The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

THE PORTLAND GRANT MONEY.
/Derma OP PPR COY/IM=
To the Editor.

_
Dear Sir,—l am very glad that yen have opened
your salamis teeciestnunications calculated to dispel the
mystery which at present surrounds ths administratioe
of the Grant Money, and I willingly afford what little
help I can to throwing light on the subject. In the
year Isll or 1842. I am not stue which, the following
ovisinitiee was shone to resnlate the Minendifwth of
the grant Money, vta.:—For Regents —Mr. B. Serivee,
Ur. IL Whit* (now deceased), Mr. W. Hansford, and
Mr. 1•0:0 (goes to Ammo.): for Raston—Mr. S.
Pearce (decamed), Mr. B. Pearce, agent, Mr. J. Pearce
(demand), ler. W. Pearce, Mr. A. Pearce (deceased),
al?":1 Mr. R. Lowman: for Wakebana—Mr. IL Moor*:
'tor Wasses- -Mr. J. Stone, and Mr. W. Spencer
d(deeemesit : for Bnuthwell—Mr. R. Sponsor (deceased),
'Mr. W. Pearce (deceased), and Mr. R. 1°•11f03 : for
'Fortune's Well—Mr. W. White, chairmen (demand),
Mr. J. C. L• 110 (demised), Mr. J. A. Attwooll
'(deceased), and Mr. R. A. Newman (deceased) : for
• Chiswell—Mr. J. blabey. The committee met occasion-
ally, and (Ai a time their recommendations were
adopted by the Trustees, but 6000 a change occurred,
and what they advised was objected to, and when such
works were carried out the bill was refused and unpaid,
while things were doge which the committee bad not
sanctioned mid paid for out of the Grant Money. Dis-
satisfaction resulted, and the corn milted appointed a depu-
tation to express their feelings on the subject to the
Trustees. They went to the Castle, but Wefe speedily lent
°Regain mecum as their mission was made known. This led
to the practical dispersion of the committee. 111. much
Sunloe regretted, I think, that they succumbed at such •
'rebuff, seeing the stake at issue, but that is past ; let..
see what ws can do by now pulling all together to
recover our proper position in this matter, which we
Imre Isla. The minute book if the committee used to
be kir,ot by Mr. R. A. Newman, but at his death it was
sold 'by auction (!) io Mr. H. Hind, and afterwards
;pun:haled, I understand, by Captain Manning. But
what has followesnlie overthrow of the committee? For
forty years at least the Court Lest has been summoned
by the Bailiff of the court, be selecting twenty-four
juroro from the principal tonnage and yeoman of the
island, hut lain May a certain gentleman took upon
himself to choose the majority of those to be summoned.
Why? The parish parade ground. where the inmates
of the poor-house used to take their walk', had
been encload with the consent of the crown officials,
but without the .cthally necessary consent if the Court
L.,-t, and, of course. a " select" jury would not demand
tile payment of • rent in acknowledgment of the rights
of the parish. How are the mighty fallen? But • few
years ego, and such a thicg wool I have been impossible,
nay, I don't think it would Lave been attempted.
If this ignoring of the Hats of the parishioners le
allowed, and encroachments Sr. made on garish land,
without the consent of the Court, and the grant money
continues to be disposed of without any amount being
reiolered to the inhabitant., Portland will
be in nice (!) date in the eouro of a few years—disown.
tent raging that the Queen's grant is to the people but
"delusion and • snare," while rates and taxes ars
eating up tho hard-earned money of the inhabitant., and
paralysing the prosperity of the inland. On the other
band, if the grant money—though it has but everamsd
£594 5.. for the last seven years, yet it is increci2
annually—wree placed at the disposal of the
Board, and quit-rents were enforced for all enrosehments
in parish land, all necessary improvements could readily
be made. The inhabitants might be provided with water
In their heave, from the good and plentiful springs
Torthind is blessed with, and tha greats might be
illuminated at night with WU for our own comfort sun SO
enable visitor, warily to walk along our dangerous roads
and thoroughfares. These improvements would MOWS
for on • large index of visitors every summer to take up
their abode with us, and no doubt we should soon see
gentlemen's mansions springing up in all parts of the
Wand. Then would Portland be indeed prosperous,
and we should all participate in it. These Memos'
could be gained, I assert, by the judicious disposal el
the Grant Money, and the other money belonging to
the parishioners, and by so expending It the true
intention of her makes majesty would be carried out,
for the whole of the inhabitants would be
benefited. May the happy day soon oome.—Youre
truly,
AN OLD PORTLANDRR.