The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-11-19 00:00:00

Sotto anb leintO.

How was it that the Pack Roads arbitration was
not a public enquiry? Tie a matter of great impor.
tance to the toms, for it may run us or the other wide
into an expense of b —nay, ef thousands— of
pounds, and I think we ought to know where we are.
Light more light!
Bo say I again with regard to that bargain about
the MagiMrates' Clerk's fees. On Tuesday we had an
lantana' of a fine indicted and not enforced. It was
only sa, and, had its non-enforcement been allowed
purely on grounds of mercy, happ obould I be; but
there was apparently soma mime ins between
the Town Clerk, and the Magistrates' Clerk, and the
Police,m to who wee the Executive of the Beach. Con-
&hiring that our £3OO a year in bard cash is paid to
the Magistrate.' Clerk for services formerly pertly
paid by fees, it is simple justice to the ratepayers
that somebody shosld "-gather up the fragments, that
nothing be lost."

At last the old-fashioned plan of hole-and-oorner
meetings has had • severe failure. There was an
attempt to settle who should be Mayor before the
"potent, grave, and reverend seignors of our Cor-
poration met the enlightened public In the open Mall.
Such a plan had the advantage of getting reedy •
workable programme, and showing a glorious unani-
mity in our Local Parliament, which would help to
build up Its sensitive dignity. But, in spite of the
great "Imperial" reaction, for once the free and in-
dependent aldermen and councillors refused to acknow-
ledge the "power behind the chair," mid though their
courage didn't quite ries to a stout opposition, they
were conspicuous by their absence, and the scheme
died of inanition, or, as the majority of the newly
enfranchised burgesses might say in plain Saxon—" for
want of breath." Yet, if all! bear is true, the man
put forward to save the threatened State was • real
old servant, a thorough hard-worker, and every way
worthy of the support of his party, while he had con-
tributed hie fall to ensure their 'nooses at the
late election. So ungrateful are the ways of popular
bodies that this gentleman was chilled with faint
support, and was only left to be thankful that this
would have been a very awkward year for him, and his
Interest' might be cowshed without disappoinUng
his friends by refusing to be their leader in the great
assault about to be made on the Local Board. The
partially-supported gentleman is well out of the mass,
and I wish him happier days, and • full tide of
municipal gratitude, to r.oognlse his true value.

That Mr. George Eliot should accept the mayoralty
after due thought was only showing proper respect to
the large :Jumber who pressed his section through, in
spite of most adverse influences. Mr. George Eliot
was only following the example of • most worthy and
venerable Gther, in seeking to move the weighty
honours of the civic chair, and • dutiful son might
with the best grace have hesitated when there WU
such • burgess (or rather freeman) as Mr. W.
Eliot in the town. But Mr. Dennis put the qualifica-
tions of Mr. George Eliot so happily that the Corpora-
tion at once saw the advantage of trying to gain him
over, and those who did so were probably the truest
friends of their old and faithful co-worker, Mr.
Thomas. Another year, the Council may have been
piloted through the conflicting interests of steamer
companies, Pulotney buildings, the Pile-pier, and the
"ultimate disposal" of the dirt, the great seaweed
question, and the Radipole lake, may all have been
litably dealt with, under the energetic and yet n=
leadership of Mr. Eliot. But " let not him that
putteth on his harness boast as he that putteth it at"
The next year will be one of frequent danger, and in-
cement work, sni Mr. Edt will conit....utly f.l
' • Uneasy lies the head that wears • crown."

