The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-06-27 00:00:00

97EYX017T11.

- - -
Fisiiimo IN THE RADIPOLE LALL—It wail a proof of the
goodness of the Belting in Radipole Lake, when Dr. Rhodes
on Thursday caught 251 b., of fish, one weighing Mb.,
another Tlb. ; and next day fishing off the pier of the dam,
the doctor hooked • flue bass, which he succeeded in land-
ing, and found to weigh bib. It was in first-rate order,
and most symmetrical in shape. The doctor presented it
to Mr. Guy, at the County Club.
COURAGEOUS ACT OF A POLICREILN.—About half-put
seven on Saturday evening, when St Mazy street was full
of people, they had an unpleasant 'sensation." It
appears that a horse and carnage of Mr. Dunn • were at
the railway station, and the dnver went in to fetch •
carpet bag. While he was inside a railway whistle blew,
and the horse startled ran on the Front, and past the
King's Statue, the reins flapping at its side, and urging
the frightened animal still more, It dashed straight
down Mary street, the people flying right and left, and
was feet approaching a railway truck on the tramway,
when P.C. Mustard, who in plain clothes was on duty at
the unloading of the potato steamer Gertrude, courage-
ously can and caught the reins just opposite the Hall'
Keepers' door. Seizing the shaft for support, Mr.
Handord checked the animal at the risk of his life, and
brought it to a stand, just In time to save the horse from
beidlia42 and the carriage being dashed to *wreck,
Providentially nothing and nobody were hurt, and the
numerous spectators agreed that Handord well deserved
a good reward.
LOCAL BOARDS AND SILWAGE FAIUIL—Mr. Hope, V.O
who we are informed is almost the only man in England
who knows how beat to manage a sewage farm, says:—
"To begin with, Local Boards only meet once a month.
It is true there is generally • so-called "farm committee,'
which meets once a week or so, but not unfrequently the
board is exceedingly jealous of the committee, sometimes
on personal, sometimes on political, and sometimes on
religious grounds and at the monthly meetings the
Board not unfrequently undoes half of what the
rrsrnrnittew hot. dons or attempted to do. Tito rArnmitt.•
is probably composed of town-bred men, but still at their
meetings held on the farm, the bailiff (who is eager and
energetic until he loses heart after the first six months or
so), by his importunity, succeeds in making them com-
prehend that he cannot work without tools, and must
positively have, or instance, another couple of pairs of
hones. But when the committee propound this to the
Board, several of the more reasonable and impartial
members are perhaps absent, and the opportunity is
pounced upon by the Baptist clique to veto, in harsh
terms, the recommendation of the committee, which is
for the moment composed of Anabaptists. The com-
mittee, in a rage, resign, and forthwith, at the same
meeting,the Baptists install Morn/elves in place of the
Anabaptists,and this not becadee they know anything
whatever about farming, or have been able to find any
real fault with their predecessors, or even have any wish
to be bothered with the roanogement of the farm, but
simply and solely because they wish to spite the
Anabaptists, and to see their victory recorded in the
columns of the next number of the 'Claypool-cum.
Puddlithorough Intelligencer''
BOROUGH PETTY Susioss, Friday :—Before Dr. Drew,
Mr. G. Reynolds, Mr. T. Abbott, and Mr. B. Hopkins.
Nancy Hailer, was charged with exposing vegetables
for sale in the public street she not having a market
tickett—P.C. Bartlett proved the case; defendant had
one basket in Belgrave Terrace and Dorset Place, and no
ticket —Defendant said the understood that they could
sell about the Union' Arms till they got to Mr. Trim's,
where she took her ticket.—Dr. Drew said the people
ought to be able to obtain tickets hisber up than Trim's.
It was hard that people coming from Upwey and Broadway
should have to come as far as Mr. Trims, before they could
fret • ticket. and have to go beck to the houses above
before they would hawk—Mood the cods, 3., and Bd, for
the ticket which she did Dot take out.

