The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

CARDIGANSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. The annual meeting of the Cardigansh re- County Council was held at Lampeter Hail on Thursday, May 17th. There were present Aldermen D J Williams, Aberooed, retiring chairman E Lima Jones, Aberayron Edward Evans, Aberystwyth; J T Morgan, Maesnewydd 0 M Williams, Aberystwyth; Thomas Morns, Pantseirifawr; the Rev W. Griffiths, iniaell Colonel J R Howell, Pantgwyn; Evan Richards, Penuwchfawr; Councillors D S Jones, Llangoedmore; Elvan Davies, Aberbank; 0 Beyno-n Evans, Cardi- gan Edward Jones, Talybont; Morgan Evans Oakford William Evans, Cwmrheidoi; Rich- ard James, Brynllys; Captain G Fossett Roberts, Aberystwyth; E J Davies, New Quay; D C Roberts, Aberystwyth; the Rev T M Jones, Devil's Bridge; Dr Evan Lloyd, Tregaron; Thomas Jones, Strata Florida; David Jones, Penbryn; David Evans, Llan- wnen; E A L Powell, Lianfariair; J M Howell, Abeiwyron; Tom Parry. Llandysilio- gogo: Robert Ellis, Aberystwyth; Evan Lewis, Llanhwchaiarn Thomas Jivans, Llan- dugwydd Francis Evans, Abei ni; 1 :i. iaiii,ii Jones, LJanilar; Jenkin Jones, Llan- dys.sul; Waiter T Davies, Felinfach; Cap- tain Wr Davies, Llandyssul; R J Jones, Aber- ystwyth: Daniel L Jones, Blaenpennal; R S Rowland, Garth: Dr Evan Evans. cii-nlle: Dr John James, Talybont M:ijo ■ J J Bcnsah', Fronfraith Major Prie I.2m?, Tyglyn Aeron; Principal Bebb Lampeter; Peter Jones, Aberystwyth; Thomas Morgan, Ysbyttv; Joseph Parry, Cogiiiaii E J EVam Lhinrhyst-yd Messra H C Fryer. clerk; J D Perrott treasurer; J P Morgan, assistant clerk: Roclonck LJoyd, David Davies, sur- veyo-rs E Williams, chief constable ATTENDANC E LIST. The following is lis tof attendances of mem- bers at meetings of the County Council and committees during the year Mcet'u.sfs Summoned to Attend- Present E.J.Davies .13 4 W. T. Davies 12 9 Francis Evans 8 5 Morgan Evans 16 9 The Rev Wiliiam Griffiths 8 1 J. M. Howell 12 3 E. Lima Jones 13 3 Evan Lewis 8 4 Jenkyn Lewis 17 4 Major Price Lewes 16 7 Tom Parry 8 4 E. J. Price 17 3 Major J. J. Bonsall 9 1 Vaughan Davies, M.P. 9 5 Robert Ellis 18 16 E. J. Evans 9 7 William Evans 9 6 A. Pennant Howell 9 3 James James 13 1 Dr John James 14 7 Richard Jones 13 2 Benjamin Jones 9 6 Edward Jones 13 10 Peter Jones 13 4 R. J. Jones 13 4 David Morgan 9 3 J.T. Morgan 9 6 Joseph Parry 13 10 E. A. L. Poxx-ell 9 5 Evan Richards 13 5 D. C. Roberts 22 12 G. Fossett Roberts 13 7 C. M. Yvilliams 22 17 O. Beynon Evans 8 3 Thomas Evans 12 8 Colonel J. R. Howell 8 4 D. S. Jones 8 5 James Stephens 12 2 Thomas Wat kins 8 1 The Rev John Williams 8 1 Principal Bebb 8 2 D. S. Davies 8 3 David Evans 12 3 J. C. Harford 12 6 James Jones 12 7 Evan Davies 8 2 William Davies 16 12 Daniel Evans 12 2 Thomas Evans 8 4 David Jones 8 3 Jenkyn Jones 8 6 David Lloyd 13 2 Sir Marteine Lloyd 8 2 I, Thomas Morris 12 6 Thomas Davies 21 5 Ed,Yfll"d Enms 9 3 Dr Evan Evans 14 1 Daniel L. Jones 9 5 The Rev T. Mason Jones 9 2 Thomas Jones 9 5 Dr Evan .Lloyd 14 b Thomas Morgan ••• 9 ••• J 11. S. Rowland 18 10 D ,1. Williams 17 12 lliU VilrtJL i. Mr D. J. Williams presided at the outset and the first business being to appoint a chairman, the Rev. Wdlham Griffiths pro- posed that Alderman Lima Jones should be appointed. Mr Jones had been a dil gent and faithful member of the Council for many years. Mr Walter Davies seconded the proposi- tion and said that Mr Jones being a Welsh- speaking Welshman, he hoped they wvuld now have Welsh speeches. (Laughter.) The proposition having been unanimously agreed to. Mr Lima Jones took the chair and said he thanked the Council most sincerely for the honour. He trusted that he would justify his < xistence there. He would do his best and he trusted that an-- short-com- ings on his part would be forgiven. He had never been a chairman of any description in his life before—(laughter)—not of any pub- lic body or of any public meeting, with the exception, perhaps, of being chairman of a business company where he was possibly suited, but he doubted whether he was suited to be chairman of the Council. How- ever, he would do his best. (Hear. hear.) -IT,- D J Wrilliams returned thanks to the Council for the support given him during his year of office and also to Mr Fryer who had been most attentive. Mr J. M. Howell proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Williams and said he was sure the Council were ready to signify their debt to Mr Williams for the able way in which he had discharged the duties of chairman. They also offered him their sympathy in th? great bereavement which he had been called to suffer during his year of office. Colonel