The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-06-08 00:00:00

THE BOROUGH POLICE.

The MAYOR said the first business was to consider
letter reeeived from the Home Office approving of a
police establishment of one superintendent, one sergeant,
and four constables, if found efficient and properly
equipped. He called upon the Town Clerk to read the
oo in inunication. . . .

......
The TOWN CLERK read a letter dated Whitehill, May
25, replying to the communication from the Town
Council, dated May 22, informing the Council that the
police force proposed to be established by them, consist-
ing of a superintendent, a sergeant, and 4 men, would
entitle the borough to the drawback of one-fourth of the
expense allowed by the Government, provided care was
taken to secure the services of officers of a suitable age
and frame of body to fulfil the duties of constables. The
letter called the attention of the Watch Committee to
the clothing of the police which was, as stated in Capt.
report, very defective ; and the condition of the
cells was not good, u warming apparatus and water
closets were required. The Town Clerk 1160, at the re-
quest of Mr. Hodges, read the report of the Watch
Committee presented at the lut meeting, whence it
appeared that Government agreed to the recommenda-
tion. of that committee. . . . .

-....-. .....
The MAYOII remarked that it seemed to him to be
very desirable to meet the views of the Home Office, no
as to secure the allowance of 25 per cent. upon the ex-
penses of the police, which was a very material oonsider-
ation, besides gaining an effective force. The only diffi-
culty he saw was that old men who were unlit for office
now would, as there was no superannuation fund, be
very badly off. He found no other objection to the
arrangement, and reoommended that a resolution should
be passed by the Council approving of the establishment
of the force name, and that the matter be referred back
to the committee to proceed accordingly, leaving the
appointment of effeotive men to the judgment of the
committee, subject, of course, to the approbation of the
Council. . . . .

Mr. DEVRNISH inquired if the expense of winning
apparatus, ventilation and closet lied been oonsidered.
The MAYOR replied that he (lid not see much to kick
against on that point, inaimuch as, if the expense was
£4OO a year £lOO would be returned by the Home Ofitoe.
If some arrangement were not adopted under the Home
Offiee, the police must be given up to the county. His
Worship suggested that the resolution should be to this
effect—Thit the Council wish to carry out the recom-
mendations of the letter, so as to meet the views of the
Ruins Office. The water closet and warming apparatus
might, he said, be attended to hereafter.
Mr. GALPIN oould not blink the question of placing a
warming apparatus in the prisoners' sell, and other
conveniences, which were put so strongly in the Govern.
meat communication. . .

—•
2dr. Lock said that subject had not some before the
Watch Committee. . . .

Mr. HODGES thought such improvements might be
made after a lapse of a year or so ; but they were not a
tine quA non. But the appointments should be made as
speedily as possible.
Mr. BISHOP did not think the Government letter was
absolutely needful for this town, but perhaps they might
adopttlie recommendation without incurring A charge the
borough could not bear. Doubtleas it would be well to
have • good character with the Government, and, re•
membering a calculation made at the last Council meet.
tug, the recommendations of the Government would,
with their drawback, bring the expense to about the
present amount. His object was to move that the
letter be referred to the Watch Committee who were
to report at a convenient time to the Council. Many
points had to be considered and many changes must
take place in the present constitution of the polies
foroe. There were two aged men in the foroe, and the
difficulty was that there was no superannuation fund;
but he hoped the Watch Committee would bear in
mind that those men had worn themselves out in the
servioe of the town, and if there was any way of afford-
ing them oompensation he could not help hoping the
point would be considered by the oommittee.
The MAYOR thought the clothing of the constables
was imperative, but the water closet was not a sine gad
non. .

Mr. BISHOP then moved "That the letter now read
from the Home Office be referred to the Watch Cotn-
mittee, with a view to carry out its requirements as
already recommended by the committee, and, so far as
they may think expedient, as to the new points railed by
the letter; and that the said committee be requested to
make an early report to the Council ; also, that the com-
mittee be requested to take the proper step' to secure
the services of Mr. Pouncy as superintendent, and also
to consider how far other offices under the Town Council
and the Looal Board of Health may be consolidated in
the dike of superintendent."
Mr. HODGES seconded the proposition and it passed.
Mr. BIBEIOP moved that Mr. Bennett's name be
substituted in the list of the several committees in the
place of that of the late Mr. Legg; and the resolution
was adopted.
The Tows CLERK mentioned that he had received
a Hampshire paper containing a long report of an im-
portant meeting of the ratepayers of Portsmouth, at
which place Government had bought property largely
which, being free of rates, canoed the demands upon
the ratepayers to be considerably augmented.
Mr. GALPIN gave notice for the subject to be placed
on the business paper for consideration at the next
I meeting.
A communication from the corporation of London AA
to the provisions of a Bill for its regulation before the
Howe of Commons, asking the consideration of the
Council as to presenting a petition against it was men-
tioned, but the subject was allowed to pass by without
more notice. . . . .

