sum to in- clude travelling and all other expenses. The offer was accepted. In the minutes of the 30th June there is an entry which shows that the new Act was passed The Board having learned that the Aber- gavenny Improvement Act received the royal assent on the 3rd July instant, instructed the Clerk to inform Mr. Overton that the Commis- sioners will be happy to meet him at an early date for the purpose of discussing with him the preliminaries of an arrangement for the future supply of gas to the town. The Commissioners refer to their letter of the 19th April, reminding Mr. Overton that one of the terms of a new con- tract must be the cancelling of the agreement of 1823 between the late Thomas Davies and cer- tain then Commissioners." I commissioners, "Unreasonable Demands." At the meeting of the General Committee, oil the 2nd August, a letter was read from Mr. Overton as follows Dear Sir,-Oii my re- turn Jiome this evining I received your last com- munication, and in reply have to state that. I consider the demands of the Commissioners so unreasonable that I do not feel justified in aceepting them, and I have therefore determined on disposing of my works to a company who are prepared to treat with them on the subject. I have only, therefore, in conclusion, to state that I have no further personal interest in the matter, and that Mr. Kirk and Mr. Bright, who represent the company, will call and see you on the subject, and in the meantime, if the Com- missioners wish it, I will continue to light the public lamps on the same terms as before." Mr. W. F. Batt introduced Messrs. Kirk and Bright, to whom Mr. Overton had sold his gas works and interest in the agreement of the 13th June, 1823. The chairman of the committee stated to these gentlemen that' the Board were quite fixed in their resolve to enter into no con- tract with Mr. Overton, or anyone representing his interest, except upon the compliance with the first of their proposals to Mr. Overton, which related to the annulling of the agreement of 1823. After some discussion the following terms were agreed upon between the committee and Messrs. Kirk and Bright :-(i) All parties shall be reciprocally released from all existing rights or claims (if any) under the agreement of the 13th June between the late Thomas Davies and certain then Commissioners, and the said agree- ment shall be cancelled (2) the contractors shall light not less than 75 public lamps in such places' as shall be agreed upon prior to the preparation of the contract hereafter mentioned during such period, not exceeding nine years, as they shall sell gas to all persons within the limits of the improvement Act, who shall burn the same by meter and shall pay for the same quarterly at a price not. exceeding 6s. per 1,000 cu. ft. (3) the lamps shall be well and regularly lighted every night in the year from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (4) all the gas to be supplied by the contractors shall be equal to the Parliamentary standard of 10 sperm candles (5) the contractors at their own expense shall light the lamps, keep in good repair, cleanse and paint the lamp-posts, brackets fittings, pipes, burners, the same to be first put in repair by the Commissioners (6) the price to be paid to the contractors for the public lights shall be £ 3 15s. per light per annum, payable quarterly; (7) the Commissioners shall from time to time confer on the contractors such licence and permission to open the, streets as may be necessary for the purpose of this contract and the supply of gas to the inhabitants." Exceedingly Weighty Business. On November ist, i860, the tolls of the General Market were offered for competition, but no higher offer being made than ^430, no lease was effected. There was no higher ofter than £ 102 for the tolls of the Sheep Market, and no lease was effected in this case. Subsequently the tolls of the General Market were let to W. Watkins, fruiterer, for £ 450, and the tolls of the Sheep Market to Mr. James Dawe, inuliolder, for £ 102. The work of the Commissioners at this time seems to have been very important.. On Novem- ber 29th Mr. James Hiley Morgan wrote tender- j ing his resignation as a Commissioner, on the ground that the duties of the Commissioners were now exceedingly weighty and that he was unable to devote so much of his time to the town as heretofore. The Board instructed the Clerk to inform Mr. Morgan- with all due respect that precisely because their business was now ex- ceedingly weighty they felt utterly unable to spare so useful and indefatigable a member as himself, and were compelled therefore to decline his resignation. They directed the Clerk to apprise Mr. Morgan that a meeting of the com- mittee to fix ther rules and charges of the new water supply, of which committee he was a member, would be held the following evening, and his attendance would be expected by his brother Commissioners. The weighty business referred to evidently meant the construction of the new waterworks. The A nglers' Arms. Which is the house on the Monmouth-road' formerly called the Anglers' Arms ? At the meeting on December 13th, 1860, Mr. James, county surveyor, waited on the Board to lay before them a complaint respecting the flow of water from the watercourse behind the Anglers' Arms, on the Monmouth-road. It was stated that tlie-flow of water during the last month had done considerable damage both to the road belonging to the Commissioners and to other portions of the road, which were under the care of the county surveyor. Mr. James expressed his readiness to unite with the Commissioners in requiring the North- Midland Railway Railway Company to abate the nuisance complained of, which was chiefly occasioned by the obstruction which their railway presented to the natural course of the streams running down the slopes of the Skyrrid. The Board informed Mr. James that they would be happy to concur with him in his efforts to remedy the evil complained of, and they directed the Clerk to confer with him on the subject. On January 3rd, 1861, the Clerk reported that he accompanied Mr. James to the fields on the slope of the Little Skyrrid above the West Midland Railway Station, for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the out- burst of water which had on several occasions recently rushed down the old road in a furious torrent, then crossing the coal yard near the Anglers' Arms (this suggests that the latter was the old name for the G.W.R. Hotel), had torn up the pathway and water-table alongside the Monmouth-road, thereby occasioning consider- able expense to the county as well as to the Commissioners. Mr. James promised to report the result of his observations to the county magistrateslnd tolinform the Clerk of their decision.
