The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-11-13 00:00:00

THE DORCHESTER TOWN COUNCIL

The first meeting of the new Connell was held on
Friday last, the chief business being the election of
Move for the emoting year, of aldermen, and the
apPointment of the committee+. There were present
—Mr. Alderman Lock (the retiring NI arm), Ablerrnm
Galpin, Alderman Davis, Dr. Aldridge. Mr. Emson,
Mr. Hazel, Mr. J. F. Hodges, Mr. Burnett. Mr.
Newman, Mr. Fr at, Mr: F. Lock, Mr. Gregory, Mr.
Pope. and Mr. Darden.
Before the general lousiness of the Council com-
menced the 'Mayor tender his most grateful thanks
to the marteronsvfriends who h-al x. kindly expresse
their sympathy for him in the injuries he had sustained
in the recent mei lent at the railway strtion. He csarbl
only feel thank iii that it Mal not bee -Metaled with
very sedons consetm -nem both to himself an I others.
He was gla I to be able to be present: but, remsmber-
hag his mrslimtl inattruaions, he would sit down before
he proceeded further. He intend•Rl in the course of
the day to make a proposition which hot been sug-
gestel to him by Mr. DAvis -viz., that the Connell as
a hody Amid present a vote of very sincere condolence.
to Mr. Symonds in the Irern he had sustained—their,
hear)—and he was mire they would all j tin with him
most heartily in Ruch an expression of feeling • and he
("sal not help bringing before them the fact that the
I lam Mrs. Svmon,ls was tho daughter ,1 one who had
, filled that chair on Ireveral oc •asions, and was con-
fleeted with a family which had been associated with
our municipal institutions for almost a century.
The vote of condolence was seconded by Mr.
Brawrrr, and, of course. carried Unanimously.
Mr. 13CRNETr had great pleasure in rising t • propose
for the office of Mayor during the ensuing year a
gentleman whom, he thought. would carry out the
, duties most efficiently and with the same honour to
I himself and credit to the Is tmoth a. he did ROMs seven
or eight years ago. He he:zged to propose Dr.
Aldridge.

Very much pleasure also, ha -I ME. GREGORY in
peconding the motion. Dr. Aldri.l.re filled the chair
10 years ago and during his Mayoralty the visit of the
British Archeological fteiety was paid and they must
all admit that upon that occasion he discharzetl the
I luties of the office to the satisfaction of all the rate.
payers.
The MATOR : It has been proposed and seconded
that Dr. Ablridge be Mayor for the ensuing year. Is
there any other proposition? There being no reply the
Council were requested to signify their assent in the
usual way and every member hell up his hand in
favor. The May e to (Dr. Aldridge) I have great
pleasnre in informing you you have been elected as
Mayor.
Dr. ALDRIDGE said: Mr. flavor and Gentleman,
thank you very much for the high formr you have
conferred upon me —an honour which has been
unsolicited on my part. I ran scarcely find words to
express my thanks to you for your kindness on this
occasion, hut, I would assure you that in accepting
the office while en leavouring, to discharge its duties,
I must throw myself upon the indulgence .4 the
Council. Your assistance will be needed by me during
the coming year which will be a very iniportint year
and He which will demand notch time and fore-
thonzht in carrying out the .bemea that will be
brought before the Council. successfully. For myself I
felt very anxious the late Mayor should have continued
in office another year. I. however, bow to your die
cision, and I will do my best with y. mr assistance to
e.irey out the business to my own ere lit and to the
satisfaction .4 the corporati..o an 1 the two at large.
( Applanse• I
Mr. 'urine and Mr. Davis were then re-elected
Aldermen._ _

•
A vote of thanlcs to the retiring Nfaror wa. proposal
by Mr. ESIAON who said he thonAt they could not do
other than to thank Mr. Lock for the abilitr,fairturss,
and energy, which his worship hal erince.l during hi.
year of office. Mr. Lock', conduct in the chair had
been tnog impartial awl they had not only to express
their cordial thanks in that re.pect, but also to
congratulate him upon hi. escape with his life on the
occadou of the nalway acci lent ,nt Tue.lay. (Rear,
hear.)