THE LOCAL GOYERNhiENT BOARD
ENQUIRY.
Whatever may be thought of the timeliness or
otherwise of such a delicate enquiry as that of Thm-s-
-day, held when the " season" has actually begun, it is
a satisfaction that all agreed that Weymouth is very
healthy, and has improved in that respect. The
Officer of Health, Dr. Tizard, gave most important
evidence on this point, for he showed that the im-
provement in the year 1875-6, even over so recent a
year as 1874-5, was 3 per 1,000, the general death-rate
having diminished that amount, being in fact an
improvement almost exactly equal to • diminution of
from 7 to 6. The rate from zymotic disease bad
fallen in even a much more satisfactory ratio, for
during 1875-6 it was only about one-third of what it
warn in 1874-& Such a diminution is most satisfactory,
for although the conditions of health in Weymouth
would appear to be so good that it is difficult to
know how to improve them it is a comfort to see
convictions supported by figUres and facts. With
these reindts before us, it is almost needless to point
out that we are c lion to the fresh breeze from the sea
on one side, and" from cultivated country on the
others, that the peninoula o Mcicombe Regis is
everywhere very narrow, so that 14Liking:.50 prevent
the breeze coming to us pure, that oar Bnclmv,%ter
teents with fish, base of 7,8, and 10th. weight being
caught opposite the very heart of Melcombe Regis
last week, that our supply of drinking water comes
pure and fresh from • stream high among the hills at
Sutton, and that our Local Board take such care as to
the removal of refuse that the only complaint invete.
rate croakers have ic that they see too much of the
dust-carts. If a place in the situation and
with the IrraDireakeDia a Weymouth is not
more healthy than others, we Look round in despair
for the model watering place that cao slsw
more favourable conditions. This being the case.
the great battle of "weir. or no welt." may be pommel
almost unnoticed; that will be settled by Mr. Harrison
himself, probably without the power of Weymouthiair
to influence the decision any further,and whatever may
be done, probably the original memorialists will be
satisfied, new that there is an evident determination
it carry out the plans of our excellent and hardwork-
ing borcitiA surveyor, instead of seeking help
elsewhere. In ..cnclosion we cannot resist the tempta-
tion of quoting the rettrps of the Registrar-General
when he last published his rotazihs on the districts
containing the principal English war ;ng-places.
After naming eight seaside towns in which the rott f
mortality was lower than Weymouth, the tail
proceedo thus -Weymouth, annual rate from all
causes, 16'0, from the seven principal zymotic diseases,
1.5 per 1,000. At this time the annual rate of All
England was 21.9 per 1,600, and that from these
zymotic diseases 2.6 per I,OOU. The seaside towns
which had a higher (that is to ray, a eerie rate of
mortality than Weymouth', were Tenby, Herne Bay,
Sidmouth, Exmouth, Eastbourne and Seat°
Yarmouth, Brighton and Hove, Lowestoft, Blackpoo
and Fleetwood, Isle of Wight, Dawlish and Feign-
mouth, Dartmouth (19i; how about the Nasal
ircllage ?) Worthing, Deal and Weimer, Resumed',
Rhyl, Mari:ate, Lyme Regis, Folkestone, Penzance,
Wracogebe (itai.o:*B zymotic) Whitby, Aberystwith,
Southport, ; all tlese being less healthy than
Weym ' outh an the list aosina with Llandudno, 28.0
general, 2'6 zymotic Of inland -town. G 0.4 tWO had
hatter death rate than Weymouth; but our own
surpassed the following—that is ite_ieneral rsta" of
esati,s was better than in Tunbridge Well., Leaming-
ton, Matlock, Bath, Chelteduen, and
Harrogate- In ti.le we but give the order of GIS
Registrar-General, and the authentic copy printed by
the Queen's printers, remains AI Ogg Weymouth office,
for anyone to see. It is needless to say more

- 104I04 CAL GOVERN KENT BOARD ENQUIRY.
The Locla government lately gave notice that, the
I Amyl Council Weymouth having applied for sanction
t4O egoio, f works ti sewerage, they had directed
—40.0. . LT. Aerrison, C.E., would attend
gnir t
*th
ou. on ThursdaY last, at
I . ...
I at the 1 .. Mt/ penintrs interested in the
I le. to hes; the es.-
enquiry.

There were Pramlllal lb. enspiiry -tl v (Mr. G.
11. Welstordk Alderney) !Inward. Cootootko . I ts,
Vincent, Ayles, sen.. Cherie.. Dom, TOOIIII.I.
. Mot, Wallis. Walker, Snook, Gro, Vincent, A) le"-
bury, with the Town I lerk (Mr. Ste;:43ll), Mr. Stone, Mr.
T. B. Groves, Mr. Prima", Mr. 1., 111 l Captain Pitt,
Mr. Gaskell. Mr. J G. Rolls, M. Mor..;an (borough
surveyor). Mr. (ale, Mr. Hodder, Mr. llal!a., Mr. Mailers,
Mr. Rome, Mr. Warren, ttr.
Mr- Barri," hat jog read the natio c railed on the Toon
Clerk to state the nature of the ti jet' in.
'The Town Clerk prodswed the 1111 l ri..l, velsich Ito
•
stated, to ask for s, swpsnsion of the ru orse that Mr.
Harrison had rer 11111 l leaded 011 his ia.t till
The memorial stated the eenend good health of the
I town, which was OM, of the healthiest :00114 1,1 1.414:1,411,1,
and also its general verity,
In answer to Mr. Harrison,
I The Mayor sail the existin.- debt inenrred under the
Public Health Act was .1:29.197.15. 3.1.. and there cal an
old paving debt of alma rj,ollll In addition.
Mr. Matthews, who represented Sir John Coale, WWI
called to show the necessity for the proposed weir, &c.
He said Sir John Coale had an engagement in London
and could not attend--an appointment to meet a gentle-
man at Wauttuinster in relation to Parliamentary. row-
mitteezerk. he believed.

