The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

-.r MEDICAL OFFICER CHARGED WITH NEGLECT LIVELY DISCUSSION AT PEMBROKE. The alleged neglect on the part of Dr. Howard D. Reynolds, J.P., of Pembroke Dock, in con- nection with the case of a woman named Eliza- beth Davies, upon whom an inquest was recently held, was the subject of an animated debate at the meeting of the Pembroke Board of Guardians on Thursday. Mr. C. F. Egerton Allen presided, and there was a very large attendance of members, whilst Dr. Reynolds was also present. When the matteir came up, upon the motion of Mrs. Greene, the Chairman said that since the Iiast meeting of the Board—when he did not think the Board were in a position to properly consider the matt-er-he had written officially -) the coroner, who had sent the Board a copy of the depositions taken at the inquest, which were not very long, and also a copy of the find'ng of the jury. He thought perhaps it would be well, with the consent of the Board, if he should read out these depositions. Mr. Ailen then pro- ceeded to read these documents, and the rider added by the jury to the effect that they con- sidered there was neglect on the part of the doctor. Proceeding, he said that he thought, in discussing this matter, they should, as far as possible, confine their attention to this autho- rised report, and not bring Into it anything in any newspaper reports they might have seen, which might vary from that report. He had seen a newspaper report, and his impression was that it hardly varied in anything from what he had read. In discussing the matter there, how- ever, he thought they should confine themselves to the statements as set out in the official report of the coroner. Mrs. Grieve <said that at the tast meeting she thought she was the only Guardian who was really in possession of the facts of the case, and it could not very well be discussed then. Every Guardiaji was now in the possession of the facts, and she did not see that there was anything else left for her to say. There was, perhaps, one exception. She had there a copy of the letter which was written to Dr. Reynolds on the Sun- day. With the Board's permission, perhaps, the clerk would be good enough to read it. The Chairman: Who wrote it? Mrs. Grieve: Mr. Bolton. The letter was handed to Dr. Reynolds, who admitted that it was a true copy of the letter sent him, but said it was not the copy of the letter sent to the coroner. He had the fac- simile of the letter in his pocket. He had no- thing to do with Mr. Bolton, and did not know who Mr. Bolton was. Mr. G. Davies at this point suggested that as the discussion would be of a personal character, it would be wise to ask the Press to withdraw. He had seen it done. The Chairman It is quite within the provinoe of this Board, if it chooses, to make this a pri- vate instead of a public enquiry. It is, however, a matter which certainly concerns the doctor, and I must say I think it concerns the public too. If the Board decide to make it a private en- quiry, and exclude the Press, I think it within their province to do so. Mr. Griffiths: I don't think it would be very wise. It is a public matter now. I think we better let them make the whole public. Dr. Reynolds: My reputation is at stake. I have been bandied from one paper to another over it. In reply to the chairman, the doctor said that he was perfectly ready to have everything brought out. The Clerk then read the copy of Mr. Bolton's letter, which was to the effect that the woman was very ill, and that the daughter, who was in his employ, had gone home in consequence of it. It also asked whether, in the doctor's opinion, it was not a case for the infirmary, and what steps should be taken in the matter. Mrs. Grieve said that she was sure that the letter deserved an acknowledgment, which it never got. She did not say that Dr. Reynolds could have prolonged this poor woman's life. She might have died, but she did say he might have gone and alleviated her pain. A more re- volting case- Major Wynne: I don't think the Board have anything to do with that letter. That letter was "written before she became a pauper. Mrs. Grieve: Oh, dear, no. Major Wynne. It asks for an opinion how she may become a pauper. The Chairman: I think this letter relates to the.inquiry before the Board. I have allowed it to be read, and it has become part of these pro- ceedings now. Mrs. Grieve: If Dr. Reynolds had only visited her on Sunday this trouble might have been got ever in some way. He might have alleviated her pain, and he might have given the girl to under- stand the dangerous condition that her mother was in, and so she might have eot a neighbour in, or one to have helped h*>r the children away. Instead of that, they were huddled to- gether in this bed, four of them, and. as I said before, a more revolting state of things you could not imagine. It is not imagination, but reality. These children lay for some hours in bed