Howell seconded the proposition which was ageed to. Appointments. Twelve members of the Standing Joint Committee were re-appointed for the ensuing year. The Finance and General Purposes Committee, the Executive Committees for the northern and southern divisions, the Public Health Committee, the Assessment Com- mittee, the Allotments, and Small Holdings, Committee, the Printing and Advertising Committee, the Weights and Measures Committee, as well as the oJlllllitLee of Visitors to the Carmarthen Asylum were also re-appointed. With regard to the Public Health Com- mittee, the Clerk said that notice^Jiad Vjeen given by Mr Vaughan Davies, M.P., to add a certain number of farmers as members of the Committee more than there was at pre- sent, as the Committee was to deal with contagious diseases of animals as well as other contagious diseases. Mr Vaughan Davies with- drew it on condition that the matter would be considered at the annual meeting. The sheep dipping Order had been passed for this year, but it would no doubt have to come oil again next year. The Board of Agriculture had requested that a special meet- ing of the Public Health Committee should be convened to consider the sheep dipping Older and he asked a number of farmers to attend the meeting, buc they had not been delitilceiy added to the Committee. Air jLiiomas Morris said that many mem- bers of the Committee had not attended a single meeting. Oil the proposition of Mr D. C. Roberts, seconded by Mr C. M. Williams, it was agreed to authorise the Public Health Com- mittee to co-opt a number of farmers. Mr J. H. Davies, registrar of the U.C.W., was reappointed as the Council's representa- tive on the Central Welsh Board; Messrs Henry Bonsall, David Williams, and Major J. J. Bonsall were reappointed conservators of the Dovey Fishery District; Dr Brookes, Abervstv.yth, was reappointed public analyst; and Mr Alan Murray district agri- cultural analyst. The National Conference. The Clerk sitated that there seemed to be a little uncertainty as to whether the re- presentatives to be appointed for the draft- ing committee of the \\elsh National Confer- ence should be members of the Council or not. He had ascertained from the Town Clerk of Cardiff that it was not necessary that those appointed should be ail member's of the Council, which was an important point. The Council were requested by the National Conference held at Caidiff to ap- point representatives of the county (two to represent the majority and one the minority) to act upon a committee to draft a scheme for the establishment of a Welsh National Council. On the proposition of Mr C. M. Williams, seconded by Mr Walter Davies, it was agreed to appoint Messrs D. C. Roberts, chairman of the Education Committee, and Mr Mor- gan Evans, former chairman of the Com- mittee, to represent the majority. Principal Bebb was, appointed to represent the minority, on the proposition of Mr. Peter Jones seconded by Mr Beynon Evans. LI a n b ad a r n Foundation. The Clerk said he had received a commu- nication from Mr Elwy Jones with regard to the Llanbadarn Education Foundation which was a composite body. Mr D. C. Roberts wa.^appointed as the county's representative in March, 1903. for three years and the ques- tion was asked as to what body had the ap- pointment because the powers of the County Governing Body which made the appoint- ment were transferred to-the County Coun- cil and the County Council delegated its powers to the Education Committee. The Board of Education had decided that the County Council had the appointment, but he did not know whether the Beard had all the facts before them. Mr Peter Jones said the result would be identical whether the County Council or Education Committee appointed and he pro- posed iili« reappointment of Mr D. C. Rob- erts. Mr Edward Jones seconded the .proposi- tion which was agreed to. Communications. The Clerk reported having signified his consent to a line of telegraphs from Temple Bar to Cribyn Post Office. The Local Government. Board wrote en- quiring what had been done in the countv under the Unemployed Workmen's Act and the Clerk said he replied that no committee had been appointed and there had been no need for it. A letter was received from the Board of Trade calling attention to the necessity for testing of weights and measures on board shipls which it seemed had arisen out of a question in Parliament in connection with the provisions supplied to crews. The Co • said that no large ships sailed from their ports, but some l'eph. must, be given. His suggestion that the matter should be re- ferred to the Weights, and Measures Inspector was agreefl to. The Council