liarriso—'. -n-ii;iTiii-s-Was an important enquiry, and
Sir John should have come. In answer to hiru,
Mr. Matthews said he was acquainted with Sir John
Coode's views. The axea of the enclosed portion of the
harbour was about MO acres above the Dam or 51,90.000
cubic feet of water at spring tide, ordinary, including the
water impounded, 17,380,00 U cubic feet, leaving 37,583 MM
cubic feet unimpounded. Below the Dam he could not
telL _

The Inspector said that Mr. Matthews ought to be able
to tell the quantity of water below the Dam. Ile could
not go a step in recommending the luau for the works,
without knowing the quantity of water below.
Mr. Matthews with a scale plan, retired to the Council-
chamber, to ascertain as nearly as he could, the quantity
of the water below the Dam. On his return, lie said the
area below the Dam wee 7 acres, or I,tkal.ollo feet. The
depth at low water was about Sit. average, the amount
being thus about 13.000,000 cubic feet at lux water. The
neap tides rose about 31t. 9in., or about 0,000,000 cubic
feet, making 19 million cubic feet, at high water of neaps.
The spring tides gave about 25.0110,0110 cubic feet in the
harboar below the Dam. The volume of water coining
from the main land was practically nothing in a dry
reason, as commired with the large quantity above the
Darn. Since Mr. Harrison held the enquiry in April,
nothing had been done ander Sir John Coode's supervision.
He did not know whether anything had been done for the
ventilation of the sewers under the borough surveyor. A
24-in stoneware pipe was laid in the dew: it was included
in the contract price; they cost about 30s. per yard run,
they were embedded in concrete under the gate, and the
pipe was about 700 ft. long.
The Inspector remarked that was about .C 350.
Mr. Matthews said the pipes were in good order, he

Mr. Wallis said they were all smashed.
Mr. Matthews adniitted that they were a little out of
; bet the settlement was WA Reuel. Tepee else tuse
In good order would cost about .021 .25,6 M 12s. Bd.
would be required for forming the weir. The pipes are
now used for nothing at all; they were arranged on a
plan for concentrating the sewage on the west side of the
Backwater, and all the works had been culled out with
that idea.

The -first estimate of Sir John Goode, Mr. Harrison said,
was, in December, 181, .Ci 7,600 including superintendence
and contingencies; but no pumping station had been
made.

Matthews said
_other works had been carried out.

The i-
nn estimate for the dam and entrance was £9,200,
and £3,340 for the embankment near the gas works.
Mr. Stegicall (TORII Clerk), in answer to Mr. Harrison,
said the Dam cost £12,702, with the embankment at the
gas works.
Mr. Matthews said the TAM was for the construction
of a coffer dam to dry the space where the weir would
be, and for making • weir 108 ft long. It was proposed to
put these sluices whenever the water, at neap tides,
below the Data, may be inlan objer.tionable condition. It
has been alleged that the water is occasionally impure,
and Sir John Goode thinks it will be desirable to pro-
vide means for changing the water during neaps. and
therefore proposes these sluices. They would he running
off all the tide, the slackers would be opea an hour-and-a-
half. It would fall Sift. 9in, in about four hours. Had no
diagrams here representing the rise and fall of the tide.
The ebb lasted about six hours. If the sluices were
raised after the tide had fallen to the sill, the water
would run off in about an hour-anddt.half —about-half-an-
hour before low water. No means was provided of
pawing boats from the harbour by means of a lock they
could only go at high or low water, or over the Dam.
The 13 millions of cubic feet let off would replace the
water in the harbour. Sir John Goode proposed to open
the slucies during the night two or three tim as during the
neaps. Should say that, as the tide rises, it would not
stir up the bottom of the harbour. As to the 13 millions
of water that go out of the harbour, it would go towards
Portland Breakwater, and it would not return : floats had
been thus carried out of the harbour, and had not
returned. The flood tide had a slight tendency to return
from the east
_ . . .

file Inspector pointed out that the 13 milhons of water
that came from the Backwater would be taken back on
the reflux of the tide into the Backwater not quite pure.