with their mother's corpse. Whose fault is it ? It is for this Board to take up now whether Dr. Reynolds did his duty in this case or not. In my opinion he did not. Mr. G. Thomas said that he would like to ask the relieving Offi-CCT a question. At the last meeting the doctor said that the,re was an arrangement made between him and the reliev- ing officer that some cases should be marked "urgent." He should like to ask Mir. Roberts if this was so, and if there was any such arrangement? The Relieving Officer: No, sir, nothing. Mr. G. Thomas: Then you contradict Dr. Reynolds? The Retrieving Offioeir: I know noth-ing of it. Mr. G. Thomas said that he thought they all respected Dr. Reynolds, and considered that he had been a good officer. He did not want to do any injustice to him, but he thought that they must have an inquiry, for the Local Government Board knew of the whole matter. It would be just as well to have the whole thing sifted out. He did not think they could do this properly that day. Of course it was for the Board to decide what they were going to do in the case. First of all they must get hold of full particulars, and he thought it would be better to have a committee to get the evidence from these people, and also to have the doctor present, and to hear his defence. Then the report of the committee could come before the Board and be made public. The doctor was there that day, but these people were not. Dr. Reynolds had a position as a medical man, and before they judged him they should go carefully through the evidence. He was .sure Dr. Reynolds would not object to that for the sake of his own reputa- tion No doubt Dr. Reynolds had got his answer to everythimg they asked him, but the other people had not been asked to come. ,Mr. Paaxell I don't know what we have to inquire about. We have the coroner's full re- port, and what more do we want? What more witnesses do we want? The Chairman said that they could not con- sider the matter at the last meeting as they did not want to be unjust to Dr. Reynolds. Mrs. Grieve gave notice to bring the matter up at this meeting, and he supposed .she intended to propose some resolution with regard to it when the matter had been considered. The doctor had come there as requested. Now Mr. George Thomas proposed that instead of considering the matter they should appoint a committee for the purpo-se of going into the matter, which should report to the Board. If Mr Thomas's proposition was carried the sub- ject must be absolutely dropped at this point. Did anyone second the proposition ? Mr. Griffiths said that he would second to take the feeling of the Board. Mr. B. G. Roberts proposed as <an amend- ment that as they had the facts before them now, the doctor should be asked to give his ex- planation. ■, Several members seconded, and the amend- ment was carried by 21 votes to two. The Chairman said that he took it sooner or later Mrs. Grieve or some other member would make a proposition as to what step the Board should take. He thought now was the time when any member of the Board who had any- thing to say en the subj eet should do so. Then they cou-i d hear the dootor's statement, and after that the proposition could be formulated. M.T. G. Davies and Mr. G. Thomas .suggested that they should now have the doctor s state- ment. The Chairman cnad that he quite agreed that at some stage of the inquiry the doctor's state- menft should be heard, but he did not wish to mix up both sides of the inquiry. He thought that they should first hear everyone who wished to find fauilt with the doctor before they asked him for his statement. If this was not done the doctor would be forced to make a fresh state- ment of defence- His idea was that they should Ilea-T all that was said against the doctor, and them 'let the doctor make his statement to meet it. Mr. PaTc.,ell said he expected Dr. Reynolds had quite ,a ,sat.i.sfa,ctory reply to make. The Chairman: Is there anyone wishing to make a statement or find fault in this matter before Dr. Reynolds is called upon to reply ? If not I shall ask Dr. Reynolds to make his state- ment now. Mrs. Grieve said that there was one thing they ought to be positive about, and that was whether this woman was a pauper. Dr. Reynolds had denied that she was, and she would like to ask the relieving officer whether it was eo. The Chairmdii raid that the relieving officer gave the order on the Fricay, and Dr. Reynolds had said that he .received it on. the Saturday. Now as a matter of law he should say that directly the relieving officer had .given the order the woman became a pauper, because, so to speak, she had then been adopted by them. He thought that the woman was a pauper on the Friday night, although she never actually got rellief. The Relieving Officer .said that the woman had received out-door relief on various dates. The Chairman said that the woman did not become a pauper until this last illness, even if she had been a