1892 Merionethshire County Council election

The second election to the Merionethshire County Council was held in March 1892.[1] They were preceded by the 1889 election and followed by the 1895 election.

Overview of the result

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The Liberals held their large majority with most seats being uncontested.[2]

Unopposed Returns

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At the inaugural election the majority of seats had been contested, and in many cases the majorities were very small. By 1892, however, most wards were uncontested.

Contested Elections

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There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. In most cases there were contests between Liberal and Conservative candidates.

The New Council

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The first meeting of the council was held in Dolgellau.

Summary of Results

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This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. One councillor was described as an Independent candidate but was also grouped in some reports with the Conservatives.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 42 councillors were elected.

Merionethshire County Council 1889: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 33
  Conservative 8
  Independent 1

This table summarises the position following the election of aldermen. Eight were elected from among the elected members and eight from outside the council. This brought the total number of councillors and aldermen to 56.

Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 43 10 +11
  Conservative 9 1 +1
  Independent 1 0

This table summarises the position following the by-elections for the three seats vacated following the election of aldermen. Technically these were new seats, taking the total number of councillors to 56. However, the Liberals defended three seats.

Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 46 3 0 0
  Conservative 9 0 0 0
  Independent 1

Results

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Aberdovey District

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Enoch Lewis, Balkan Hill, standing as an Independent defeated William Jones, Sea View Terrace.[1] The previous member sat as a Conservative.

Aberdovey District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Enoch Lewis 93
Liberal William Jones 81
Majority 12

Bala District

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Bala District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Jones unopposed

Barmouth Urban District

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Barmouth Urban District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Lewis Lewis* Unopposed

Bowydd (two seats)

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Bowydd 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Griffith Williams* unopposed

Conglywal District

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Conglywal District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Roberts* unopposed

Corris

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Corris 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morris Thomas* unopposed

Corwen, Northern Division

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Corwen, Northern Division 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ffoulkes Jones* unopposed

Corwen, Southern Division

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Corwen, Southern Division 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert David Roberts* unopposed

Cynfal and Teigl District (two seats)

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William Davies, farmer, of Caerblaidd, Ffestiniog and John Hughes, farmer, of Hafodfawrisaf, Maentwrog, were elected at the expense of George Henry Ellis, solicitor, of Penymount, Ffestiniog and Edward Henry Jonathan, draper, of Paris House, Four Crosses.[3]

Dolgelley Combined District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Davies 159
Liberal John Hughes 105
Independent George Henry Ellis 95
Liberal Edward Henry Jonathan 89

Cwmorthin and Ystradau (two seats)

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Cwmorthin and Ystradau 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alexander Milne Dunlop unopposed
Liberal William Parry Evans unopposed

Dolgelley Northern

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Dolgelley Northern 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C.E.J. Owen 160
Liberal W. Hughes 98

Dolgelley Southern

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Dolgelley Southern 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morris Jones* 145
Conservative T.H. Roberts 76

Dolgelley Rural District

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Dolgelley Rural District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Pugh 111
Conservative Richard Edward Lloyd Richards 95
Majority 16

Dyffryn

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Samuel Pope, having been caught in the controversy over use of the Welsh language in 1889, did not seek re-election. John Davies, Glanymorfa, was elected in his place, defeating W. Ansell, Corsygedol.[1]

Dyffryn 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Davies 106
Conservative W. Ansell 82
Majority 24

Gwyddelwern

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Gwyddelwern 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Davies unopposed

Harlech District

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The sitting member, Richard Thomas Jones, surgeon, of Penygarth Villa, Harlech defeated F.R. Lloyd of Bronygraig by a much larger margin than his success in 1889.[1]

Harlech District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Thomas Jones 175
Conservative F.R. Lloyd 58
Majority 117

Llanaber

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Llanaber 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Williams* unopposed

Llandrillo

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Llandrillo 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Davies* unopposed

Llandderfel

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Llandderfel 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones unopposed

Llanegryn

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Llanegryn 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Robert Maurice Wynne* Unopposed

Llanfachreth

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Llanfachreth 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Vaughan 136
Liberal Edward Griffith 91
Majority 45

Llanfor

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Richard John Price of Rhiwlas defeated William Thomas Rowlands, farmer, of Tanycoed, Llanfor (L).[3]

Llanaber 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard John Price 141
Liberal William Thomas Rowlands 64
Majority 77