,
i;',.;;;;;r1. hun,• --
Mr. Matthews said Sir John's supposition was that on
the return of the tide, the harbour would be refilled with
pure water. The water in the harbour was found much
purer during spring tides. In the plan of alteration
provision was made to prevent washing by a rubble apron.
The pipes under the dam were to be re-laid.
Mr. Harrison: Would there be any occasion to incur all
this expense, if the harbour is kept pure by the sewage
being kept out of it?
Mr. Matthews replied that the expense of the alterna-
tive must be looked at. The first item to be spent was
sooso for coupling up the sewer..
Mr. Harrison : That is part ef the original sum, which
to have been misappropriated.
slirrVatthews said there had been no misappropriation;
the cost of labour and materials had muck increased.
The annual expenses of the concentration plan would be
£l,OOO, or capitalised it would be no,uoo.
Mr. Ilarrison remarked that Sir John first estimated
the expenses annually at £OOO.
Mr. Dennis said that Sir John expected that the returns
would cover the interest of the outlay.
Mr. Matthews answered that the idea of sewage farms
paying was now exploded.
Mr. Harrison said that throughout the whole of this
transaction, the Corporation of Weymouth had not been
true to what they proposed to carry out. He read from
Sir John's first report., and said that the present scheme
was a partial return to the original practice of leaving the
mud banks uncovered. He asked what would be the
effect of removing the Dam I
Mr. Matthews replied Sir John Goode never thought of
that. His idea was that the money on the weir would
have been well spent.
Mr. Harrison said the evidence contained in Sir John
Coode's report of MI, and that given by Mr. Matthews
now, did not tally.
Mt. Groves exylainel that Sir John in PCI, referred to
the action of the "guider."
With reference to the alleged misappropriation of the
moner,
Il Mr. arrison said that it appeared that only .f. 5,400 had
been expended on sewage works, instead of about £lO,OOO.
The experiment with Mr. Austin's strainers had no right
to be paid for out of the original sum. Ile continued that
the Local Government Board desire that when money is
borrowed, for a specific purpose, it should lie applied to
that purpose.
In answer to the Mayor, Mr. Harrison said that when
money was in hand from certain works, the Local Board
had no right to apply it to any other works. £1001e) had
been borrowed for sewerage works, and the return showed
that only £.1,0110 had been expended for that purpose.
Mr. Walker asked if Mr. Matthews was sure there were
no returns of floats 1
Mr. Matthews believed not; but he was not sure.
In answer to Mr. Dennis, Mr. Matthews said Sir John
Goode had stated, though he believed the weir would be
for sluicing sluicing the harbour, it was not to be looked
on as an absolute certainty.
In answer to Mr. T. B. Groves, Mr. Matthews said the
weir would be en the eastern side; but he believed the
letting out of the water would "drag" away part of that
on the west side.
In answer to Mr. Walker, Mr. Matthews said two holes
were scoured, one each side of the gateway.
Mr. Ayles, sen„ member of the Council, and ship-
builder, said when the ebb tide sets away from this
harbour it goes direct south, and the Hood came in from
the east. Anybody could see to pick up a shilling at neap
tides.
Mr. Aylesbury, member of the Local Board, pointed
out that the tide setting out of the Harbour would go
round the Bill of Portland, and the Harbour water would
have three hours drift If • child in a boat drifted out
of the Harbour, it would pass round the Bill of Fenian('
Into the West Bay.
Mr. Thomas Snook, member of the Local Board, said
that during neap tide, the water does not flow out of the
Harbour at all.
Captain Pitt, master mariner, asked how long the tide
remain.ed still in the Harbour after low water 1
Mr. Aylesbury could not give the information.
Mr. Fred. Mace, harbour-master, said the ebb tide set
KICK from harbour mouth, then E., then S.E., then
S.S.E., to the end of the Breakwater. The water goes
right away out of the Harbour.
Captain Pitt asked Mr. Mace if the "guider" returned
into the Harbour after the main ebb
Mr. Mace said that in the summer there was scarcely
any guider.
In answer to Captain Pitt, Captain Mace did not see
any difference in the depth of the Harbour of late, even
at the sides. Always had more than lifft, of water.
By Mr. Matthews: Had not been able to detect any
accumulation in the Harbour, due to the sewage.
By Mr. Royal: Had not sounded where the yachts
lie.

