The Cambria Daily Leader

THE COUNCIL 0 BRYNMiLL DRPiNACE DISCLOSURES. KEEN DEBATE. WHY lARCE DEPilTATICii INSPECTED TRAMWAY SYSTEMS. ROAD WIDENING. A monthly meeting of the Swansea. Council was held on Wednesday, the fcliiyor (Mr. David Williams) presiding. The loa n Clerk read a letter from the Home Office, and another from Marl- borough House, thanking the Council For their sympathy with the King and Queen Alexandra ou the death of the Kine of Greece. A letter was read from the Locai Government Board sanctioning the bor- rowing of fL4,000 for paving works at Owm-road, and 1;2,1,34 for tile purchase ef land for a cemetery at Morris ton. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. Safety Appliances for Town Hill Tramway. I rJklr. David Matthews, in moving the adoption of the Parliamentary and General Purposes Committee referred to the deputation that waited upon Mr. Frank Potter with reference to Tllei High-street Station. Mr. Potter M-e L them in a very sympathetic manner. It would be satisfactory to the people of Swansea to know that three trains, in addition to those at present, wouid run direct into Swansea without stopping at Landore at all. With regard to the Town Hill tram- Way, the committee which visited other towns came to the conclusion that the construction of this .tramway could S) safe]y recommended to the people of Swansea. There were two reasons why the fuU committee dele- gated this work to six members One of I the first reason* that were put forward j was a question of the safety of the lines, and if only one or two members were sent their report would not have received the conhdence of the whole of the members of the Council that would be meted out to the report of six, seven or eight members of the Council. Another matter had relation to the ex- pense and the time they were allowed to apply for the provisional order. He [ hoped the Council were satisfied that this committee did their work in a thorough manner, A Safe Tramway. I They saw the trams wording at Hali- fax, Bradford, Dewsuurv and Leeds. The i committee also decided, on the recom- mendation of Mr. Seilon to recommend for additional safety, the Council to adopt a third rail running along the centre of the track, which was known as the grip. It meant an additional cost of I Bomething like £ 1,000. The Mayor said that he was satisfied I that the Town Hill oould be approached with a tramway with safety, for they t had seen sufficient to know that. j Joint Railway Station. Mr. Tutton drew attention to the sug-I gested improvement at High-street b ?ation He wanted to knov waethcr I mything of a s:t?p'.ncu wa" considered vr given to the possibility of there being I & joint station w the Great Western Railway and Midland Railway Com- panies. IT would be a great conveni- ence to passengers over the docks to the Midland Station, and certainly a great II convenience to the people of Swansea. Combined with that there might be a bridge from Foxhole connecting the Bast and west for passenger traffic. Mr. Matthews said that that question 6ad not been d?cusspd. It w?ld bo a hopeless risk, he thought, Mid wouid ???f??n a gn?t de?y He did n?t think ?he Great Western Railway would entr- tain the idea for one moment. Aid. Morgan Hopkins said 11(3 nopeo I that the committee would see that fcore main line trains would enter Swansea when the improvements were I taade. The Mayor observed that that would ke seen to. Question of Deputations. Mr. David Davies called atteution to the minute of tho committee visit- ors: tfla various towns in connection with the Town Hill tramway. He ofoulti like to know whether a resolu- tion of that description could he put brto effect until it had been adopted fcy the Council. The Mayor: It was referred to at She last meeting. Mr. David Da vies remarked that landing orders were suspended for a bw of the committees held late last month, but in the case of the one he deferred to that was not done. Why Kas it not included amongst the other bomnii toes. The Town Clerk made a statement trhtch was inaudible to the Press, but It was the means of Mr. Dd. Davies asking w hether it was legal for any sub-committee to Ccdertake a task of that kind without toting vile sanction or the Council. The Town Clerk pointed out that be- fore the deputation went away the Parliamentary Committee had con- sidered the reoomm en dation of the /s-iU- Bornmrt tee. Mr. David Davies, after further dis- Eission, said be objected to the prccecd- cgs. He thought tho numbN of people set on the deputation was cxcewible. lphe work, ha considered, could have b^etB done by three members instead of 13, and it was a matter for the En- gineer to consider. Tb° whole of the Council and their officials might have gone. He (Mr. Davies) would have rather gone to the other extreme than allowed the public to think that money was being spent. They should not let themselves open to ridicule of that kind. Mr. Matthews .said that at the meet- kig of the committeo Mr. Davies had been in favour of three names. The lames were mentioned. Mr. Davies remarked that Mr. Matthews was wrong. The Mayor said as one of the deputa- tion sent away he thought all the mem- bers who went were justified. By send- tng seven or eight members they had Jeven or eight opinions. Cost fit Road Widening. ¡ Mx. iTittoa said lie was at the time In favour of a large deputation. He ?a?L Iwwevex, D<? beard one wor1 as t,"Li,he co?t of WW,?eniug and inv?Uin? &e road at Moont Pleasant. It was a ?Mt that tb? Y?st?