Some microscopic critic I feel will be down on me
for saying "crown," when the macs le the symbol of
borough rule. Let it pass Icritic The head that feels
the weight of the mace is more uneasy stall, if I may
judge from the face of that gentleman on whose crown
• mace fell on Saturday last. Our meow are rather
lively; last year one threatened to settle the Mayor,
and not long aro a magistrate was whacked. Mr.
Alderman !lowan' ham declare,' the big maose were
Irish, and so must one at least, and It must have
the spirit of Kilkenny Fair—" Whenever you see
a head, hit it." The last smitten magistrate ex-
claimed something rougher than "Take away that
bauble r But rested for the Bench forbids my
telling his exact word,. Our meows must be taught
to drop their Irish manners instead of dropping
themselves, or they may crack the heed of somebody
who is worth something. Supposing they were
equally lively in the County Court, how sudden
would be the "arrest of jgmest l" Evan Judge
Lefroy would @wooly have presence of mind to issue
his usual order for committal for contempt of Court.
Hardly any OW would advise the suspension of •
mace, like Damocles' sword, over Mr. Wallis's head.
He is the "life of the party," sad his wishes to
ventilate matters extend from letting a cooler on his
Worship's head to the awful enormity of enquiring
Into a borough rate. 11130, a lot of which is to make
up the lon no a bed bargain, is too solemn • matter
for Mr. Wallis's fun—shut up the minute-book, and
say no more about it. Of course that is the only bad
bargain the Council have made, at?

Hastening to disclose of my "Notes" on Saturday's
meeting, I echo Mr. Wallis again—" Mummies or
dummies What is the use of an alderman to be put
In and never come near the placer One good thing
Mr. Walker did wee to make it too hot for an inactive
alderman, and if the gentleman' whose loose wey (as
Mr. Howard wittily put it) Mr.-Wallis complained of
does not either come or r, must incur the punish-
ment of being" named, as they do in the House of
Commons, even if I have to act the Speaker myself.
When the officers of the army wanted to hold their
places and yet attend to "urgent private affairs,"
instead of embarking for the Ces., the hint given
them was "Sell or sail I" If the worthy alderman
doss not "keep company" with the Corporation, the
latter may have to dissemble their love"
One melancholy result followed the failure of the
pro-election; there was no luncheon ready for the
Corporation, or if any, "The funeral belted meats
did coldly furnish forth," not "the marriage tsblea"
but the tables that were turned. I condole with any
who expected a luncheon • but hadn't we better have
one laid for the 9th in future at the public expense?
" Treating" is amongst the things forbidden by the
Ballot Act, and the exhibition of extreme purity
might be well carried into the election of Mayor.
Besides, what more fitting charge than that of a Cor-
poration luncheon could be added to the expenses on
which is founded that crowning glory of a " spirited
policy," the borough rate?

Disomrs.

ILK& Cams= HICLA has arrived- at Plymouth.
RAILS. Wanwog went out of the Roads for firing
prank* at *nen o'clock on Tuesday morning, with • party
of ladles and genthimea, and returned in the afternoon.
TIM MAIL OONTLACT.-11r. Norman, the new contractor
far the malls, can omens carrying them between Dorches-
ter, Wermonth_.„, and Portland on the 18th Dsoemter next.
MINCE Or WAILIW BIRTEDAT.—On Saturday, b.tte
thirty-seventh sanivenary of the of Wakes
day, ax. Ships in the roads ware &opened with mast-
heed fiats.
Tan Stool TIMM Ira us happy to retort, l• rather
better than lad weak. " Things ham improved" in
London, sad the bemoaned Whence has quickly es-
bongo& to our states trade, so that the men ars more
briskly employs&
Onounirso or HAUL Trunnion". —There sres souse
truth in in. report of amines to the Tlmaderer. On her
Wing at Gibraltar on her purge out to in the
megiteeetheen nen, the Tbunderer grounded on the
Role and neelved some damage to ler bottom, which
will ranks it neressery far her to be docked on her arrival
at Malta
Rituals or • Fmrus.—The Fenian prisoner Ahearn
Iwas lately renamed on tinet-n-leave from Milbank
Priam, after luring served 11 years in penal serritieck
, Abeam, is quite prostrate in health, and on his release,
which was only communicated to him • few minutes
,I before his discharge, received • sum of mosey. Ne
I other prisoner now remains il& in Great Britain
I for offences connected with Fenl
&mon Bait—On Saturday afternoon • Gamlen brig
=lnto Portland Roads, having on hoards sailor with •
leg. On Friday the ship waits the midst of
weather in the channel, and • young 0111101111
'Upped on the deck and broke his thigh. Wien the vessel
anived in tIM Roads Dr. Mac Lean was seat for, and nt
and as Monday morning the itjared man was
aim on the donde stretcher, and takes to the