The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-11-20 00:00:00

THE CH FLYET:

- - --
Mr. Ditew Tom: to propose the remlation respecting
the Channel Fleet, of which he had given notice. lie
»aid that 3111fordllavtu hail memorialined the Admiralty,
p,,inting out that part an being in • favourable position
for the Flret tO winter in, and he thought thin town WAS
in • Ise.iti,,ll to present a memorial quite as favourable
an to the elairtin of Wevuoutli. On the 13th of October
he went to the Town Clerk and pointed out to him the
propriety of calling an early meeting of the Council to
emmitier the nuloject ; hut 4 appeared that the Mayor
didl hot conntiler that the tliniatiel fleet here wan or
sufficient importance to the town as to induce hint to
call a meeting. Ile hinvadf c ~,, nidereil that it was very
nop.irtatit to the interest* of the town that we should
have the Fleet here, awl there was a ntrong feeling in
t.a. towii that the rurporatioll WWI the proper source
from which the int tutorial hull emanate. Ile there.
fore proposed :--" That the Town Clerk he requested to
prepareii nemorial under the anal of um Conned to the
the memorial to be signed by the Mayor and
n.“ h 111,•1“ her i'f the l'oillskih MI the local representative',
of the town, praying the htmln of the Admiralty to take
into their favourable consider:Al 111 l the advantages of
l'ociand Ilariniur an a winter rendezvoen for the Fleet.

31 r. K %G.: rITTI:11;a:t11.11 t. it WWI of the 6:mak-4 no,
portant:4:W the town that we el)))) hare the dect here,
and he aecortiingly uto.t ceruiolly to.conded the IVM.11.1•
OH. . .

Mr. 1ii111,4 suit' the town wait invited at • public meet-
ing...inv.-m.l by the Mgyor • short time since,to
the propriety or vet iti ~,, ing the Admiralty, but the very
small nimilwr jr t sent on that occasion niinwed th" the
nigh felt little interest in the subject.
Mr. w believed that the ream why that meeting
ma. so small wa• in cons. quence .if the general hiding of
the t"" in lug, that the mennoial should ctimuste from
the Council . .

Mr. ATLI:it: gai.l lie should be very glad to have the
flevt Lets. ; at tlw saute time he must vll.ll. , iliS bCild
that any
""I"rial ri..nt the d'outicil, pre-aiog the
l,• tviid the Channel Flsvt into l'ortlstpl
hart .air, would ree,ie„ no consideration by the
vttel.t upon these ;rouiols.—lt had lwen
said that Portland harbour WWI oUr the very best in
the word, ~tul they 'nest be able to aatisty llorernuient
th" i" f tlw Portland roads as a v inter
renduzvout for the flett they would best nilit their own
convenience and the public exigencies. They tuust not
expect that Governineat would stud she meet here,
',imply on account of their local ruemorial. It

•s..essiositt erre thus influenced, other looms world
,to.l :,.‘ lit Wolild have to
rt.% A iiiiog too tine he e,..t lay
,t r, r Pert- Ii nor V. mouth
lie ietised. mei I.e ilia not igilieve for one ..... vnt
thatliiiliCllL Voiabl entertain any ter,,,, sent
froni Weymouth. Tee Government would not study
tin interest,: of the inhabitant:, hut tte s•xigeneies id
the Puldie. and lio memorial emanating front the town
would liaise any effect.
itttlAV thought Mr. Ayling's remarks would
foriii.•ll Government with all excellent reply to otiier
lis reiter wed the stetetiwist that Portlxiol
was one of Cie hest II:ills:1ra iii the world. Weymouth
.1
;! a•... 1%,f,,rl. a right to rret.s its chum, on account ill
the superiority of its harbour, which hail coot the
untie:, ii lar.:e a sum of money.
Mr. Tit se,. seid a memorial, at all events. would do
no harm if it ilil no good. and he could not possildy
UM why th• ••• objections should be raised. But this
was always the ease, if some one sought to do good.an
opposition wa, sure to be raised ag.sinst it. The reason
lien hare ilis•kysrils did not petition when the channel
fleet was here w.ss, they knew very well the vessels
must return there again soon.
Mr B %i:GETT agreed with much that Mr. Ayling, had
se;a. Le c.o!)-i.!eretl his remarks halt very considerably
• t: t. '.1'411.111,11t$ of Mr. lb, v.. 'Mr. Ayliug
; ' t n.y that, they would if.. bariat by