pauper formerly. Mrs. Grieve said that she could not exactly understand Dr. Reynolds' deposition. He had declared that ho had attended her gratuitously, yet she was a pauper. The Chairman: That was months ago. Mrs. Grieve said that it was the same woman and had to do with the same case. The Chairman: I think the question is whether she actually became a pauper at the time she died. Mrs. Grieve She had been a pauper for some months. The Chairman If she had been receiving relief. d Dr. Reynolds: Did you relieve her in kind or give her weekly relief? The Relieving Officer: In kind. Mr. J. Thomas: Was this woman a pauper on Friday? The Relieving Officer: Yes. The Chairman What Mrs. Grieve wanted to know was whether she had been a pauper for the last few months. Mrs. Grieve: I maintain she was a pauper before Friday. If she received parish lelief she was a pauper. The Ch:1;n:n said that after receiving relief she wouLJ t r r remain a pauper until she re- ceived relief p.gain. She would not continue a a pauper unless she received further relief. In reply to further questions, the Relieving Officer said that the deceased received relief in kind on October 12th, December 12th, December 21st to January 11th. The Rev. B. C. Evans said it was every week or two. The Relieving Officer: I gave her groceries on the llth, and she died on the 15th of Jan- uary. Mr. Griffiths said he thought it was recog- nised at the last Board meeting that the woman was a pauper at the time. According to the explanation of the doctor, however, he did not see the order until the Sunday, when he found it on the counter. Mr. G. Thomas remarked that at the inquest the doctor said it was Saturday. Mr. Griffiths He aid that 'it was Sunday to as. Mrs. Grieve said that she would like to put a question to the doctor, but the chairman thought she had better wait until she had heard the doctor's statement. Mrs. Grieve But perhaps this question would help to clear the case. The Chairman I don't know at all. Mir. J. Hitchings said that the jury had blamed the doctor. Dr. Reynolds: They were not competent to blame me, sir. Mr. G. Thomas said that the doctor made a statement there a fortnight ago that he did not get the order until Sunday. Before the coro- ner, he had said that he got it on Saturday. He also had said that the woman was not a pauper until then, but the Relieving Officer had shown that she was a pauper on various dotes, and for the week commencing January llth. The Relieving Officer had also denied that there was any arrangement between him and the doctor that certain cases should be marked urgent. He thought it would be a gieat piece of cheek on the part of the Relieving Officer if he had done so, for the doctor was the person qualified to say whether a case was urgent or not. If the doctor could not hav attended the case, he should have referred the matter to his deputy, for the L. G. Board had granted him permis- sion to appoint a deputy. Referring to the !°tter sent by Mr. Bolton, Mr. Thomas asked whv Ô;d the doctor speak of that person in the way iie had? They employed him on behalf of the ratepayers. It was for such cases as this that he was employed. And surely this was an urgent case The woman was lying there a corpse, with the dear little children :n bed be- side her, and yet he did not come, though sent for times out of number-- Dr. Reynolds: I must object to that. I was not asked times out of number. Mr. G. Thomas: This I say is absolutely wrong. We represent the people, and we shall be called upon to give a record of this case to the Local Government Boaid. Continuing, he said that the statement made at the previous meeting was nothing like the evidence they had from the coroner. He thought that really the people concerned ought to be there. The doctor could answer a question, but they could not. He was sure Dr. Reynolds would not object to anything being brought out in evidence, in jus- tice to himself. He, himself, did not feel at all satisfied with the case. The doctor would give his statement, and it would be for them to say whether they considered he had justified himself. U could not forget that at the n- .)ue.t the doctor nsto-ci Mr. "Bolton why he did not plt his hand in his own pocket. Dr. Reynold then made his statement. He said that he had no exeception to take. to the evi- dence of the daughter of the deceased woman except this. She said she saw him on Thurs- day, but she did not. He would now make his statement, which was the truth, a& to what he said that day fortnight and at the inquest. He had attended the deceased repeatedly until just before Christmas gratuitously, as he had not re- ceived any order from the Relieving Officer. It appeared that the Relieving Officer had relieved her from time to time, but that he was quite wmpetent to. do unknown to him. She was not on his book. On looking over the Medical Omcer's certificate book, however, he found that OJ. December 14th the deceased came