were invited to make re'pTJl- entatjons to the Royal Commission on Can, is and Waterways and the Clerk said, "I think I can say that our waterways are other than canals." A communication requesting that a uni- form system should be adopted for 1'1". quarterly reports on fertilizers and feeding stuffs was referred to the Analyst. An invitation was received to send dele- gates to the Public Health Institute which will meet in Cork in July and Mr Walter Davies proposed that should go. but the Chairman said it did not seem that any member was anxious to go. No delegates were appointed to a confer- ence on school hygiene, of which the Clerk said that Dr Evans seemedi to be the father. Cry for Economy. A letter ¡¡raë< read. from the Clerk to +' MachynHeth Union enclosing a resolution v. hich called attention to the continued heavy 1 j*' cont;,dori'n £ the present depression of Guardians were of opinion thai, the Council's expenditure generally should be considerably curtailed. The Clerk It. is from Montgomeryshire Perhaps they do not know how economical we nre. (Laughter.) Mr Tom Parry emphasised the remark with a sardonic cough. Main Roads and Bridges Mr O Beynon Evans, y.ho had been ap- pointed chairman of the Southern Main Roads Committee, moved the report which recommended the appointment of a commit- tee of inquiry with regard to the manner m which a: roadman's duties were performed on the Llandyssul to New Quav road and other matters connected with the manace- ment of the road. It appeared that the loadman thad resigned (and there was no need for the inquiry. An expenditure of £ 35 was recommended on the improvement of the road at Banky- warren which the Committee thought was urgently needed, but Mr Tom Parry objecuu to it because the Newcastle Ennyii members had not been called to meet the Cardigan members as was; decided upon. He did not receive motice of that meeting and Objected to the recommendation because it was ir- regular. Colonel Howell spoke strongly for the im- provement. The Cardigan members had met the Surveyor. If the work was not carried out now, the cost would be £75 or £ 100. Mr E. J. Davies said he oould not by any stretch of imagination consider Mr Parry as one of the members from Newcastle Bmlyn. Mr Parry was not far from New Quay. Mr Parry proposed as an amendment that the recommendation should not be enter- tained. The Cardigan members were not willing to contribute £ 5 toward the work and the county had no check upon expenditure unless local people were prepared tc their share. Colonel Howeil replied that the Cardigan Town Council had the use of the surface of the road. It was proposed to deal with the fences only and that work belonged u county. Mr Beynon Evans, said the local members had met. He did not know what Mr Parry's definition of a local member was. It should be remembered that it was not an applica- tion from the Carligan Town Council, 'out from the Rural Council. Mr Parry said it was decided at Llandys- sul that the Cardigan people should contri- bute toward the cost and he suggested in order to facilitate matters that members from other districts should visit the place and see what was necessary. The amendment not being seconded, the recommendation was, adopted. It was agreed not to entertain an appli- cation to set kerb stones alongside the path by Llandyssul New Road at a cost of £75, Mr C M Wiiiiams saying that that was a matter which should be carefully considered. Applications, were made repeatedly fom vil- lages and towns and were always refused. A similar application was received recently from Bow Street, but it was felt that if the applications were once granted it WOUJU mean an enormous expenditure. Mr Harford, Principal Bebb, Messrs David Evans and D S Davies were appointed a committee to consider the improvement of the gradient of hills in Lampeter union. An additional expenditure of £ 30 was re- commended for paving the surface of the road which was necessitated by the building ef a stone wall with three outlets in each side of the bridge approach to meet the ob- jections of Captain Gower, Castell Mael- gwyn. who feared that the improvements which are made to Liechryd bridge would have the effect of damaging his land on th side of the river. The recommendation was adopted and the Clerk said it was the Surveyor's intention to clear the arches. Captain Gower was satisfied with this and wrote that he would have no objection. The Committee's estimate of £ 2,870 for the year and e600 for the quarter were adopted and the condition of the main rocds was highly praised. Mr Evan Richards, who had been ap- pointed chairman of the Northern Com- mittee, moved