.--By Mr. Harrison: Had not hounded on the banks,
above the bridge, but there Man no deposit on the banks
below the bridge.
Mr. caakell was the next to examine Mr. Mace. He
remembered ;.lie Mayor producing a plan at the Music
Hall meeting, but it did not show the cross sections
showing the depths all awe. t`.4: Harbour. Had not
sounded over the Backwater. Did not know whether
there had been complaints WI to the condition of the
banks when exposed.
Mr. Matthews said if there V/11.9 any complaint as to
the mudbanks from the opening of the gate, that was an
answer as to the question what would be the effect of
the Dam being removed.
Mr. J. G. Rolls asked Mr. Harrison whether he had not
sr4 that the erection of weirs would have no beneficial
effect Co the 'Arbour.
Mr. Ilarris= said it was very possible that was the
answer he giLVO on a former occasion; but he could not
give an opinion cit this teossicn ; he was here to collect
all information, think it all over, and givz minion to
the Local Government Board.
The Mayor said there had been a decrease of tine fund.
bank outside the circular wall near the Gas Works.
In answer to a question of Mr. Howard, Mr. Harrison
said he had doubts, very grave ones, about the scheme of
the weirs. He thought that in a place like Weymouth,
the inhabitants ought to do the best for the town, regard-
less of expense.
Mr. Steggall and Mr. Howard pointed out to the
!nspector that, owing to the mudbanks being covered, the
Lan; 1.;..r a great success, and that far fewer sewer pipes
ran on the mi.ç ;hail did before. There were about 20
houses Just outside Lind ,:orough, besides the villages of
Radipole, Broadwey, Notlingkr.. and Lpwey. At the
mudbmks on the shore of the Backwater, near the Gas
Works, there used to be drains on the mud; but they were
now carried into the Harbour below the dam.

Crickmay ort;;;;;:, had known
the town 20 years, and could speak of Use great improve-
ment in the health of the town since the adoption of the
present system of sewerage. Certain cases of nuisance
have been entirely cured, where the windows used to be
obliged to he kept shut, on ACCOIIIIs of the smell from
the mud, at the Burdon Hotel and other places. bib...e
the present system this bad never happened. The drains
are now earned out into deep water.
Dr. Timid said he had been medical officer for several
years. The death rate for 187441 was 21.1 per 1000, from
all causes, from syruotic disease 3.9. In the wintertbey loet •
Urge number of old people. In P 175-76 the death rate
was 18.1 ; in zymotic disease only 1.7, showing a marked
oarseeee. The offensive smells bad been exceedingly
inedifith. :awe the banks were covered. Our water
I supply was rem.a.bally good. We are exceedingly free
I from epidemic disease
1 The inspector said he won',L es a return of the
geait rate for livery; or so back, sae tee McPor said this
should be fuze
Mr. Dennis, memoer of die Local Board, had reduthq
his remarks to writing. and at 1r Harrison 3 request read
mein, explaining that be had never toile 141 favour of
81r John Gocde's scheme fcr the ultimate dispose: ^! ~_
'awoke& The Local llosed did not know their n minds,
Mr. Robertson pinning his bath to Sir John Cade, and the
Board, at Mr. Thomas's scon„ se-wrimenting with
Mr. Austin's strainer.. Mr. Opposed' time egglica-
tion for the loan M okeao ; In that was requited was to
restrain the Local Board from spending any more money

on doubtfnl experimentg. and the Board %bore t leeee
them quietly to deal with the matter fo7 the next twu

,
Mr. Thomas said Mt Dennis had no right to ii,,,U110
that he was a disciple of Sir John Goo t. he o .i; not
icosmsible for Austin's strainers more than the rest of the
Beard, who decided to try them.
Mr. Unpile, in an impromptu speech of considerable
,nirit, characterised Mr. Dennis's remarks as groai imper-
tinence. The majority of the Local Board were quite as
caimble of deciding what was right or wrong's Mr. Dennis,
and were not such children as to require to be instructed
by him. The other ineniliepi of the Board had waited
mirtieatly and attentively to hear any other plan proposed
IT those who thought with Mr. Dennis, and be could not
help saying that the remarks they had Just listened to RIM
quite uncalled for, and most impertinently urged.
Mr. Harrison looked carefully and gravely at each of the
three last speakent, and said, impressively: All this,
I gentleiren, does not inform me.
I In answer too challenge from the other side, to show an
alternative plan. Mr. Ifennis said: Give us an engineer
then. Until then you cannot expect us to provide a
plan.
The enquiry closed about half past three.