- Agent and Ohair- Ua-n of the jbistetoF. OvmiriiH-ec b?d net beea mwtied to attend the deputation j it came within the province I or their work. He did not wish tho Council to be under tho impression that I he had not the opportunity or going tor ou the day before the deputation departed he received a letter invrtiilg him to go up. The Mayor: I do not think that is correct. Mr. Tutton: Yes. sir. The Mayor made another remark which, however, was inaudible, where- upon Mi-. Tutton reminded the Mayor thai on one occasion when tli,v were reL .uni/ig from Shrewsbury, he stated j the fact then, to that it was in tho j knowledge of the Mayor and chairman of the committee that the chairman of ¡ the Estates Cenimitt -e was not included with those who were to have gone. The matter would come before the Estates Committee, and yet that committee was not represented. He had been asked to second the adoption of the minutes, but he had not had tiino to consider the Town Hill tramway question. They ought to have -i full committee to dis- cus the v,hole t.hirg. It would not be an impossibility to can a special med- ing. Mr. G. Colwill asked whether another provision was to bo made by way of in- siiranee with regard to meeting the lia, bilities contained in the report., and if ?o wIn t tho premium*, were likely to ? n'?ou?t to. the of 1-n- Mr. M:itthew? said the qa.es?:cn of in- suranee h???d been ducnsscd at HaUfax, i ^d Mr. Tpgetmeier assured thpm that insurance for that class of line was the lowest in the kingdom. :Mr. Tu1ton moved that the considera- j j j "Lion of the report of the deputation he de'cred until further information b?! rendered to the members of the Council. I Mr. J. Devonald seconded. A Business Deputation. I Alderman Merrells .said if that amend- j ment was carried it would in all proba- bilitv delav t he matter for another month and it would be too late to make appli- cation for tho Provisional Order in May. This would mean deferring the solution of the housing difficulty for another twelve months. Generally, he was in agreement with Mr. Da.vies regarding deputations, but he was never against i deputations that were appointed to do real work. This was a real business deputation. The result of his observa- tions on this deputation had given b -itu, absolute confidence in what they recom- mended to the Council. It might ap- { pear that the number of members was vsry large, but, seeing what v.-as at stake, he did not think the number was 1j In any way excessive. j Mr. Millbourne Williams snggested: that the reports be circulated aInongst: aU the members of the Council. If any ratepayer asked him what he thought: about the tramways he would not be able j to teJJ them, but lie had not had the in- formation until that day. He had not heard the opinions of those from whom he would have liked to hear opinions. He should like to hear the Chairman of the Tramways Committee, j and Mr. Bell and Mr. Prussman. Sir. Bell had said the only possible method (A getting a tramway up Mount Plea- j ?tnt was by cable. Mr. Bell had  altered his mind during the last sis ¡ months and he would like to know his reasons for changing his mind. (Hear, hear.} Hr. D. Daviee quite agreed with Mr. I Williams, but he thought what Mr. 'required could be given with- out deferring the matter. If they adopted the amendment they would be I delaying the matter for six months. Did the deputation see, in the course of their trip, a gradient as bad as Town Hill Mr. Matthews: Yes, oertainly. Doubts Removed. I Alderman Sinclair saia he did not I see why any objection should bo made to himself and Mr. PrucTnan having accompanied tho deputation. He claimed w know much about eicteric tramways as most people in the dis- trict. It was he who ?ugge?'bed the nŒe of Mr. Sellon bec?uso he knew I him personally as an expert of the j highest authority. He was glad to go I rib a practical engineer with this depu- tation.'to see what couid be 6con and having had doubts before hand, when matters were explained, as they were thoroughly by the engineers, and when he had seen the tests made, it created an impression on his mind that could not be obtained from floods of reports, and he came a way so convinced of tho possibilities that he had no hesitation in recommending the Corporation to electrify and work the tramway up that hill. Tiie precautions that would be taken with regard so br.ke power would make acoide jiv ,a that line al- most impossible. Mr. Milbourne Will._ s: Was there a gradient 300 yards in Aid. Sinclair said they saT" no length exactly the same as Town Hill gradient, but they saw places were < difficult. I Aid. Corker said he presumed he was put on the deputation because of his