Llanfrothen

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John Jones, gentleman, of Ynysfor, Llanfrothen defeated William Hughes, farmer, of Cwmcaeth, Nantmor, Beddgelert.[3]

Llanaber 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jones 142
Liberal William Hughes 74
Majority 68

Llansantffraid

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Llansantffraid 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hugh Jones unopposed

Llanuwchllyn District

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Llanuwchllyn 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones unopposed

Llanycil

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Llanycil 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Roger Hughes* unopposed

Llwyngwril

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Llwyngwril 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Hughes unopposed

Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District (two seats)

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John Parry Jones of the District Bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Robert Owen Jones, solicitor, of High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog were elected at the expense of Morris Jones, flour dealer, of Blaenbowydd House, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[3]

Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Parry Jones 276
Liberal Robert Owen Jones 264
Independent Morris Jones 173

Maentwrog

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William Edward Oakeley of Plas Tanybwlch was elected unopposed.

Maentwrog 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Edward Oakeley unopposed

Mawddwy District

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Mawddwy 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Jones* unopposed

Pennal

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Pennal 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hugh Jones unopposed

Penrhyn and Talsarnau (two seats)

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J. B. Jones, miller, of Brynyfelin and John Rowe, quarry manager, of Glasfryn View, Penrhyn, were elected at the expense of Edmund Morgan Roberts, farmer, of Cefntrefor- isaf, Talsarnau and John Morgan, grocer, of Canton House, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[3]

Penrhyn and Talsarnau 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. B. Jones 223
Liberal John Rowe 219
Conservative Edmund Morgan Roberts 207
Liberal John Morgan 72

Rhiw (two seats)

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Rhiw 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Griffith Jones* unopposed

Talyllyn

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Talyllyn 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Pugh Jones unopposed

Teigl

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Ellis Hughes, a quarryman, was returned unopposed.[2]

Teigl 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ellis Hughes unopposed

Towyn Rural District

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Towyn Rural District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies unopposed

Towyn Urban District

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Towyn Urban District 1892
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Haydn Jones* Unopposed N/A N/A

Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts (two seats)

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John Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Fronwynion-street, Trawsfynydd and Robert Hugh Pughe, farmer, of Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd, were elected at the expense of David Tegid Jones, farmer, of Y Goppa and William Evans, draper, of Meirion House, Trawsfynydd.[3]

Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Humphreys 162
Independent Robert Hugh Pughe 109
Liberal David Tegid Jones 107
Liberal William Evans 81

Election of Aldermen

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In addition to the 42 councillors the council consisted of 14 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were sixteen Aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council:[4]

Only three of those elected were members of the council.[5]

Elected for six years

  • S. Pope, Liberal, (elected councillor at )
  • A. O. Williams, Liberal
  • J. Cadwaltwdr, Liberal
  • Edward Griffith, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llanfachreth)
  • Richard Jones, Plasyracre, Liberal (elected councillor at Bala)
  • Wm. Williams, Liberal
  • J. Hughes Jones, Liberal

Elected for three years

  • C. H. Wynn, Conservative
  • John Evans, Liberal
  • E. H. Jonathan, Liberal
  • Andreas Roberts. Liberal
  • Edward Peters, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanycil)
  • Rev G. Ceidiog Roberts, Liberal (defeated candidate at Maentwrog)
  • William Davies, Pant, Liberal

Aldermanic Vacancies 1889-1895

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Richard Jones died suddenly in February 1889, creating an immediate vacancy.[6]

Therefore, the following appointment was made for the remaining six years in May 1892.

By-elections

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Three by-elections were caused by the election of aldermen.

Bala by-election

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Edward Watkin, land agent, Rhiwlas, standing as an Independent, defeated the Liberal candidate by fifteen votes. Richard Jones, who had been elected alderman, died three days later.[6]

Bala by-election 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edward Watkin 147
Liberal Evan Jones 132
Majority 15

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Merioneth County Council". Cambrian News. 11 March 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Merioneth County Council. Nomination of Candidates". Cambrian News. 4 March 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Merioneth County Council Elections". Cambrian News. 25 January 1889. p. 8. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Merioneth County Council". Cambrian News. 8 February 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Merioneth County Council". Cambrian News. 1 February 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Bala. County Council". Cambrian News. 22 February 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 15 July 2015.

Bibliography

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