‘l,ll could speak from experience that
nit unit elf. ct upon Governor lit. Ile was in
it win,: is i thus te.cs presented whit,' the fleet
st.•r • nere. .inil Le Levu- that it bad flora; effect than
tc•.ally
Nisu said that alit gli lie would give
way ti iso it its sc eking to do all the gcsal he could
for the ti,wc, Is ot vcrthelss t opt ose the luso'
lien.; the no y ing, as he bad a it if strong impression
: ct they steed expect 1, COLC(NiiI/11 in their favour from
tie: id Vtt-nt 1:41V1 I nui-nt. Ile had heat given to under-
stand that half the fleet light '••1111C to laiNllllll and bad
liese
n rdereil tis get 1.1.3,1 y for sit, ansi 11C for one
would never ask Govert 11111111 l 111 send their vessels here,
for be Lad too much faith in the Governmeet to
think it v.ottlit truckle to the town on account of a
nientorial. Mr. Tizard had, unadvisedly perhaps, saiil
I i at the former memorial bad bail at, effect upon the
I itteernoteut. Mr. Gres C. the r._ nor, had given a
very eieel explenction id tit it circumstance. It was
net a memorial to take the fleet away- -nothing of the
kind was ever hsi,t, II at, hut the facts were simply
Several of the inhabitants and lodging-home,
ki• eel-, urged that soul, is- there as thi a stop put to the
panyiing of ,f 511.555%' drunken soldiers and sailors in
1 the :treats sn Solid tyc. they would he ruined ; and
' the memorial, which we, couched in the most courteous
terms, simply askcsl the Admiralty that the sailors
mielit be sent on shore 1,01111. 11tIler slay rather than on
• a Sunday. Ills object in addressing the isieeting was
! to try to prevent the Town Council front making them-
' selves look ridiculous in the eyes of the world. Not
: only wools! their istemorial be futiie, but it would have
the effect of preventing Government (non sending the
fleet hen% even if it were go disposed. Ile therefore
bee:red to e, es an amendment to the resolution.
" That an application to the Admiralty from this
Council to 114,1111 the Channel Fleet to this
, port would be (*di e, and that touch Sc
tile Council would wish the fleet to be sta.
tooted in the Portland Itoade, they consider an arplica-
lion would prevent their wishes being complied with."
IhttAv was very gland to hear gentlemen speak
out their sentiments. The iuhabitants would now know
' who were desirous of bent-fitting the town.
Mr. fiaxeocK begged to state that he bad the interest
of the twit at heart quite as much as Mr. Couto:Moe
Drew or any other man ; but he believed, with Mr.
tevenish, that to think we were to have the fleet here
in anawer to a memorial, was a libel upon the Govern-
ment. Mr. Drew had taunted Mr. Devenish with °ppm-
; the wishes of the town, but he would call their la-
tent to this fact : A short time since he called a public
meeting"( the town in compliance with a requisition
forwarded to him. When they came together, 11111111 e
WWI prepared with a resolution, nor ilhl stay one rise to
address the meeting until it wa- on the point of being
di:solved. At length some retnarks were offered by Mr.
.1. .1. Itolls, which occupied the principal time of the
meeting, and a committee was appointed to draw up a
s,scsssssr.al to the Admiralty. That esssiisuittpse, after it
lied drawn up the memorial, were to bring it to the
Town t offiee for him to sign, as Mayor, but Dion
that time to the present be load heard nothing more of
the limiter. Conse mently that showed the town felt
hut little interest therein. In conclusion lie
begged to second Mr. 1/evenish's amendment.
Mr. Itxnuerr could not twe how Mr. Devenish
should suppose a memorial would prevent the fleet
being sent here.
Mr. Ditew : 011 you way rest perfectly quiet—that's
all cut and dried.

(Several members hers commenced talking and
it was quite impossible to understand what they
were baying—none of the speakers seemed to address
the Mayor, who certainly, if he failed to preserve order,
eshibited a vast amount of patience.)
Mr. RAIW Err asked if they believed the town was in-
different to the Channel Fleet being stationed here.
Mr.Tirard : The division presently will Ail* that.

Mr. itAllliETT thought tha-ygought WA to bandy word;
about the squabble', bstwean John Jenkins Itolla and
Um rector. If the fleet were beneficial to the town,
why not memorialise.