opposition to the overhead system. He never saw any tramway working on such a steep gradient as was suggested should be worked on Town Hil.l Having 'I sseii how the tram v. do"; worked Tn the districts which the deputation .had visi- t?d, he thoroughly endorsed, ail that had been said fi? ??? C'olleae:; with re- gard to the brakes used and the par- ticular gradients. Mr. Arthur Eden thought it would I be a pity to delay the matter. The Town Clerk said it was the in- tention to send out the information be- tween that and the next Council's meet- I ing. Mayor's Rotort. Mr. Colwill favoured the amendment, and wanted to have some estimate of what th* tramway would cost. The Mi yor Yon have been told a dozen times that this does not commit yon to any scheme. Mr. Coiwiil I think you might have told the other members of the Council the same. Mr. Colwill went on to re- I mark that they would not solve the housing praL: ill by putting tip houses at 10s. ajid 10s. 6<L a week. ?dr. P. Molyneux asked if "the trapas seEn by the deputation wa;ä largely pat- ronised by the public. I Alderman Corker replied that they were. amenctment was Ic?st by a large The amendment was lost by a large I majority, and the minutes of the Par- haruùCltary alld General Purposes Com- mittee were passed. Boraugii Architect. I Mr. Ernest E. Morgan, Swansea, was 'o x-ansea, wa.s I appointed borough architect. The vot-I ing resulted as follows: Ernest E. Mor- gan, 21; Mr. G. E. Dickons-Lewis, 1 Shrewsbury, 14. »■ 1 ESTATES C8MM STTEE. Mr. Tutton moved the adoption of the Estates Committee minutes. Mr. Colwill proposed that a certain alteration should be made to the minute dealing with the matter of Worcester- place and Sir Coleridge Grove. Alderman Merrells thought the Coun- cil should fight the whole matter, for they had a good case. v A lengthy discussion took plane and it was agreed that the minute should be altered so that it should read that inas- much its (1) To purchase 5, 6. and 7, Worcesier-place for the sum of £ 1,800 including ail costs (2); To refer the amount of the purchase money to an independent arbitrator; have, not been accepted, the. same be and are hereby withdrawn The last part of the rainut-o was delete. WATCH COMMiTTEE. ] Dundin¡; cf New Centra1 Polica  BuHdtng cf New Cent? Police Station, I' Ald. D?n Jones in movmg the adop? j tion of the Watch Committee, proposed th delptioii of the m?ute which in- ,c1ndc¿ the promotion of F.Cs Easter- brook. Thorn3 and Michael to acting I .sergeants for « period of six months without no increase in pay. Mr. Molyneux seconded, =d the minute was deleted. Now PeUce Station. I In regard to the new Central Police i and Eire Brigade Station. the Town Clerk :<l the committee had to wait j some time before the Home Office cou- i firmed the pia-us. (He the Town Clerk) bad lwn in con tion, with the | ch iirmaa of the committee, and had sent a letter to the Local Government Board making application, as to the sanction of the money, and secondly in respect to the appropriation of the land for the erection ,f the Police Station. The Board replied on I April loth and gb tM tbd with refer- ence to the application of the, Council for sanction of £ 24,500 for the exten- sion of the Central Police Station and Fire Brigade Station and for the appro- priation of the land they would not be pre judical because the work had been commenced before the loan had been I sanctioned but they pointed that if the Boa.rd did not find it possible to sanc- tion the loan the costs of the work al- ready carried out would have to come out of tho current revenue. AM. Dan Jones remarked that the new station was needed. The plans had been before the authorities, and he I thought that for the sake of common I humanity it was necessary for them to go on with the work. To lock people up in cells which had been condemned was not right. It was bad enough to be locked up. let aktne to be put into such cells. (Laughter.) It was decided to delete the minute which expressed surprise at the delay of I tho Local Government Board in grant- ing the necessary sanctions to the bor- rowing of the money required and for, the appropriation of the land for the j purpose. I Unlicensed Cinematograph Shows. I Fol! owing upcm a question by Mr. I Matthews, A)d. MfD'eU? asked whether cinematograph hims <ould be (Iisplaved,l without a license. He had in mind a cai>o where do license was gra.nted, and where there was a temporary box which held the film. Ald. D. Jouos: We have no control over non-inflammable films. Ald. Merrells: These were not non- inflamm i ble, and they were shown with- out a license. Can wo have the assur- ance that no inflammable films can he shown without a lioenscr Aid. Jones: Yes. The minutes were adopted. ^c* 1 FINANCE COMMITTEE. I Elaborate Scheme for Street Paving. I Mr. Arthur Eden moved the adoption of the Finance Committee's report. Aid. Merrells objected to the Finance Committee fixing a maximum or mini- mum regarding salaries, and moved that a paragraph dealing with the wages of two building inspectors be deleted. Mr. D. J. Davies seconded, and