-.lMr.-eOO-11158 presented the three bound volumes of
the Patent Journal which were ordered to be bound for
the inspection of the Board, and the subject was ordered
to be considered at the next meeting. The oost of bind.
lug the books was fie., 7s. 6d., and 6s. respectively.
The Council having resolved itself into a
LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH,

The TOWN CLINK read the minutes of the proceedings
of the last meeting.
Mr. Gauls called attention to the latter part of the
minutes, referring to the diseumion et the hat meeting
on an anonymous letter relative to the water supply at

the well, and Mr. Whitehood's communication. Ile (Mr.
ambled., and he (Mr. OS.loin) desired to know, being
rather joalerie <4 the rights and privileges' of the Board,.
ghbroio.wtur;ftelairt
pearintsil'il''Lltse'adecsnil'iteleie'M"anyoalbr.hca.:iati,'ln'yd.",rei:arhioliogat'crunintii,tlikdldiiii;,e,e:nmee.ninonthttibeptsbannlie
arty ?affection on bill' Worship the Wyor, who, no
doubt, thoutilie the letter required An immediate answer,
oahreyfaor°°'el:btniinteeettfi'liblAailitirdatulge".6tt W&didattrehturehrtedaThoteauirtdpi:etoinguc"eigitoltkOastmbel.
bihnyetoh(Mitnirl.e.Gbf
tialhotripinr)rteljlemeter7tideemitsoitaeas, eae, tthiteovlmeetbittieernrwiglansftadciodueoefmc.s,
opportunity to comment thereon.
The liffe-lon said the letter was not addreeeed to the
Board. He Tied almost forgotten its contents ; hell if it
applied to the Boaid, smd it did not seem to him that
it did, he was under an mor. He considered it •
bmeesr:nly.p,ri.veaeter
sleirtte, r
Hfreomshtuisldfribencle
toleMrllispheer.or,
nag
to
prevent discussion on the subject, and should be moat
happy if it were now discussed. [Mr. Galpin here
attention
litiriwepooligrotehrioadrotye,:nepohatoolon,fulewrulyetsetktioteenvetneErterr:Bee:orsterafietmirfnheoher
everybody
handed • copy of the Dorset County Express, containing
he would have the matter placed on the business paper for
tdhetoket.tohe. FMisarie°rr,jadlidiingWthoart.
next month, or wu willing, if that form could be
wiled, to at ono* join in a consideration of the
question.
Mr. GALPIN merely submitted his individual opinion
Boas tor:, obeominignudneiaclattiwortiihupowinthosiustubbjeeicnt dbiszuziehdt
before
them.
them.
The MAYOR remarked that he received many letters
addressed like the one in question, "To the Mayor of
Dorchester," which he did not think it needful to lay
before the Board.
Mr. DEVENISH inquired if the letter could be turned
to amount in any way.
Mr. Gauntt ebserved that if he undenstood the mat-
ter, Mr. Whitehead, in his letter, referred to a certain
survey, which survey VMS made by • person recom-
mended by Mr. Fisher to be conceited.
Mr. COOMBS did not think the least notice should be
taken of Mr. 0. Fisher, and could not understand why,
when an engineer was engaged, every Amateur
. ,
ugw;u3
4:eun::oodryalupeomooptoerg idrbsimsit.
amateur
proceeding
gial
tiniißhoh:yoge,
tb!::,:a,
Ini
i:nmh,d;
referred r.::.
,t0.3/4
:tteeitiorer
yontli
o.7:it, a subscription and by dint of
notoriety.
way.yoteidb
orhn.
t analeot considered.
thHouel
euo;gr tiy
present
ton
taking
addressed,eh4,i
,hnuiofwociwithoutro.itrtt.hthe
knowledge,
et.
oy lettery hiving
n::yeee
hgdaanifdfoeri:taEwllasolitypapoonwoirtienurga..
to that view of the matter that he had been led to adopt
anonymoustt
ahh
write, 10e.,‘
nity of reading the letter, and, for that reason, sent
It to the newspaper. He objected to treat the subjects
Mr. Cooing said the Board would pt into an
enormous mess if every amateur geologist who wrote to
them were attended to. Suppose he himself were to
Fellow of the Geological Society—and 'Fellow of Geology
underwent no examination, it only meant an annual sub-
scription- •he (Mr Coombe) could be • Fellow of the
Geological Soeiety in three weeks for a five-guinea rub-
' saription i—he asked where would be the value of such
• communication?