to his sur- gery and was recommended 31bs. of mutton. That quite cscapcd his memory, and he never heard any more about her until her daughter caiied at his house on January 8th and said tha:t ber mother was ill, and ougnt to be seen by a doctor. His wife asked) the girl if her mother was in receipt of relief, and the girl replied, "I really don't know, ma'm." His wife replied, "Vou had better get some doctor to see her as my husband is in bed buffering from influenza." Had she said that her mother was a pauper lvs wife would have sent her to his deputy. Jfl January llth an order was obtained in the morning, but it was delivered at his bouse afteT eight o'clock in the evening, eight hours after it was given. It was taken by one of his servants and' placed in the surgery on the counter. On Saturday, January 12th, he saw the order amongst others. However, he very much re- gretted it escaped his memory. He actually vent within 50 yards of the house where de- ceased lived to see a man, and had he remem- bered he could easily have called. He was not infallible, and he was very ill at the time, and aiso overwhelmed with work, and he had not eaten anything for days. On Sunday, at two o'clock, a letter was delivered at his house signed "F. H. Bolton." He did' not then know who Mr. Bolton was. As he had attended the woman before, and knew what she was suffering from, he thought it was a case which would keep until the following day, and as he was so very ill he did not go. On Monday morning P.S. Powell told1 him that she wa.5I dead. At the last meeting of that Board he had made the same statement likewise before the coroner, and yet when he had left the Board-room, one guardian had said that she was not satisfied with his answer. She had also said that he was sent for to see the deceased five times. This he most emphatically denied. What he had just said was a straight- forward and truthful statement, and he trusted that they would accept it. He ha,d served them in the No. 5 District as medic.aloffioer for 39 years, and in the No. 4 District for 27 years, without a fault. The Chairman: Now I think it right that any member of the Board wishing 'to do so, should ask Dr. Reynolds any question they desire. Mrs. Grieve :I want to ask the doctor is it right" that the girl Mary Davies, the daughter of the deceased woman, waited on you on Saturday, January 5th, the Saturday before January 8th. Dr. Keynoms: I don't know. Mrs. Grieve: Well she states she saw you and begged you to giver her a bottle of medicine for her mother. Dr. Reynolds: I deny it. Mrs. Grieve asked if the girl also asked for an order for a bit of mutton, and he refused, and said that he was not going to waste the rate- payers' money in giving her mutton? The girl had declared on oath this was so. The Chairman I don't think that is so Dr. Reynolds: It is not in there. Mrs. Grieve: It is not in print. I wanted to know from the doctor if it is true. The Chairman said they could not go into that. Mr. G. Thomas Are you going to shut out all e^Th« Chairman: I am taking the evidence given before the coroner Mr. G. Davies I think we have had the doc- tor's explanation, and it is a pity the Board should have wasted so much time over the spleen one guardian. „ Mr. J. Thomas (to Dr. Reynolds): Do you admit negligence or not? Dr. Reynolds I admit it escaped my memory. Of course, that would be negligence. Mr. G. Davies: I think it a pity we should go any further over the spleen of one guardian. It is a only a bit of spite. I think we have bad a full explanation from the doctor. The Chairman Don't let us cast imputation against one another, or sav anyone is actuated by wrong motives. Everybody, I think, is ac- tuated by the best motives. Now, Mrs. Grieve, it stands in this way. You have brought the matter forward for consideration. It has been considered. Now is the time if yon or anyone who wish to make a proposition relating to the conduct of the doctor. Mrs. Grieve: The first thing I would ask is

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A SERIOUS CHARGE AT PEMBROKE. At the town Hall, Pent., on Friday morning before Mr. F. P. Tombs and Mr. J. Rowe, fames White, an ex-soldier, and a marine store dealer of the Green, Pern., was charged with criminally assaulting Nina Martha Thomas, a gir.l between the age' of 13 and 16, at Pem. on January 22nd. P.S. John gave evidence as to arresting the accused the previous evening, at his house. When he had read the warrant, he asked him if he understood it, and he replied "All right." Nina, Martha Thomas said that on the day in question she went to White's house with some rags. Coming home she missed a Tam o' Shanter, and went back to White's house and asked if he had seen it. He said that it was in the rags. She went into the house, and he then got hold of her arm, pushed her into the outhouse, and committed the offence. Upon the application of Supt. Evans, the case was adjourned until next Friday.