the I paragraph wa-s deleted. Street Paving. I The Committee also reported on the proposed loan for paving of highways, whereby, it is intended to pave a largo; number of the thoroughfares in the town, with wood, granite and other material at an estimated cost of ;£55,659. The committee approved of the prin- i ciple irrespective of what particular .it,rctetf. are proceeded with provided that the amount to be expended in any one year did not exceed £ 11,000. Aid. Merrells said he felt some real attempt should be made to put their thoroughfares in decent condition. He moved an amendment that the para- graph in one year bo deleated. He as- sured them that the money would nut b2 spent in a. year- Mr L-iugharne Morgan seconded, and the amendment was carried. The re-j mainder of the report was passed. HEALTH COMMITTEE. I I Drainage of Brynmill Provokes Keen I Discussion. The raruutes of the Health Commit- tee were moved by tho Mayor, and sec- onded bv Mr. Ba«sott. Mr. David D& ios, speaking on the re- port oi the borough surveyor, relating to the cleaning of the borough and work with refuse destructor, made a long speech on the sanitation of the borough. He read figures showing the number of cases of diphtheria which had been re- ported in the borough since 19C8. In 1908, the number of cases was 49, in 1909. 38; in 1910, 85; in 1911, 163; and in 1912, 234. This quarter of a year the number reported was 65. He suggested tbose figures indicated a grave condition of tilings in Swansea. At Oak wood-road. Mr. Davies then referred to the de- fective cesspools in Oakwood-road, and said at tho beginning of last week the vicar of St. Gabriel's came to him and spoke of what, he had found in that ward. The Vioar of St. Gabriel's had a right to be heard upon this subject be- cause he visited the people whose homes had been. invaded by diphtheria, and they had found in him a man of raro courage and a high conception of duty. Ten years of his life he worked in Spita- fields, one of the worst slum areas in London, and then he tame down to St. Gabriel's and found diphtheria in that district. His conception of the duty of a vicar took him into these stricken homes, and lie i>itw the condition of the streett; and the seweis, and the houses that wore uot di aad he felt it his duty to tell him (Mr. Davies) as a Swansea, coun- cillor, and one of the representatives of that ward, his idea of the condition of things. He might be to id that the percentage was low in St. Gab rial's tomuared with other wards, but lie was not concerned with that at all. The icar disclosed a condition of things which made for disease if the was any truth at all in sanitary science. He (Mr. Davies) asked their Medical Officer whether he had been down to Brynmill at all before thøs". complaints were made, and the Medical Officer said "Nn, it. is not necessary." He asked Dr. Evans if he had been to Brvnmiil before he went lar-;t week, and he replied he was there in January, 1912, fifteen months ago. A Contradiction. Dr. T. Evans: I want to contradict that. Mr. D. Davies said there had been five fresh cases this year. The Medical Officer's duty primarily was not to de- pend upon his subordinates, but to Rearch for tho causes of disease, and when disease had broken out it was one of his elementary duties to see that the sanitary oiffcers did their work. In one house where two children died ono room was not disinfected for a. forti night afterwards and the other five days afterwards. In regard t-o the cesspools, it was now discovered that they could be dispensed with, and the. annual cost of the drain- age would not he any more than the cost of attending, to the cesspools. In Oakwood-road, not a pistol shot from where these children died, there was a stagnant pool, and there durmg th') time these cases were going on their own Corporation carts were dumping the worst kind of refuse there. Last week there was a great controversy going on in the newspapers about the figures, and the only people who had not ncj.iced it were the sanitary officers. If they had had during the last two w-eoks a hot sun such as they occasionally had ill April, the pool and its surroundings wc-uld have advertised themselves for half a mile around. Air. Davies also referred to the con- diti-on of the gnl leys in Brynmil.1- avenue. He said he was toki the flushing for all the area was done by one man. Ho thought" it was serious they (ihovild have such demonstrations of the deficiencies of their existing system. He proposed they had a spocial inquiry made linto their sanitary department and that they no longer be content with the methods they had in Swansea. "If -In If he was there twelve months hence and there was no improvement he should be prepared to move for the dismissal of any official high or low who was guilty of neglect. Mr. M. Williams seconded the amend- ment. The Medical Officer said he first be- came aware of the system of sewerage disposal at Oakwood-road in the first pa.