Dr. ALI/RIDGE seconded it. Nione was more deeply
grateful to the Mayor for the manner in which he had
conducted the business of last year than himself. lie
hoped it would be f mild that his mantle had fallen in
the proper place, and that he woolil receive the
beneficial henefits which might be expected from the
preiLnys+ ir who had wort; it: 1011, at the same time,
he felt he was taking it great deal of responsibity in
following one who had worn it no efficiently and
admirably during the past year.
The Mtr it .11.1 he bezzed to think them for that
expres-i in of their satisfaction with the manner in
which he hal performed the ditties of the office durinir
the pint year. lie conlil only say that he had
endeay;nred to In his duty, and he had as much as
he possibly could pressed forward the business of the
Council, no that it might not be said they were
behin !hand. The first thing that occupied his atten-
tion. im being appointed Mayor, VIM the receiving of
tenders for the alteration of the engines at the water-
works. The suliject occasioned him a crest deal of
anxiety and trouble,enl a great deal of inconvenience
and exp.maitore of time. The inconvenience to which
the two had been put by its being found the enginea
were unable to do their work, caused not only himself
but the Conncil and the whole town much anxiety.
He was thankful to say, however, they had got over
their difficulties ; they had a new engine and the works
were now in that state that the town would not be
again placed in the rame positiim for years to come.
The next anhiect which engaged some little attention
WIN the fair field and Beggars Knap. Thom matters.
he thought, were now fieally settled, and he hoped
they would hear nothing more of an unpleasant
m Ater, either here or out of the Council. Another
thing which had engaged the serious c insideration of
the Council was the drainage f that part of the
district which had been recently accredited on the
town. He was happy to say they were
an far advanced with that matter that the
surveyor would soon have the plans prepared, and
they would be forwarded to the Local Government
Board for the purpose of getting their sanction to the
borrowing any money necessay for the purpose of
' carrying it out. On Tuesday f olonel Ponsonby Cox
would visit the town to ascertain the feelings i 4 the
Council an well as of the town upon the matter, and
he hoped that person, interested in the matter would
attend the enquiry. Ile was afraid it would involve
them in a great expense, but whatever it might be he
I hoped they would take care the work Was done well
and efficiently. Expenses of this kind were, no doubt,
great at the fine but it was with better they should
be incurred than that it should be found hereafter
the work had been done inefficiently, and they had to
I have repairs and alterations. The question of the
disposal of the sewage he was afraid must come before
them, and he hoped they would take care to appoint
• person who would give them soload and good advice.

There were other questions which would come before
them which it would not be necessary to mention. but I
there were one or two iithers unconnected with the
Council which he thought it right to refer to on that
occasion. One was that conneetel with the education
of the town. He had thought prolur to take an active
p trt in the endeavour to establish here the Gramm tit
sorsa on a better basis and he th eight, from the
measures he had Wren, the in itter hail been no far
brought t a termination that at Easter next they
might expect to get a better schoid ; and in the niece.
time the Charity Commissioners wondl provide a
better scheme for its gevernment, and it wool I be for
the torn to examine it, and to finally approve of it.
It was a question id much interest. concerning as it
lii the future welfare of the town, ant h I trusted
they would soon get finch a school as they
might I. f satisfied with hereafter. Another ivies.
in 'Well hail engaged his attention lately
hal been the Indian Famine Fund. He was
pleased to say that the nom he hail been enabled to
raise, including the balance left from the Lanea.shire
relief fund, and to semi to the Mansion H .n.e had
been about £420, besides paving the expense,. He
thought that showed a very liberal response made in
the town. He again begged ti thank them for their
kind vote, and would be very pea-el ti han 1 over his
offiee to Dr. Aldridge. He was sure it would be a
relief to himself to be relieved of it; and he could
only assure them that if Dr. Aldridge was enable I to
perform the duties of it as they sh.oild be, he will
find that a very large portion of his time will be
required, especially up ell this drainage question.
(Cheers.)
. . .

he appointment of committees was then proceeded
with.

.......
The Watch Committee hating been name.' by Mr.
F.wisicl, Alderman GALPIN deprecated the formation
of imparate committee., and miggested they should be
merged in one, to consist id all the members of the
Council. Then no member would have an excu.e for
ni in. at tend iflee.

Mr. Pore ohjected on the ground that what was
everybody's business would be found to be nob .dy's.
and emlsequently it would not be as well carried out
M hitherto.

Alderman GALTIN was extremely anxious as im-
portint nutters wore coming before them th it n
member should say he hail no opportunity ..f speaking
upon any virticular matter because be was not a
member of this or that committee. Ile wanted every
momber to take his share .4 the work, and to bear his
individual responsibility,
Mr. Alilerinan Davis thought committees ought to
be op.:n to all.
Mr. HODGE.; could not bear out what Alderman
Galyin hail sail. They hal tried both plans, and in
his opinion a committee id fi.e ha.l been found to
answer better than one of the whole C'ouncil.

The MAyrin thought the business was becoming PO
very important thst a committee of the whole Council
would be advisable, with one Iby or two fined in each
month for the meetings. They would find plenty in
hand to occupy them, and if there was any special
bueiness, notice ought to be given.
Mr. ElliON fell in with Alderman Galpin's views.
Mr. F. Lock primosed the whole iif the Council
should constitute the Watch Committee.

Mr. Popc seconded this—on the principle that if
they did Co in one case they should in the whole.
This was carried, and the Lune with regard to the
other c!onunittees.
_ _ . .

The lays of meeting f .r nextiyear, on the in,,no.itibn
of Mr. GREGORY, See ,n,le4 by Mr. HAZEL, were
altered from the first Monday to the first Tuesday in
the month.