PEMBROKE BOARD OF GUARDIANS. Proceedings at the meeting of the Pembroke Board of Guair-dians on Thursday were of more than usual interest, aaid there was an un- u-sually large attendance of members present, in- cluding Mr. C. F. EgeTton All-eal (in the chair), Mrs. lawless, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Grieve, the Rev. B. C. Evans, Major Wynne, Messrs. G. Thomas, J. Thomas, J. M. Thomas, F. Beddowi, W. C. Jones, W. G. Parcell, B. G. Roberts, F. W. P. Hitching, J. Hitchtogs,.J. Davies, G. Davies, J. Davies (Lawrenny), W. M. Griffiths, J. W. Penney, W. R. Lewis, J. J. Evaiiis, H. W. LewLs, and B. Gwilliam. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN. T'he finst .business on the agenda was the elec- tions of a chairman to suioceed the late Mr. N. A. Roch. Mr. J. Thomas proposed insuitable terms that Mr. Egeiion Allen, their present vice-chairman, should be appointed, and this was seconded by Mr. J. Hitchings and carried unanimously, Mr. Egerton Allen making a .suitable response and referring to the great abilities of his predecessor in the office. Mr. J. Hitchings moved and Mr. J. Davies (Lawrenny) seconded a proposition that Mr. W. G. Parcell should be elected vice-chairman. There, wa-s no amendment, and the chairman declared Mr. Paircell duJy elected. Mr. Parcell said that he should be very plea.sed to aocept the appointment, and. he would do his duty to the best of his ability. Like the chairman, he had had two excellent pre- decessors in office in Mr. Egerton Allen and the late Colonel Leach, but he would do the best he could. THE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE. The next business was the ejection of two members to fill the vacancies on the Assessment Committee caused by the death of Mr. Roch and the resignation of the Rev. Chas. Morgan. Mr. Glriffiths asked if the chairman of t'he Board was always chairman of the Assessment Committee. The Chairman He always has been. Mr. Parcell As far as I can recollect that ha/s been the case. There are twelve members on the Assessment Committee irrespective of the chairman, who has always been chairman of the committee also. Mr. Griffiths That would be twelve and the chairman. The Chairman, was selected, and then lor the remaining seat Mr. J. Thomas and Mr. J. Davies (Lawrenny) were nominated. On a vote being taken Mr. Thomas was elected by 14 votes to eight. PROPOSED VALUATION OF THE WORKHOUSE. The Chairman said that the next business was the application of the Assessment Committee to appoint a valuer to re-value the Union Work- house. He believed that the Assessment Com- mittee had had a great deal of aiscus-sion as to the value of different property in the, Union, and had expressed a desire that their Workhouse should be re-assessed. They wished to have it valued, by (someone else than members of the Board, who might !be supposed to be prejudiced in the matter, and therefore w,ishe,d, to put Clause 26 of the Act of 1862 into motion. Notice had been given to every member, as was provided in the Act, and now it was for the Board to give their consent if they thought fit that a special person .should be appointed. He did not have anything to do with the question, as when it arose he was not on the Assessment Committee, therefore he was not committed to an opinion either way, nor could he have any prejudice in the matteir. It came to him as a new matter, just as it did to other members of the Assessment Committee. Therefore he had no difficulty in proposing that the Board give their consent to the appointment of a special valuer. Mr. G. Thomas Who has made this application to us ? The Chairman The Assessment Committee. Mr. G. Thomas: Who made the application to the Assessment Committee? The Clerk said that a deputation from the Pembroke Town Council suggested the altera- tion of various assessments in the parish of St. Mary. This was one, but it was left over, the members of the committee considering that they were not well enough up to assess the Union Workhouse. ■Mr. Parcell What is the Union Workhouse assessed at now? The Clerk: JB200. It was increased by B50 when the new infirmary was added. The Chairmaai: The application oomes to us from the Assessment Committee. Mr. Pennev said that at the last committee meeting it wais their late chairman who objected to the difference of assessment, and proposed that they should have a gentleman down to assess them. Mr. G. Thomas said that if the Corporation of Pembroke were going to get the benefit of it would it not be right for them to pay the cost. It seemed that the Guardians were going to pay a valuer out of the,ir own pockets for the benefit of the Town Council of Pembroke. The Chairman said that he did not know about the costs; they must be decided by law. The question was whether they should give their con- sent to the application or not Mr. G. Thomas said that he had advocated that there should be am assessment of the whole Union, and he should not be satisfied unital they had had the whole assessed. He, however, did not believe in doing it piecemeal. They should take the whole matter in hand.

