The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-07-04 00:00:00

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY.

On Friday an inquiry, instituted by the Local Govern-
ment Board, was conducted in the Town Hall by Mr. J.
T. Harrison, CE., one of the inspectoni to the 13oard.
The object of the inquiry was an application by the
commissioners to borrow £3,060 for drainage. planting
part of the pleasure gardens, and for purchasing, under
the GM Compsny Act, the public lamps. Very few of
the general public were present; and the commissionrs
were represented by Messrs. T.. 1. Ilankinson (chairman).
J. McWilliam, E. W. Rebberk, W. It. Rogers, U. H. Cox.
R. Chilton, J. Laidlaw. and J. Druitt (clerk). Major
Stuart (director), Mr. Woods (engineer), and Mr. Gooch
(local manager of the Gas and 'Water Company) were also
present
The first item considered was the sum of £1,0145 14", for
surface drainage of roads, ttc., to which no objection was
offered: £5O forylanting the north section of the pleasure
grounds, and £4,1 15s. a for erecting bridges across the
Bourne, and incidental expenses were also unopposed.
The next item in the application was the sum of
£1,359 184. for the purchase from the Gas and Water
Company of the street lamps.
In answer to the inspector, Mr. Druitt explained that
the lamps were those in the public streets and thorough-
fares, that the commissioners rented them at 7s. per
annum, and that they had power to purchase them under
the act within 14 years.
Mr. }tabbed( could not see any benefit to be derived by
purchasing the lamps and the burning of gas by meter,
and, therefore, objected to the application. A deal of
discussion ensued, in the course of which it was stated
that the price charged by the gas company wss 64. per
1,000 feet, but they were authorised tocharge 6s. lid., that
from calculations made it was found that by the introduc-
tion of the meter system the lamps could be kept burning
during the 11111110 hours as at present for about 2415. per
lamp per annum. Mr. Rebbeck further objected on the
score that if the commissioners waited till September
next year the agreement with the Gas and Water Cern-
twiny would expire, and they would he better able to
make better arrangements. This having been overruled,
in reply to the Inspector he said his next objection was
the manner in which the town was lighted, but the in-
spector declined accepting this objection as being foreign
to the point at issue.
Mr. E. Jennings (a ratepayer) also made some objec-
tions relative to accounts, which were also declined, after
which the enquiry terminated.

COMMISSIONERB' MINTING.

An adjourned meeting of the Improvement Commis.
Wooers was held in the Board-room of the Town hall on
Tuesday, Mr. T. J. Hankinson (chairman) presiding.
The principal business before the board wail :
ADDITIONAL POLICE.

It was intimated that an application had farm made to
the County Quarter Sessions for additional constables.

MEW PIER.

The Clerk was directed to communicate with the Pier
Company, requesting them to fix • date for the commence-
ment of the works, or relinquish them altogether.
itosriTAL

FEVER

Mr. C. J. Nixon drew attention to the want of a fever
hospital, quoting the Public Health Act and other
eminent authorities on the subject. He ',elated out
that Bournemouth contained a population f upwards of
1000 persons, and that the consequent necessity for
such an institution was obvious. After a lengthy state-
ment of the facts lie moved "That the Bournemouth
Commissioners shall provide for the use of the inhabitants
• place of reception for dangerous, infectious cases, and
that it be referred to the Sewers' Committee to inquire
and report how and where ouch provision can be band
made."
The motion was seconded by Mr. Rebbeck, which,
after some little discussion, was carried unanimously.

RXTEDISION OF THR DISTRICT.

The receipt of the Provincial Order for the extension of
the Commissioners' district, pursuant to an enquiry held
a short time ago by the Local Government Board, was
intimated by the Clerk, who, conjointly with the Chair-
man, was authorised to get certain amendments made
which the Commiasioners considered necessary.