the report. Referring to the application of Dr Hughes, Llanilar, for per- mission to pull down a portion f, pet wall of Llanitar bridge, opposite to his proposed new houses and to wall in the river for the erection of a concrete foot- bridge, the Clerk said a sub-commitee had visited the place ana the Executive Com- mittee considered it would be an improve- ment. Mr Robert Ellis further exnlained that the flow of the river would he an improve- ment and the application was granted. The Surveyor's estimate of 2750 for the year and L650 for the quarter was adopted, together with L170 for L'lamo Bridge, L40 for Bwlchnantyrarian new fence, and other items. The Clerk said he had received an 31- cation from the Aberystwyth Rural Dis- trict Council for a contribution toward the erection of a bridge over the iiho.dol. It was stated that a deputation waited upon the Rural Council to apply for support to- ward the erection of an iron bridge at Capel Bangor and the County Council were asked to contribute half the cost. The es- timated cost was about JB800 and the district, in order to show its appreciation of th movement, werei ready to contribute the other half of the cost. Mr Robert Ellis said it was an important matter and the bridge was no doubt neces- sary. On his proposition the matter was referred to the Northern Main Roads Com- :uee for report. cr Joseph Parry thought it w< s a mal- Ut which the Council ought to take into consideration. There was no bridge to cross e river Rheidol—and the Rheidol was one f the most important rivers in the county- from Llanbadarn to Ponterwyd, a distance of fifteen miles. There were no means for funerals to cross the river for that distance. There was also a railway station at that spot and he could inform the Council that during the past four months over 250 tons of lime, coal, and manures had to be carted throng H the river. Kr Tom Parry had just mentioned that the Cardigan people were not ready to contribute toward ,the improvement of o. voad. it tuis .c-er, however, the of the district—» and it was not 'arge district, or rJ ricKl district—were ready to voluntarily .subscribe £ 260 toward the bridge. Mr Tom Parry-Hear, The Chairman said the matter had been referred to the Committee and the discus- sion was out of order. Mr Joseph Pii-),y-But I want you to go further than that. The Chairman—It has been -assed. 11 has been referred to a committee, of which vou are a member. Mr Parry said if he was ruled out of order it cotfid not be helped. He had been urged bv the local committee to take part in the matter before the Council. It was rushed over when Mr Robert Ellis was on his feet. Mr Wilis was an active man and used to be on his feet—(laughter)—while he was not. Mr Robert Ellis-But I am not against the bridge. Mr Joseph Parry saying that the proposed (bridge! was to be sixty yards in length, Mr Robert Ellis said he commended the district for their il-eadiness in going to subscribe L260, but the application could not be passed now. When the facts were laid be- fore the Council, he was sure that they would give their support. He wanted the Com- mittee to discuss whether the contribution should be E400 or one third of the cost. The Clerk l-ead the report of Mr Roderick Lloyd on two proposed main roads. One was from Olmarch to Trecefl and the other was Cwmystwyth road. He hall great piea- sure in pronouncing tlie roads f- be in good order, especially the Olmarch to Trecefl road. The local Surveyor, who had that work in hand, was specially commended for his work. Good work had also been done to the Cwmystwyth road since last reported upon and it was taken over subject to a few sug- gestions which would no doubt be carried out by the local Surveyor. The roads were also to be taken over subject to the pay- ment of L65 for rolling on the Cwmystwyth road and L20 for rolling on the Olmarch road. The Clerk added that provisional orders had been passed in respect oi the two roads, but the orders did not take effect until the roads were certified by the Sur- veyor. The question now was whether the confirmatory orders were to be made subject to the payments for rolling. The Rev Mason Jones proposed that the confirmatory orders should be passed in both cases, so that the two roads could be taken over. Ootlier roads had been taken over on the same condition that sums were paid for rolling them. ill- Beynon Evans thought the certificates were only qualified until the work was done. This did not amount to a proper certificate as specified by the Act. The roads were certified conditionally. Mr D J Williams questioned whether tha. wiasi so wjhen the Surveyor was oing to do the rolling. cai