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PEMBROKE DOCK MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. ANNUAL MEETING. The fifty-sixth annual meeting of the Pem- broke Dock Mechanics' Institute was held on Thursday evening, Alderman A. McCall presid- ing. There were also present Mr. J. Thompson (secretary), Llkfsr. J. Life welly n (liibrar ifiin.) the Mayor (Mr. J. Lawrence), Messrs. J. Merriman, J Cole, W. J. Davies, C. W. Lawrence, W. Evans, H. Hinchliffe, J. Jones, W. Smith, T. F. Lloyd, H. G. Masson. W. Morris, J. Mckeon, G. H. West, D. Harries, 0. Hise, W. Morgan, H. Trevena, W. Robinson, McKenzie, Hurst, F. Rogers, etc. The annual report was read (and was summar- ised in these columns last week.) The Chairman, before putting the report to the meeting, reierred to the loss the Institute had sustained by the death of their late presi- dent, and also paid an eloquent tribute to the many good qualities of the late Mr. W. Mason. He proceeded to refer to his personal know- ledge of that gentleman, and said that no one regretted his loss more than he did, for they were in the Dockyard together, and since their retirement they had been connected with many institutions in the town, and he had always found Mr. Mason a most willing worker. Refer- ring to the report he said that they would see there was a reduction in the number of mem- bers, and although they had a good balance in hand, there had been a reduction in the takings of the Recreation Room. When they came to look at the number of discharges that had taken place from the Dockyard, and other matters that were going against them, such as the starting of air-rifile clubs in the public-house, he did not think they could be surprised at this. How- ever, what they must do was to try and keep as many young men there as possible. They could give them every advantage. They had £ 168 in the balance, and he was sure they were in a position to get some excellent books, and a goodly quantity of them. As far as the Recrea- tion room was concerned, he might say that he frequently visited the room, though not so much of late as he used to do. Now, if he went therethere, he hardly knew one of those playing at the billiard table. Some year ago he know everyone, but changes now seemed to take place so frequently. He was told that some fourteen regular players had gone from the town during the past year. Mr. Hinchliffe proposed that they take the re- port as read, and this was carried. The Chairman then formally moved the adop- tion of the report, and this was seconded by Mr. W. Evans. Mr. Cole raised the question of the conversa- tion room, about which so much was said at the last annual meeting, and asked why it had been closed. The Chairman pointed out that Mr. Cole, as a member of the committee, ought to know as much as anyone. The Secretary explained that the room was closed because some of the members defaced the books, etc., and also because the room was very little used. A warm discussion followed, in which Messrs. Cole, Hinchliffe, and other gentlemen took part. Eventually Mr. Cole was ruled out of order, whereupon he left the room with dignity. The question of the advisability of providing an air-rifle Tange was raised bv Mr. Owen Hise, and it was decided to leave this for the consider- ation of the committee. The report was then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. L^pon the proposition of Mr. W. Smith, the following officers were elected :—President, Aid. A. McColl; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Mason and H. Hinchliffe; treasurer, Mr. C. W. Law- rence; committee, Messrs J. Cole, H. Trevena, J. Y. Phillips, J. McKeon, W. Evans, £ J- F. Masters, W. T. Morris, S. Owens, G. H. West, J. Jones, W. R. Robinson, A. Mackintosh, P. Morgan, T. E. Llovd, W. Morgan, J. Lawrence, J. Randell, C. J. Clones, and H. G. Masson Mr. J. Merriman, who supported, said that Mr. McColl was a gentleman who had the in- terests of the Institute at heart. He had served as vice-president for many years, and he had been especially useful whenever tney naa tne plumbers, carpenters, or masons an- Mr. McColl, too, was a gentleman whose advice was far- seeing, and not transient and superficial. He went into the future, and his advice would be invaluable to the Institute m any emergency that might arise. Mr. Hinchliffe proposed a vote of thanks to the auditors, Messrs. G. Gullon, E. E. Thomas, S. W. Eardley, and J. Morris, and this was carried. The Chairman then moved, and Mr. Trevena seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Llewellyn (librarian), Mr. Langford (billiard marker), and Mr. P. Morgan (secretary of the Reading Room Comittee) for their past services. This was car- ried amid a^^lause; and Mr. Llewellyn res- ponded in suitable terms. A number of suggestions were then made by members, including Messrs. W. Smith. D. Hise, etc., and then the year's papers were sold by auction by the Mayor. Proceedings concluded with the usual vote of thanks.