-t of last year. He visited it in com- pa.ny with the chief Sanitary Inspector who explained to him why the houses were connected to cesspools and not to sewers. The reason the sanitary Inspector gave was that a drain from this street could not be connected to the sewer in Brynmill Lane, as a.-rv such connection would result- in ikit3 flooding of tha road with Sketty sewage and that owing to the engineering uiifi- cultiea it could not be drained to Uie town sewer. in Bryn-road, onil that it could not he conducted to the Vivian Stream because it might re-viet the Cor- poration liable to prosecution for pollut- ing the streani. "I was informed," continued the medical officer, "that the Council all along the years were aware of the sewerage difficulties of the dis- trict. The fact that the plans of these houses had been passed was proof to me of the statements of Mr. Llewelyn Davies. It was explained that as soon as tho drainage scheme was through Parliament a solution of the difficulties would be arrived at by the oonstruction of a new main sewer from Sketty along I Brynmill Lane. In view of these facts, I I arrived at tbe d-ision that, nothing could be gained by drawing the atten- tion of the Water and Sewers Com- mittee to it. Two Cases Since 1907. I The extent of tho incidence of I diphtheria in the two unsewered streets. Oakwood-road and Park-plaoe did not justify me in making it a matter of urgency. There have been two cases of diphtheria in Oakwood- road since 1907, and there has not been a single case in Park-place during that period. The two cases in Oak- wood-road were notified between Jan. and May last year. The question I now have to reply to is why has Mr. Coun- cillor David Davies succeeded or is going to succeed in solving this sewer- ago Droblem of this district whilst the Health Committe,e have failed. My answer is that he has made it a matter of urgency in my opinion without sufficient justification, in view of the early prospects of a better scheme, and he has succeeded in getting the Borongh Engineer to overcome the engineering: by cutting a very deep sewer at a cost or £ 750. Mr. Wyrill informs me that in all human probability'there will be a new main sewer from Sketty down j Brynmill, within a period of under, three years, and that he will then con- nect the Oakwood-road and Park-place to this sewer, thus rendering this new urgency sewer obsolete within three years. I have been accused of sluggish- ness in applying remedial moastrros for the control of infectious diseases. I have only to say that I have striven to the best of ray ability to deal with it. Everyone notified is promptly visited bv a member of my staff, who rsnorts the facts, attends to sanitary defects, ar. i i.~n^es IU; LUG RCII.IYXAI vx itio putieot j into the fever hospital whenever possi- ble and cases are removed at all hours. Indeed I have myself before now re- moved an urgent case to the hospital at two o clock :n the morning and the accommodation at the fever hospital has j at times been seriously overtaxed by our cS?rts to ?olatc cases. Patients ?ola- t ?d at their homes are kept under •observation, disinfectant supplied and clathti removed for disinfection." j Causes of Infection. "I have directed my own investi-I gations m?niy to the search of missed c&ses of the disease at the schools, as in my opinion the existence of such cases are mainly responsible for the spread of the disease. The Health Committee had proof last year that I was assiduous in this direction when they received a communication from the Cardiff and County Laboratory. stating that as a resul t of the great increase in the number of specimens set to them for bacteriological examination, they J could not continue to do the work un- less the Corporation substantially in- j creased their contribution. Though there has been an increase in the a.mount of diphtheria in the town, we arc. not faring worse than other large 1 toAvns. If the raw at Swansea had been the same as Southampton, it would have been 339 instead of 16?, at Car- din 3C?, Livorpool 280, Giouce&tor 271, whiie ?' Newport was the only town I lower Scavenging. I With reference to the scavenging, the I Medical Officer reported: "The first I statement I wish to make with refer- I ence to scavenging is to point out that I I am not the chief official responsible for I the scavenging. I do not therefore hold myseif responsible for the detailed working of the scavenging i service. It is controlled by the Sur- veyor's department. Reports, however, go from my office almost daily to the Surveyor's department draw ing atten- tion to particular scavenging com- plaints. A sanitary inspector cannot however possibly be aware of every un- satisfactory condition in his district as soon as it arises. The inspector for the Brynmill district is in charge of the whole of the St. Helen's, Victoria and Castle Wards. Hjs duties are such that be cannot visit evvIll-V part of his district daily or even weekly. I reported in my. last annual rep^-fc on the unsatisfactory scavenging of the town. This is what I said in the report. From the fore- going it will be observed that only 27.2 per cent, of the houses and trade refuse collected was burnt at the Cor- poration