Mr. Deet : Then listen to the latter part of the
amendinent—" They consider an application would pro.
vent their wishes being complied with,"
Mr. MAtiGgrr : Then, according to your logic, there is
an end to all petitioning. If you want anything from
Parliament, don't petition Parliament, and you will be
sure toga it —petiti 1111 l and it will prevent your wishes
being complied with.
Mr. vLiX said they had been arguing as though it
was a known fact that the itect were not coining. They
hail orders to get ready for sea, and how did they know
but that they would he ordered to come hem. Why
then memorialise 1'

Mr. puny : flow does a man in difficulties know but
that mme one will call to-morrow and bring Ia i 11l money;
whr then nhould he go out to-ildy and try to get MAUI,
Mr. ItAtaarr : Stop till you or them letss Port-
land, and then memorialist the Admiralty to bring thein
hack. Tlidt is a wise C,.llelle, certainly.
Mr. Tn. 111 as: Whether or not the .‘ildilralty would
;UV any nttrnt. i ti 11 memorial. he It inght that they,
as the represent. id tI. towmought to it.. their bent
to promote what was most kneficial to its interests. He
could not see that there would he any impropriety in
iietitinine, and he knew it would he mont beneficial to
the that, if the fleet were stationed here.

Mr. It MO' Tr : Theo it you waiit the Beet here, ac-
L0r.1.1:4 to Mr. Devi•iiish's opinion, you had better go
I over it.

Mr. I f Erna :That's the way Liverpool has done.
Liverpool leei never petit. 41.
Mr. RAGGEIT : Ika we are not like Liverpool. I
we were. Liverpool can well afford to du without
the t'leinuel Fleet.

Mr. If. DErg.Thu thoughts petit would do neither
go‘al nor harm.
The MA You then put the question to the meeting,
when Me.ara. Devenish, Ayling, Hancock, Pitman,
Hibbs, Harper'. 11. Devenialt, and th.• Mayor
voted for the amendment ; Messra. Haggett, Bartlett,
Burling, Drew, and Thant for the reaolutiou. Messrs.
Tli,,iius.. and Howard tlid not vote.
Mr. HOWARD eahl he had not heard the dimuasion.

Mr. 'runup : Mr. H. Devenish cutereil the room
since you, and ho voted.

Tat ItrxmAN Guy.

Mr. Dam called the attention of the Council to the
'lie of the Russian gun, and said the way in which it
had been kit was a disgrace to the town and an insult
to the Government that presented it. It was formerly
proposed to plisee it opposite the King's statue, provided
r. Weston would give the stone for as pedestal, but that
gentleman refused, and it was left where it still re-
maine.l. Ile now proposed "That a committee of
the Mayor and three members of the Council be
formed to take the necessary steps for at once placing
the Russian gun upon a suitable elevation or pedes-
tal in front of the King's statue, and that the Nur•
veyor be directed to assist the committee in carrying
out the some."

...... .
Mr. Hitts begged to move as an amendment—
" That the Russian gun he removed from the Rings
aiji placed on the stone work of the new pile pier."
Mr. RAGGirrr would second that ansendment; end as
Mr. Itnist's only object was to have the gun removed to •
more favourable site, no doubt he would withdraw his
motion.

...
Mr. Maw said lw simply named the site of the King's
Statue, &X that was the place originally fixed upon.
He would therefore willingly withdraw the resolution
in favour of the amendment.
llagaNun r MONTT.

The CLERK real. letter from Mr. Herbert Williams
for the it-red I,f P 5,000 on pier bonds slow due; also
another letter from Mr. Payne, the contractor, for the
due to I on account of erecting the pile pier,
and intimating that it would make matters more
pleasant between them if the Council attended to his
request.
Mr. Ditvaseau mid it would not do tome threatening
language to the Council, and moved that the letter
stand over for erin.ideration at the next meeting.
Tux SCRWEYott'S ORDERs.

Mr. Duvw, before the Council resolved itself into a
Hoard of Health. saked the Clerk to tead the resolu-
tions passed on Hie 10th October last, relative to the
restrictions under which thu work under the Corpora-
tion was to be perfonned. These resolutions, it well be
remembered. prohibited any work to be done eiceeding
1.3. unless ley an order of the Council, and directed
that all work above 1:5, when ordered by Council,
should he tendered for.