L nu.iiuj Morgan seconded the proposi- tion and said the objection would the met if the amounts asked for by the Council for the rolling were paid. Mr Peter Jones said that the local autho- rities had no steam roller, but the County Council had one which could do the work. That work had been done in connection with the roads in the past few years only. When- ever the Council took over roads then it was never stipulated that they should be rolled. The work was now to be done at the cost of local authorities and it seemed to him that the certificate was in the completest form. Mr J M Howeil—Will you require an undertaking from these local authorities? Mr Peter Jones-They must hand the cheques over. On the proposition of Mr D. J. Wiiiiams, seconded by Mr J M Howell, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr R. S. Rowland for the stone which he had given to be used on Olmarch- road. Financial. Captain Davies presented the Finance Committee's report and it was decided to transfer L3,918 5s 6d balance of exchequer contribution account to the general county fund and to invest £ 84 7s 4d. being the balance on police pension fund. The 'bud- get .showed that the receipts for the current year were estimated at £32,135 compared with £ 35,218 received in the past year when they were estimated at £ 33,884. The esti- mated receipts include £1,300 from consols and excise .grants; £ 9,500 licenses and es- tate duty; £ 450 fines and fees; Y,100 fees on weights, etc.; other receipts, -0300; rent of bauracks, £ 93; conveyance of prisoners, £ 80; Agricultural Hates Act. £ 2.291; county rate, £ 6,640; intermediate education rate, £ 948 technical education, £ 948; elementary edu- cation, £ 9,485. In the past year, the amount leceivod for elementary education was £ 12,641. The total expenditure for 1906-7 was estimated at £ 31,241, compared v. itii £34,562 in the past year when the estimate was £ 32,071. The estimated expenditude in- cluded £ 600 for salaries; E4,000 police; Li,000 bridges and roads; C500 public build- ings; L-50 loans and interest; L750 admini- stration of justice; L350 coroners and in- spectors P,300 printing and registers; CQ asylum read reformatory; other payments, £ 300; union officers and lunatics. £ 4,150 in- termediate education, £ 948: technical educa- tion, £ 948; elementary education, £ 9.485. The following were the principal items of ex- penditure last year:—Police, £ 4,150; loans and interest, £ 795; bridge.> and roads, £ 7j769; union officers and lunatics, £ 4.131; technical education, £ 832; and elementary education, £ 12,440. The estimated balance was J3714. The Committee recommended that a rate of sevenpence in the nound should be granted for the year, namely."fourpence for the first six months and threepence for the second six months of the year. The follow- ing rates were also recommended: Ele- mentary education, lOd in the pound; inter- mediate, halfpenny; higher education, half- penny; and technical instruction, penny. The budget was adopted and the rates ordered to be levied for the current half year. The Council passed the Committee's re- commendation to adopt the measures neces- sary to enable them to make the promised contribution of e350 for the provision of one bed, toward the (building fund of Ality- mvnydd Sanatorium. The measures wore re- quired under the Provisions of the Isolation Hospitals Act, 1893, and included the ap- pointment of a Hospital Committee (t-) con- sist of the whole Council, or partly of mem- bers of the Council and partly of representa- tives of local areas) to enter into the neces- sary agreement with the Sanatorium Com- mittee' for the reception of patients from Cardiganshire. It was decided to offer the yearly payment of £ 50 to the Town Council of Cardigan to- wards the maintenance of the newly-consti- tuted Pantygrwndy main road, on the same conditions as apply to present main roads in urban districts, making with the P140 now paid, a yearly contribution of 9200 towards the mainenance of Cardigan borough main roads. The P ^istrar of the Aberystwyth College sngg(L, d that the Council should contri- bute ie-12och part of a penny in the pound h -lit.ion to one--]6th already paid, In order thai the scientific investigations in the in- t live- teu t of the fishing industry which are being carried out by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee should be extended to Cardigan Bay. Mr Tom Parry having been informed that the one-sixteenth part already contributed amounted to P60 and that the further sum would be £ 10, asked what advantage would accrue ? The Clerk replied that it was expected a great advantage would be derived through