Destructor. The efficieaey of the arrangements for the removai of house refuse would he considerably im- proved if another dof.tru-ctor were built and that this is more urgently needed on tho East side of the river where the tip at Port Tennant near the borough tjoundary is in the proximity of dwell- inK houses and is a source of nuisance and a breeding place for flies. More sanitary receptacles and more frenuent removal of house refuse is also reguir j efficient scavenging is one cf the pri- mary necessities of sanitary administra- tion." Since that time the question of scavenging has been the subject of a special report, by Mr. Bell, but this re- port has no;, .t, been nu&Dy c<M?'d€red by t? <:ommitteet.? I One Department Responsible Tho Mayor observed that it was most unfortunate. When a nuisance arose an inspector reported to another inspector and bO on, and now he (the Mayor) was trying to make one department responsible ioi the w hole of the cleaning of the town. He ( the Mayor) visited the place that morning, and it did not Aoofc so objectionable as he had seea in some parts oi the borough. There had been fresh soil tipped over, but oven tlion it was saturated over the cemented play- ground of the children. One of the in- habitants, aud one who was complaining was caught that morning dumping very objection:ble matter. It was be- ing conveyed from the house. He (the Mayor) did not deny that the carts tipped refuse there lor tnere was uo bupexvj.'jo:i. Mr. Bell, the borough surveyor, s.iid he was aware of the tipping. He ex- plained that application had. been made, funi it was agreed that the clear road sweepings should be put there. Con- tinuing, Mr. Bell said he visited tho place on Saturday morning, so that he should have the latest information to report to the Council. There never had been a complaint from people about, and the tippnigs were perfectly harmless. Tiie inhabi- tant of the house and shop within ten v,rds of the spot had been approached by him, an-d they had said that they had no reason tor complaint. While he was there a. woman carne along with a backet of refuse to deposit, but when she saw Mr. Bell and Mr. Blic-s she piekod the buckct up and took it away. All the obiectionabJf) matter had been tipped by residents. Mr. David Davies Burkum. Mr. Bell, continuing, said that with reference to the clean sweepings there might have been a load or two of house refuse. Ninety-five per cent., however, was ashes. Mr. David Davies: When ycra went there had the fresh earth been thrown down ? Mr. Bell: Yes. Mr. David Davies: The statements you hav" maae fill me with dispaid. The Mayor said that he knew of a Corpora,tion official who wat.; aware of che existence of a 15in. pipe which car- ried the water away until the tipping took place. He wae strongly in favour of proper supervision. Mr. Clancey: What is going on at Brynmelyn Ward? A Member: And in Alexandra Ward? The tipping from the refuse destruc- tor, said another member, was going into the backs of the new houses at j Cww. I Proper Supervision. I Aid. Merrells observed that last year I he expressed himself in favour of proper | supervision, and he was still of the same opinion. He contended that in some parts of the borough-parts which he named-tipping had been taking place for 20 years. At the end of January and February, he was informed that the I carts never went there. In the Strand there was an old archway where refuse was dumped Mr. M. Williams spoke to paying a vi»sit to the place in question at Bryn- mill. It was most offensive, he said, and on one occasion a woman had to fet-ch her child awaa, from the school playground. The husband of that woman had expressed the opinion that the playgrounds should be closed until the matter had been treated. Mr. Colwill thought a much stronger resolution should have been moved. It i was astonishing to think that such con- ditions existed in the Brynmill district where all the buildings were praoticallv new, and and which ought to be one of the best spots in Swansea. lYlr. ColwiH referred to the Medical Officer's state- mellt with regard to a new sewerage system which would come about in three years' time, and contended that the members of the Council were deter- mined that disease should not exist for three years. He was of the opinion that the destructor w capable of dealing with all the refuse in Swansea. In some parts of the town refuse was taken out of the gulleys, and laid on the road. There it was allowed to dry, and the wind blew it away and the public inhaled it. He hoped the inquiry would be heid, and he th ought all these points should he remembered when the time came around for the increase of salaries. Suppress ihe Scare. I Mr. Ivor G wynne spoke in sympathy with those who had lost their children. I The matter had been dealt with, he said. -131 a controversial way, and the Council should try to suppress the scare Oould j wo not realise wiiat the suffering w as Y When that disease was in the home the neighbours turned their backs and i quite rightly so. Something should dons in order to make the conditions much