The CLERK having read the resolutions, Mid that
money hail Fibre been paid for wages for work which
was begun when the resolutions were pamed.
Mr. Dam said he had been advised that £CAI hail
been paid for wages since the 10th Oct., and what
11.1 been
.exper.ded for material they would nut know
till the bilk were brought forward. The bills for the
payment of wages had been countersigned by the
TOWII Clerk who had been requested to see the
resolutions carried out, and he asked if such a
thing should be sanctioned by that Hoard. The bills
were as follows :—October 13. 09 Dla. Id., signed by
by 3lescrs. Hancock, Welsford, and Milledge ; Oct.
tl. £I3 Ss., signed by Messrs. Hancock. Hibbs", and
thihledge ; Oct. 27, 03 2s. 7d. signed by Meaws.
Hancock, Prowse, and Milledge; Nov. :1, 1:11 Ito. !iii.,
signed by Messrs. Hancock, Hibbs, and Welsford.
This 6.1 bCell paid for wages out of the different
trusts of this borough. since the resolutions moved by
11411 and seconded by Mr. Alderman Devenish, and he
asked when they were to stop and how they were to
stop it. A resolution would not effect it.
Mr. IHNENiss ; Yes it would,
Mr. HANONA KAM that the first item named by
Mr. Drew 1V34 for work actually done when the
resolutions wire passed; awl with regard tothe reinainder,
tliiv must bear m mind that there was a great deal of
work commenced. Surely Mr. Drew would not have
aein leave those works half finished. There had not
been any new work commenced or any material
purchased, at all events not above CI
Mr. Ditvw could not understand what work they
had liven doing to mane to .C 5 wilay.
. . .

Mr. limns 'Said thee had better refer to the accounts
thouselses. Thee Were the figure.. and &lures
would rot tell lies. Sorely it WPS never contemplated
a hen the resolutions were passed. for the works that
had been commenced to stand still.

At the suggestion of Mr. ATLING, Lowman, the
surveyor, war seat for.
Mr. thaw said u the LW be bad alluded to waa for
wage. oaly,tlie probability was, the materials notddoring
that time would havoaotoested to £l3O or /E. 140 a loose

rerklvas mod,. of doing things no town lie was
svre a.... ever t,til••l. Sorrel or It it " rk
anon:min,: to a: :..t 1:14.%) ll I 1 liii OWL. re ‘I,IIIMAIIII,
without having t..xived at.y order from any one t
do it.
The Sarveyor enteted, and Wa4 interrogated by
Mr. 'Atm no follows .-- When you require twit. rial..
for your work, who do von go to for trivia .....hot
materials do you wean *by brieksoir tioilwr. or iron.
—I was to distribute all round ; Mr. Hancock oat! I
watt it, give all a fsir - Awl yen orler them on your
own re.pensibility r--Ves.-1.)41 you have I. l'Opy of the
c.'.. hot ions Irassei on the Illtit Get. .! I don't know now,
jr. pt I have. Can't remeol'er. however. e
In, you know what resohitimis I refer to? You know
yoo were nut to do work above a certain sum without an
ordor r—o yes ! I know.—Well. have you ha-I tbo-e
resulutionis given to you dare say I have, but I can't
remember.
The TowN cutnte said he placed the resolutions in
the surveyor's hands.
Mr. Durav to the Surveyor: Well did you read them?
—I don't recollect now whether I read them or not, but
it's all the same, I knew what they meant.- --Why, tin n
did you 'continue your work the motile as before •
I resolution.. °-- -There. Jul.'. root h 1,71
It, be fini,lied.— !lave you c,oo:near...4i no new ~.'ork ?
None, re• t the ! ••• anti •;,,irinl I,
rot Id path 4.-- If you to ,onin.et,, • .1!:y new
or% tli.l yon go it, 1.0 Town Il,i!: for :in 0r... r reA.
I went, but he woula.nt give sue one. flow't.. it. then,
the cost of labour Ivw I,••1.11 h 0 great. you nave Itail
neW m..teriala ut any booth r—That includea.tlie east:cg
:mar of 1.011 tons (non the loina,t picr.
Mr. Ittxt-Ntatt : That's it, noth;i:g like flirt
Mr. ItnEtt : Then you have purchased It,, oeu :mak--
riot shine October 11th - No, nothing that I know au
nothing of im importance. pr'ati
broom or lumina o' that roll! I Latiglitt r.

... ,
Mr. Ilitvt:!omit hvgi;vil to tell gentlemen 0;4 wax no
laughinu matter.
Mr. Dam wea surpri,eil that three gentlemen 2dioul.l
have Ague.' hills to the ii1110:11It ni EGO in a month, week
after week. without making inquiries.
Mr. 11::VENI./1 : How do you know ti.ey did'ut
make inotiirietil'. _ . . .

.....-_ .... .
Mr. Iltuusoid that he hall questioned the Surveyor
very closely respecting the item,. in the bills be had
Ti,. amount Was 1113,11 iii, not exartly 1. r Lamar.
Ail it we. labour— it was for horse hire in t Acing I.:as4
ton, of ballast from the quay to the ditch alotig,ide the
railway. He thought Mr. Drew was waking a great
poi oi for little or nothing.
Mr. 'nova:, li,kr.l Mr. II ibba. if spending rt'Al or £741
a month, as wax 'dated for labour only. was nothing, ?
Mr. llttmnasaid the Mayor lad the power of ordering
work under £5 . _ .

