Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1867-10-09 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

NEATH TOWN COUNCIL.  On Manday last a special meeting was called to consider sundry acts committed in the late disturbances at Neath. There were present—Sankev Gardner, Esq. (Mayor); John If. Rowland, Esq. (Ex-Mayor) ; Aldermen Howe( Gwyn, Esq., M.P., Evan Evans and D. H. Morgan, Esqrs. ; Councillors Howel Cuthli-rtson, Pendrill Charles, 11,,wland TilolllB9, Philip Davies, Edwin Jones, W. J. Player, Thomas Annrew, Richard Bnrtlett. H. H. Curtis, Henry Lake, and the Town Clerk (Mr Alfred Curtis). We are not enabled to give anything like a full report of this meeting, owing to a mee.ing of the Watch Committv being held. Committee meetings are supposed to be piivate, but it bore the appearance of a settled (deign, in repent to the meeting, that the public should not be acquainted with the discussion, and the special meeting became mlted up with that of the committee, the representatives of the preen were not adinittet until the whole was nearly over, and then it was deemed a matter of question —as shown by the whispering discussion carried on—whether they should be admitted or not.  Ai far as our reporter was enabled to learn the nature of the business transacted, it was as follows: The Mayo read a letter that had teen received by him from the Clerk to the Canal Company, calling upon the Mayor and Corporation of tho Borough to rebuild the fence WAIL Of the bridge detnolished in the late Neath disturbances. The report of the Watch Committee on the subject wns brought before the Council, and, upon the motion of Mr BARTLETT, seconded by Mr Gwyn, it was resolved that the application lie upon the table,  The adjourned complaint of the Town Clerk was brought before the Caincil, viz., that the pliee had not duly discharged their duty during the time of the disturblnces in Neath. The matter was under discussion when _  Mr CHARLES, after waiting some little time, said he was in hopes that a ,me senior member of the Council would have Wien up the matter, hut, finding no one had, he must say he was pleased to find that there was not a mao in Neath deficient in a feeling ot manly respect towards a female. He begged to place the _  following resolution in the hands of the Mayor. The MAYoR then read the resolution which had been given to him by Mr Charles, of which the following is the substance : " That in reference to the late disturbance which occurred on the 21st ult., and continued up to the morning of the 24th, the members of the Watch Committee feel that much praise is due to Mr Superintendent Phillips and his men for their very temperate conduct upon tnat occasion, feeling certain that, had they resorted to nny forcible means, the result would probanly have been a murderous riot. The committee, therefore, think it due to the Superintendent and his men that this minute of approbation be entered upon the books of the Corporation." It was while this resolution was being discussed that the reporters of the press thought it their duty to enter the Council Chamber. The time for the commencement of the special meeting had long elapsed. but they had waited, as usual, for the conclusion of the meeting of the Watch Committee, which meetings are generally announced outside when finished. The Superintendent, on coming out, however, declined to say whether the meeting was over or not, and the reporters then entered. On their entrance a kind of mystic conversation took place between some members of the Council, the point in question being whether they should be allowed to remain. The Town Clerk said it was usual to admit reporters to the Town Council meetings. Mr Rowland arid Mr Placer observod that it was now the special meeting of the Council, and the usual course should be adopted. The reporte a thereupon took their seats, and the consideration of Mr Charles's resolution was proceeded with. After a short discussion, Mr CHARLES moved the resolution in the following modified form : That in reference to the late disturbances in Neath, which commenced on the 21st, and continued to the 24th ult., we consider the police free from all blame." Mr }TOWEL CUTIIHERTSON seconded the motion. There being no dissentient, the resolution was carried; and the meeting then broke up.