better. :¡ The Engineer explained fully the situation of the district, and observed that the Council bad been trying to draw up a scheme. In the case of Oak- wood-road, there was no sewer in the immediate neighbourhood where the drains oould bo connected, and cess- pools were shown on the plans. The Engineer explained the present scheme lor drainage, and concluded by saying that the drain would run into a sub- ordinate sewer at tho back of Lang- land-place. The Mayor remarked that the 15 inch I Dine in St. Heleii's-road and St. I Helen' s-avenue was already ovoc. charged, and now they were Rcina: to add to it. What would be the stats of affairs in time to cilyle, The Engineer explained that the amount of water would not be nmeh. Alderman Corker (Chairman of the Wat-ers and Sewers Committee) said that the Committee thought that the sum recommended was necessai-y. Aid I Corker went on to state the result of his visit with the Mayor and others to I Oakwood-road that morning. He thought, that in the future -?ll plans should be inspected by his CoEomitt?e before they were brought before tbf I Council. Surveyor Questioned. I Aldermau Merrells questioned tbo I Surveyor on the subject of pian»s and said he thought that all plans should be sent to the Engineer. The Surveyor was pressed on another podnt and ultimately he observed that the Engineer must have known that the disbiet was not drained otherwise he would not have d.pfted a scheme. Mr David Davies commented upon the I medical officer's report and contended that some of the cesspits in Oakwood- road had never been emptied. The fact that we wore boiow other towns in I averages did not prove anything. If we had a proper system then no blame would be attached to anyone if the averages were even higher. It was bunkum for the sur- veyor to say that there was nothing offensive in the district on Saturday night, and statements of that kind filled him (Mr. Davies) with dispair. It was unanimously decided to hold an inquiry, and a committee was formed consisting of representatives of all the wa.rds. ————— HICHWAYS COMMITTEE. Roads and Paving. Ald. Merrells, in moving the adoption of the Highways Committee's minutes referred to the amount which it was suggested should be spent on paving, and referred to the visit of hira?e!f with the ice-chairman of the committee and Borough Surveyor to Cardiff with a view to inspecting certain streets in that city. There was an omission in the report, because it was suggested in. view of tho importance oi the I matter, and the amount of money in- volved. that the Chairman should visit London to inspect certain pavhig there. Alderman Sinclair called attention to the exist of road repairs, and espeoi- lallv mentioned Neath-road. While the Corporation steam roller was on the road the Postal Authorities were busy ripping it up again. He ask.*l whether 'the Postal Authorities gave notice when they required to Lay a cable. Mr. Bell said that 00 notice was given, but it was urgent that this par- ticular road should bo repaired. Ald. SipdaÙ: resumed his seat mak- ing a protest. Mr. Colwill referred to the pro- posed loan of £ 55.0S0 for paving •highways, and said Alderman Merrells resented the paragrap h relating to not I more than in one year, and now they wanted the Council to apnrove of the principle of pavirg the roadways in the centre of the town with wood and other material at an ex- penditure of 000 wliilo they were not put in possession of the details. He moved that. the scheme became ope rative, the* borough survevor be re- quested to supp'v each member of the Council with a detailed copy of his re- port on the subject., Mr. McDonnell seconded. Alderman Merrells said there was no objection to that. Mr. Eden said they would not be com- mitted to the expenditure by passing this minute. Mr. Miller moved that the chairman and vice-chairman of the Committee I and the Surveyor make the visit to London as suggested by Alderman Merrells. Mr. Howeils seconded, and the re- solution was carried. Mr. Millbourne Williams referred to the making of the back road from Sketty-avenue to Frogmore-avenue, and said he would like to have the assur- ance that the matter would not be hung up for any length of time as it was urgent. Mr. Bell said the committee desired that they should have a batch of twelve streets under one contract. Flooded Llansamlet Road. I Mr. Matthews directed attention to the serious state of affairs in Llan- samlet-road. where a portion of the roadway was under a foot of water, and one 01 the works had been closed in consequence. Ald. Merrells: We are not responsible for the water course. Mr. Matthews: Who is responsible? Aid, Merrells: Ask the Town Clerk; he will adyise you. Mr. Matthews: Will you promise me to try and remedy it ? Aid. Merrells: I cannot promise that. Mr. Bell said he had sent one of his assistants to inspect the stream, which was the cauge of the flooding and lie would report to the Highways Commit- tee. The minutes were then passed. I WATER AND SEWERS COMMITTEE. Rural Council's Supply. I. Alderman T. T. Corker moved the adoption of the minutes