The Tows (In, sail he WWI struck with one of the
hill., hut Lowman a.sumd him it was for works in al.
iinfinished state at the time of passing the res4,lutions,
and that the streets would he perfectly dangerous if the
works 'mere left unlinislit.4l.

Mr. 'fig otti thought (hut thi 4howed the re.olutions
were necessary to cheek the surveyor in going too far.
Mr. I)itvw : It }how, where we were drifting. seeing,
that it required I:60 to set us right after the restrictions
were put ni the surveyor.

Mr: DEVFNI3II : Nothing of the kind—why a great
deal of that was for horse hire.

The SURVEYOR, in reply to certain questions, said :
lie paid hi men out of his own pocket one week,
and drew it from the Council the nest, as when he
hew the money for the week he could not tell what
would be done, and he might **get into • hole" about
it. _ .

Mr. Diceruisii : This shows that two of the items
Mr. Drew loos named was for work done when the
resolutions .rc? pwsed.
Dr. New : Let it be either way, it shows that if
we had not stopped the Surveyor where we were
drifting.
M-. HlllllB protested against Mr. Drew going on in
this manner—it was only done fur the Press to take
notice nr.

Mr. DEVENISH thought it unfair for Mr. Drew to
persiat in his statement that they were drifting into
expense. after the explanation which had been given.
Mr. HANCOCK said that the Surveyor had said there
bad been 'so new work comeamscesl, excepting the
bridge ; and before the Surveyor left the room be
would briefly explain why he took upon hismelt to
give the order for the work to he done. The Surveyor
said it was not safe. and Ise felt that he would not be
juatitied in giving the order. However. as Lownsan'ss
statement was Lacked up by that of the harbour
toaster that an accident Wlss., nearly ocmring to a holy
the day before, he took upon Mansell the responsibility
of giving the order without waiting for the sanction of
the I:uuncil.

The Seim:ion mild a lady "nearly got • bumper,"
and the bridge was very dangerous.
Mr. HIBBS asked the Council to state that the bills
that Mr. Drew had iminplainei about were satia.
factory.
Mr. THOMAFt How can the Council say they were
satisfactory, when you signed for three several sums,
amounting to Di 19.4., without vouchers.
. . .

Mr. Pick/or Paid if the Purveyor did not produce the
vouchers he lout got them.
Mr. DEVENISII said if the purveyor was not to be
tntsted without a voucher, the poinier they discharged
ililll the better. Mr. Drew's remarks were perfectly
abPurd.

Mr. DREw knew Mr. Devenish well enough to know
that he would not allow this sum to pass his own count-
house without a voucher.
Mr.Mibbusnc wan not n w sorry to say bedid not vote
for Lowman to the °dice of surveyor, who might now
well say "save me from my friends." He did not see
tha the man had done anything yet to mill forth their
cenmre. He never himself signed a bill without making
inquiry into every detail.
Mr. AVLING thought Mr. Drew's object was to pro-
long the meeting. He was inform., before, he came
•there tlize. Mr. Drew intended to keep them till 5 o'clock.
Mr. Ditxtv denied that lie had said be would keep the
meeting open till her o'clock.
Mr. DEVKNI:4II said Mr. Thompson tohl hint that Mr.
Drew told him that that was his intention. -
Mr. DnEw said that the remark he made to Mr.
Thompson wasAliat it appeared to bini,from the amount
mit busine•s on the paper, it wan nut improbable they
might be occupied till live o'clock.
Mr. Hint. said Mr. Drew told him they would be
occupied till three.
Mt. A YUNG hoped the meeting would now be con-
vinced that the resolutions hail not been exceeded.

Mr. HIBBS again called on the meeting to pronounce
itv opinion that the accounts which had been tigned
were perfectly satiafactory.
Mr. Dam UM intaineli that even if they were correct,
they could not be aatisfactory, as the vouchers were not
attached. _ .

Mr. TIMMAN thought Mr. Drew was I...decdy justified
in bringing the mutter liefore the Council. the item,
were large, and the voucher, were not known by the
trexaurer to be in exiabwee.

[Thu subject was subsequently allowed to drop. We
have endeavoured, as far as we are able, to give a cor-
rect outline of what was said, but a full report would
be impossible, as not unfrequently five or six gentlenieb
ware talking at the top of their voices at once, nut a
word of which could be leritimil by any one. It
was, without exception, the moat noisy meeting we
ever anywhere attended. Even Mr. llibba, who talked
as loud as anyone. complained that r. Drew-" bulked
so, that lie completely mystified the surveyor."l The
proesedings lasted upwards of three hours.