The MAYOR remarked that he had thought of making
Gamier (a navvy) a Fellow of the Geological Society, for
he was every clever fellow up at the well. (Laughter.)
Mr. GALPIN wee willing to have the matter paused off
sea joke ; but lie did not mean to lay that they were
In suoh a position as that when a person odinintmloated
to them • useful recommendation they oould do without
paying heed to it.
Mr. Jimmie must he inclined to Bay the Mayor might
very well have taken the communication as addressed to
himself. It was not addressed to the Town Council.
. . _

Mr. GALPIN chili oonsidered the Board in a vety un-
pleasant predicament, and cleared himself of any re-
sponsibility if the Board declined to have further advice
when the opportunity was presented of calling in a
person who might aid or confirm their engineer in his
opinion.
Mr. COOMBS did not object to engineers' opinion., but
to an amateur's. He objected to the Board taking any
notice of such a communication.
. .

Mr. GALPIN was for throwing over neither all the
workpeople nor Mr. Whitehead • but the engineer had
said he should be glad of the rer;rioes of such a person
as that recommended by Mr. Fisher.
Mr. Lona thought Mr. Coombs' observations would
have been very well at the last meeting. They must
admit the anonymous letter was very practical and
gond.
Mr. COOMBS objected to have Instructions thrust upon
them when there was no means of testing the guild-
flaations of the writer.

The MAYOR observed that he had received • letter
from Mr. Fisher, which he took to be an acknowledg•
ment from that gentleman that he was the author of an
anonymous letter in a newspaper. It was addressed, as
many others were, and as lie hoped many more would
be from his friends, " To William Manfield, Ea., Mayor
of Dorchester," and began " Dear Sir." He did not
consider it at all an official note. To show that he did
not put it under a bushel he put it in print with his own
answer. Had Mr. Fisher requested to have his letter
laid before the Board, it would of course have been
marled to the Town Clerk, And have coins forward in
the usual way. He the Mayor) might have been in
error, but he was willing it should be put in the business
paper for the neat meeting. It should, however, be
remembered that some time ago Mr. Whitehead had in-
structed Mr. Routledge as to the depth to be bored, and
as yet that depth was not reaelied.
Mr. ROUTIADOR AtatOd that 12 feet more had to be
bored before the depth was reashed.
The MAYOR continued : When they had bored 12 feet
deeper he would suggest that they should stop, and Mr.
Whitehead would come and advise them. If more pro.
!visional aid were requisite, of course they would be
glad to have that of Mr. Bristowe. But if that gentleman
were celled in, and paid • fee of 6 or 8 guineas, the Board
would be interfering with the original depth to be bored
recommended by Mr. Whitehead. When the full
depth was descended and the engines put up lie (the
Mayor) thought there would be enough water to meet the
wants of the town.. _

Mr. ROUTLEDGE, in reply to his Worship, reported
that the strata bored through during the put fortnight
caused him to believe a great additional supply had
been reached ; but they had not the means of testing the
matter. The water rose and filled the bore-hole, and,
if they could pump, it would be found that the soakage
of the chalk was allayed, and that there wee the same
supply which was obtained when Burton's engine went
away. Yet lie was not sanguine that the quantity Mr.
Whitehead spoke of would be obtained. They had
bored through 13 feet of flint with only a 4-inch bed of
chalk. The strata now wee chalk with occasional flints,
and the chalk was harder than ever. Through flint they
could advance but a few inches a day, yet in a day and a
half they had gone 76 feet through chalk. They had
bored in all 138 feet.

A nuisance in Prinoe's4treet, reported by the In•
speotor, was ordered to be removed.
The balance of £47 71. 64. dne to Gawler for making
the headings at the well vu ordered to be paid. It was
determined that an early meeting of the Board should
be held, when the 150 feet of boring was completed.
The Board then broke up.