CrickhoweES Licensee's Death.
CrickhoweES Licensee's Death. REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. Mr. R. II. A. Davies, Coroner for the Crick- liowell district, held an inquest at his offices. Beaufort Chambers, Crickhoweil, on Thursday evening in last week, touching the death of Fanny Winifred Davies (54), of the Corn Ex- change Inn, who was found dead on the previous day. Mr. John Moxou, of Newport, appeared for Messrs. Wm. Hancock, brewers, owners of the Corn Exchange. John Barroll, butcher, Crickhowell, said he lived next door to deceased, and spoke to her occasionally. She was the widow of John Davies, who died in May last. SiVhsequently she continued the business. He last saw her alive on Tuesday morning. On the previous Wednesday, about 5.30, Police-Sergt. Edwards asked him to try and effect an entrance into the house, and he did so. He opened the door and saw Mrs. Davies lying down at the bottom of the stairs. Her head was on the- first step and her left hand was on the second step her right hand was by her side. He went and fetched I.-S. Edwards. They found an empty bucket partly on her head. A little distance away there was water on the floor, and a sack about a yard away was saturated with water. There was no trace of water on the step. She was quite dead ald cold. He could not speak as to the state of deceased's mind. When found deceased had on a dressing gown and slippers. Sergt. Roger Edwards corroborated, adding that he searched the house and found on a mantelshelf in a room downstairs a note in an envelope addressed to ":The Brewery and all others." The note ran Mr. L,oam has all my papers, and he will attend to everything. I feel I cannot stand The rest of the sentence was unintelligible, but a juryman ventured the opinion that "more, J. Davies" completed it. J. Davies was the name of her late husband. Witness, proceeding, said Mrs. Davies. was dressed in her night clothes. The house had not been opened all day, and it was this circum- stance, and the fact that he did not see her return with the evening car, that, caused him to get Barroll to climb over the back way into the house. He understood from deceased herself on the previous evening that she was in a little trouble, as she put it, as she had to report her- self to the manager of Messrs. W. Hancock, brewers, on Wednesday morning. It was a dispute over some bottles,-and she asked witness to assist her. He told her that the matter did not concern him, but he would come and see her about 7 o'clock on Wednesday. Barroll and he came to the conclusion that deceased's head had been in the bucket of water, from the appear- ance of her hair. He found a halter with a slip- knot on the bedroom landing, four yards away from her bedroom. He advised Mrs. Davies not to vex. She was quite sober, and he would like to say that the house was well conducted. by Mrs. Davies, and the police never had any cause to complain. A Juryman Did she appear to be very much worried ? P.-S. Edwards Yes. Dr. P. E. Hill said he was calle4 to see de- ceased about 5 o'clock on the previous evening. He found her at the foot of the staircase, lying "on her left side with her left hand under her and her head resting on it.' The body was sub- sequently placed in a bedroom. There was an abrasion on her left knee which occurred before death. There .were no other marks of violence and no fractures. The eyes were closed and the pupils normal, neither dilated or contracted. The right leg was rigid, as also was the left arm. The mouth was closed and therejwas no froth issuing from the lips. The tongue did not pro- trude. The body was cold, except the under- surface of the back, which was slightly warm. The signs he observed were not consistent with death from drowning or suffocation. Death, in his opinion, resulted from cardiac failure. There were no postmortem signs of drowning. She probably died early on Wednesday morning. There was no smell of poison. The Coroner You are satisfied, doctor, she died a natural death ? Dr. Hill I am quite satisfied she" died from heart failure. A Juryman And you say this, having regard to the evidence of the previous witnesses ? Dr. Hill Yes. A Juror remarked that a neighbour's child usually slept with deceased every night, but de- ceased intimated that she did not wish this on Tuesday night as she wanted to go to Newport early on Wednesday morning. Mr. Moxon Working herself up to excite- ment and worry may tend to cardiac failure ? Dr. Hill It might. The Coroner remarked that carrying a weight such as a heavy bucket of water upstairs might hasten the end in the case of a person with a I weak heart. Dr. Hill Oh, yes. The Coroner said the peculiar circumstances narrated led to the possible theory of suicide, but the doctor was very decided in his opinion that- deceased died from heart failure, and, personally he saw no reason to disagree with him. The jury returned a verdict of Death from cardiac, or heart failure." Mr. Moxon said Messrs. Hancock deeply re- gretted the death of Mrs. Davies, who conducted the Corn Exchange for them. Her husband was in charge before her, and of,his and deceased's conduct the firm spoke in the highest terms. There might be a rumour that Mrs. Davies was in financial difficulties, but as far as her indebted- ness to his clients went he could say there was not the slightest foundation for it. She only owed the sum of i I 2-quite a small and ordinary amount, and in her transactions with Messrs. Hancock she had not done anything which in any way justified the slightest suspicion for taking her life. They were Extremely sorry to lose her, as in every way she was a capable manager. A juror thought. Mr. Earroll and Sergt. Ed- wards e'ei-ert-ed tominendation for the prompt actioil they took. The Coroner: I quhe agree. 1