of the Water and Sewers Committee, and referred to the decision of the committee to reduce the pnCe charged for water supply to the Swansea Rural District Council. The price recommended by the committee was: For domestic-purposes, 5-id. per! 1.000 gallons for the next four vear: and after that period 5d. per 1,000 gal- lons. and that the" price for trade pur- poses be 5d. per 1,000 gallons. Mr. Colwill having gone into the j figures, asked, in the face of the offer the Council was making to Oystermouth Urban Council, whether they considered this reduction to the Swansea Rural Council good business. I Alderman T. 1. Corker said, unless the Oystermouth Urban Council accep- ted the offer and their conditions at art I early date he was afraid the Water and Sewers Committee would rescind their resolution. He did not see that they were caiied upon to supply the I Oystermouth Council under the same I conditions as they supplied the rural district. Tney were bound by Act of Parliament to supnlv the Rural Coun- cil The Mayor said there was nothing in the minutes dealing with the Oyster- mouth Council, and he could not allow any discussion on that matter. Mr. Matthews asked why the applica- tion for a reduction was made. Alderman. Corker: They consider they are entitled to ask for a reduc- tion bv Act of Parliament. Mr. Tutton said the figures were ar- rived at after careful consideration. Aid, Corker, in reply to Mr. Mat- thews, said personally he did not think the offer of the Oystermouth. Council would be removed. The minute relating to the increased water charges to licensed victuallers was, after diseussiou, referred back. Municipal Water Works Association. I The minute which recommended that the chairman and vice-chairman together with the borough engineer, be appointed to represent tne Corporation on the Municipal Water Works Association, provoked some discussion. Aid. Corker; in reply to Aid. Merrells, ) said the association had been j'ormeti ior the purpose of taking up matters re- garding rating in connection, with water I works generally. Ald. Merrells moved that tho Council be not. represented this year. Another yecr, he remarked, they would have had the opportunity of reading the report of I the first conference. j Mr. McDonnell seconded. Aid- Dan Jones said this association was one of tbe bigget associations that had been formed for some time, and it was only represented by towns ¡ of over 120.000 inhabitants. Mr. D. Davies said he wanted one more association to be established, and I that was the protection of the rate- payers. and the extinction of useless associations. The aTuemlment was carried, and the I minute deletod. The remainder of the report was parsed. j EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Mr. Ivor Gwynne, in moving the adoption of the report of the Educa- tion Committee referred to the work- inir of the Aber Estate, and said within the next few months they hoped to get a substantial return. The report wa-s adopted. HOUSINC COMMITTEE. Rents. Aid. Payne, in moving the adoption of the report of the Housing and Town Planniug Committee, drew attention to the Borough Treasurer's report in re- ference to the rents to be charged for the houses they proposed to build on Town Hill. They contemplated charg- ing lOs. 6d., lis., and ll. 6d. a week. He thought to charge that rent for houses for thA working clashes was abso- lutely absurd. (Hear, hear.) He did hope some members of the Council would move that the minute be referred back for further consideration. fr. Bassett, moved that the minute be referred back. Alderman Merrells thought they ought to ask for tenders in order to see how they compared with Mr. Ports- mouth's estimates. The capital cost of the houses were estimated by Mr. Ports- mouth to be and £ 295. Mr. Tutton said they ought to have houses buiit for tho individual and hi family only. If they charged ilOs. fid. rent they would have two or three families going into one house and there would be overcrowding. Foreshor, Housing Scheme. Mr. Eden moved that the Ooiutnitt.ee take into consideration the que-niou of erecting a block of flats tor workmen's dwellings near the foreshore, and the works in the town in order to cope with the hoi lay- ing difficulty. He pointed out that the hauiage of material up Town Ifill w.v.i-d add 20 per cent. to the cost of the building, and ruin the development of Town Hdl in tiie way ihev contemplated. Mr. H. Rogers seconded the amend- ment. Mr. Clancy: If we pass this resolu- tion, will we not be defeating the reso- lution all w hi, h wo went to the Local Government Board? Alderman Merrells: Of course we shall. Mr. D. Davies supported the dinencT- meiit. He said if the Local Clovern- ment Board say they were m earnest in tackling the housing question they might extend the period for building ou Town Kill. The rents proposed to be charged for houses there would not relieve the working classes. Mr. Eden's resolution was earned, and the minute relating to the Town Hill houses were referred back. The remainder of the rejvort was DAsssd. The Council rose at 7.45 ".rl.a.