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Mi. Griffiths: It would be a costly matter. I Mr. G. Thomas: In the first place. Bait it would be .more satisfactory all round. He I added that some houses assessed at F,20 were now rented at £10. Was that satisfactory? f Let them look, too, at the result of the re-valua- tion of the Xarberth Union. Mr. J. Thomas I propose that the matter be referred back to the Asseissmeat Committee for further consideration. Mr. G. Thomais seconded. Mr. Griffiths: I propose a valuer be appointed. The Chairman s.a.id that he had proposed that the consent of the Board be given the Assess- ment Committee to appoint a valuer. Mr. Griffiths Then I will (second. Mr. G. Thomas remarked that )1r. Griffiths was a member of the Pembroke Town Council, and as such was an. iaiter-ested person. They as outsiders must look after the interests of tho Union as a whoile. Mr. Griffiths That has nothing whatever to do wi-t-h it. Mr. G. Thomas: If you have a valuer now you will mulet the ratepayers for a teavpound note before they know what they are about. The Chairman Wcilil you vote, nlease? Mr. Griffiths: That's your opinion. Mr. G. Thomas The Tenby ratepayers will have to pay for this. Mr. J. Davies (Lawrenny) Let it go ba.ck, &ir. There will be some new blood here at the next meeting. The amendment that the matter be referred back was then carried by -sixteen votes to tive. MEDICAL OFFICER APPOINTED. There was only one application for ,the post of medical officer and pubilie. vaccinator for No. 4 (Neyland) district rendered vacant by the death of the late Dr. Edmundson. This was from Dr. T. A. B. Cook, who has been tem- porarily carrying on the duties for the last few weeks. Mr. W. G. Parcetll proposed and Mr. J. Thoma.s seconded that Dr. Cook be appointed, and this was .carried unanimously. RESIGNATION. A letter was read- from the Rev. F .R. A. Hamilton resigning his post as Guardian for the parish of Sta.ckpo.le Elidor, as he was leaving the district. THANKS. Mrs. Hall, of Llanbeath, wrote thanking the Guardians for their letter of sympathy upon the occasion of the demise of the late Mr. G. W. Hall, a member of the Board. PORTER RESIGNS. The porter, Mr. J. Morse, gave not-ice that he intended to resi-In his post, and it was decided to advertise for a successor. MTs. Lowless mid that they were losing a most excellent servant, amd she hoped they would be fortunate in getting a-s good a successor.

that the last guardian be good enough to recall his words. Mr. G. Davies: I can't see why I should re- call them? Mrs. Grieve You accused me of being spiteful. T don't know what the feeling is. I think you really should recall your words. You have in- sulted a lady With reference to Dr. Reynolds, [ should only wish this, that the clerk be directed to write a letter from this Board, strongly urging Dr. Reynolds to give more at- tention to his pauper patients in future than he has done in the past. That is all I have to say in. the matter. Mr. G. Davies made no remark, so Mrs. Grieve said that she must ask the gentleman tc apologise. Mr. G. Davies: I will apologise, u she will apologise to the doctor. You made him out a liar as near as Mrs. Grieves: Will you repeat that? Mr. G. Davies: You made him out a liar. Mrs. Grieve Not one of the Guardians can say that. i .3 The Chairman: I have already given my strong opinion that imputations should not be cast. I think I have already said that every- body is actuated with the best possible motives, and there is nothing in the nature of personal spite against Dr. Reynolds. At present he understood Mrs. Grieve wished the cflerk to be instructed to write a letter to the doctor. That proposition was a perfectly proper one. Mr. G. Thomas seconded, and remarked that their duty as Guardians was to look after the poor. M,r. Pareell said that they 'had Dr. Reynolds as medical officer for 39 years, and he thought they had never had a complaint against him before. In this one case the doctor admitted an oversight, and it appeared that he had been attending the woman g.ratuitiously for months. Mr. J. Davies (Pembroke Dock) said that he had resided in Pembroke Dock all his life, and he had never heard any fault found with Dr. Reynolds. Mr. Parcell thought it hardly necessary to write such a letter as Mrs. Grieve proposed. This was the only case they had ever had in 39 years. Mr. J. Thomas moved as an amendment that they accept the apology of Dr. Reynolds in this case. Mr. Parcell seconded, and the amendment was carried by 19 votes to 2. Dr. Reynolds thanked them, and said that he was very pleased, indeed, that his name did not appear in the minute book afer 39 years' service.